Jailed Lawyer: 'No Fair Political Trials' In Iran
Radio Free Europe Liberty / Radio Free Europe
29-Aug-2011

ailed Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Mohammad Seifzadeh has written an open letter to former President Mohammad Khatami detailing extensive violations of judicial rights, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.

Seifzadeh argued that Iran's revolutionary courts are illegal. He noted that not a single one of the defendants in 6,000 political and media-related cases examined by 21 lawyers since Khatami was elected president in 1997 received a fair trial in accordance with Iran's Constitution.

He added that none of his 180-200 fellow prisoners in Ward 350 of Tehran's Evin prison received a fair trial either. He said their sentences were not commensurate with the actions for which they were tried.

With one exception, the same holds true for prisoners in Evin's Ward 209, which is run by the Intelligence Ministry, Seifzadeh continued.

Seifzadeh signed his letter as a "member of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, former judge, lawyer, and current prisoner." He said the only way out of the current situation is the "dissolution of such illegal authorities" and "structural reform of the judiciary."

"A regime with a fair judiciary and free press and [political] parties will not undergo

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