Iran: where are the bodies of Ahwazi Arab prisoners who were executed?

Iran has secretly executed two Ahwazi Arab rights activists. The two of five Al Hiwar Cultural-Scientific Institution members were transferred from notorious Kroun prison to unknown location fifity five days before their reported execution.

Hashem Shaabani a Ahwazi poet, teacher, blogger along with Hadi Rashedi a chemistry teacher both residents of Khalafiya (Ramshir) were sentenced to death by a revolutionary court and charged with “corruption on earth” and “enmity against God”.

On January 29,2014, intelligence services contacted the families by phone and informed them of the alleged executions. Families have not yet received any written confirmation or their sons’ bodies. They fear that the authorities could bury the bodies by pouring concrete over them. Authorities have also told the families they must not hold mourning services for their loved ones. Hashem Shaabani and Hadi Rashedi were transferred from Karoun Prison in 7/12/2013 to an unknown location.

According to Iranian law, specifically the rules on execution, judicial authorities are obliged to contact the prisoner’s lawyer 48 hours before carrying out the sentence. Also, the condemned individual has the right to meet, one last time with anyone of his or her choosing. Neither of these rules were observed in the case of Ahwazi Arab prisoners.

On June 18, 2012 Abdulrahman Haydarian, Abbas Haydarian, Taha Haydarian and Ali Sharifi, who were residents of the Melashieh district of Ahwaz, were transferred from Karoun Prison to an unknown location and executed. Though 18 months have passed since their executions, only one family has been notified and their place of burial has not been disclosed to any of the families.

On November 3, 2013 Four Ahwazi Arab activists, Ghazi Abassi, Abdol-Reza Amir Khanafareh, Abdol-Amir Majdami and Jasem Moghaddam-Panah, all residents of Fallahieh(Shadegan) were also transferred from Karoun Prison to unknown locations after one month during a call Iranian intelligence ministry officials have informed the families their sons executed. They executed collectively but their bodies have not been delivered to their families.

The families of the victims appeal the world to urge Iranian government to reveal the truth about the fate of their executed sons and hand in the bodies to be buried according to their Arabic customs of to hold mourning services. If the authorities have already buried them then we urge you to exert pressure on the government to reveal the location.

We are calling on all the international organizations, human rights advocates and the international community to condemn and put Iranian government under more pressure to stop the surge of executions against the Ahwazi Arab prisoners. By refusing the families their right to be notified of the truth, as well as their right to hold a proper funeral and burial, the Islamic Republic is violating articles 7 and 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a signatory and held accountable.

http://freedomhouse.org/article/iranian-execution-poet-further-darkens-iran-s-human-rights-record#.UvVTgH8gGSO

http://iranhr.net/2014/01/two-ahwazi-activists-hadi-rashedi-and-hashem-shabani-have-been-executed/

http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/news/press-statements/1000000428-iri-executes-two-ahwazi-arab-men.html#.UvVTxH8gGSM

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/html/story.asp?NewsID=44012&Cr=Iran&Cr1=#.UvOXlPl_sxo

http://iranhr.net/2014/01/secret-executions-of-ahwazi-arabs-in-iran-must-be-stopped/

http://www.ahwaziarabs.info/2013/12/two-more-ahwazis-face-death-in-rouhanis.html