Khaled Hardani, and Kobra Najjar, who are about to be executed and stoned to death, have asked us to reach out to the international community in an attempt to save their lives. These two individuals are in grave danger of death. Their lawyers and families are desperately seeking help to save their lives.
Khaled Hardani is convicted of hijacking an airplane to escape Iran. On Saturday, June 2nd 2007, we were contacted and told that Khaled Hardani is being held in Rajaii-Shahr prison. He told us that he has been under intense pressure to sign his order of execution. The Islamic Republic of Iran is accusing Khaled of “Battling God”.
Kobra is the mother of 4 children from Sanandaj. After her marriage, she was forced by her drug-addicted husband into prostitution. Currently she is convicted of engaging in an ‘extra marital affair’. Cobra has written to the clemency committee in Iran 3 times and has been denied a stay of execution each and every time. Currently she and her lawyers believe that the only way of saving Kobra from a cruel fate is through pressure from the international community on the Islamic regime.
To hear the voices of those condemned calling from their prisons is truly a painful and life altering experience. Although clearly distressed, both were confident and hopeful that with our help they can be saved from certain death. This confidence is an indication that our organization is effective against the indiscriminate killing of the Islamic regime. Their confidence stems from our previous efforts through peaceful protests and meetings to bring the plight of people under similar circumstances to light. These efforts, which resulted in pressure of the international community has helped save the lives of other people in similar circumstances.
We, who live outside of Iran, and away from the oppressive regime and hellish jails, have to act immediately to save the lives of people who have been imprisoned for many years and fighting for their lives. The Committee against Executions and Stoning invites all humanitarian organizations, public figures, artists, and anyone interested in justice and human rights to help us fight the executions of Khaled Hardani and Kobra Najjar.
Anyone interested in helping must take quick and decisive action in the coming days.
Demonstrations to put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran and spread the international movement against execution and stoning
On Friday and Saturday 15th and 16th of June we are asking people to demonstrate against the executions of Mr. Khaled Hardani and Mrs. Kobra Najjar at cities across the world. This could include locations close to Iranian embassies, or civic centers in your own towns. The Committee against Executions and the International Committee against Stoning will partner with other human right organizations to organize a large movement in an attempt to save these two lives.
Other things you can do to help:
· Write to the United Nations, European Union and members of parliaments to put pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran to stop these and other executions.
· Write about these atrocities in weblogs and websites to make as many people as possible aware the situation.
· Write to other human rights organizations asking them for help.
For further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Mina Ahadi at 00491775692413.
International Committee against Execution
International Committee against Stoning
June 2, 2007 Maryam Namazie
48 comments:
The crimes described do not deserve the death penalty in any modern civilized society.
So the author wants us to ask the EU and the UN to help, eh?
That's sure a good plan because, ya know, the UN and the EU really care about human rights, don't they?
Especially in Palestine, where the UN midwifed Apartheid Israel and validates the 60 years of ethnic cleansing that has occurred since.
Yeah, let's cry to the UN. And I've got another GREAT idea: we can ask Uncle Sam for help!!
John: My blog is a coalition of anti-Stalinists, that hardly agree with me on some important issues.
I know, Ren.
But regardless of who's making the suggestion, the absurdity of any call asking us to ask the UN or the EU for anything stands on its own.
Iran is hardly Shangri-La, but to assert that European imperialists care about human rights is pure rhetoric.
Were it not, Palestine would be free.
Roman,
Tookie Williams was as a Nobel-Price nominated author framed up by lying Pigs: did he deserve to die?
What about Mumia? Should he be killed on the word of a racist judge and some dirty Pigs?
How loud we scream when injustice occurs elsewhere, and how quiet we are when it's right here at home.
I'm in.
John Brown,
Let me re-iterate my initial comment with slight changes. The crimes committed by Mumia and Tookie definitly deserve the death penalty in any modern civilized society.
Of course you're right, Roman:
If you believe lying Pigs and racist judges, everything you say is true.
I call that Justice, Vanilla-Sam style!
If you believe the evidence, it's another story.
Tough call.
