Wife of Abdolreza Ghanbari: “Don’t let them execute an unknown teacher!”

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Wife of Abdolreza Ghanbari: “Don’t let them execute an unknown teacher!”
by Maryam Nayeb Yazdi
24-Jan-2011
 


Interview conducted by Masih Alinejad

After widespread protests staged by the Iranian people against the 2009 Iranian Presidential election results, large numbers of protesters were arrested and tortured. Some of the prisoners, especially those who were arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009), were sentenced to death.

In the first days of street protests, the main reason given for issuing death sentences was the charge of Moharebeh [Enmity against God] and sacrilege. However, as time passed, different charges and accusations were cited as reasons for some of the people sentenced to death or hanged.

Abdolreza Ghanbari is an unknown teacher who was arrested in the wake of the Ashura protests at the location where he teaches. He was then sentenced to death by Judge Salavati in branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on the charge of “Moharebeh through ties with hostile groups [against] the regime”. Possession of suspicious e-mails and contact with one of the TV stations outside Iran were cited as reasons [to justify] the charges.

Abdolreza Ghanbari’s wife and mother of two, Sakineh Habibi said, “The fate of my husband is not important to anybody, because he is not a member of any political party or organization. He is on death row and no individual, political, or cultural institution is following up on his case, and no action is being taken to stop his death sentence.

She added, “Even though nobody replies to our inquiries, I have no choice but to keep my hope alive and try to save the life of my husband and loving father for the sake of my children; for the sake of my ten year old daughter. I request from everyone to not allow a cultural activist and an unknown teacher be executed for the crime of being alone and not having anyone [of influence around].”

[Masih Alinejad, on behalf of] Jaras has conducted a phone interview with Sakineh Habibi who was asked about her family’s ordeal in the past year, her follow up attempts, her visits with the Iranian authorities, and the latest condition of her husband on death row:

Wife of Abdolreza Ghanbari: “Don’t let them execute an unknown teacher!”

Jaras - Your husband was arrested after Ashura and was sentenced to death. Do you have any news on your husband?

Sakineh Habibi (SH): The source of news for us is the weekly prison visits. Since May, when the death sentence was confirmed, the mood during the visits has been different. In the visits, he says that [although] he did not do anything, the circumstances are such that they issued the death sentence [anyway].

Jaras- What was the main reason behind his arrest, and could you please describe how he was arrested?

SH- They have not stated the actual reason behind the arrest, but one of the reasons they gave was his presence on the streets during the Ashura protests. They arrested him [later] at the [school] where he teaches.

Jaras- Has he been asked questions during his interrogation about his participation in the Ashura protests?

SH- When they asked my husband about this matter, he answered very honestly, “Yes, my daughter and I were out on that day.” What can a person do when accompanied by a child? Can someone commit “security” acts with a child? On that day, he was out only during the morning. They claim he was out at noon. However, at noon, my husband was home. And we even have witnesses who saw my husband along with my daughter on our street before noon.

Jaras- Did the court listen to you or the statements of the witnesses you just referred to?

SH- No, the court never asked us to present our witnesses. They told my husband, “You were present that day at noon on the street where clashes occurred.” However, my husband had only passed through the location of the clashes in the morning. Based on that, they convicted him.

Jaras- Was your husband politically active?

SH- No. He had no political activities. He is a teacher. He has written four books and was involved in cultural activities.

Jaras- Some of the people arrested after the election were politically active in the past. Did your husband have any past political involvements?

SH- All his efforts were focused in the field of cultural and union activities. No one can claim he was a political activist. He taught for 16 years under this regime, he served [in the military], and was engaged in cultural activities. His past activities were union related. The union was [eventually] dissolved, and in 2007, he was fined $3 thousand USD for his engagement in those activities

Jaras- The judge presiding over his [current] case is Mr. Salavati. Did you meet with him?

SH- They did not even inform us when the preliminary court was held. After the death sentence was issued, I was able to meet Mr. Salavati only once.

Jaras- What stage are you at in terms of following up on the case with officials responsible? Have you met any of the authorities?

SH- I met with the [Tehran] Prosecutor [Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi] back in May when the harsh sentence was issued. Mr. Dolatabadi made some promises, but nothing happened. He also asked whether my husband was in the streets during that protests. When my husband explained honestly that he was out with his eight year old daughter, Mr. Dolatabadi promised that he would ask for a reduction in the sentence. The [death] sentence is really harsh and heavy for my husband.  He has not done anything to deserve execution.

Jaras- Aside from meeting with the Tehran Prosecutor, have you taken any other actions?

SH- Nobody is responding to us. Despite all this, I still hope that [the case] may be resolved through the laws of our own country. That is why I have written many letters to authorities and I have asked them to reconsider the sentence. All I asked of them was to reconsider the harsh sentence of death issued for a teacher with 16 years of experience and service. I wrote to Mr. Larijani, the Head of Judiciary, and to some of the Grand Ayatollahs for help.

Jaras- Which Grand Ayatollahs specifically did you write letters to, and have you received any response?

SH- I have written to Mr. Makarem [Shirazi], Mr. Khorassani, and Mr. Sistani. Once, I went to Mr. Makarem’s office. They told us they do not know the details of the case and that is why they will not intervene. Other Ayatollahs did not even reply to my letters.

Jaras- In the first days following your husband’s arrest, you were silent and did not conduct any interviews with the media. Was there a specific reason for that?

SH- I did not give interviews in order to not worsen my husband’s condition. I was hoping the problem would be resolved. I did not want [to give] them [an excuse] to act out of spite [against my husband]. I am still hopeful. Even though I am no longer able to meet with the Tehran Prosecutor, I am still hopeful that they could help us and save my husband’s life by means of our own country’s laws. Last week, I wrote yet another letter to the Prosecutor so that a new door may open. The sentence is really harsh on us and our entire  family.

Jaras- How many children do you have, and are your children aware of the death sentence issued to their father?

SH- I have two children. My son is 17 years old and my daughter is almost 10 years old. Their father told them about [the death sentence] during one of the visits so in the event that the [execution] took place, my children would not be shocked. It was extremely difficult.

Jaras- How is the emotional and psychological state of your children after they learnt about the death sentence of their father?

SH- The absence of their father at home is difficult enough. Imagine, my daughter who is almost 10 has no clear perception of execution. When I talk to my son, since he is older, he almost understands the circumstances. However, my daughter does not have a full understanding. I do not know what to do. I cannot take her to visit her father every week since she has school. On the other hand, every time her father’s name comes up [in conversation], or whenever we have guests who ask, “How is Mr. Ghanbari?” she suddenly changes. She goes to her room, hides under the blanket, and all her limbs go in a state of contractions. I took her to the doctor who said that she should be kept away from nervous pressure. But I have no idea what to do, because upon hearing her father’s name the contractions of her legs and arms occur. I hope, God willing, a door opens so that we and the teacher who has served the people for 16 years will be saved.

Jaras- What is the reaction of the people and your husband’s students to the sentence. What is your request from them?

SH- There is nothing people can do. Those who know my husband are aware that he devoted his life to his students. Most of my husband’s students are familiar with his personality and characteristics, and have no doubt that he has served [society] to a great extent, and that he has sacrificed his life for the people. [I ask] all those whom my husband served through his work and teaching career to pray for him. I don’t know what [else] to say. There is nothing people can do. I just ask them to go and talk to officials, if they know any; perhaps a door will open and my husband will be saved.

Jaras- Is there anything you would like to add?

SH- If nobody gives us hope, we will [still be] hopeful. We are hopeful that my husband will be saved.

 

 

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