Ayatollah Hossein Kazameini
Boroujerdi has been held in Evin prison since his arrest in 2006. He is 56
years old.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi rejects the
principle of political leadership by the clergy, a central feature of Iran’s
constitution. He advocates the removal of religion from the political basis of
the state. He publicly challenged the regime’s theological doctrine—promulgated
by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the early days of the Islamic Revolution of
1979—that only an Islamic jurist can rule the country. Mr. Boroujerdi instead
supports the traditional Shiite view that religious leaders should stay out of
politics and preach their messages to the faithful in mosques. Since 1994 he
has been summoned repeatedly before the Special Court for the Clergy, and
detained in Evin and other prisons.
He is the subject of an Amnesty International Urgent Action.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi has neither
used nor advocated violence in the profession of his political views. Amnesty
International considers him a Prisoner of Conscience.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi was initially
sentenced to death, but due to appeals and international pressure, the sentence
was changed to 11 years of imprisonment. He has been subjected to harsh
interrogations and frequent torture.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi was arrested at
his home in Tehran October 8, 2006, along with more than 300 of his followers,
during violent clashes with the security forces. His 80-year-old mother was
among those arrested and was allegedly ill-treated. His family has been
consistently harassed and threatened, and are under constant
surveillance.
Held in Tehran’s Evin prison since
his arrest, Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffers from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes,
high blood pressure and heart problems. He had reportedly been denied
permission to seek treatment at the prison’s medical facility. At the same
time, prison authorities have repeatedly tried to coerce him to attest that he
is receiving adequate medical treatment; he has refused.
Poor prison conditions, and torture
and ill-treatment, have reportedly led to deterioration in Ayatollah
Boroujerdi’s pre-existing medical conditions, and his health has deteriorated
severely. His Parkinson’s disease has worsened, and he is suffering from
permanent shaking of his legs and hands, and falls over frequently. He suffers
from diabetes and high blood pressure.
On December 17, 2013, a European
Union delegation was denied the opportunity of a meeting with Ayatollah
Boroujerdi. Instead, he was brought to the Special Clerical Tribunal for
especially harsh interrogation. He has reportedly been denied permission to
seek treatment at the prison’s medical facility. Despite this, prison
authorities have continually tried to coerce him to attest in writing that he
is receiving adequate medical treatment; he has refused to sign.
Please write to urge that he receive
immediate medical care, and for his immediate and unconditional release.
President Hassan Rouhani
c/o Iranian Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Embassy of Pakistan
2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007
Your Excellency,
I write from grave concern that
Grand Ayatollah Seyed Hosein Kazameini Boroujerdi, a senior cleric, has
been transferred to an isolation cell and is in imminent threat of execution.
Kazameini Boroujerdi has
neither used nor advocated the use of violence in the peaceful expression of
his political views. We oppose his arbitrary execution in the strongest terms,
just as we opposed his being deprived of adequate medical attention during his
imprisonment at Evin.
I urge you to see that mercy and
reason prevail in the case of Seyed Hosein Kazameini Boroujerdi .
Sincerely,
Urgent Action Postcard
Please send a postcard directly to
him.
The message should be bland, and
very short: “We think of you often and wish for your strength. You are not
forgotten. “
A return address is fine, as is
using the name of AIUSA in your return address.
Please send postcards over the next
two weeks and ask friends and colleagues to do the same. We want to raise
his profile as much as we can. Even if he doesn't get the postcards, the
authorities will.
Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi
Evin House of Detention
Chamran Highway,
Evin Avenue
Tehran, Iran
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