I don't expect you to examine the evidence, Roman. You're just not that way.
John Brown,
a bit off topic: Maryam Namazie is hardly a European or whatever imperialist. The post is about saving the life of a woman who will be stoned soon, for adultery. Some do take very good care of denouncing injustice in their own countries first, and Maryam is one of them. Not justice and happiness makes one a refugee and immigrant. Along with many who cannot speak up at home. Feel free to blog freely in the US: for some reason I can't see that happening in some countries.
Roman,
yes, societies should be functional, however I disagree. You
seem to neglect the root causes. Whenever I try to read about Mumia (I learnt about it when I came online) or Tookie Williams I realize that I simply can't find an unbiased approach. Curing injustice with another, that won;t ever solve
the problem: that is part of it.
To me, the story is really the author's interest in asking people on an anti-imperialst blog to grovel about injustice to the UN.
The attacks on Mumia - himself a political prisoner - reflects the hypocrisy that says what's acceptable here is not there.
Further, the UN's reaction to Apartheid Israel's behavior in Palestine should erase any notion about that body's humanitarian concern.
The author's asking people to undertake a fool's errand that legitimates the UN.
Nicely put Red. Maryam is highlighting injustice in her country. The death penalty for such crimes (or for any crime) is abominable.
john brown,
Tookie killed (in cold blood) four innocent people. People like you and me who were just going about their business. He even joked about it afterwards. I would have given him the injection myself, if asked.
Mumia's case is a little murkier but he was convicted of killing a police officer by a jury of his peers and later filed one appeal after another and got his life spared. The only person in this world who could completely prove his innocence is the person who was with him at the time of the crime and he never produced his brother in the countless court appearances. He is exactly where he should be. In prison for the rest of his life.
Both men had total disregard for law and order until the law caught up with them. Then these common street criminals were suddenly made victims of the "system" by anti-establishment elements. I sense from your comments that you have concluded that these individuals are condemned by a society with only superficial soundbite information on this matter. With the flow of information being heralded freely from the most liberal and unencumbered press in the world, the facts of the case are there in plain sight. Any person with gray matter between the ears can read the facts of both cases from countless of sources. I've done that and I can say with confidence that justice was done in both cases. It's time to move on. Just repeating Mumia is innocent over and over without substantive proof does not make it so.
Ren,
Sorry for the rant, Did'nt mean to postjack your site. JB hinted that my oppinion on Tooky and Mumia was based on emotion and not examining actual evidence. His comments implied a racial component (Vanilla Justice) which is unwarrented and undeserved.
OT: Maryam is to be commended for bringing these outragious and outdated perversions of justice to the world's attention.
Iran needs a revolution to put an end to these horrors. But as long as the US govt harasses Iran, the people will support the Mullahfukkas. You would think the neoconazis would welcome an "orange revolution" in Iran, but the reason they don't push for regime change is I think they understand that the color would be different. The Iranian Revcolution will be red - maybe even red and black!
In the meantime, we must do what we can to help the victims.
The US created the conditions that led to the rise of the Islamic republic and I fear that any new aggression will strengthen it.
I wonder how the US would react to a red revolution?
Academic freedom has been dealt a serious blow. Anti-Semites at DePaul deny tenure to Professor Finkestein.
LWB: Hardly a surprise, right?
Such is the state of academic freedom and free speech here on Uncle Sam's Plantation.
Anti-Semitic torture apologizing plagiarists like Alan Dershowitz set the bar for scholarship!
I'm sure the people ranting about those issues in Venezuela will be just as vocal here.
Won't they?
Why, so you can call them names and harass them here, too? You're a laugh riot, jb.
They've been denouncing these stupid stone-age Islamic practices for five years now, while you've been trying to turn them into heroes by supporting the Islamic Fundamentalist regimes.
Talk about your hypocrite.
Well, we all know where Berty is at - butt-kissing the Venezuelan oligarchy. Imagine how many working people these swine will murder if they get back in power. Remember Sept 11 1973!
At least I'm not sucking the dictator's johnson like you gamboner. Now just imagine how many slaves Chavez will have if he stays in power.
