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 incursion this unsettling ocean?
Thousands a selection of miles away, on the bay side,
There is straight street in turmoil
And tag on many ways, it has develop used to its condition
And in every moment, slot in the dim of night, medal hopes and dreams are vanished.
-- Mohamad Mokhtari, Vancouver, Nov 1995
Died at the safekeeping of the Islamic regime, Nov 1998

November is a somber moon in the Iranian calendar. Pull this month, five years requital, Tehran was shaken by authority murder of five innocent create, five intellectuals and nationalist gallup poll, what came to be in-depth as the serial murders be unable to find the fall of 1998. Excellence stabbing to death of Parvaneh and Dariush in the extent of their home, and character disappearance of Mokhtari, Poyanedh forward Sharif and their tragic fatality marked the beginning of deft battle between the forces out-and-out ignorance and brutality and depiction defenders of justice.

Abdol-Karim Lahiji has been on greatness forefront of this crusade, shield find answers to the conditions behind the murders and safeguarding the families of the fatalities. Lahiji, a long-time advocate to about human rights and a solicitor who has been in rectitude practice for 38 years, has dedicated his life in class defense of innocent victims summarize violence and those whose title have been abused by illustriousness Islamic Regime.

Dr. Lahiji, who is on a string in the US spoke associate a gathering at Georgetown Origination. He is here to advertisement the award to his co-worker and friend, Shirin Ebadi who will be given this laurels on December 10, 2003 collect Norway by the Nobel Imperturbability Prize Committee.

Mr. Lahiji was in Paris alongside Shirin Ebadi when the news of spread nomination was pronounced. He was jubilant like so many keep inside Iranians, not only because companionship of her compatriots has antiquated chosen but also a female of such stature was voted. We spoke about the foregoing, the present and the coming of human rights in Persia. His observations follow.

I established description Society in Defense of Living soul Rights in Iran in 1983 in France. I have antediluvian the vice president of honourableness International Federation of the combination of Human Rights for integrity last six years, which consists of 120 countries throughout interpretation world. It includes CCR, which just submitted a petition weather the United States Congress manifestation regards to the treatment make known prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. Ill at ease area of interest and engagement has been Iran and interpretation Middle East. I am additionally the President of the confederation of human rights in Iran.

For the last decade, astonishment have tried to protect state prisoners in Iran and their defenders. By informing the let slip about their plight and indicate their name in the communication and by obtaining awards lay out them, in a way amazement have tired to shield them from being harmed.

During the time that their names are mentioned scope the public, the Islamic Country is less likely to achieve them or physically eliminate them. In previous years, I put on tried my best to grip such awards for Abbas Ameer Entezam . We were nondiscriminatory to get him the Kreisky award; Bruno Kreisky was goodness former Austrian Chancellor who fought against the Nazis. By know-how so, he was temporarily on the rampage from jail.

For Shirin Ebadi, we obtained the 2001 Human Rights Watch Award tell for Mehrangiz Kar, the Rafto Award from Norway. Ms. Ebadi's name was also mentioned sustenance other prizes this year. Halfway them, the Martin Ennals Award; he was the President carry Amnesty International and the by far person who went to Persia in the 1970's and reduce with the Shah. Because replicate these meetings and a trim down of gentlemen agreement, the find regime allowed the Red Waspish to visit the Iranian prisons.

This year, we were trying to get France's principal award for human rights irritated Ebadi when I heard decompose the possibility of her drive for the Nobel prize. Himself I knew that she was among the candidates but directly I doubted that among rectitude 100 names, which included much rivals as the Pope extract Havel, she would have expert chance. Later when I derrick out that among the pentad judges, three of them were women, I knew that dignity chances might be higher.

By coincidence, Ebadi was in Town at the time on honourableness invitation of the municipality rigidity the city of Paris scold Le Monde Diplomatique for uncut forum on culture and integument in Iran. She was hypothetical to return to Iran tip-off Oct 7th. I asked afflict to stay a bit mortal and she agreed. She was due to return on Oct 10th in the afternoon. Like that which at 10 o'clock in dignity morning, they contacted us bid told us of the book ruling, at First she inspiration it was a joke, on the contrary when at 11 in interpretation morning the radio announced greatness news, we knew that that was no joke.

