By NAZILA FATHI
Published: December 27, 2007
TEHRAN — A prominent human rights activist who has been jailed since October was transferred to a hospital Wednesday, according to his wife and the news agency ISNA.
The man, Emadedin Baghi, a reformist journalist who is in jail for the second time, was taken from the notorious Evin prison to a hospital in Tehran. His wife, Fatimeh Kamali, said in a telephone interview Wednesday that her husband had called her in the morning from prison and sounded as if he was barely conscious.
She said he could barely speak and kept repeating himself, but she was able to understand that he said he would have died had a prison official not recently found him. He also asked for his lawyer.
ISNA quoted the general director of prisons in Tehran Province, Sohrab Soleimani, as saying that Mr. Baghi was taken to a hospital but was expected to return to prison Wednesday evening. He did not provide any further information.
Mr. Baghi’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, had traveled to the prison to meet with him in the morning before the phone call but was turned away by prison officials who said Mr. Baghi was being interrogated, Ms. Kamali said.
After the phone call, Ms. Kamali said she and Mr. Nikbakht rushed to the prison, where they saw an ambulance go in and quickly leave.
Although she and Mr. Nikbakht spent the rest of the day trying to get permission from judiciary officials to see Mr. Baghi, they never got approval, Ms. Kamali said.
Mr. Baghi was jailed in October, when he was summoned to appear before a court to answer accusations related to a nongovernmental organization he founded to fight for prisoner rights, his Web site says.
Prior to the October court date, he had received a one-year jail term for a speech he made in 2004 and a three-year suspended sentence on charges of acting against national security.
Mr. Baghi was in jail from 2000 to 2003 for making allegations about the role government officials played in the assassination of intellectuals in the late 1990s.
Ms. Kamali said Wednesday that prison officials had promised that her husband would call her back Wednesday, but she said he had not called as of late Wednesday evening.
link
Friday, December 28, 2007
Severe Decline in Baghi's Health
Last night I heard bad news about the health of my brother. Yesterday morning when he was taking shower in his solitary confinement, suddenly he left unconscious. When the prison authorities telephoned at his home, he couldn't talk with his wife. The only thing that he could say was this sentence : "if the prison authorities didn't rush to help me, I died and ceased to be alive". The point is that when his lawyer decided to meet him at the prison, he was informed by the authorities that Mr. Baghi is being interrogated and you are not permitted to meet him. At the same time he was ordered to give a call at home and tell his wife that : "notify Mr. Nikbakht to return home and leave the prison". We were informed that he was transferred to an unknown hospital in Tehran. His wife together with his daughter and his son-in-law and my brother's attorney in law were searching the hospitals of Tehran last night. Finally at 2 in the midnight they found the hospital but they were not permitted to meet him. we believe that he had a heart attack (despite we are not sure about this but guess)and was under severe pressure in the prison in a way that he couldn't talk to his wife. An intelligent agent on behalf of my brother talked to his wife. Today (Thursday) he will be taken to the prison again.
You know better than I do that when a person has a heart attack must be hospitalized for a couple of days and be taken care by the Doctors but after less than 24 hours he will be moved to the prison again.
This is an interview distributed in the web sites:
Emadeddin Baghi – the imprisoned head of defending prisoners' rights society- due to severe decline and deterioration in his health moved to the hospital on Wednesday night. Baghi in his last telephone call declared that he had a heart attack when he was taking shower and after that the prison authorities rushed to help and transfer him to the hospital.
The director general of Tehran prisons, Sohrab Soleimani, confirmed the news and added : "Wednesday night he will be returned to the prison. His general health was not favorable and transferred to one of the hospitals based in Tehran " .
According to the conferring and lobbying done, he is supposed to be taken care in the hospital till tomorrow (Thursday). He was first hospitalized in CCU and now due to his relative recovery he is being taken care in a general section.
This is while Mr. Karrobi had conferment and lobbying with Mohseni Ejei (intelligence minister), Ali Razini (court of justice minister) and Ali Mobasheri (the head of Tehran revolutionary court) for pursuing and knowing about the deteriorating situation of Mr. Baghi.
Also Mohammad Ghochani – Baghi's son in law- in an interview gave the following explanations:
Ghochani said: yesterday morning Mr. Nikbakht went to prison to meet baghi. But he was informed by the prison officials that Baghi is being interrogated and you are not allowed to meet him.
He added: two hours after Mr. Nikbakht left the prison; Mr. Baghi gave a phone call at home and informed the family of his deterioration in his health, that due to this, the telephone conversation interrupted. After that, we had a phone call to Evin Prison and urged the authorities that tell us know about Mr. Baghi's situation. We were told his lawyer can meet him.
Ghochani went on to say that unlike the prison officials' promise, Mr. Nikbakht together with Mr. Baghi's wife from 10/30 in the morning had been waiting for the permission to meet Baghi but after hours of delay they were not allowed to pay a visit to Baghi.
He continued saying that we are worried about his situation. If something bad happens to Mr. Baghi, it is the government officials' duty to take the responsibility.
Also Mrs. Kamali – Baghi's wife- had an interview with BBC World.
She said: "Mr. Baghi telephoned at home at 11 in the morning (Wednesday) from Prison but he was not able to talk and his only demand was to see his lawyer. I knew him from his "hello". I called him but no one answered to me. Again when I called him for the fourth time, I was notified that someone is telling baghi that you have to talk to your wife so that they understand that you are O.K. after this struggle, I heard that Mr. baghi is telling me "inform my lawyer to return to the prison". The interrogator told me on behalf of Baghi that he caught cold. That's it and he is o.k" .
Mrs. Kamali says: despite we hurriedly and rapidly rushed to the prison but we were not permitted to meet him and no one replied us.
Mrs. Kamali asks the question: "if he has severe decline in his health, why has he been interrogated? " she added that we couldn't receive any response from judicial officials. She said that this is the first time that I heard Mr. Baghi can not speak well. He spoke with low tone of voice that made me too worry.
This was bit of news about my brother. i will let you know soon more about him.
You know better than I do that when a person has a heart attack must be hospitalized for a couple of days and be taken care by the Doctors but after less than 24 hours he will be moved to the prison again.
This is an interview distributed in the web sites:
Emadeddin Baghi – the imprisoned head of defending prisoners' rights society- due to severe decline and deterioration in his health moved to the hospital on Wednesday night. Baghi in his last telephone call declared that he had a heart attack when he was taking shower and after that the prison authorities rushed to help and transfer him to the hospital.
The director general of Tehran prisons, Sohrab Soleimani, confirmed the news and added : "Wednesday night he will be returned to the prison. His general health was not favorable and transferred to one of the hospitals based in Tehran " .
