Man executed; seven still at risk of execution

Ali Saremi (or Sarami) was executed without warning on 28 December 2010 in Evin Prison, Tehran. He had been sentenced to death in December 2009 for “enmity against God” for his alleged membership of a banned opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Seven other people with alleged links to the same organization are also under sentence of death. All their trials are believed to have been unfair.

Ali Saremi’s cellmates contacted his family on 27 December, expressing concern that his execution was imminent. His family went to the prison and waited outside until dawn, when they realised he had been executed. His lawyer had not been informed of the execution, as required by Iranian law. Several members of Ali Saremi’s family, including his wife, were arrested, but most were released shortly afterwards although his nephew, Mohammad Saremi, is believed to still be held.

Six other men and one woman have been sentenced to death in Iran for alleged links to the PMOI since the disputed 2009 presidential election. Ja’far Kazemi, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei , Abdolreza Ghanbari (or Qanbari), father and son Ahmad and Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam, and Javad Lari, along with Farah (also known as Elmira) Vazehan, were also found guilty of "enmity against God". In some cases, their alleged links with the PMOI may amount to no more than having contact with family members who are members of the PMOI.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, English, or your own language (Please refer to Ja’far Kazemi as "Ja’far Kazemi, son of Bahman" in your appeals, as this will help the authorities to identify him):

* Expressing deep regret at the execution of Ali Saremi, and urging the Iranian authorities not to execute Ja’far Kazemi, Javad Lari, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, Abdolreza Ghanbari, Ahmad Daneshpour Moghaddam, Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam and Farah Vazehan;

* Reminding the Iranian authorities that in international law, the death penalty can only be carried out for “the most serious crimes”, which must be “intentional crimes with lethal or other extremely grave consequences."

* Urging that any person held solely on account of their family links to the PMOI and who has not committed a recognizably criminal offence should be released immediately and unconditionally. Any others sentenced after unfair trials should have their convictions and sentences reviewed as a matter of urgency.