Call for justice over massacre of political prisoners in Iran.
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A historic march for justice was held in Stockholm
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A grassroots and historic march for justice was held over Iran’s 1980s mass executions of political prisoners in Stockholm on 15 December 2018. The march was also in support and inspired by the irresistible demands for justice by Mothers of Khavaran[i], mourning the loss of their children in the 1980s mass-executions.
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For the first time in the contemporary history of Iran, the families of political execution, along with the survivors of 1980s mass execution initiated this historic march, calling for justice over massacre of political prisoners in 1980s in Iran.
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Background
During the summer of 1988, thousands of Iranian political prisoners were taken from their cells and executed. All over Iran, men and women were blindfolded and shot, or hanged in exercise yards or prayer halls. None of them was taken to trial, instead they were asked a few questions by what became known as the “Death Commission”, and sentenced to death according to their responses. (1) These prisoners had survived the mass executions of the early years of 1980s and were in the process of serving their long sentences.
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There are no numbers of the exact number of victims, as a result of harsh censorship and a harsh political climate in Iran. But, to this day, there are around 4,000 known names of victims which have been documented by families, political parties and organizations. Many of those who were killed had served their sentences, but were still in prison as they would not agree to the conditions of their release. Victims were either shot by a firing squad or were hanged.
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Their bodies were buried in mass graves, the locations of which remain undisclosed. To this day, many families do not know where their loved ones are buried. The Islamic Republic of Iran refuses to give any information about where the graves are located, but a number of graves have been discovered by the families. The most well-known graves were found in Khavaran cemetery in the southwest suburbs of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Khavaran is an abandoned Bahai cemetery.
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The massacre was the climax of a massive elimination process from 1981 to 1988, under which 15000 to 20,000 dissidents disappeared, either dying under torture or being executed by firing squads.
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According to political prisoners who survived the killings, young girls were raped with support from the Sharia laws before they were executed by firing squad. A woman’s rape is frequently the last act that precedes her execution in Iran. Under Sharia law in Iran, virgin girls are not allowed to be executed. This practice has been documented by families, former political prisoners, the Iranian opposition and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
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Over the years since these terrible massacres took place, family members of the victims, former political prisoners, opposition political parties and human rights organizations have attempted to bring to the attention of the world the murderous campaign of the Islamic Republic of Iran by various means; publishing statements and statistics and holding seminars and demonstrations.
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In spite of all these efforts, the world at large is not aware of the extent of this human tragedy. Family members, especially the children whose parents were killed, have only had one wish over all these years; to bring to justice the murderers of their loved ones. Their lives have been deeply affected by this tragedy, but they cannot seek justice in Iran.
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The 1988 killings were certainly widespread and part of a comprehensive organized illegal action that began in June 1981 with mass executions and lasted until September 1988 with the massacre. They were geographically dispersed across the country and the number of victims is estimated to be 20,000, although the exact figure is open to debate. And they were systematic. The “crimes” committed by these prisoners consisted of expressing their non-violent political beliefs, perhaps by selling newspapers or attending meetings or demonstrations.
Political prisoners, whether in the early years of 1980s or in the summer of 1988, were not afforded anything even remotely resembling a trial, let alone a fair trial. They were arrested on very vague charges, tortured, and then taken to a room where their charges and sentences were communicated to them. The whole process lasted two to three minutes. No legal process was followed. No defence was allowed. No appeals. No safeguards.
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Mother Hebe De Bonafini, President of the Mothers of the Plaza send a video clip greeting message to the mothers of Kahavran on the occassion of the rally. Her greeting is included in the follwoing video clip.
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Alicia Lira, the president of the AFEB has also sent the following message to the mothers and families of the Khavaran.
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Dear friends
I am writing from the Dominican Republic where I am participating in activities for peace in my home country of Chile..
To the relatives and survivors of the massacre in Iran’s prisons, I send my warmest greetings and deepest feelings of solidarity for seeking for truth and justice for your loved ones, as well as relatives of the executed political prisoners. Nothing should stop us from seeking for the truth and justice. Even today, our struggle continues, even in a distant country like Chile.
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In addition to the pain of their physical absence, our children have also left behind pride and dignity and with these values we can thus continue our struggle with love and hope, as a tribute to them but also for future generations where they can live and build a country which will not allow similar heinous crimes to be repeated.
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Dear Friends
You should know that you are never alone. We may come from different countries and different circumstances but the love and appreciation for each of you in this long journey for justice unites us, and will never end until we know the truth.
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A big hug of solidarity from a Chilean Mothers and Families who are involved in the same fight.
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Alicia Lira
The president of AFEP
[i] Mothers Khavaran whose sons and daughters were executed in the 1980s gather regularly at the mass graves located in the abandoned Khavaran cemetery, demanding the truth and justice. The Khavaran cemetery is located in southern Iran’s capital Tehran. There are tens of mass graves all over Iran. Khavaran is the most famous mass grave site.
Movie clips of the rally.