Repressively Revolutionary
Nothing like a revolutionary zealot to prove the ideological worthlessness of human life. And certainly Iranian Saeed Mortazavi exemplifies that kind of ideological commitment.Infamous, at least within Canada, for the part he played in the torture, rape and death of Iranian-Canadian photo-journalist, Zahra Kazemi in 2003. Shielded and protected from prosecution for his vicious zeal by the state which he served, he went on to pursue his defence of the Islamic Republic of Iran's victimization of the state's political opponents.
Now, because of the horrible odour rising to spread its stink over official Iran, the former chief prosecutor has been fingered as responsible for additional atrocities. His close friendship with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may still serve him well, but it would appear that he is being put forward in a conciliatory gesture, hostage to the kind of blame that the government is not eager to accept for itself.
Following the disputed presidential election in June and the mass protests that ensued Saeed Mortazavi was tasked with prosecuting hundreds of anti-government protests. The show trials that followed were his invention. He personally intervened to have 147 detainees sent to the dread Kahrizak detention centre, despite that it was already full to capacity.
Those 147 detainees were stuffed into a single room of 750 square feet. Three people died there, one the son of a prominent conservative. Mortazavi stated the three met their deaths as a result of having contracted memingitis. He was contradicted by a young doctor who worked at the prison, and that moment of truth cost the doctor, Ramin Pourandarjani, his life.
An investigation revealed that the deaths were a result of conditions at the prison: "limitation of space, poor sanitary conditions, inappropriate nutrition, heat, lack of ventilation and ... also as a result of physical attacks". Detainees had been "beaten and humiliated by their jailers".
The investigative report recommended "The judiciary ... should seriously deal with all those behind these bitter events without any reservation and regardless of their positions." The embarrassment caused by these revelations caused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to close the prison centre.
Now this is an interesting departure from influential ayatollahs and spokesmen for the Supreme Council calling on severe punishment and even death for the unprincipled protesters seeking to unseat the legitimacy of the Iranian Revolution and its elite figures of governance.
Hoping, doubtless, that sacrificing the now-dispensable Mortazavi will restore the government and the Supreme Leader to trust by a public grown weary of their totalitarian rule.
Labels: Human Rights, Middle East, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Monday, January 11, 2010
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