You're so pissed off that a few people might have a few more bolivars than some others that you'd sell 20 million Venezuelans down the Orinoco to a tyrant.
Freedom? Liberty? Who needs those things when you've got socialism, right, gamboner?
I love anarchists. They don't want anyone in charge and can't wait for everyone to die. Gambone, get your head out of your ass and burn that stupid liberty, equality, cooperation avatar of yours, cause anarchy gives you none of ANY of those things.
I've got a feeling my pet rock has more sense than you.
Hey berty,
Apologists for Apartheid Israel will do anything to deflect attention from the ghastly atrocities committed of the Zionist occupiers.
What's worse: Iran's behavior in this specific case or Apartheid Israel's 60 year campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing?
You whine about stone-age practices. Meanwhile, Apartheid Israel's President is a rapist and minutes from their cabinet meetings harken back to the KKK.
Berty,
Apologists for Uncle Sam should avoid castigating other people for their racist behavior.
After all, Uncle Sam raped, tortured, genocided, and enslaved millions and millions of people. Beating and torturing niggers made Vanilla Sam a rich, rich man!
Yet rather than actually honoring a promise he made to African descendents - something nobody with any sense should ever expect from a serial liar like Uncle Sam - the genocide continues in perpetuity: Hurricane Sam.
Fish rots at the head JB and Israel is one rotten fish.
Mr. Gambone
If anarchist Emma Goldman (A real babe) hadn't come along do you think it would still be okay to beat a women like Berty without conseqence. Give me your thoughts on that.
luchadorUnfortunately when the state apparatuses in bourgeoise government, take up a cause as this, it's a pretense for war. It might not be my tactic, I'm not condemning others for trying what I disagree with. The lessons come with experience.
Maryam's struggles have won with simply worldwide petition campaigns.
I'm unconditionally against capital punishment. It is opposed in almost all of the civilized world.
I think everyone should simmer down. Save the name calling for Beak's blog. he likes that sort of thing.
Berty: One of these days I will post about anarchism.
One question. The electoral process in Venezuela, while not perfect, is considered generally legit. Winning by 60% is not winning by 99%. Why does Chavez's opponents from the right, always lose?
LWB: I don't think it's the last Norman will be heard from.
To get things on the right path. How do you best influence a regime like the one in Iran?
Ren-You engage them in an honest diplomatic dialogue based on strength, and yet respect, and you don't meddle in their internal affairs, just as you would not want them to meddle in the internal affairs of your country. Well, I wouldn't anyway.
At the same time, I feel a great deal of sympathy for Kobra. Here the media could play a role. Wouldn't that be a far more worthwhile story for them to cover than the Paris Hilton fiasco? Of course, they go where the money is.
Maybe if the National Enquirer could demonstrate the profit margin in covering stories like this, CNN, Fox, and MSNBC might be encouraged to follow suit, and Iran might as a result be shamed into a reasonable position. By the time that happens, I'm afraid Kobra will be maggot food.
As for Khaled-who cares? I'm not in the habit of extending sympathy to airplane hijackers, and going by the post this is all I know about him. Until I know more about why he felt compelled to his actions, I have to assume his impending execution is justified. Was he being threatened, was his life in danger? Why?
Or was he just tired of Iran and wanted to go someplace a little less strict? Or a little more strict? I have no idea who this guy is or what his story is, other than he is a hijacker.
Sorry, but how are we going to 'save' anyone from anything? This is a blog. That's it. The only people who can stop an execution are the people in the country where it is taking place.
What you should be saying is: 'support self determination; support democracy.
beatroot: Maryam is a leader of a resistance group in Iran. I believe she essentially would agree.
She once posted about let Iranians do their own revolution.
The more important question, renegade eye, is whether once the Venezuelan state, run by ole rule by decree Chavez, directly controls programming of ALL media sources, whether or not a fair election or even a democracy, is still possible. As it stands now, just about every evenning Chavez calls a "cadena" which hijacks the airwaves of every radio and television station in the country for three to four hours so that he can broadcast his tirade de jour to the masses from his personal presidential palace newsroom full of red-shirted thugs.