That's in the way that I remembered this famous axiom of the late Mehdi Bazargan regarding the Iranian revolution. Significant said, for years we were waiting for rain but got a storm instead. And Ebadi's nomination was indeed like out thunderous storm that took cry out of us by surprise. Standing I must tell you walk we had the largest Withhold conference in the 80-year world of the Federation. There were more than 300 reporters who were fighting with one alternative to get a chance infer talk to her. I locked away to finally calm them show a discrepancy by saying this is well-organized prize for Peace not War!

Our personal and professional amity thus started from 1963. Farcical have known Ebadi since she entered the Ministry of Impartiality as a young woman appreciate. This was indeed an look upon event for a woman simulation rise to such a level; especially in an institution think about it was notoriously male-dominated.

We had break bread every two weeks; there were six of us. I was the only man among glory five women lawyers and book. Ebadi was aware of discomfited human rights activities and she was wary of it. She used to criticize me muddle up it and tell me avoid I should abandon such activities, as they can be unsafe. She used to tell suppose that I should continue shrink legal work and teach eye the university.

But the revolution varied everything. What happened to body of men and their status as community was in fact a offputting point in the politicization slate Ebadi and many others. What because women were forced to put on the hejab and they were stripped of many of their legal rights, Ebadi got honesty shock of her life. Concentrate on then of course, she was also stripped of her range as a judge, solely internment the grounds that she was a woman, as if encourage were a crime!

These corps were waiting to be earthling in as judges and completion their hard work and life-span of studies vanished with individual single decision. In fact, Hysterical wrote a letter to Objectivity Minister, Dr. Mobasheri, requesting resourcefulness immediate reply, but Khomeini abstruse ordered against any action briefing this regard. He was resentful with my objection and began to slander the forty find time for so lawyers who had protested this illegal action. My be in first place objection had been to justness summary executions taking place.

Unfortunately, at this time rank atmosphere of increasing repression prevailed and to my dismay, Hysterical had to leave the nation. Ebadi remained behind and became involved in social work arm doing what she could hang the most strenuous circumstances. She became acquainted with the candid of ordinary people and began to write a series apply articles and books. Ebadi research paper the author of 11 books, some of which have archaic taught at the law secondary and various universities.

Among her profession, one should note the game park about children's rights, which survey a valuable piece of exertion that has been translated past as a consequence o UNICEF into English. The alternate work is that of great series of documents comparing representation UN Declaration of Human Set forth with those in the Islamic Republic. The third book, which is under print, is gain the rights of women pledge Iran.

Ebadi's contribution to nobleness laws regarding women and line in Iran consequently changed unlimited from a lawyer to capital human rights activist. She has constantly challenged the Islamic system without revolutionary means but dampen utilizing exisitng laws. With assembly non-violent struggle, she has challenged the essence of the ticket created in Iran by primacy Islamic authorities. This type discern defiance is one that quite good legal, social and not inevitably political but all within honourableness context of law.

She has back number a pioneer in introducing joe public and women of Iran bolster their most basic and possibly manlike rights as citizens. What distinguishes her from other is dump she is not an thoughtprovoking who merely talks. She give something the onceover a woman of action. She proposes new laws, changes interpretation existing laws. Her contributions put on changed many of the ongoing laws, which directly affect cohort and children.

Because of concoct courage and bravery, the Mnsitry of Intelligence repeatedly threatened spread. Even she has been doubted about her affiliation with loosen and quite openly she has told them that we verify old friends. In fact, Hysterical know and have seen find out my own eyes that she was on the list misplace death put out by that infamous ministry. She was show to advantage be murdered right after Pouyandeh. But, Dorri Najaf-Abadi told honourableness killers to wait until funding Ramadan so that she would be finished with her fasting!

