A letter from Barbara Lochbihler to Catherine Ashton about Iranian prisoners

Baroness Catherine Ashton

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs

and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission

Helga Schmid

Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs

European External Action Service

Brussels, 4 March 2014

Dear Catherine Ashton

Dear Helga Schmid

First of all, let me stress that I explicitly welcome your visit to Iran, scheduled for the end of this week. With an interim deal on its nuclear programme in place, Iran has taken an important step towards improving relations not only on the nuclear dossier, but in general. Whatever the final result, this is an important success of (inter alia) European diplomacy. At the same time and more than ever before, keeping the momentum and continuing talks in an honest and open manner will be paramount.

A letter from Kazemeini Boroujerdi to western deligation

Respected Members of the Western Delegation,

I offer you my sincerest greetings.

As a man of the cloth, who has been a prisoner of this vicious regime, my greatest hope is of course, progress in discussions that lead to peace, freedom and the liberation of our country from the clutches of the anti-Iranian tyrants. I have spent the last eight years imprisoned and in the most horrible physical and psychological conditions; my family has also suffered unimaginably. 

US Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013- IRAN

Part of this report about Mr. kazemini boroujerdi is given as follow: On December 19, an associate of dissident cleric and regime critic Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi reported that Boroujerdi continued to suffer from poor health and harsh prison conditions while being denied medical care. The associate further reported that authorities subjected Boroujerdi to torture and threatened his family to compel him to write a letter saying he did not wish to meet with visiting European representatives. In October 2012 Boroujerdi was allegedly poisoned by unnamed fellow prisoners, leaving him in critical condition. Boroujerdi, who advocated the separation of religion and government, was arrested in 2006.

During the last twenty years I have been continually persecuted by political Islamic rulers

 Honorable distinguished lawyers and dear representatives
May the blessings of the merciful Lord be upon you.

The experience that I have gained during these eight years, since I entered the world of politics, the biggest reason for the indecent mixing of religion with politics, which is the contamination of spirituality and blanching of truth. Of course everyone knows that this prisoner of conscience has never had a political career and has been a follower of Islam without the politics. The animus, publication and dissemination of traditional religion is contrary to the interests of religion intermingled with politics. During the last twenty years I have been continually assaulted, threatened and persecuted by political Islamic rulers and have been imprisoned in various prisons, secret ones or known ones, where the bully, hypocritical leaders have managed to waste my life. What has been handed down to the archive of my experiences is the truth laid out in a way that describes the years of politicking and political manipulation that has permeated the minds and culture of our society.

The Iranian regime’s conspiracy to destroy imprisoned cleric, Mr. Kazemeini-Boroujerdi

Based on received reports from the Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran, abuse and harassment of imprisoned cleric, Mr. Kazemeini-Boroujerdi continues to mount.  

The continued suppression and imprisonment of this anti-regime cleric through Special Clerical Court agents are using every possible method to force Mr. Boroujerdi to give in. Prior to this, the various agents from the Ministry of Intelligence and Surveillance continually summoned this prisoner from Evin prison to the Zafaraniyeh interrogation station where he was beaten and tortured. His family has also been followed, threatened, harassed and abused. Further, he has repeatedly been subjected to torture, solitary confinement and prearranged assassination plots. In addition to all this that he has endured, his physical condition, given his worsening ailments developed following years of confinement and torture has given the regime agents another tack for further violation of this prisoner. Though several doctors who attend the ill-equipped and unsanitary prison infirmary have repeatedly told the prison authorities that Mr. Boroujerdi requires proper hospitalization and medical treatment for his ailments, the regime has not only refused to grant him medical furlough and insist on prohibiting him access to any medication provided by Mr. Boroujerdi’s own family.

Ayatollah Tortured, Near Death, in Iran for Criticizing Political Islam

Gatestone Institute - Ayatollah Boroujerdi's condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he suffered severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell. The authorities still refuse to transfer him to a medical facility and are denying him the most basic medical care. We ask for intervention to save his life.