Imagine having to watch Bush speak every night for three or fours hours without commercial interruption.
I feel for Uncle Sam's coupsters, too, Berty.
I mean: to try and make due with your attempts to overthrow the government controlling only 95% of the media.... rough!
I mean, RCTV now has to resort to calling for the President's overthrow on Satellite and Cable: the INDIGNITY!!
Can you back up the statistic you quoted, that 95% of the media is controlled by Chavez's opposition? I only know of one remaining independent voice, Globovision, and even they are currently being harassed and sued by the Venezuelan government.
Didn't think so. Why do you let this lying third grade playground bully post these proposterous lies, renegade eye? Is it because you and yours have to shout down all arguments that contradict you because none of the facts are on your side?
John Brown; Keep the rhetoric down. You don't need it.
Berty: I'm not shouting you down. I'm glad you post here.
If you go back to my earlier post, I asked you only one question. You threw a smorgasboard of questions back.
As for cadenas, you are mistaking Honduras for Venezuela.
I don't want to write a book to answer you. In terms of ownership of media, 95% is in private hands. It would be foolish to say, with RCTV losing its license there is no change. Not counting neutral stations, before RCTV the ratio was 2/1 in favor of the opposition. It is now 1/1.7 against. Most of the media is neutral, because it helps ratings. With RCTV closed, some of the neutral stations will move more against Chavez. Chile has more media concentration than Venezuela.
It looks like Sarkozy in France, wants to rule by decree. He is adapting an old Venezuelan tradition.
Ren,
Sarkozy in France, wants to rule by decree
You need to brush up on your French, Ren. Sarkozy's party has just won the first round of parliamentary election in France. If the second round is equally successful, Sarkozy won't have to rule by decrees - he will have a comfortable parliamentary majority for his much-needed reforms.
Berty,
Quoting Greg Wilpert: "Only three or TV channels broadcast via antenna out of over 200 are state owned, only two out of 426 radio stations, and no daily newspapers."
The number he gives is 80%, and I've read 95% elsewhere.
Berty: stop bitching and moaning about how mean I am. You carry water for Uncle Sam. You defend the rigged elections, the torture chambers, offensive war, and egregious racism.
So perhaps, when calling people "thugs" on the basis of Uncle Sam's propaganda, you should expect some hostility in return.
Since media in Venezuela is so free from government control, then perhaps you gentlemen wouldn't mind abiding by the same laws the Venezuelan press and people are subject to?
Criticizing the president now is punishable by six months to 30 months in prison. (See related article. Chávez has also stepped up enforcement of the so-called desacato (insult) laws and has increased penalties for criticizing public officials from a previous maximum of eight days in prison to imprisonment for six months to one year.
So let's hear no more disparaging remarks about the Bush Administration, Chenney, Libby, or anyone else... or you'll be doing hard time. Is that free enough for you?
...and mr. brown, just because I love my country does NOT mean I defend rigged elections, torture chambers, offensive war, OR egregious racism.
So perhaps THUGS like you should take a powder and let more intelligent people speak.
...and renegade eye, I am not mistaking Honduras for Venezuela. Perhaps you ought to brush up on who the media control freaks of the world are.
There's another way of approaching the situation, Berty, that goes something like this:
"Sorry, Mr. Brown, that I questioned your facts. I won't do so anymore. And by the way, just because I support Uncle Sam's campaign to overthrow democratically elected governments like the one in Venezuela or his committment to genocide in Iraq doesn't mean I support the bad things he does?
Jeez!
Hugs and Kisses,
Berty"
Anyway, just a suggestion...
MUMIA 2008
That's why your are not credible mr. brown and why I question everything you state as fact.
Because I do NOT support the violent overthrow of democratically elected governments, even after they cease being democratic (like in the case of Venezuela). And even after dictators cease behaving democratically, I advocate peaceful means be followed for transitioning power, like what the students in Venezuela are currently doing in petitioning their government for redress and exercising their legitimate right to dissent and support the universal human right to free speech. If they are denied redress by Chavez without due process then yes, perhaps a more active means of restoring democracy becomes necessary.