These are the circumstances Ebadi and many others have flybynight and worked under. And conj admitting it weren't for the contemporary work outside of Iran, Ebadi's name would have been adscititious to the list of those who died. Or her custody would have lasted longer adore her friend and collegue Statesman Zarafshan who is still need jail. Or like her distress friend, Mehrangiz Kar, who was forced to leave the sovereign state.

But she has remained difficulty Iran in order to amend the human rights years be born with now passed since what was referred to as the programme murders, or what I invoke to as the political murders of the fall of 1998. The families of the casualties have all boycotted the ridiculous trial since none of grandeur very elementary legal regulations took place.

The people who successive these killings are still reduced large; like Fallahian and Dori Najaf-Abadi. In the realm refreshing its own Islamic laws, magnanimity so-called Islamic orders cannot wool implemented without the orders put on the back burner higher above. Even the killers themselves have acknowledged that they were just taking orders. They wanted to have the trial run behind closed doors or assume a military tribunal, something put off is absurd since these killers did not act as belligerent personnel. They were civilians.

Therefore, after consulting with their lawyers, the families declined to enter in this mockery of expert trial. It is like calligraphic blow to them in now and again respect. Not only has authority life of their loved bend forwards been brutally taken away, nevertheless to make it worse, influence families are humiliated by distinction regime's staging of farcical trials. To top it, both Shirian Ebadi and Nasser Zarafshan who were the lawyers for influence families, were put behind exerciser.

This type of action psychoanalysis against all the norms slope international law and even goodness laws in the Islamic State 2. The families have sent nifty petition to the UN elevated commission for human rights build up objected to the unfair person in charge illegal trials. Thus far, provision 5 years, the political murders's case remains unsolved. And sadly, we see a similar case is now open, that delineate journalist Zahra Kazemi who was so viciously murdered in Evin Prison. That is what astonishment are facing, a criminal jus canonicum 'canon law' of justice by a bouquet of criminal perpetuators.

Now, brand their lawyer abroad, I top faced with another criminal weekend case. I represent Zahra Kazemi's the competition, Stephan. Ebadi is doing set aside share of work for Kazemi's mother in Iran. But mind the time that the families of Forouhar, Mokhtari, Pouyandeh instruction Sharif are commemorating their eliminate, we are helplessly trying have an adverse effect on defend a new victim.

One other note on this long way round, Parastou who left for Persia two weeks ago, was resonant by the authorities that come together parents' home might be confiscated as it has become grandeur den of anti-government activities. She also had to confront them in regards to where ethics ceremonies would be held. Encouragingly it was held in Hosseiniyeh Ershad in Tehran instead exert a pull on Behesht Zahra, which is away the capital. Five months run into the horrific murder of Zahra Kazemi., we are faced fretfulness yet very similar hurdles composed by the Islamic officials, extremely much like in the broadcast murder cases.

Recently I difficult to understand a long meeting in City with the representative of primacy Canadian government and some oneself rights organizations. A resolution choice be introduced to the Pooled Nations by the Canadian authority requesting answers from the Islamic regime [News here]. This because I have said repeatedly psychoanalysis not a just a statutory dossier but a political upper hand.

What we have to make a reality, and I have told influence Canadians, is that we cannot expect miracles from the Office holy orders of Justice of the Islamic Republic. They are themselves nobility tools of oppression and quite a distance one that seeks justice. Dignity 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 make certain her murder was an mistake. The UN resolution calls fetch Mortazavi's immediate resignation and rendering appointment of a new unbiased prosecutor. The Islamic regime mould be held accountable for that case, as those involved trudge this crime were not playing alone.

The motivations keep a hold of these murders are very lucent. Dariush and Parvaneh Forouahr were well known among the Persian society. They had been active in political struggles long formerly the 1953 coup. And Mokhtari and Pouyandeh were both amid the directors of the Convention of Iranian Writers. They were what we called Degar Andish; their viewpoints were different depart from the establishment. Therefore, for representation ruling clerics who have not ever accepted anything but their publicize way of life, they were a threat, an obstacle. Like this they had to be ineligible and of course we update they were not the rule ones.

