Source: En Vero English
Autor: David Bertet
July 14, 2019
Mohammad Ali Taheri’s current situation, three months after his release from Iranian prison: arbitrary limitations to his movements and serious threats received
Iranian-born professor and spiritual leader Mohammad Ali Taheri was finally released from prison on April 23, 2019, after 8 1/2 years of unjustified imprisonment under harsh conditions. In the course of his imprisonment, Taheri was systematically subjected to practices that fall into the category of cruel and inhuman treatment under International standards, and regularly kept in isolation for prolonged periods of time.
Together with millions of Taheri’s supporters, En Vero welcomed the news of Taheri’s acquittal and release with great pleasure and heart-felt emotion, as well as with the hope that the decision by the Iranian Tribunal would finally open a new chapter in the history of the recognition of human rights in the Iranian Republic.
To this day, it is still too soon to state that we were wrong in being hopeful. However, based on the information that we received from Erfan News Agency, we are compelled to temper our optimism. Since his release, Dr. Taheri has received serious threats promising him his prompt assassination. These explicit threats were expressed mainly through social media on accounts that Erfan News Agency identified as related to groups (such as the so-called agents of Saar Allah Garrison) with strong connection with the Revolutionary Guard and other Iranian security forces.
It is worth mentioning that members of the Revolutionary Guard benefit from total immunity, with the logical consequence that none of them will be investigated or prosecuted in case of gross misconduct or again upon committing illegal activities, such as planning an assassination. To this day, threats against Taheri’s life have not ceased, with no action taken by Iranian authorities to ensure his safety. On the contrary, counting on the silence of Iranian authorities and its judiciary branch in particular, these threats have drastically intensified since their first occurrences following Taheri’s release. The silence of the authorities and their decision not to condemn (and investigate) those openly-announced plots to assassinate Taheri, are in plain violation of article 669 of the Islamic Criminal Code
During the last 3 years of Dr. Taheri’s imprisonment and legal process, a significant number of members of the Iranian judiciary branch have proved to be closely related to — not to say complicit and partnering with — the group of the Guardian of the Revolution. On the other hand, the latter’s systematic and direct involvement in judicial cases, in a clear attempt at orienting decisions of justice, is a well-known fact. Taheri’s legal process suffered from such ‘interferences’ with the result of deviating the process way from its constitutional course.
Upon his release in April 2019, Taheri’s prohibition to travel abroad was expected to be lifted, as the Islamic Law states. However, and again due to intense pressure from the law enforcement and security officers affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, the judiciary branch has not yet lifted the interdiction, thus arbitrarily limiting Taheri’s freedom of movement and violating both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 13.2 ) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (art. 12.2), which state that every individual has the right to leave his own country.
We hereby urge the Iranian authorities to guarantee Dr. Taheri’s safety as well as his family’s, to launch immediately an thorough investigation on the threats that Dr. Taheri has constantly received since his release from prison, and to proceed immediately to lifting any unconstitutional limitations imposed arbitrarily on Taheri’s freedom of movement.
En Vero has been granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations’s Economic and Social Council (2019).
