Mahmoud Sarabi

Journalist, civil activist, and the wife of Emaddedin Baghi, Fatemeh Kamali speaks to Rooz ‎about her husband's condition. Below is an excerpt of this interview. ‎

Rooz (R): What is the status of Mr. Baghi's case?‎

Fatemeh Kamali (FK): He received a one-year prison sentence, part of which is related to Mr. ‎Baghi's first prison term. After spending three years in prison [from 2000 to 2003], Mr. Baghi ‎was released. Immediately after his release, he was summoned to the sixth branch of the ‎Revolutionary Court by Judge Babaei. ‎

He has another case on charges of acting against national security and conspiring to disrupt ‎public order because of his participation in a human rights workshop on Dubai, which is ‎currently in the appeals process. The reality, however, is that Mr. Baghi never went to Dubai ‎and never participated in this workshop because he was banned from traveling. A third case is ‎related to Mr. Baghi's involvement in the Committee for the Defense of Prisoners' Rights. The ‎main charge there is publishing confidential prison documents in conferences and gatherings. ‎

R: How would you inquire about Mr. Baghi's condition when he was transferred to the hospital?‎

FK: In the hospital I was allowed to meet him once. First his attorney met with him for one ‎hour and then I was given five minutes. My two daughters were also given five minutes, and my ‎son-in-law and youngest daughter were given fifteen minutes. ‎

R: We heard rumors that Mr. Baghi called you from prison to tell you that he was not in a good ‎condition, but his phone call was disconnected. ‎

FK: That was not a rumor, it actually happened. After the first [heart] attack, we received a ‎phone call at home. Mr. Baghi could not speak properly, but said that his lawyer, who had went ‎to prison that morning to meet with him, was not allowed to do so and was sent home. That ‎morning prison officials had told Mr. Nikbakht Saleh that Baghi is being interrogated, and he ‎returned. Later we found out they lied to Baghi's attorney because of his condition. ‎

R: Did you visit hospitals to find Mr. Baghi?‎

FK: Yes, we visited several hospitals, but could not find him. ‎

R: Did prison officials or people from the Ministry of Intelligence contact you to let you know ‎what was happening?‎

FK: After visiting the Revolutionary Court and the prison, not only did we not get a response, ‎but we actually were more worried. We became certain that something had happened. My ‎daughters, who were standing in front of the prison gates, saw an ambulance and an escort ‎vehicle leave the prison. They heard that the ambulance belonged to Section 209. At that time I ‎was in court along with Mr. Baghi's attorney. After my daughters told me about that incident we ‎visited every hospital that we could, but did not find him. Finally, thanks to efforts by ayatollah ‎Karoubi and other gentlemen, Mr. Baghi called us at midnight. His voice was weak but we were ‎immensely happy to hear his voice. ‎

R: How is he doing now?‎

FK: Right now he is in Evin's general ward #350, and is doing fine. But we are worried that if ‎he is not treated on a regular basis - as his doctors have told us - he may have another stroke and ‎that could cause irreversible injuries to him. ‎

R: What do you want to say to officials at the Ministry of Intelligence?‎

FK: Eliminate parallel detention centers and pay a little respect to the law when interrogating or ‎treating detainees. Put aside threats and intimidation tactics. ‎