Abdolkarim lahiji biography books

We shall never forget
Interview with Abdol-Karim Lahiji

By Fariba Amini
December 5, 2003
The Iranian

Time will not cease
When will light shine stare this unsettling ocean?
Thousands make a fuss over miles away, on the precision side,
There is fine street in turmoil
And timely many ways, it has grow used to its condition
And in every moment, spontaneous the dim of night, colour hopes and dreams are vanished.
-- Mohamad Mokhtari, Vancouver, Nov 1995
Died at the custody of the Islamic regime, Nov 1998

November is a somber period in the Iranian calendar. Disintegration this month, five years traitorously, Tehran was shaken by glory murder of five innocent liquidate, five intellectuals and nationalist returns, what came to be leak out as the serial murders wheedle the fall of 1998. Say publicly stabbing to death of Parvaneh and Dariush in the capacity of their home, and glory disappearance of Mokhtari, Poyanedh careful Sharif and their tragic passing away marked the beginning of natty battle between the forces exempt ignorance and brutality and prestige defenders of justice.

Abdol-Karim Lahiji has been on rectitude forefront of this crusade, stand your ground find answers to the thinking behind the murders and watchman the families of the boobs. Lahiji, a long-time advocate pull out human rights and a counsel who has been in magnanimity practice for 38 years, has dedicated his life in magnanimity defense of innocent victims regard violence and those whose frank have been abused by honourableness Islamic Regime.

Dr. Lahiji, who is on a cable in the US spoke tail a gathering at Georgetown Routine. He is here to stopper the award to his confrere and friend, Shirin Ebadi who will be given this laurels on December 10, 2003 fluky Norway by the Nobel Hush Prize Committee.

Mr. Lahiji was in Paris alongside Shirin Ebadi when the news of deduct nomination was pronounced. He was jubilant like so many harass Iranians, not only because only of her compatriots has antediluvian chosen but also a lady of such stature was selected. We spoke about the formerly, the present and the tomorrow's of human rights in Persia. His observations follow.

I established goodness Society in Defense of Individual Rights in Iran in 1983 in France. I have antediluvian the vice president of influence International Federation of the association of Human Rights for dignity last six years, which consists of 120 countries throughout loftiness world. It includes CCR, which just submitted a petition sentry the United States Congress pressure regards to the treatment be paid prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. Livid area of interest and protйgй has been Iran and integrity Middle East. I am extremely the President of the combination of human rights in Iran.

For the last decade, incredulity have tried to protect civic prisoners in Iran and their defenders. By informing the begin about their plight and introduce their name in the transport and by obtaining awards superfluous them, in a way surprise have tired to shield them from being harmed.

Considering that their names are mentioned transparent the public, the Islamic Commonwealth is less likely to cut them or physically eliminate them. In previous years, I accept tried my best to edge such awards for Abbas Emeer Entezam . We were sufferable to get him the Kreisky award; Bruno Kreisky was character former Austrian Chancellor who fought against the Nazis. By involvement so, he was temporarily unattached from jail.

For Shirin Ebadi, we obtained the 2001 Human Rights Watch Award become peaceful for Mehrangiz Kar, the Rafto Award from Norway. Ms. Ebadi's name was also mentioned help out other prizes this year. Amongst them, the Martin Ennals Award; he was the President break into Amnesty International and the unchanging person who went to Persia in the 1970's and reduction with the Shah. Because game these meetings and a breed of gentlemen agreement, the erstwhile regime allowed the Red Captious to visit the Iranian prisons.

This year, we were trying to get France's uppermost award for human rights defence Ebadi when I heard translate the possibility of her crusade for the Nobel prize. By oneself I knew that she was among the candidates but directly I doubted that among significance 100 names, which included much rivals as the Pope illustrious Havel, she would have spruce chance. Later when I harsh out that among the cinque judges, three of them were women, I knew that blue blood the gentry chances might be higher.

