Tabarzadi’s Letter to P5+1 and the World

This letter, addressed to the P5+1 – the United States, United Kingdom, China Russia, France, Germany – was written by political prisoner Heshmat Tabarzadi prior to his return to Rajai Shahr prison on 15 January 2014. He had been temporarily released from prison on the condition that he remain silent. Charges against him include “propaganda against the system” and “intention to harm state security”.

The major world powers – namely the P5+1 group – are trying hard to persuade the government of Iran to join the rest of the international community, taking advantage of the recent “flexibilities” shown by the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and President Hassan Rouhani.

Indeed, we have arrived at a significant and historic juncture. However, without a cautious and comprehensive effort towards a mutually beneficial and peaceful outcome, the road ahead will remain uncertain and elusive.

Hundreds of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience are currently being detained by the Iranian government. These include Mr Mir Hussein Mousavi, Mrs Zahra Rahnavard and Mr Mehdi Karroubi, who have been under house arrest since 2010 without any legal or court proceedings having taken place. The majority of Iranian political prisoners are sentenced solely on the grounds that they have exercised their right to express opinions or their right to peaceful assembly.

The legitimacy of any ruling power is measured by its respect of the rights of its own people. In Iran, the lack of basic human rights and freedom means that any prospect for an effective and peaceful resolution between the Iranian government and the international community remains poor.

My name is Heshmat Tabarzadi. I am an Iranian human rights activist working towards democracy and secularism. I have been arrested several times on charges related to my activities, most recently after the Green Movement and the disputed election results of 2009.

In October 2010, I was sentenced to eight years in prison, convicted on five charges: “insulting the leader”; “insulting the president”;  “propaganda against the system”; “gathering and colluding with intent to harm state security”; and “disturbing public order”.

At that time, I had already spent seven years of my life in prison, nearly three years of it in solitary confinement, for my activities as a student leader. As a result of the most recent verdict, I have spent another four years in prison; I have four more years remaining.

Recently, I was released on temporary leave under the condition that I remained silent. But the situation for the people of my country is such that I could no longer keep quiet. I called for a united campaign demanding freedom for all political prisoners and an end to executions.

Shortly after, I received a phone call from the prosecutor’s office, ordering me to report back to prison. As in former court and sentencing proceedings regarding my case, this was done outside all legal frameworks, with the intention of silencing me. But I have chosen not to report to prison and am engaging in civil disobedience.

My rights, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (as well as under the constitution of the Islamic Republic) have repeatedly been violated. 

Since 1999, I have spent part of every year in prison. I have been tortured on several occasions. My publications have been closed down.  I have been denied the right to participate in secular democratic and human rights organizations and I have been prohibited from any social activities for 10 years.

Since the election of President Rouhani, hundreds of executions have taken place. Iran ranks second in the list of countries with the highest number of executions per population, with China coming first. This represents an urgent human rights crisis.

My experience is not an isolated case. Hundreds of fellow Iranian political activists experience similar situations. If anyone should stand trial, it is those who deny me, and other political prisoners, basic legal, civil and human rights.

At the United Nations General Assembly, President Rouhani called for a “world without violence and extremism”. The Iranian leadership should abide by the terms of its own resolution. It should acknowledge that “a primary responsibility of each state is to ensure a peaceful and violence-free life for its people, while fully respecting their human rights” and that the “sound foundation of any society” must include “respect for and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, as well as tolerance, the recognition and appreciation of others and the ability to live with and listen to others”.

The United States and European Union may hope for a politically softer regime in Tehran, as has happened in China despite its human rights record. But in Iran, where only two significant revolutions calling for a free society have taken place in the past 107 years, where the most basic freedoms, including how to dress and behave, are strictly limited, and where women are considered inferior to men, this is only wishful thinking. This, despite the fact that the first declaration of human rights was drafted in Iran 2,552 years ago.

Iranian people have experienced secular democracy on a number of occasions, though these experiences have always been short-lived. They will not tolerate the religious, social and political limitations forced upon them for much longer, even if the major powers chose to turn a blind eye to their civil and human rights. The question is: where will the United States, President Obama and the major world powers stand?

President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts” to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people. This referred not only to peace between governments but also to the human rights of ordinary people.

Until the international community holds the government of Iran to account for its actions against its own citizens and opens its eyes to the fate of Iran’s people and the denial of their legal, civil and human rights, any agreement at government level will not last. These agreements will not be adhered to, because a government that violates the rights of its own people under its own and international laws will not hesitate to violate other accords or agreements.  North Korea is an example.

I therefore call for the leaders of the P5+1, the international community, charitable and campaigning organizations, activists and other government leaders to demand that the Iranian authorities stop senseless executions and free all political prisoners.

The international community, including the Iranian government, recently honored Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela’s struggles as a political activist and prisoner, as well as pressure from the international community, resulted in his freedom and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa Today, in Iran 50 per cent of the population – the women – face gender apartheid.  Ethnic and religious minorities also suffer violation of their basic rights.

Today I am free with my family. You can make a difference now. But tomorrow it may be too late.