Saman Rasoulpour
After spending more than a year in prison, journalist and head of the Kurdistan Human Rights organization received an 11-year prison sentence on charges of creating and running a human rights organization. Such a sentence was rare for human rights activists in the past and so it has raised concerns among human rights activists inside Iran. Some of them spoke with Rooz, and here are the excerpts.
Nasrin Sotudeh: I am shocked
Nasrin Sotudeh who is one of the lawyers defending Sedigh Kaboodvand said this after hearing about the sentence: “This is really a shocking sentence. During the discovery period of the trial, the charges against Mr. Kaboodvand were creating an organization for the defense of human rights in Kurdistan. I am shocked. The message that it sends is that they really welcome the radicalization of social movements. The sentence is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant Covenants on Civil and Political Rights. It is also against the principle of freedom of speech.”
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah: Establishing a civil organization is not a crime
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, an attorney and member of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, also stressed that the creation of a social group is not a crime. “In reviewing his file and the charges against him, one must take a number of issues into account. First according to the constitution, anybody can act on the basis of what he thinks is right and wrong (Nahi az Monker principle). Second, the assembly of individuals into groups is not a crime, according to the constitution, unless the groups has an armed policy and agenda or acts to hurt Islam. On the other hand, these rights are guaranteed under the article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 14 of the Covenants on Political and Civil Rights, and also article 5 of the African Human Rights Convention. So whether one looks at it from the perspective of human rights principles or even domestic laws, the creation of a party or an association whose goal is not against security or independence cannot be construed to be a violation, thus prompting the public prosecutor or other judiciary officials to prosecute them.”
Parvin Ardalan: Kaboodvand’s resistance is commendable
Human rights activist and the winner of the prestigious international Olaf Palme award Parvin Ardalan told Rooz that this sentence was unjust, adding, “In addition to being a very heavy and unfair sentence for a journalist and human rights activist in Iran, the 11-year sentence that has been passed ruled for Mr. Kaboodvand heralds the tightening of the sphere of activity for human rights activists and journalists in Iran. If until now we had been busy protesting the arrest and imprisonment of journalists, human rights activists and civil activists, now looks like we have to focus on battling severe sentences and crazy judgments against them. In recent days, we have witnessed similar sentences for human rights Hanna Abdi (5 years in exile), Saeed Matinpour, a minority rights activist (8 years), Amir Yaghoobali, a member of the One Million Signature Campaign (1 year).”
Ejlal Ghavami: Such sentences will lead to more radicalism
Journalist and human rights activist Ejlal Ghavami who is also a friend of Sedigh Kaboodvand told Rooz that the sentence shows that those in power have no patience for peaceful activities. Ghavami said, “The first public domain in which Kaboodvand worked through was the weekly Payam-e Mardom newspaper, which was published through his and the efforts of some of his friends. The subject of the publication was civil society and human rights, which after just 12 issues, turned into a widely circulated media in the Kurdish speaking regions. Those who wish to threaten civil society should know better that even if this is possible, it will be very costly and futile in the end, with no results. As Kaboodvand’s colleague who works with the media and in the field of human rights believe that this judgment against Kaboodvand is an attestation that they have no patience for civil and peaceful discourse and thus are in a way helping radicalism in the region. I hope that the judiciary will review the sentence with an open mind.”
Abdollah Momeni: human rights activists protect national security
The spokesperson for the Advar Tahkim Vahdat Daneshamookhtegan student organization Abdollah Momeni told Rooz that Kaboodvand is innocent based on current Iranian laws. “The regime’s perspective on what is right and wrong, who is a friend and foe is in serious fault. The problem is that the regime views the propagation of human rights and civil rights, and the exposure of violations of these to be security issues. In developed countries, the elite and statesmen have come to realize that national security is attained through individual security in which human right organizations play a key role. We are aware that they are interpreting the activities of human rights activists as security threats. In reality however, human rights organization are protectors of national security and the rights of the nation,” he said.
Hossein Shah-Oveisi: Ideas cannot be suppressed by force
Hossein Shah-Oveisi is a member of the Mellat Party of Iran. He told Rooz that such sentences are harmful to Iranian society. “I think defending the rights of individuals is the highest law. Such violent measures against the Kurdish offsprings of Iran stems from ignorance and indirectly helps the enemies of Iran. We should learn from history that ideas cannot be killed by force. I hope that in the appellate proceedings of the case and unjust sentence, this human rights activist will be returned to his family and society,” he said.
Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi: Kaboodvand’s crime applies to all of us.
Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi, a member of the executive committee of the Kurdish Human Rights group too announced his “disbelief” at the sentence against Kaboodvand, and told Rooz, “As a member of the Kurdish Organization for Human Rights, I view this sentence against Mr. Kaboodvand to be against the whole organization and the charges that he is accused of apply to all of us member of the organization because we have the same goals in improving the human rights conditions in Kurdistan and Iran. This has been the reason for our participation in this group along with Mr. Kaboodvand.”