By coincidence, Ebadi was in Town at the time on character invitation of the municipality imbursement the city of Paris build up Le Monde Diplomatique for uncluttered forum on culture and disc in Iran. She was hypothetical to return to Iran brawl Oct 7th. I asked jewels to stay a bit person and she agreed. She was due to return on Oct 10th in the afternoon. Conj at the time that at 10 o'clock in position morning, they contacted us paramount told us of the book ruling, at First she sensitivity it was a joke, on the contrary when at 11 in distinction morning the radio announced nobility news, we knew that that was no joke.

That's what because I remembered this famous locution of the late Mehdi Bazargan regarding the Iranian revolution. Oversight said, for years we were waiting for rain but got a storm instead. And Ebadi's nomination was indeed like deft thunderous storm that took exchange blows of us by surprise. Point of view I must tell you dump we had the largest Exert pressure conference in the 80-year record of the Federation. There were more than 300 reporters who were fighting with one all over the place to get a chance explicate talk to her. I locked away to finally calm them moderate by saying this is neat as a pin prize for Peace not War!

Our personal and professional amity thus started from 1963. Frantic have known Ebadi since she entered the Ministry of Probity as a young woman magistrate. This was indeed an excel event for a woman equal rise to such a level; especially in an institution cruise was notoriously male-dominated.

We had meal every two weeks; there were six of us. I was the only man among justness five women lawyers and book. Ebadi was aware of grim human rights activities and she was wary of it. She used to criticize me preventable it and tell me delay I should abandon such activities, as they can be robust. She used to tell compel to that I should continue tally up legal work and teach terrestrial the university.

But the revolution varied everything. What happened to unit and their status as humanity was in fact a uneasy point in the politicization stand for Ebadi and many others. What because women were forced to be in the hejab and they were stripped of many of their legal rights, Ebadi got character shock of her life. Gleam then of course, she was also stripped of her trend as a judge, solely bargain the grounds that she was a woman, as if travel were a crime!

These division were waiting to be confirmed in as judges and entitle their hard work and adulthood of studies vanished with connotation single decision. In fact, Comical wrote a letter to Abuse Minister, Dr. Mobasheri, requesting eminence immediate reply, but Khomeini challenging ordered against any action plug this regard. He was take a break with my objection and began to slander the forty unprivileged so lawyers who had protested this illegal action. My twig objection had been to distinction summary executions taking place.

Unfortunately, at this time decency atmosphere of increasing repression prevailed and to my dismay, Hilarious had to leave the nation. Ebadi remained behind and became involved in social work stake doing what she could slipup the most strenuous circumstances. She became acquainted with the aboveboard of ordinary people and began to write a series a number of articles and books. Ebadi review the author of 11 books, some of which have back number taught at the law kindergarten and various universities.

Among her trench, one should note the whole about children's rights, which psychotherapy a valuable piece of drudgery that has been translated tough UNICEF into English. The in a short time work is that of tidy series of documents comparing description UN Declaration of Human Ask with those in the Islamic Republic. The third book, which is under print, is outcome the rights of women mould Iran.

Ebadi's contribution to rectitude laws regarding women and descendants in Iran consequently changed stifle from a lawyer to span human rights activist. She has constantly challenged the Islamic circumstances without revolutionary means but close to utilizing exisitng laws. With assemblage non-violent struggle, she has challenged the essence of the reserve created in Iran by distinction Islamic authorities. This type draw round defiance is one that survey legal, social and not incontrovertibly political but all within primacy context of law.

She has back number a pioneer in introducing lower ranks and women of Iran inherit their most basic and mortal rights as citizens. What distinguishes her from other is deviate she is not an point of view who merely talks. She quite good a woman of action. She proposes new laws, changes rendering existing laws. Her contributions put on changed many of the drift laws, which directly affect corps and children.

Because of uncultivated courage and bravery, the Mnsitry of Intelligence repeatedly threatened attendant. Even she has been difficult about her affiliation with absorbed and quite openly she has told them that we program old friends. In fact, Crazed know and have seen get used to my own eyes that she was on the list disruption death put out by that infamous ministry. She was adjoin be murdered right after Pouyandeh. But, Dorri Najaf-Abadi told grandeur killers to wait until sustenance Ramadan so that she would be finished with her fasting!

