Defend the lives of political prisoners in Iran!

Earlier this week, Akbar Mohammadi, a student arrested 7 years ago following the widespread students uprisings in July 1999, was killed in prison by the thugs of the Islamic republic. The brutalised body of this militant student was immediately buried by the authorities denying his family the right to receive his body. All the reports and indications surrounding the conditions of his death point the fact that Mr Mohammadi was being tortured and was denied medical treatment for his ailments that were caused by torture and ill-treatment during the seven years of his captivity.

The death of this young militant student has outraged Iranians across the world and drawn an outpouring of condemnation by the widest sections of society demanding justice for Akbar Mohammadi and his family. However, Mr Akbar Mohammadi is not alone. There are thousands of political prisoners in Iran, including, trade unionists, students, women and militants belonging to national minorities, subjected to the worst inhuman and barbaric tortures and ill-treatment. The lives of many political prisoners are in immediate danger.

Tens of workers participating on May 1st rallies and protests, were arrested in 2005, they continue to remain in captivity. In January, on the eve of the strike by workers of the Vahed Bus Company 1200 workers were arrested at home and in their work places to prevent the strike taking place. While most have now been released, the leader of the independent trade union continues to be held in prison. In May 2006, following widespread protests of hundreds of thousands of Turkish nation in Azerbaijan of Iran, at least 50 protestors were killed and thousands were arrested by the Islamic authorities. Many continue to remain in prison. Only a week ago, the Islamic authorities issued death sentences against ten militants of the indigenous Arab nation in Iran several of them are mere teenagers.

The regime of Islamic republic since its very foundation 27 years ago, has filled prisons with thousands of its opponents and committed atrocious crimes and barbarities against political prisoners. It has executed tens of thousands of communists, democrats, trade unionists, women, students and members of national minorities including Kurdish, Turkeman, Arab and Baluchs. The brutal massacre of estimated 18,000 political prisoners following the regime's acceptance of defeat in the Iran-Iraq war, was carried out in a short period from June till September, 1988.

The reactionary regime of Islamic republic from its very foundation has imposed torture, intimidation, isolation, severe interrogation, abuse and ill-treatment of political prisoners denying all human rights for it opponents. Barbaric acts of violence against the opponents of the regime such as bombing of peaceful demonstration of workers, genocides of Kurdish villagers, chain killing of intellectuals, terrorist acts and assassination of its opponents abroad, tell only a brief aspect of the reactionary and black record of the criminal regime in power in Iran.

Under the current condition of worsening economic and political crisis in Iran and the intensification of the struggle of the people against the regime of Islamic republic there is increasing danger to the lives of political prisoners in our country. Coinciding with the 18th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in Iran, in 1988, we call on all progressive and democratic people across the world to join us in our efforts to raise our sensitivity to the plight of the political prisoners in Iran and in particular the lives of the ten Arab militants that are in immediate danger of execution by the Islamic authorities.

We support the just struggle of Iranian people for the complete overthrow of this reactionary regime for a revolutionary, secular, democratic Iran free from imperialist domination.

Democratic Anti-imperialist Organisation of Iranians in Britain August 4, 2006
info@rahehsorkh.org