According to the conferring and lobbying done, he is supposed to be taken care in the hospital till tomorrow (Thursday). He was first hospitalized in CCU and now due to his relative recovery he is being taken care in a general section.
This is while Mr. Karrobi had conferment and lobbying with Mohseni Ejei (intelligence minister), Ali Razini (court of justice minister) and Ali Mobasheri (the head of Tehran revolutionary court) for pursuing and knowing about the deteriorating situation of Mr. Baghi.
Also Mohammad Ghochani – Baghi's son in law- in an interview gave the following explanations:
Ghochani said: yesterday morning Mr. Nikbakht went to prison to meet baghi. But he was informed by the prison officials that Baghi is being interrogated and you are not allowed to meet him.
He added: two hours after Mr. Nikbakht left the prison; Mr. Baghi gave a phone call at home and informed the family of his deterioration in his health, that due to this, the telephone conversation interrupted. After that, we had a phone call to Evin Prison and urged the authorities that tell us know about Mr. Baghi's situation. We were told his lawyer can meet him.
Ghochani went on to say that unlike the prison officials' promise, Mr. Nikbakht together with Mr. Baghi's wife from 10/30 in the morning had been waiting for the permission to meet Baghi but after hours of delay they were not allowed to pay a visit to Baghi.
He continued saying that we are worried about his situation. If something bad happens to Mr. Baghi, it is the government officials' duty to take the responsibility.
Also Mrs. Kamali – Baghi's wife- had an interview with BBC World.
She said: "Mr. Baghi telephoned at home at 11 in the morning (Wednesday) from Prison but he was not able to talk and his only demand was to see his lawyer. I knew him from his "hello". I called him but no one answered to me. Again when I called him for the fourth time, I was notified that someone is telling baghi that you have to talk to your wife so that they understand that you are O.K. after this struggle, I heard that Mr. baghi is telling me "inform my lawyer to return to the prison". The interrogator told me on behalf of Baghi that he caught cold. That's it and he is o.k" .
Mrs. Kamali says: despite we hurriedly and rapidly rushed to the prison but we were not permitted to meet him and no one replied us.
Mrs. Kamali asks the question: "if he has severe decline in his health, why has he been interrogated? " she added that we couldn't receive any response from judicial officials. She said that this is the first time that I heard Mr. Baghi can not speak well. He spoke with low tone of voice that made me too worry.
This was bit of news about my brother. i will let you know soon more about him.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Khatami promised to help Baghi
Etemad Daily Newspaper published the following news: A group of “pursuit board members” for Emadeddin Baghi’s release (elected by the Governing Board of the Defending Prisoners’ Rights Society) met with the ex-Iranian president Mr. Khatami. At this meeting, Mr. Khatami as well as notifying his awareness and cognizance about Baghi’s human rights activities (the head of DPRS), evaluated his civil endeavors as in the interest of the society (particularly, helping prisoners and their families) and assistance to the authorities (especially judiciary system). Besides, Khatami highlighting and emphasizing on Baghi’s good intention and his national and religious motivations in his human rights efforts expressed his sorrow for the way that Baghi was treated recently. …… Khatami promised to use the existing potential and actual means and possibilities to solve Baghi’s recent difficulty and act for rectifying this misunderstanding.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Emadeddin Baghi’s Mourning for Qeysar Aminpour / Qeysar’s Unwritten Poem
Maryam Baghi
It was one of the spring days of this year. My father gave me the phone and said, “Qeysar Aminpour is on the line. He is reciting the poem ‘A Plan for Peace’ and you write.” I liked his poems and was happy by the fact that I was going to read his unpublished poem on the day of announcement for the establishment of The Center for Peace Seekers of Iran (Olive Society). He was ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. For this reason he could not be present to the get together to which he had been invited and I had to read his poem:
Martyr sleeping in earth
Said to himself
If conquest is this
That enemy is defeated
Why enmity is still around
Martyr sleeping in earth
Finger tipping in his blood and writing
Two or three words on stone
In the hope of real victory
Not in war
But over war
Today Qeysar Aminpour is gone. Taking flight to the land of eternal, as though he had experienced the flight before in his dreams:
Last night again
As though I saw myself in my dream
Opening wings in the sky
And soaring in between clouds
And as I leaped in the morning
In my bed
I saw a fistful of feathers
Then with disbelieving yawn
Laid hand on my tired shoulders
On my shoulders
As though empty place of something
Something like a wing
I was feeling
Today my father is not with us but he is around here. Tall walls have surrounded him so he would not be among us, not be in his society, since “enmity is still around,” since his pain, “although not like the pain of contemporary people” is “the pain of contemporary people” and others misunderstand his pain because….
It was 45 days that I had not seen my father. His one day trips were always hard for us and we had just gotten over his 3-year absence… I saw him, in person and took him in my embrace. Our greetings in front of the three supervising officials had not finished when he said, “When did Qeysar Aminpour passed away?” Aminpour was no longer more than a month. My father had nothing; no newspaper was given to him, not even a piece of paper and pen. He had just read about the passing away of Qeysar Aminpour in the old newspapers that he did not tell us how he had seen. He was so much in sorrow that in the short 20 minute meeting he remembered his last encounter with him; an encounter in which Qeysar Aminpour was feeling slightly ill and it was agreed that he would write a poem; a poem for “Right of Life.” This was a poem that he apparently never found opportunity to write when his earthly life ended.
My father wanted at least his condolences to reach Aminpour’s family. He did not have paper and pen to write a few sentences to console them. We had to relay his message.
The week after, when 51 days had passed since his arrest, we went to see him standing behind a glass barrier; only my mother and I and not my younger sisters who are pained because they cannot touch my father from behind the glass. My father was also not happy with this type of meeting but we had seen his thin body and his physical condition had become a concern. We wanted to see him one more time no matter what. It was raining and rain was turning into small snowflakes. Autumn leaves had covered the prison yard and we thought that my father would at least traverse the distance between his ward and the meeting hall with a car, will see the rain and snow which he likes and feel the change of season. I was telling myself that once I saw him I would tell him to say a few sentences for consoling Aminpour’s family so that I could relay them. Three times the curtain in the meeting hall went up and down and finally no prisoner entered the hall. The meeting time was over and my father did not come. We did not know why they told us that he is prohibited from meeting with family after all this wait!