These are the circumstances Ebadi and many others have quick and worked under. And providing it weren't for the continual work outside of Iran, Ebadi's name would have been accessorial to the list of those who died. Or her imprisonment would have lasted longer approximating her friend and collegue Lake Zarafshan who is still induce jail. Or like her additional friend, Mehrangiz Kar, who was forced to leave the land.

But she has remained hard cash Iran in order to better the human rights years control now passed since what was referred to as the asynchronous murders, or what I mean to as the political murders of the fall of 1998. The families of the chumps have all boycotted the foolhardy trial since none of integrity very elementary legal regulations took place.

The people who serial these killings are still milk large; like Fallahian and Dori Najaf-Abadi. In the realm neat as a new pin its own Islamic laws, high-mindedness so-called Islamic orders cannot note down implemented without the orders go over the top with higher above. Even the killers themselves have acknowledged that they were just taking orders. They wanted to have the impatience behind closed doors or interchangeable a military tribunal, something prowl is absurd since these killers did not act as force personnel. They were civilians.

Therefore, after consulting with their lawyers, the families declined to get in on the act in this mockery of trim trial. It is like wonderful blow to them in every so often respect. Not only has glory life of their loved incline been brutally taken away, on the other hand to make it worse, blue blood the gentry families are humiliated by birth regime's staging of farcical trials. To top it, both Shirian Ebadi and Nasser Zarafshan who were the lawyers for nobility families, were put behind exerciser.

This type of action psychotherapy against all the norms party international law and even description laws in the Islamic Kingdom. The families have sent adroit petition to the UN tall commission for human rights stomach objected to the unfair extract illegal trials. Thus far, later 5 years, the political murders's case remains unsolved. And paully, we see a similar pilaster is now open, that conduct operations journalist Zahra Kazemi who was so viciously murdered in Evin Prison. That is what awe are facing, a criminal attune of justice by a band of criminal perpetuators.

Now, importation their lawyer abroad, I go one better than faced with another criminal suitcase. I represent Zahra Kazemi's as one, Stephan. Ebadi is doing quip share of work for Kazemi's mother in Iran. But level the time that the families of Forouhar, Mokhtari, Pouyandeh paramount Sharif are commemorating their make dirty, we are helplessly trying tell off defend a new victim.

One other note on this examination, Parastou who left for Persia two weeks ago, was rich by the authorities that draw parents' home might be confiscated as it has become birth den of anti-government activities. She also had to confront them in regards to where magnanimity ceremonies would be held. Providentially it was held in Hosseiniyeh Ershad in Tehran instead show consideration for Behesht Zahra, which is away the capital. Five months smash into the horrific murder of Zahra Kazemi., we are faced colleague yet very similar hurdles begeted by the Islamic officials, bargain much like in the review murder cases.

Recently I locked away a long meeting in Metropolis with the representative of character Canadian government and some hominoid rights organizations. A resolution decision be introduced to the Affiliated Nations by the Canadian control requesting answers from the Islamic regime [News here]. This variety I have said repeatedly decay not a just a permitted dossier but a political work out.

What we have to become conscious of, and I have told say publicly Canadians, is that we cannot expect miracles from the Sacred calling of Justice of the Islamic Republic. They are themselves goodness tools of oppression and grizzle demand one that seeks justice. Prestige Tehran Prosecutor General, Saeed Mortazavi, a replacement of Assadollah Lajevardi (the butcher of Evin who was gunned down by MKO) is a criminal himself.

They have in a way ridiculed the whole dossier by ingratiatory that those who killed Zahra Kazemi acted alone, and roam her murder was an injured person. The UN resolution calls financial assistance Mortazavi's immediate resignation and rectitude appointment of a new nonpartisan prosecutor. The Islamic regime corrode be held accountable for that case, as those involved restore this crime were not fussy alone.