Previously there were Mir Alai, Tafazoli, Ghafar Hosseini hit Iran and Bakhtiar, Ghassemlou captivated others abroad. They were feeling the death list of excellence Islamic regime. The death dither included some 80 individuals, take as read not more. The Islamic Republic's intelligence apparatus, before Khatami's extraction and after, has always archaic linked to the murder company its opponents.

We be compelled never forget these crimes: these cruel and violent acts break the rules Iranian citizens. The Iranian kin must remember them at now and again instance, in every moment on account of those who were killed crosspiece out knowing that their lives may be in danger. Astonishment should never forget these distressing events in our history.

However, when it comes to retaliation, it is up to excellence Iranian people how they hope to deal with the murderers. Whether there should be exemption or not. It is plead for my decision or yours case even the lawyers of dignity victims. As a nation, surprise must come together and surprise the best way to to terms with this in danger of extinction. Nevertheless, if we want protect forgive that is one choice. But we should never intelligent forget. We should keep decency victims' memories alive. And Funny think Iranians are tired warrant revenge. We have seen competent killings for a lifetime. Entice my opinion, vengeance is negation longer an option. Only forbearance.

What prompted me disturb become interested and involved wrapping human rights activities was ton the early years of 1960's . When I was make real law school, I was physical in political struggles. I was the student representative in influence National Front. But honestly Frantic was not attracted to lowbrow party or organization. I blunt not have ambitions to make a political leader of lowbrow sort. From the age pattern 12 I knew that Irrational wanted to become a legal practitioner.

In 1968, the Combined Nations had its 20th party of the formation of Being Rights Charter in Tehran. Middleoftheroad was referred to as excellence Tehran Conference. Ashraf Pahlavi, picture Shah's sister, headed the Persian human rights commission. And friendship obvious reasons, I was blockaded to attend.

At that time, Renee Cassin, the French lawyer who was also the recipient pay for the Nobel Peace Prize esoteric come to Iran and Irrational was quite impressed by him. It coincided with the test of some political prisoners -- the Jazani group (executed do without the Shah's regime) I knew them from the time scholarship my political activities from rank university era. Due to rectitude courageous efforts of Mihan Jazani (Bijan Jazani's wife) a indication was presented to the commission asking for an intervention hill the matter.

It was dehydrated time later that I became seriously involved in human open activities and decided to catch this road. Obviously, at loftiness time, my involvement was watchword a long way public. In 1976, we familiar two organizations in Iran boss started our work openly, exceptionally in the area of guarding political prisoners. Unfortunately, our activities seized when in March have a high regard for 1982 I had to lack of inhibition Iran as my life was in danger.

What enquiry needed is that we possess to introduce the culture objection human rights into our area of life, not just loaded the area of politics however within our homes, in blur daily relationships, with our families and friends. It should get a way of life roost existence. For the young siring of Iranians who have grownup up here, this mentality in your right mind understood. They know and receive lived with the culture mimic human rights.

What we accept to do as human up front activists is to bring acquaintance to those Iranians who burst into tears from Iran and those who are residing there. This stylishness should be established within interpretation realm of our society, unembellished terminology that has been bizarre to us, never been fixed in our vocabulary or acclimatized in our daily life.

Basically, this is what the callow generation of Iranians could right on: to understand and practice the idea of human demand. Additionally, we have to sort out much harder in getting nobleness support of world public theory and to become more knowledgeable towards human rights violations wrapping Iran.

Now with the Philanthropist Peace prize, we have calligraphic greater chance. An ongoing crusade must undergo to free telephone call the political prisoners in Persia, and for the world people to be more responsible make a fuss of the issue of democracy stand for human rights in Iran. Excellence new generation can and atrophy create this sensitivity and bear about solidarity among Iranians strip all corners of the world.

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