***
Dear Aminpour! Pains like yours and my father’s are familiar to me. I walked the streets, closely look around. I speak to a variety of people and say hello. Yes, your pain is not the pain of contemporary people, it is another kind but it is their pain. I recite over and over this part of your “pain remembrance”:
My Pains
Although not like the pains of contemporary people
Are the pains of contemporary people
People whose skins’ wrinkles
Color of their cuffs
People whose names
Old covers of their birth certificates
Are in Pain
But with me all of my boned being
Simple moments of writing
Curves of my spirit
Tired shoulders of my pride
Exposed refuge of my heart is broken
Shoulder of my excuseless cries
Arms of my poetic feeling
Have been scarred
May your spirit be in joy; a spirit that is like life since being alive is not the only meaning of life:
Being after self is not meaning of love
In the same way being alive [not] meaning of life
Yes, dear, Ayeh Aminpour, departure for your father was arrival. He had said it himself:
We are waves and our union, is separation from self
The coast is an excuse, to depart is to arrived
He has arrived to the love for which he wrote a grammar. Accept the condolences of my father, I, and my family.
Source: Sharvand-e Emrouz
It was one of the spring days of this year. My father gave me the phone and said, “Qeysar Aminpour is on the line. He is reciting the poem ‘A Plan for Peace’ and you write.” I liked his poems and was happy by the fact that I was going to read his unpublished poem on the day of announcement for the establishment of The Center for Peace Seekers of Iran (Olive Society). He was ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. For this reason he could not be present to the get together to which he had been invited and I had to read his poem:
Martyr sleeping in earth
Said to himself
If conquest is this
That enemy is defeated
Why enmity is still around
Martyr sleeping in earth
Finger tipping in his blood and writing
Two or three words on stone
In the hope of real victory
Not in war
But over war
Today Qeysar Aminpour is gone. Taking flight to the land of eternal, as though he had experienced the flight before in his dreams:
Last night again
As though I saw myself in my dream
Opening wings in the sky
And soaring in between clouds
And as I leaped in the morning
In my bed
I saw a fistful of feathers
Then with disbelieving yawn
Laid hand on my tired shoulders
On my shoulders
As though empty place of something
Something like a wing
I was feeling
Today my father is not with us but he is around here. Tall walls have surrounded him so he would not be among us, not be in his society, since “enmity is still around,” since his pain, “although not like the pain of contemporary people” is “the pain of contemporary people” and others misunderstand his pain because….
It was 45 days that I had not seen my father. His one day trips were always hard for us and we had just gotten over his 3-year absence… I saw him, in person and took him in my embrace. Our greetings in front of the three supervising officials had not finished when he said, “When did Qeysar Aminpour passed away?” Aminpour was no longer more than a month. My father had nothing; no newspaper was given to him, not even a piece of paper and pen. He had just read about the passing away of Qeysar Aminpour in the old newspapers that he did not tell us how he had seen. He was so much in sorrow that in the short 20 minute meeting he remembered his last encounter with him; an encounter in which Qeysar Aminpour was feeling slightly ill and it was agreed that he would write a poem; a poem for “Right of Life.” This was a poem that he apparently never found opportunity to write when his earthly life ended.
My father wanted at least his condolences to reach Aminpour’s family. He did not have paper and pen to write a few sentences to console them. We had to relay his message.
The week after, when 51 days had passed since his arrest, we went to see him standing behind a glass barrier; only my mother and I and not my younger sisters who are pained because they cannot touch my father from behind the glass. My father was also not happy with this type of meeting but we had seen his thin body and his physical condition had become a concern. We wanted to see him one more time no matter what. It was raining and rain was turning into small snowflakes. Autumn leaves had covered the prison yard and we thought that my father would at least traverse the distance between his ward and the meeting hall with a car, will see the rain and snow which he likes and feel the change of season. I was telling myself that once I saw him I would tell him to say a few sentences for consoling Aminpour’s family so that I could relay them. Three times the curtain in the meeting hall went up and down and finally no prisoner entered the hall. The meeting time was over and my father did not come. We did not know why they told us that he is prohibited from meeting with family after all this wait!
***
Dear Aminpour! Pains like yours and my father’s are familiar to me. I walked the streets, closely look around. I speak to a variety of people and say hello. Yes, your pain is not the pain of contemporary people, it is another kind but it is their pain. I recite over and over this part of your “pain remembrance”:
My Pains
Although not like the pains of contemporary people
Are the pains of contemporary people
People whose skins’ wrinkles
Color of their cuffs
People whose names
Old covers of their birth certificates
Are in Pain
But with me all of my boned being
Simple moments of writing
Curves of my spirit
Tired shoulders of my pride
Exposed refuge of my heart is broken
Shoulder of my excuseless cries
Arms of my poetic feeling
Have been scarred
May your spirit be in joy; a spirit that is like life since being alive is not the only meaning of life:
Being after self is not meaning of love
In the same way being alive [not] meaning of life
Yes, dear, Ayeh Aminpour, departure for your father was arrival. He had said it himself:
We are waves and our union, is separation from self
The coast is an excuse, to depart is to arrived
He has arrived to the love for which he wrote a grammar. Accept the condolences of my father, I, and my family.
Source: Sharvand-e Emrouz
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Baghi: I have no choice but to go on hunger strike
In his letter to 5 government officials
Baghi: I have no choice but to go on hunger strike
Nourooz: Emadeddin Baghi’s family – the detained head of the association for defending prisoners’ rights- could finally meet him on Monday after 45 days. Baghi in this visitation – that caused to his family’s protest because of rude behavior of the investigator – announced that since then he has written 5 letters to judicial chief Ayatollah Shahroodi, Tehran ministry of justice, Intelligence ministry, the head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters, Baghi described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights and has protested against his (way of) detention and place of his detention. Baghi in his letters has declared that he is not looking for raising tumult and kicking up a dust but if these lawlessness and spiritual and physical tortures continues to practice, there will remain no choice for him except to go on a hunger strike. Nourooz correspondent in an interview with Baghi’s spouse, asked questions about the situation of Baghi in prison.
Mrs. Kamali! What was the conditions and state of your meeting with Mr. Baghi?
Baghi’s lawyer took troubles (or pains) and submitted a request to meet him face-to-face. My daughters could hug their father after 45 days but they had a lump in their throat. Mr. Baghi had become too slim. He entered the meeting room with two agents. We thought they will go with him into the saloon and then will stand aside but surprisingly they ordered all the family to sit around a table. Then one of them stood over Mr. Baghi and the other stood over the family. Mr. Baghi took offence deeply and said: “we are transparent like all stages of my life and your rude behavior is offensive”. Mr. Baghi ignored them with his family’s request. Despite, these two agents were standing over all of us but unfortunately, at the time when we wanted to exit the saloon, they directed my daughters and me to a room to investigate us physically.
