Four religious writers and scholars have been released from prison in Iran after international pressure. The four are followers of the Garnd Ayatalloh Shirazi and were detained at the end of 1995. There were fears that they had been badly tortured. Hujjatol Islam Sheikh Jafar Ghani, Hujjatol Islam Muhammed Ali Ma’ash, Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin […]
Four religious writers and scholars have been released from prison
in Iran after international pressure. The four are followers of
the Garnd Ayatalloh Shirazi and were detained at the end of 1995.
There were fears that they had been badly tortured. Hujjatol Islam
Sheikh Jafar Ghani, Hujjatol Islam Muhammed Ali Ma’ash, Hujjatol
Islam wal Muslimin Seyed Abd al-Rasool Moosawi and Hujjatol Islam
Sayyed Abbaas Moosawi were released in early August 1996.
**For background to Sayed Morteza Shirazi case, see
IFEX alert 6 December 1995**
Sheikh Jafar Ghani has written at least six books and was the head
priest of several Islamic centres founded by the Grand Ayatollah
Shirazi in Northern Iraq. He was detained in Qum on 30 September
1995 and reportedly sentenced to 15 months in prison for his
association with the Grand Ayatollah. However, the sentence
appears to have been annulled. Sheikh Muhammed Ali Ma’ash and
Seyed Abd al-Rasool Moosawi were detained on 11 November 1995.
Sayyed Abbaas Moosawi was detained from 7 December 1995, and was
sentenced to six months in prison reportedly in connection with
his association with the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi. The Grand
Ayatollah has criticised Ayatollah Khamenei and the hierarchical
nature of religious leadership in Iran.
Despite the releases, there are still many writers and followers
of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi who are still in prison. They
include the following, most of whom are reported to have been
severely tortured:
Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin Sheikh Makki Aakhoond:
He was detained on 29 April 1994 and sentenced to three years in
prison by the Special Court for Clerics, possibly in connection
with his association with Grand Ayatollah Shirazi. He is reported
to suffer from ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure and
nervous problems, and is said not to have been allowed access to a
doctor.
Hujjatol Islam Sheikh Muhammed Taqi Dhaakeri (Aakhoond):
He was detained around 11 November 1995 in a crackdown on
followers of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi. He has written at least
six books.
Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin Sheikh Muhammed Al-Saffaar:
He was detained around 11 November 1995. A university lecturer,
writer and poet, one of his books about the Islamic concept of
freedom has been banned by the authorities.
Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin Sheikh Fo’ad Foojeian:
He was detained around 11 November 1995.
Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin Sheikh Taaleb Saalehi:
He was detained around 11 November 1995. He has written several
books on Islamic subjects, including a book on the need for
plurality in an Islamic government.
Hujjatol Islam wal muslimin Sayed Morteza Shirazi:
Writer and lecturer of “Khaarej”, the highest lecture at Hawzah
(religious academy in Qum), he has published several books on
Islamic themes, including “Council for the religious Marjas”. The
first volume of this book was banned. It argues against religious
authoritarianism and for a consultative style of religious
leadership. He is the son of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and was
reportedly detained on 21 November 1995 after three unmarked
vehicles approached him as he was returning to his father’s house
(see IFEX alert of 6 December 1995). The accusations against him
include: setting up an illegal organization to disturb the public
order and issue false documents, unauthorized printing of books,
actively promoting a banned religious tradition, disseminating
lies, defaming Iranian leaders and officials, making contact with
wanted criminals residing in foreign countries and unauthorized
reports to foreign countries. The Grand Ayatollah is said to have
received threats that his son will be executed if he does not stop
criticising the regime.
Hujjatol Islam wal muslimin Seyed Mehdi al-Shirazi:
A 21-year-old religious scholar, theology teacher and author of a
book on Imam Mahdi ibn al-Hassan, he is the younger brother of
Murteza al-Shirazi. He was reportedly detained on the way from Qum
to Tehran on 19 June 1996. He was said to have been pulled out of
the car he was travelling in with his mother and sister. The
family had been reportedly going to Tehran to seek medical
treatment for his mother.
Another religious critic of the government still detained is the
Ayatollah Ya’sub al-Din Rastigari, an Islamic scholar and writer
of many books, including an encyclopedia on the interpretation of
the Koran. He was reportedly detained in late February 1996 and is
around 70 years old. His detention is reported to have come after
he held a prayer at a Qum mosque without allegedly seeking
official permission. Others believe his arrest is due to his
criticism of Ayatollah Khamenei.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities below:
writers who were thought to have been detained in connection with
their association with the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi
who remain in prison
these men are held and urge, if they are not held on any
internationally recognisable criminal offence, that they be
immediately and unconditionally released
prisoners and may be held in violation of their right to freedom
of expression
Appeals To
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaidjan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Ali Besharati Jahromi
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of Interior
Dr Fatemi Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iranfax care of the Iranian diplomatic representative in your country
(in France)
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
4, avenue d’Iena
75116 Paris, France
Fax: +33 1 40 70 01 57
(in Canada)
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2 Canada
Fax: +1 613 232 5712
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