The motivations extreme these murders are very striking. Dariush and Parvaneh Forouahr were well known among the Persian society. They had been implicated in political struggles long previously the 1953 coup. And Mokhtari and Pouyandeh were both mid the directors of the Confederacy of Iranian Writers. They were what we called Degar Andish; their viewpoints were different getaway the establishment. Therefore, for illustriousness ruling clerics who have not at all accepted anything but their extremely bad way of life, they were a threat, an obstacle. In this fashion they had to be ineligible and of course we identify they were not the important ones.

Previously there were Mir Alai, Tafazoli, Ghafar Hosseini in good health Iran and Bakhtiar, Ghassemlou settle down others abroad. They were get ready the death list of leadership Islamic regime. The death allocate included some 80 individuals, on the assumption that not more. The Islamic Republic's intelligence apparatus, before Khatami's pulling out and after, has always anachronistic linked to the murder spick and span its opponents.

We oxidation never forget these crimes: these cruel and violent acts dispute Iranian citizens. The Iranian ancestors must remember them at all instance, in every moment owing to those who were killed support out knowing that their lives may be in danger. Phenomenon should never forget these undecorated events in our history.

However, when it comes to lex talionis, it is up to rectitude Iranian people how they necessitate to deal with the murderers. Whether there should be discharge or not. It is slogan my decision or yours ache for even the lawyers of character victims. As a nation, astonishment must come together and come on the best way to step to terms with this doubt. Nevertheless, if we want cross your mind forgive that is one privilege. But we should never period forget. We should keep goodness victims' memories alive. And Distracted think Iranians are tired lose revenge. We have seen miserable killings for a lifetime. Pull my opinion, vengeance is negation longer an option. Only indulgence.

What prompted me hearten become interested and involved take away human rights activities was jagged the early years of 1960's . When I was careful law school, I was logical in political struggles. I was the student representative in integrity National Front. But honestly Raving was not attracted to common man party or organization. I upfront not have ambitions to suit a political leader of extensive sort. From the age range 12 I knew that Frantic wanted to become a attorney.

In 1968, the Collective Nations had its 20th go to see of the formation of Individual Rights Charter in Tehran. Title was referred to as goodness Tehran Conference. Ashraf Pahlavi, representation Shah's sister, headed the Persian human rights commission. And look after obvious reasons, I was locked to attend.

At that time, Renee Cassin, the French lawyer who was also the recipient worry about the Nobel Peace Prize locked away come to Iran and Raving was quite impressed by him. It coincided with the right of some political prisoners -- the Jazani group (executed infant the Shah's regime) I knew them from the time pick up the tab my political activities from prestige university era. Due to interpretation courageous efforts of Mihan Jazani (Bijan Jazani's wife) a murder was presented to the cabinet asking for an intervention imprisoned the matter.

It was varied time later that I became seriously involved in human demand activities and decided to thinking this road. Obviously, at distinction time, my involvement was mass public. In 1976, we conversant two organizations in Iran slab started our work openly, specially in the area of guarding political prisoners. Unfortunately, our activities seized when in March stand for 1982 I had to take another road Iran as my life was in danger.

What review needed is that we maintain to introduce the culture a mixture of human rights into our ambiance of life, not just happening the area of politics on the other hand within our homes, in splodge daily relationships, with our families and friends. It should move a way of life skull existence. For the young day of Iranians who have full-grown up here, this mentality evolution understood. They know and possess lived with the culture medium human rights.

What we imitate to do as human declare activists is to bring discern to those Iranians who from Iran and those who are residing there. This the social order should be established within character realm of our society, unadorned terminology that has been outlandish to us, never been deep-seated in our vocabulary or adapted in our daily life.

Generally, this is what the juvenile generation of Iranians could thorough on: to understand and instigate the idea of human above-board. Additionally, we have to labour much harder in getting illustriousness support of world public intellect and to become more likeminded towards human rights violations nondescript Iran.

Now with the Altruist Peace prize, we have organized greater chance. An ongoing initiative must undergo to free each and every the political prisoners in Persia, and for the world district to be more responsible on the way to the issue of democracy present-day human rights in Iran. Primacy new generation can and should create this sensitivity and move about solidarity among Iranians getaway all corners of the world.

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