Their action was questionable and it seems to me a bit dubious; if they investigated us physically before meeting Baghi, their action was justifiable, for example they tried to prevent us not to give a written report to Baghi from our side. But it has a different meaning when investigating at the time of leaving. It means that they are taking preventive measures or precautions not to transfer or pass on Baghi’s written reports out of prison. This is while Baghi has been denied pen, pencil and papers. The situation was so harsh that my junior daughter told me: “Mummy! I became sad with this meeting. See my father is under severe pressures and tortures. Regarding to their full surveillance and screening, they fear from the fact that my father gives us a report about his terrible situation in the prison”.
We requested the prison authorities’ response after this rude investigation. But the woman who directed us to the room, commanded to stand in queue. Her offensive and impolite behavior with Mr. Baghi’s mother irritated my daughters. She searched my daughter’s handbag and her body. She dressed a hand glove and asked my daughter to strip her undergarment off. My daughter could not believe and looked at me surprisingly then told the woman agent: “what did you say?” when she reiterated domineeringly, my daughter became so angry and burst into crying and shouting. My daughter intensely protested and said: “I do not permit you to do this. Have you captured a smuggler? What do you fear from to deny a pen, pencil and a sheet of paper to my father? You had stood over us and kept your eyes on our mouth? With the presence of two agents how could we hide something? I will never let you insult me. Why don’t you treat and behave people in their dignity? Isn’t it enough to put pressure on my father and irritate him?”
My daughter cried too much in a way that impressed the family. I could hardly make her calm and quiet; particularly, Mr. Baghi’s elder brother had recently a cerebral apoplexy. Nervousness and excitement is harmful for him. He could hardly visit his brother. He was worried about the situation of his brother so that feels calm and relief by seeing him. But when he saw his brother and being turned his nieces, his situation became so bad. We think God has bestowed him again to his family.
I’m so sorry of all these unkindness and cruelty for a 20 minute visit. I don not know why they do not consider his reverence. I wish someone respond to this question. Regarding to the fact that Baghi has been denied a small sheet of paper, pen and pencil, how he can deliver something to us? This rude investigation whether by intelligence ministry or the prison authorities has no meaning but to psychologically irritate and infuriate the family.
- How was Mr. baghi’s Mental and physical situation?
His mental situation was great. We thought we have to enliven him considering 45 days in solitary confinement. But it was surprising that he invigorated his family and this led us to ignore the unkindness allowed to him. He is being held in solitary confinement for 45 days. He was unaware and uninformed about the news outside the prison. Yesterday he found an old newspaper and informed about the Death of Gheysar Aminpor (Iranian poet). He was impressed. He said “ I wish I knew about this soon and sent a letter of condolence to his family”. He commemorated Gheysar before being imprisoned because he was supposed to compose poetry about “the right to life”. Mr. Baghi has been told to receive newspapers since tomorrow (Tuesday) but we do not know what kind of newspaper.
Another issue which rose at the visit was Baghi’s request for a pen and a peace of paper to write a letter to government officials. First, they replied the pen is forbidden. But after his protest to their illegal act, he received a peace of paper and a pen only to write a letter to officials. The pen and paper confiscated after he wrote the letter. Baghi has written 5 letters to some government officials including, judicial chief, Tehran ministry of justice, intelligence ministry, head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters he described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights committed by officials and announced that if these lawlessness and mental and physical tortures goes on to practice, I will have no choice except to go on a hunger strike.
Could you give a book or something to Mr. Baghi during you visit?
No, unfortunately. We took with us some food and fruits and 3 books but the authorities prevented to deliver them to Baghi. Of course, if all the facilities be given to him, but he is still being held in a closed cell. We don’t know why they are so persistent to keep him in such a situation.
Baghi: I have no choice but to go on hunger strike
Nourooz: Emadeddin Baghi’s family – the detained head of the association for defending prisoners’ rights- could finally meet him on Monday after 45 days. Baghi in this visitation – that caused to his family’s protest because of rude behavior of the investigator – announced that since then he has written 5 letters to judicial chief Ayatollah Shahroodi, Tehran ministry of justice, Intelligence ministry, the head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters, Baghi described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights and has protested against his (way of) detention and place of his detention. Baghi in his letters has declared that he is not looking for raising tumult and kicking up a dust but if these lawlessness and spiritual and physical tortures continues to practice, there will remain no choice for him except to go on a hunger strike. Nourooz correspondent in an interview with Baghi’s spouse, asked questions about the situation of Baghi in prison.
Mrs. Kamali! What was the conditions and state of your meeting with Mr. Baghi?
Baghi’s lawyer took troubles (or pains) and submitted a request to meet him face-to-face. My daughters could hug their father after 45 days but they had a lump in their throat. Mr. Baghi had become too slim. He entered the meeting room with two agents. We thought they will go with him into the saloon and then will stand aside but surprisingly they ordered all the family to sit around a table. Then one of them stood over Mr. Baghi and the other stood over the family. Mr. Baghi took offence deeply and said: “we are transparent like all stages of my life and your rude behavior is offensive”. Mr. Baghi ignored them with his family’s request. Despite, these two agents were standing over all of us but unfortunately, at the time when we wanted to exit the saloon, they directed my daughters and me to a room to investigate us physically.
Their action was questionable and it seems to me a bit dubious; if they investigated us physically before meeting Baghi, their action was justifiable, for example they tried to prevent us not to give a written report to Baghi from our side. But it has a different meaning when investigating at the time of leaving. It means that they are taking preventive measures or precautions not to transfer or pass on Baghi’s written reports out of prison. This is while Baghi has been denied pen, pencil and papers. The situation was so harsh that my junior daughter told me: “Mummy! I became sad with this meeting. See my father is under severe pressures and tortures. Regarding to their full surveillance and screening, they fear from the fact that my father gives us a report about his terrible situation in the prison”.
We requested the prison authorities’ response after this rude investigation. But the woman who directed us to the room, commanded to stand in queue. Her offensive and impolite behavior with Mr. Baghi’s mother irritated my daughters. She searched my daughter’s handbag and her body. She dressed a hand glove and asked my daughter to strip her undergarment off. My daughter could not believe and looked at me surprisingly then told the woman agent: “what did you say?” when she reiterated domineeringly, my daughter became so angry and burst into crying and shouting. My daughter intensely protested and said: “I do not permit you to do this. Have you captured a smuggler? What do you fear from to deny a pen, pencil and a sheet of paper to my father? You had stood over us and kept your eyes on our mouth? With the presence of two agents how could we hide something? I will never let you insult me. Why don’t you treat and behave people in their dignity? Isn’t it enough to put pressure on my father and irritate him?”
