http://radiokoocheh.com/article/117806
24th July 2011
Ardavan Roozbeh / Radio Koocheh
ardavan@koochehmail.com
Translated by Avideh Motmaen-far
It was on Thursday September 30, 2010 that “Amir Sheibani”, a student at Mashhad Azad University was arrested by military intelligence corps. After twenty-nine days of solitary confinement and persecution by his interrogators, he was charged with creating confusion, cooperation with foreign media, transfer of information to foreigners, creation of groups of opposition. He then was called to the fourth branch of revolutionary prosecutor of Mashhad city and finally was temporarily released upon a hundred million Rial bail.
Recently that he has been summoned at the fourth branch of revolutionary prosecutor of Mashhad city, he has been announced that on August the third, he should be notified the verdict. This is while he has been only in summary court, and the final verdict has not been notified to him. Now, this student is deprived of education with eight years prison sentence and 20 million Rials fines. The court has rejected his appeal and he is facing his prison sentence.
I asked him about this verdict and also similar sentences that student activists have been facing in Mashhad.
Mr. Sheibanizadeh! We have been informed that you have been called by the fourth branch of the revolutionary court in Mashhad, for the implementation of the Revolutionary Court summons. Could you please explain the reason of your arrest and in which condition, and now, what is the reason for the implementation of the sentence?
After the events following the elections, I was arrested several times because of my activities. I was summoned at the court and got a case because of the speech I gave on December 7th. When I wanted to leave the court, they did not let me. After a few minutes, the intelligence army agents caught me, handcuffed and blindfolded me and transferred me to an unknown place. I was in solitary confinement for 29 days. I faced a lot of physical and emotional pressure, they regularly hit me. At that time, in Mashhad, it was very cold and they handcuffed me to a chair and put me very often with light clothes under the snow fall. I got lots of health issues after that.
In what I wrote in my defense, I said: “If I admit that you take away, that you hit, that you kill, what are you going to do with the inevitable growing of protests? ”. Unfortunately, the investigator put even this among all I was charged with. I mean that I had no right even to such defense of myself
The intelligence Corps in this case, made false accusations. I was charged with threat actions against national security by taking part in riots, inciting youths and organize them, insulting the leadership and the president, … public broadcast of false rumors, communication with foreign media and sending confidential information to them through the site. After 29 days, they sent me to Vakil Abad prison and after twelve days, I was freed on a 100 million Rails bail.
In what I wrote in my defense, I said: “If I admit that you take away, that you hit, that you kill, what are you going to do with the inevitable growing of protests? ”. Unfortunately, the investigator put even this among all I was charged with. I mean that I had no right even to such defense of myself.
Were there any other activists in Mashhad who were arrested at the same time as you?
There was a time when a lot of pressure was exerted on activists in Mashhad. At that time, Mr. Lotfi, a human rights activist of the Azad university was arrested, along with Ms. Faezeh Gohari, student activist, and Mrs. Mahdian. All of us were charged with almost identical accusations.
In the documents they were presenting for these charges, there was no proof of anything.
As you have been called for the implementation of the sentence, what is your sentence?
About a month ago, I had to go to the court for another matter and I have been said that I had a case in the fourth branch that I should follow up. I went to that branch and the head of the branch brought up my file and said that I have been sentenced to eight years and 20 million Rial fines. This is while I was not called to defend myself at the court and when I protested, they threw me out of the court with threats.
In Mashhad, student activists who have underlying activities are in intense conflict with the Intelligence Corps
My attorney, Mr. Sheikholeslami, followed up with my case but he could not have access to my records. We contested the sentence and on Thursday, they called from the Revolutionary Court and asked me to be present at the court, meeting Judge Sadafi on August first for the implementation of the sentence at the fourth branch.
What is the atmosphere for student activists after July 9th in Mashhad?
Suffocating. Friends such as Mr. ”Sadegh Tabei” and ”Mehdi Salehi Neko” at Omar Khayyam University who were responsible for journal “Our Differnces”, faced a term suspension from the university and despite their protest, their sentences were confirmed. Some of my friends in Ferdosi University who have graduated already, they have been refused to have their documents and are not allowed to apply for Masters.
In Mashhad, student activists who have underlying activities are in intense conflict with the Intelligence Corps. The Corps have taken the student cases in their hands more and more and as lot of students have cases at the revolutionary court, with a slightest move, they are threatened by the Corps.
