(RSF/IFEX) – To mark the fifth anniversary of the serial murders of a number of journalists and intellectuals, RSF has called on the Iranian authorities to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by the murderers and those who instigated the killings. In November and December 1998, several intellectuals and opposition figures were murdered in […]
(RSF/IFEX) – To mark the fifth anniversary of the serial murders of a number of journalists and intellectuals, RSF has called on the Iranian authorities to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by the murderers and those who instigated the killings.
In November and December 1998, several intellectuals and opposition figures were murdered in Iran, including Daryush and Parvaneh Forouhar, prominent liberal opposition figures, Majid Charif, an editorial writer for the monthly “Iran-é-Farda”, and writers and journalists Mohamad Mokhtari and Mohamad Jafar Pouyandeh.
In late August 1998, Pirouz Davani, editor-in-chief of “Pirouz” newspaper, disappeared without a trace. His body was never found. His disappearance and the wave of killings led to angry protests by a large segment of the reformist press.
“We have reached the conclusion that highly-ranked individuals are implicated in this case, figures whom we cannot challenge. That is why this file is frozen,” said Hossein Ansari-Rad, head of the Article 90 Parliamentary Commission, whose role is to investigate written complaints against the executive, legislature or judiciary.
In January 1999, the Intelligence Ministry officially acknowledged that some of its agents were implicated in the killings and announced the arrest of dozens of suspects. In January 2001, 15 Intelligence Ministry agents were convicted in the Forouhar murder case. Three were sentenced to death and 12 were sentenced to prison terms. Three other individuals, suspected of being involved in the case, were acquitted. The case was then heard by the Supreme Court, which upheld the verdict. However, only two of the accused were sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In contrast, the authorities never showed an inclination to fully investigate the Davani case. Those who ordered his disappearance have therefore been guaranteed complete impunity.
Moreover, there has never been an investigation of the identity of the individuals behind the killings.
Recently, Daryush and Parvaneh Forouhar’s daughter, Parastou, told Radio Farda, which broadcasts from outside Iran, that “after five years of the files going to and fro between the different justice departments, there is no chance of a satisfactory outcome. We are now convinced that the Iranian judiciary refuses to investigate this case and refuses to punish the murderers and those behind the murder.”
The victims’ families have complained that the question of who instigated the killings has never been raised. Since November 2002, they have appealed to international justice organisations to address the matter. RSF supports these families and hopes that the international bodies will do everything within their power to ensure that justice is served.