My daughter cried too much in a way that impressed the family. I could hardly make her calm and quiet; particularly, Mr. Baghi’s elder brother had recently a cerebral apoplexy. Nervousness and excitement is harmful for him. He could hardly visit his brother. He was worried about the situation of his brother so that feels calm and relief by seeing him. But when he saw his brother and being turned his nieces, his situation became so bad. We think God has bestowed him again to his family.
I’m so sorry of all these unkindness and cruelty for a 20 minute visit. I don not know why they do not consider his reverence. I wish someone respond to this question. Regarding to the fact that Baghi has been denied a small sheet of paper, pen and pencil, how he can deliver something to us? This rude investigation whether by intelligence ministry or the prison authorities has no meaning but to psychologically irritate and infuriate the family.
- How was Mr. baghi’s Mental and physical situation?
His mental situation was great. We thought we have to enliven him considering 45 days in solitary confinement. But it was surprising that he invigorated his family and this led us to ignore the unkindness allowed to him. He is being held in solitary confinement for 45 days. He was unaware and uninformed about the news outside the prison. Yesterday he found an old newspaper and informed about the Death of Gheysar Aminpor (Iranian poet). He was impressed. He said “ I wish I knew about this soon and sent a letter of condolence to his family”. He commemorated Gheysar before being imprisoned because he was supposed to compose poetry about “the right to life”. Mr. Baghi has been told to receive newspapers since tomorrow (Tuesday) but we do not know what kind of newspaper.
Another issue which rose at the visit was Baghi’s request for a pen and a peace of paper to write a letter to government officials. First, they replied the pen is forbidden. But after his protest to their illegal act, he received a peace of paper and a pen only to write a letter to officials. The pen and paper confiscated after he wrote the letter. Baghi has written 5 letters to some government officials including, judicial chief, Tehran ministry of justice, intelligence ministry, head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters he described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights committed by officials and announced that if these lawlessness and mental and physical tortures goes on to practice, I will have no choice except to go on a hunger strike.
Could you give a book or something to Mr. Baghi during you visit?
No, unfortunately. We took with us some food and fruits and 3 books but the authorities prevented to deliver them to Baghi. Of course, if all the facilities be given to him, but he is still being held in a closed cell. We don’t know why they are so persistent to keep him in such a situation.
Committee for Academic & Intellectual Freedom
To: Ayatollah Sayyid ‘Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
cc.: Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Head of the Iranian Judiciary
Mr. Mohammad Hassan Zia'ifar, Secretary of the Islamic Human Rights Commission
We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the arrest of Mr. Emadeddin Baghi on October 14, 2007, and his continued detention. Mr. Baghi is best known internationally as a prominent Iranian journalist, author, and intellectual, and as a leading human rights defender inside Iran as well as the founder (in 2003) of the Association for Defending the Rights of Prisoners in Iran--the pioneering organization of its kind in Iran, which defends the basic rights and human dignity of all prisoners and advocates the abolition of torture and the death penalty. Among other awards recognizing his immense contribution to defending human rights and promoting freedom of expression, Mr. Baghi is the recipient of the Northcote Parkinson Fund’s Civil Courage Award (2004) and the prestigious French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights Award (2005). Prior to his recent arrest, Mr. Baghi already had served a jail sentence from 2000 to 2003 for his journalistic activities and was subsequently subjected to regular intimidation and harassment by the authorities, ranging from the confiscation of his passport to “legal” proceedings against him and his family members.
Mr. Baghi consistently has spoken out against violent social change while promoting freedom of expression and greater democratic rights. In his unflagging endorsement of freedom of expression in Iran, Baghi steadfastly has condemned outside overt or covert state intervention in Iranian affairs. This includes his public rebuke of the US State Department’s allocation of funds for “pro-democracy” groups and human rights NGOs inside Iran. Baghi regards the allocation of such funds as nothing more than Washington’s subterfuge for promoting its own self-serving agenda which, in the process, falsely and undeservedly taints all human rights defenders and advocates of greater freedom of expression inside Iran as somehow beholden to and collaborating with US policy.
According to the available information, Mr. Baghi has been arrested by Iranian authorities to serve a suspended one-year sentence he received in 2004 for his journalistic activities as well as a new three-year sentence on additional charges of “propaganda against the state” and the “public disclosure of state secrets” (stemming from his activities in support of prisoners’ rights and his journalism). He is being held in solitary confinement in Evin prison--in the notorious detention facilities at the prison run by the intelligence ministry--and is denied basic prisoners’ rights, such as regular visitation rights, regular access to his lawyer, and reading and writing material, other than a small copy of the Quran he is allowed to keep.
Mr. Baghi’s arrest has been condemned by leading non-partisan, independent human rights groups and organizations promoting freedom of expression, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International PEN, Reporters without Borders, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). As the leading international, non-partisan, academic organization devoted to Iran and Iran-related studies, the International Society for Iranian Studies Committee for Academic and Intellectual Freedom joins these other international organizations in condemning the arrest and detention of Mr. Baghi and calls on Iranian authorities to grant his immediate and unconditional release. We also ask the Iranian authorities to guarantee Mr. Baghi’s full access to his legal representative, his well-treatment, as well as visitation rights and regular phone calls to his relatives and friends while he remains in detention.
We also are extremely concerned by the intensifying trend in the harassment and detention of many other academics, researchers, and intellectuals in Iran over the past two years on arbitrary, trumped-up charges against them. These arrests and persecutory policies--ranging from the detention of numerous non-violent student activists to the dismissal of university faculty and other educators from their teaching posts on “ideological” grounds, denying formal educational opportunities to members of the Baha’i community, persecution of human rights defenders and journalists, the discretionary closure of many newspapers, the recent arrests of women’s rights activists, or the current trial behind-closed-doors of the French-Iranian student and filmmaker Mehrnoush Solouki--appear to be part of an organized, large-scale attempt by the authorities to further curtail freedom of thought and expression in Iran. As an academic organization committed to the promotion of freedoms of research, thought, and expression, we consider these alarming developments as a well-orchestrated official assault on the basic rights of individuals to freedom of thought and expression, which are guaranteed under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Article 23) and protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 18, 19, and 21), to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory.