Ayatollah Hossein-Kazamani Boroujerdi, a senior member of the Shiite Muslim clergy, is presently serving the eighth year of an 11-year sentence handed down to him by the Islamic Republic's courts for advocating the separation of state and religion inside Iran. He has also spoken against political Islam and its leaders. As a result, during his time in prison, he has been exposed to torture especially reserved for the Islamic Republic's dissident clergy and political prisoners. Boroujerdi has endured the rape of his spouse in front of other family members. He has been purposely exposed to toxic chemical agents while kept in a small solitary cell. As a result, he now suffers permanent neurological damage, further aggravated by group beatings. Urgent medical attention has been systematically withheld for his long list of ailments, which are mostly a direct result of years of torture and malnutrition.

The dagger that tears at ill-fated Iranians year after year

A message from Mr. Hussein Boroujerdi, prisoner of conscience, who writes from his cell in Evin prison, to emphasize that the anniversary march, is not proof of the regime adequacy.

Full Text below:

 Once again, the month of Bahman is upon us and the shame and scandal that tainted the pages of human history; for over thirty-five years, the obscenity and illicitness of an irrational revolution, blackened the entire area and gutted Iran from border to border.

Boroujerdi's Serious Health Condition and Harassment by Movahedi Deputy Prosecutor to Special Clerical Tribunal

According to reports received by "Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran", despite Mr. Boroujerdi’s serious and worrisome health conditions, and instead of transferring him to a hospital, Movahedi, deputy prosecutor to Special Clerical Tribunal went to his cell to harass and psychologically torture Mr. Boroujerdi.

 On Tuesday, January 28th, 2014, at 8 a.m. Mr. Boroujerdi whose physical ailments have been ever worsening, began to suffer severe heart pain accompanied by cold sweats and tremors. He laid in his cell without any energy to move, for hours. However, despite his medical condition, he was once again refused proper attention. On Tuesday afternoon, Movahedi, accompanied by several agents turned up at the Special Clerical Ward (ward 325), in Evin prison and went directly to Mr. Boroujerdi’s cell, in order to mock and intimidate him. 

The message of Kazemeini-Boroujerdi for Christmas

Peace be upon the soul of the Almighty, Jesus Christ

 I salute the great prophet who taught compassion to humanity and brought the light of love to the world. 

 I offer my sincerest prayers to this divine messenger whose name has radiated throughout history, who became the link to the gentleness of the divine, who brought light to the darkness of the soul and alleviated the burden of suffering, all the while inviting mankind to grace, charity and solace.  

A Greeting from an Iranian prisoner of conscience to Christians on the threshold of the New Year

Prisoner conscience in Evin,Mr Boroujerdi has sent out profound greetings to the Christians all over the world and his compatriots for the new year threshold.

Boroujerdi Prohibited from Meeting with Delegation from European Parliament

Special Clerical Tribunal Tortures and Threatens Imprisoned Cleric, Mr. Kazemeini-Boroujerdi at During European Parliament Delegation Trip to Iran

According to a report submitted to the "Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran" liberal cleric Hossein Kazemeini-Boroujerdi spent 6 hours at the headquarters of the Special Clerical Tribunal under interrogation, threats and psychological torture. 

Ronaghi Maleki and Kazemeyni Boroujerdi in Urgent Need of Medical Care

Amnesty USA: Political prisoners in Iran, including prisoners of conscience, are routinely subjected to inhuman and degrading prison conditions, including overcrowding, poor food and water, dirty and unsanitary facilities, and medical neglect. Many of them suffered severe injuries as a result of torture in custody that have never been properly treated while many others contract chronic and debilitating ailments including kidney and lung infections. Political prisoners, who seek medical leave to enable them to receive urgent or specialized medical care, as permitted under Iranian law, often see their requests arbitrarily rejected and appear to be routinely discriminated against by the prison administration.