Heshmat Tabarzadi
Encyclopedia
Heshmat Tabarzadi is a prominent Iranian
democratic activist. Tabarzadi has been arrested several times on charges related to his political activities, most recently in December 2009. In October 2010, a court sentenced him to nine additional years in jail and 74 lashes, a sentence that was reduced to eight years on appeal.
, including two in solitary confinement, for his activities as a student leader.
Following the December 7, 2009 Student Day protests
in Iran, Tabarzadi published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, writing, "One thing is certain: Dec. 7 proved that the movement for a free, democratic Iran is robust and only growing in strength. If the government continues to opt for violence, there very well may be another revolution in Iran. One side has to step down. And that side is the government—-not the people."
On the evening of December 27, the day of the 2009 Ashura protests, Tabarzadi was interviewed on Voice of America
Persian, stating that the protests were the largest he had ever seen. He also called on protesters to keep the protests nonviolent.
“gathering and colluding with intent to harm state security”, and “disturbing public order”. A Tehran revolutionary court sentenced Tabardazi to nine years in jail and 74 lashes; he was also banned from participating in "social activities" for ten years. On appeal, this sentence was reduced to eight years of imprisonment, and the flogging was removed from the sentence. Following the trial, three of Tabarzadi’s lawyers were themselves sentenced to prison terms for opposition to the government: Nasrin Sotoudeh
, Mohammad Oliyaeifard, and Khalil Bahramian.
Amnesty International
considers Tabarzadi a prisoner of conscience
, and has repeatedly called for his immediate release.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
democratic activist. Tabarzadi has been arrested several times on charges related to his political activities, most recently in December 2009. In October 2010, a court sentenced him to nine additional years in jail and 74 lashes, a sentence that was reduced to eight years on appeal.
Political activities
Tabarzadi served as the leader of the banned opposition group, the Democratic Front of Iran. Tabarzadi was viewed by the government as one of the leaders of the student protests of July 9, 1999. He was arrested and spent nine years in Evin PrisonEvin Prison
Evin House of Detention is a prison in Iran, located in Evin, northwestern Tehran. It is noted for its political prisoners' wing, where prisoners have been held both before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
, including two in solitary confinement, for his activities as a student leader.
Following the December 7, 2009 Student Day protests
Student Day (Iran)
Student Day is the anniversary of the murder of three students of University of Tehran on December 7, 1953 by Iranian police in the Pahlavi era. Every year there are local demonstrations at many universities organised by students...
in Iran, Tabarzadi published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, writing, "One thing is certain: Dec. 7 proved that the movement for a free, democratic Iran is robust and only growing in strength. If the government continues to opt for violence, there very well may be another revolution in Iran. One side has to step down. And that side is the government—-not the people."
On the evening of December 27, the day of the 2009 Ashura protests, Tabarzadi was interviewed on Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
Persian, stating that the protests were the largest he had ever seen. He also called on protesters to keep the protests nonviolent.
2009 Arrest
Iranian law enforcement arrested Tabardazi at his home on December 28, 2009, the day after the Ashura protests. Government agents also seized his books, papers and computer. Initially, Tabardazi was held in the notorious political ward 209 of Tehran's Evin Prison. After protesting the execution of five Kurdish activists, he was transferred to Rajaeeshahr prison.Sentencing
In October 2010, Tabarzadi was convicted of 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”. A Tehran revolutionary court sentenced Tabardazi to nine years in jail and 74 lashes; he was also banned from participating in "social activities" for ten years. On appeal, this sentence was reduced to eight years of imprisonment, and the flogging was removed from the sentence. Following the trial, three of Tabarzadi’s lawyers were themselves sentenced to prison terms for opposition to the government: Nasrin Sotoudeh
Nasrin Sotoudeh
Nasrin Sotoudeh is a prominent human rights lawyer in Iran. She has represented imprisoned Iranian opposition activists and politicians following the disputed June 2009 Iranian presidential elections as well as prisoners sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors...
, Mohammad Oliyaeifard, and Khalil Bahramian.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
considers Tabarzadi a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
, and has repeatedly called for his immediate release.