Your Excellency, we very much hope you will take appropriate measures to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Baghi and other non-violent jailed journalists, academics, students, and human rights advocates and that you will guarantee the basic rights of freedom of thought, research, and expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
cc.: Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Head of the Iranian Judiciary
Mr. Mohammad Hassan Zia'ifar, Secretary of the Islamic Human Rights Commission
We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the arrest of Mr. Emadeddin Baghi on October 14, 2007, and his continued detention. Mr. Baghi is best known internationally as a prominent Iranian journalist, author, and intellectual, and as a leading human rights defender inside Iran as well as the founder (in 2003) of the Association for Defending the Rights of Prisoners in Iran--the pioneering organization of its kind in Iran, which defends the basic rights and human dignity of all prisoners and advocates the abolition of torture and the death penalty. Among other awards recognizing his immense contribution to defending human rights and promoting freedom of expression, Mr. Baghi is the recipient of the Northcote Parkinson Fund’s Civil Courage Award (2004) and the prestigious French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights Award (2005). Prior to his recent arrest, Mr. Baghi already had served a jail sentence from 2000 to 2003 for his journalistic activities and was subsequently subjected to regular intimidation and harassment by the authorities, ranging from the confiscation of his passport to “legal” proceedings against him and his family members.
Mr. Baghi consistently has spoken out against violent social change while promoting freedom of expression and greater democratic rights. In his unflagging endorsement of freedom of expression in Iran, Baghi steadfastly has condemned outside overt or covert state intervention in Iranian affairs. This includes his public rebuke of the US State Department’s allocation of funds for “pro-democracy” groups and human rights NGOs inside Iran. Baghi regards the allocation of such funds as nothing more than Washington’s subterfuge for promoting its own self-serving agenda which, in the process, falsely and undeservedly taints all human rights defenders and advocates of greater freedom of expression inside Iran as somehow beholden to and collaborating with US policy.
According to the available information, Mr. Baghi has been arrested by Iranian authorities to serve a suspended one-year sentence he received in 2004 for his journalistic activities as well as a new three-year sentence on additional charges of “propaganda against the state” and the “public disclosure of state secrets” (stemming from his activities in support of prisoners’ rights and his journalism). He is being held in solitary confinement in Evin prison--in the notorious detention facilities at the prison run by the intelligence ministry--and is denied basic prisoners’ rights, such as regular visitation rights, regular access to his lawyer, and reading and writing material, other than a small copy of the Quran he is allowed to keep.
Mr. Baghi’s arrest has been condemned by leading non-partisan, independent human rights groups and organizations promoting freedom of expression, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International PEN, Reporters without Borders, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). As the leading international, non-partisan, academic organization devoted to Iran and Iran-related studies, the International Society for Iranian Studies Committee for Academic and Intellectual Freedom joins these other international organizations in condemning the arrest and detention of Mr. Baghi and calls on Iranian authorities to grant his immediate and unconditional release. We also ask the Iranian authorities to guarantee Mr. Baghi’s full access to his legal representative, his well-treatment, as well as visitation rights and regular phone calls to his relatives and friends while he remains in detention.
We also are extremely concerned by the intensifying trend in the harassment and detention of many other academics, researchers, and intellectuals in Iran over the past two years on arbitrary, trumped-up charges against them. These arrests and persecutory policies--ranging from the detention of numerous non-violent student activists to the dismissal of university faculty and other educators from their teaching posts on “ideological” grounds, denying formal educational opportunities to members of the Baha’i community, persecution of human rights defenders and journalists, the discretionary closure of many newspapers, the recent arrests of women’s rights activists, or the current trial behind-closed-doors of the French-Iranian student and filmmaker Mehrnoush Solouki--appear to be part of an organized, large-scale attempt by the authorities to further curtail freedom of thought and expression in Iran. As an academic organization committed to the promotion of freedoms of research, thought, and expression, we consider these alarming developments as a well-orchestrated official assault on the basic rights of individuals to freedom of thought and expression, which are guaranteed under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Article 23) and protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 18, 19, and 21), to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory.
Your Excellency, we very much hope you will take appropriate measures to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Baghi and other non-violent jailed journalists, academics, students, and human rights advocates and that you will guarantee the basic rights of freedom of thought, research, and expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Baghi Prohibited from Having Visitors; His Family Accused
Norouz: Emadeddin Baghi, the detained head of the Association for Defending Prisoners Rights is prohibited from having visitors. This is while Baghi in his last family visit said that he had written letters to five officials regarding his interrogations and file and had declared that in case of the continuation of the current trend, he will have no other choice but to go on a hunger strike. On Monday, Fatemeh Kamali, Baghi’s wife, talked about her visit to the prison and receiving the news about the prohibition on Baghi having visitors.
Mrs. Kamali, today when you went to visit Mr. Baghi in prison, how were you treated and how did you become aware of his visitor prohibition?
After the improper encounter that we had last time and because of the extreme concern the family had regarding Baghi’s health, despite the fact that I had neither the inclination for a visit held in a meeting hall nor the necessary physical capability for it, I decided to go for the meeting. Along with my eldest, and Baghi’s mother and sister, we went for the visit. Our names were written and after climbing about 50 steps we reached the floor for the meeting. This was while I had relayed my knee problems via our respected lawyer to the first branch of the security court and even had a doctor’s note to give to the court.
Unfortunately in the meeting hall we heard and saw nothing but the suffering of the issues and problems visitors have. Three times, each time for about 20 minutes, the curtains went up and down and they did not bring Baghi. After questioning the person in charge about why we had been kept waiting, he said, “go down, Baghi has been prohibited form having visitors.” He said, “because of the problems of the previous meeting, I talked with the official in charge of the first security branch and he said not to allow a visit and refer them to the first branch.” When we asked why, they said “a complaint has been taken to the court from here and has been signed. As a result your visits have been halted.
We were astonished. In the improper encounter that we faced in the last meeting, one of the security officials repeatedly told Baghi’s sister: “Do not lodge a complaint against us. See! We have accompanied you up to here (meaning the meeting hall) and from here on [is in the hands] of prison officials and they are the one ones who behave this way.” And we did not lodge a complaint since we did not know an authority who could deal with the complaint in a just manner but, before us, the people who asked us not to complain against them lodge a complaint against us. What can be done about such a state of being wronged, such injustice. We did not expect them to speak affably to us, but complaint and creation of a file for Baghi’s daughters is really beyond the pale. The prohibition against visits for Baghi reminds me of the proverb that whoever reaches the judge earlier comes back satisfied. It is interesting that during the period of our bodily search and ill treatment only four or five people were present and after that by calling a few baton-wielding soldiers we were accompanied to the outside of prison by them. Now how is it that it said that the complaint that has been lodged has many signatures? Please somebody tell us to whom we should complain? I would like to know the nature of my husband’s crime that, now because of his children’s visit, a case is made against them as well. Is the fact that a girl did not allow her body to be searched in an obscene manner and raised her voice in protest against her being wronged a crime?