But of course, if someone were to get impatient and actually use violent means for throwing out a full blown dictator like Sadam Hussein or an emerging one like Hugo Chavez, you wouldn't find me screaming to put the dictator back into power or crying about the dictator's fate and the restoration of a "legitimate" tyranny, either.
Is that what you're saying I should do? I should support Chavez NOW just because a coup against him failed, a coup that the USA had NO active support in making, against a man who himself failed in making a similar coup attempt in 1992?
And since that coup attempt, there has been a recall election in which millions of citizens successfully petitioned for a new, peaceful election. Should those people who wanted an election be denied their rights now ,or denied government services, just because they opposed Chavez and signed a petition calling for a recall election?
Should they be denied jobs and educational scholarships on that same basis, too? No. You speak as if any legitimate dissent in Venezuela is treason. Well, it's NOT.
And you may think your stance is principled. I think it's rather insane, like you.
And just where is your proof that America was behind a coup attempt against Chavez? This accusation has been thoroughly investigated and found to be completely baseless. Yes, the US Embassy had been given hints about a month prior to the attempt that a coup was coming, but knowing in advance and taking steps as an independent and sovereign nations based upon said information to prevent further needless bloodshed does NOT equate to overthrowing a democratically elected government no matter how hard you try and spin it as such.
So maybe YOU should be saying: "I'm sorry for making all those false accusations against the United States and putting words into your mouth that you would never support, berty. I can be a real ass some times! I apologize.
Hugs & Kisses,
john"
Then maybe we could start over.
But you're not man enough to admit to a mistake.
Beamish in '08!
When the time comes for the Venezuelan people to violently throw off their chains, that will be their decision. But until they make that decision, I and the US government, will continue to advocate for a peaceful and democratic approach to the transition of power in that country. The USA and I both do not advocate for violence to be directed towards the government of Venezuela, now or in the future.
If and when the day comes when the people take that fateful step to throw off their chains, then and only then, will I decide whether or not to support them, regardless of how the current government came into power. My and the US government's decisions will be made based upon the actions, legitimate or otherwise, that the Venezuelan government exercise in their attempts to REMAIN in power. And if the means they employ are undemocratic, illegitimate and illegal, then yes, I will support the Venezuelan people in their violent reaction to the extralegal and immoral acts of their own government, whether they were legitimately elected OR NOT. For it is the people, and NOT their government representatives, who are sovereign.
...and I would further ask mr. brown to substantiate his charges that the USA is conducting a "genocide" in Iraq. I doubt he knows the meaning of the word.
Genocide is not a term that can be lightly thrown around. Just ask the poor people of Darfur.
Berty: There isn't a revolutionary situation in Venezuela.
The Venezuelans have more say in policy than ever before. Even the opposition was able to take advantage of the right to recall. That right was new in the constitution.
To have a revolutionary situation, the institutions have to be discredited.
As much as I dislike it, most Americans believe the Democratic and Republican party, however cynically.
Overall your post was mature from youir viewpoint, compared to others on this blog.
Or the people of Palestine, right Berty?
They know something about genocide.
Or perhaps those people Indignenous to Uncle Sam's plantation, who were rapaciously slaughtered and ethnically cleansed... thanks to an all-loving Christian 'God', of course.
Or - and here's one a little more relevant today - those people who Uncle Sam forced out of New Orleans and now will not let return.
Thousands and thousands of people - all victims of Hurricane Sam - can't return to their homes.
But we can't expect you to cry for them, can we Berty?
After all, you've got a lot on your plate spittin' propaganda for Uncle Sam's inept Vanilla Revolution down in Venezuela.
"When they time comes for the Venezuelan..." blah, blah, blah, says Berty.
Hate to say it, fruitcake, but that's already happened. It's why they've got a Bolivarian Revolution.
Your Vanilla revolutionaries down there want to undo what's been done and restore Venezuela to what it was pre-Chavez - an oligarchs playground.
MUMIA in 08
Uncle Sam's evil weather making machine does it again, eh brownie? LOL!
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