We express our deepest concern about Mr. Baghi health and in the light of the fact that he has become very weak and thin and in the previous meeting hinted at the use of white torture against him, we see prohibition against visitors as nothing but preventing information relay to his family. Mr Baghi himself has never been in favor of hunger strike. What path has been placed in front of him that he sees such an evident violation of his beliefs as the only possible path. Given this situation of lack of news, from our point of view, officials are responsible for anything that happens to him since we do not consider appropriate all the mental pressures placed on a prisoner and his family as well as lack of attention exhibited by officials to whom Baghi has written letters and those others that have not been addressed but know of the issue. Although we have always found refuge in God and this is the most worthy thing to do, it is not appropriate in an Islamic country to take constant refuge in God because of governmental institutions.
Have officials responded so far to Mr. Baghi’s letter?
So far there has been no response to his letter as he continues to be in a close cell and under interrogation.
Source: Norouz.
Mrs. Kamali, today when you went to visit Mr. Baghi in prison, how were you treated and how did you become aware of his visitor prohibition?
After the improper encounter that we had last time and because of the extreme concern the family had regarding Baghi’s health, despite the fact that I had neither the inclination for a visit held in a meeting hall nor the necessary physical capability for it, I decided to go for the meeting. Along with my eldest, and Baghi’s mother and sister, we went for the visit. Our names were written and after climbing about 50 steps we reached the floor for the meeting. This was while I had relayed my knee problems via our respected lawyer to the first branch of the security court and even had a doctor’s note to give to the court.
Unfortunately in the meeting hall we heard and saw nothing but the suffering of the issues and problems visitors have. Three times, each time for about 20 minutes, the curtains went up and down and they did not bring Baghi. After questioning the person in charge about why we had been kept waiting, he said, “go down, Baghi has been prohibited form having visitors.” He said, “because of the problems of the previous meeting, I talked with the official in charge of the first security branch and he said not to allow a visit and refer them to the first branch.” When we asked why, they said “a complaint has been taken to the court from here and has been signed. As a result your visits have been halted.
We were astonished. In the improper encounter that we faced in the last meeting, one of the security officials repeatedly told Baghi’s sister: “Do not lodge a complaint against us. See! We have accompanied you up to here (meaning the meeting hall) and from here on [is in the hands] of prison officials and they are the one ones who behave this way.” And we did not lodge a complaint since we did not know an authority who could deal with the complaint in a just manner but, before us, the people who asked us not to complain against them lodge a complaint against us. What can be done about such a state of being wronged, such injustice. We did not expect them to speak affably to us, but complaint and creation of a file for Baghi’s daughters is really beyond the pale. The prohibition against visits for Baghi reminds me of the proverb that whoever reaches the judge earlier comes back satisfied. It is interesting that during the period of our bodily search and ill treatment only four or five people were present and after that by calling a few baton-wielding soldiers we were accompanied to the outside of prison by them. Now how is it that it said that the complaint that has been lodged has many signatures? Please somebody tell us to whom we should complain? I would like to know the nature of my husband’s crime that, now because of his children’s visit, a case is made against them as well. Is the fact that a girl did not allow her body to be searched in an obscene manner and raised her voice in protest against her being wronged a crime?
We express our deepest concern about Mr. Baghi health and in the light of the fact that he has become very weak and thin and in the previous meeting hinted at the use of white torture against him, we see prohibition against visitors as nothing but preventing information relay to his family. Mr Baghi himself has never been in favor of hunger strike. What path has been placed in front of him that he sees such an evident violation of his beliefs as the only possible path. Given this situation of lack of news, from our point of view, officials are responsible for anything that happens to him since we do not consider appropriate all the mental pressures placed on a prisoner and his family as well as lack of attention exhibited by officials to whom Baghi has written letters and those others that have not been addressed but know of the issue. Although we have always found refuge in God and this is the most worthy thing to do, it is not appropriate in an Islamic country to take constant refuge in God because of governmental institutions.
Have officials responded so far to Mr. Baghi’s letter?
So far there has been no response to his letter as he continues to be in a close cell and under interrogation.
Source: Norouz.
In Memory of Emadeddin Baghi
With especial thanks to Dr. Faride Farhi
In Memory of Emadeddin Baghi
Hanif Mazroi
The news has come that Emadeddin Baghi (human rights activist) has been sentenced to prison again and has been sent to Evin. Baghi is among the few individuals who without attention to political or party or even religious issues has struggled for the freedom and human rights of detained human beings and for this reason is deserving of great respect.
I remember in the incident of the destruction of the Shariat Hosseiniyeh in Qom (13 February 2006), the government media made great effort to make light of this human calamity and many of them remained silent and represented some of the dervishes as dependent on foreigners and agent of sedition. Unbelievably, a source of emulation even confirmed the lies that were spread by the Kayhan daily (that the armed dervishes had used tear gas against people). That Kayhan lies is not at all a surprise but that a source of emulation relies on this falsehood is astonishing.
In any case, in this poisonous atmosphere, Emadeddin Baghi was among the few freedom-loving human beings who in a completely unbiased fashion revealed the hidden angles of the destruction of the Hosseiniyeh Shariat in Qom. I praise Baghi because he revealed the truth the way it was and now that he is going through an unjust imprisonment, I saw it necessary to write a few lines to honor his services for human rights and in sympathy with his concerned family.
I hope with due favor of the world’s only dispenser of justice Emadeddin Baghi’s freedom is made possible soon.
Click here for Emadeddin Baghi’s pieces about the calamity of the destruction of Hosseiniyeh Shariat in Qom:
Clash with dervishes (part I)
Clash with dervishes (Part II)
Interview with Emadeddin Baghi with BBC regarding the attack against Qom’s dervishes
Source: Solh-e Kol Weblog
In Memory of Emadeddin Baghi
Hanif Mazroi
The news has come that Emadeddin Baghi (human rights activist) has been sentenced to prison again and has been sent to Evin. Baghi is among the few individuals who without attention to political or party or even religious issues has struggled for the freedom and human rights of detained human beings and for this reason is deserving of great respect.
I remember in the incident of the destruction of the Shariat Hosseiniyeh in Qom (13 February 2006), the government media made great effort to make light of this human calamity and many of them remained silent and represented some of the dervishes as dependent on foreigners and agent of sedition. Unbelievably, a source of emulation even confirmed the lies that were spread by the Kayhan daily (that the armed dervishes had used tear gas against people). That Kayhan lies is not at all a surprise but that a source of emulation relies on this falsehood is astonishing.
In any case, in this poisonous atmosphere, Emadeddin Baghi was among the few freedom-loving human beings who in a completely unbiased fashion revealed the hidden angles of the destruction of the Hosseiniyeh Shariat in Qom. I praise Baghi because he revealed the truth the way it was and now that he is going through an unjust imprisonment, I saw it necessary to write a few lines to honor his services for human rights and in sympathy with his concerned family.
I hope with due favor of the world’s only dispenser of justice Emadeddin Baghi’s freedom is made possible soon.
Click here for Emadeddin Baghi’s pieces about the calamity of the destruction of Hosseiniyeh Shariat in Qom:
Clash with dervishes (part I)
Clash with dervishes (Part II)
Interview with Emadeddin Baghi with BBC regarding the attack against Qom’s dervishes
Source: Solh-e Kol Weblog
For Whom My Eyes Await
With especial thanks to Dr. Faride Farhi
For Whom My Eyes Await
Report of the Meeting of the Association of Iranian Journalists for Emadeddin Baghi
It had been a long time since the Association of Iranian Journalists had seen such a crowd. By mid-day of Thursday 15 November 2007, the reception area and yard were full. Ezzatollah Sahabi, Abdollah Nuri, Ebrahim Yazdi, Ahmad Haj Seyed Javadi, Mohammad Maleki (who had come from hospital), Mohsen Kadivar, Seyed Hashem Aghajari, Babak Ahmadi, Khashayar Deyhimi, Sussan Shariati, Hassan Yusefi Eshkevari, Mohammad Bastenegar, Mohammad Tavassoli, Issa Saharkhiz, Fariborz Raisdana, Mohammad Ali Amuyi, Ali Mazrui, Kambiz Noruzi, Seyed Mohammad Seifzadeh, Keyvan Samimi, Abolfatah Soltani, Hossein Ghazian, Mohammad Javad Mozaffar. Alireza Rajai, Saeed Madani, Hoda Saber, Reza Alijani, Yussef Azizi Banitaraf, Ali Akbar Mussavi Khoeini, Abdollah Momeni and many other social, civil, and journalism figures came to honor Emadeddin Baghi and say how hard it is to separate civil and political activity in Iran. Under conditions in which everything is considered political, is it possible not to be political? Of course, everyone bore witness to the fact that Baghi’s efforts to promote independent civil, social, and human rights activity had not only been not futile but had also been fruitful. And this was not only evident in the discussion but also in the meeting’s atmosphere that included a wide array of people that had gathered together with little political and factional commonality. From radicals to liberals, from Persian to Arab sat together without any difference and talked about human rights as strategy and tactic (Abdollah Momeni), spoke of workers rights (Fariborz Raisdana), warned against the repetition of historical conditions (Hashem Aghajari), expressed concern about global conditions (Ibrahim Yazdi), spoke of the situation of the student movement (Bahareh Hedayat). One asked about where to find protection (Yusefi Eshkevari), another was finding protection in the Declaration of Human Rights (Seyed Mohammad Seifzadeh). Words at times took the form of a legal report (Saleh Nikbakht), at times the tone was one of a political speech (Ezatollah Sahabi) and emotional at other times. A piece of memoir was read penned by Baghi in which he had mentioned all his friends; friends, who were imprisoned when Baghi was free, now that he is imprisoned and they are free and few years after the events of the past years, heard what their detained friend said and thought about them. Civil society representatives were many in the meeting, from the Association of Iranian journalists to the Association for Defending the Rights of Prisoners, Association for the Defense of Free Press, Defenders of Human Rights Center, and Alumni Association for Fostering Unity.
Mid-day Thursday ended when, after the words of Emadeddin Baghi’s daughter, a poem from Nima Yushij (whose birthday was around these days) became the occasion for the meeting’s ending:
Whether remember me or not
I do not ease your memory
My eyes await you
Night time
When shadows take on black tint
My eyes await you
Source: Shahrvand-e Emruz
For Whom My Eyes Await
Report of the Meeting of the Association of Iranian Journalists for Emadeddin Baghi
It had been a long time since the Association of Iranian Journalists had seen such a crowd. By mid-day of Thursday 15 November 2007, the reception area and yard were full. Ezzatollah Sahabi, Abdollah Nuri, Ebrahim Yazdi, Ahmad Haj Seyed Javadi, Mohammad Maleki (who had come from hospital), Mohsen Kadivar, Seyed Hashem Aghajari, Babak Ahmadi, Khashayar Deyhimi, Sussan Shariati, Hassan Yusefi Eshkevari, Mohammad Bastenegar, Mohammad Tavassoli, Issa Saharkhiz, Fariborz Raisdana, Mohammad Ali Amuyi, Ali Mazrui, Kambiz Noruzi, Seyed Mohammad Seifzadeh, Keyvan Samimi, Abolfatah Soltani, Hossein Ghazian, Mohammad Javad Mozaffar. Alireza Rajai, Saeed Madani, Hoda Saber, Reza Alijani, Yussef Azizi Banitaraf, Ali Akbar Mussavi Khoeini, Abdollah Momeni and many other social, civil, and journalism figures came to honor Emadeddin Baghi and say how hard it is to separate civil and political activity in Iran. Under conditions in which everything is considered political, is it possible not to be political? Of course, everyone bore witness to the fact that Baghi’s efforts to promote independent civil, social, and human rights activity had not only been not futile but had also been fruitful. And this was not only evident in the discussion but also in the meeting’s atmosphere that included a wide array of people that had gathered together with little political and factional commonality. From radicals to liberals, from Persian to Arab sat together without any difference and talked about human rights as strategy and tactic (Abdollah Momeni), spoke of workers rights (Fariborz Raisdana), warned against the repetition of historical conditions (Hashem Aghajari), expressed concern about global conditions (Ibrahim Yazdi), spoke of the situation of the student movement (Bahareh Hedayat). One asked about where to find protection (Yusefi Eshkevari), another was finding protection in the Declaration of Human Rights (Seyed Mohammad Seifzadeh). Words at times took the form of a legal report (Saleh Nikbakht), at times the tone was one of a political speech (Ezatollah Sahabi) and emotional at other times. A piece of memoir was read penned by Baghi in which he had mentioned all his friends; friends, who were imprisoned when Baghi was free, now that he is imprisoned and they are free and few years after the events of the past years, heard what their detained friend said and thought about them. Civil society representatives were many in the meeting, from the Association of Iranian journalists to the Association for Defending the Rights of Prisoners, Association for the Defense of Free Press, Defenders of Human Rights Center, and Alumni Association for Fostering Unity.
Mid-day Thursday ended when, after the words of Emadeddin Baghi’s daughter, a poem from Nima Yushij (whose birthday was around these days) became the occasion for the meeting’s ending:
Whether remember me or not
I do not ease your memory
My eyes await you
Night time
When shadows take on black tint
My eyes await you
Source: Shahrvand-e Emruz
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