Moussavi Khoeini: I Have Been Tortured to Write a Confession

Ali Akbar Moussavi Khoeini, secretary general of Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat, alleges that he has been tortured. 

Once again, the torture of political prisoners in Iran has grabbed the media’s attention. Even Human Rights Watch published a press release in which it called for his “immediate and unconditional release from prison.” 

Moussavi was a member of parliament (“majlis”) from 1999-2003, during the “reformist parliament.” He was a strong supporter of civic rights while he was a legislator and he continued on after his tenure in parliament was over. Moussavi was elected with the support and help of student organizations. 

Moussavi was arrested on June 12, 2006, while participating in a peaceful demonstration in Tehran held to promote equality and women’s rights. All the time since, he has suffered severe and long interrogations. Last time he was seen out of prison was on the 40-day anniversary of his father’s funeral. The signs of torture were recognizable on his body and face. 

To gain more information with regard to Moussavi, I interviewed Abdolfattah Soltani, his attorney, and Abdollah Momeni, the Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat’s spokesman, as well as Moussavi’s close relatives and friends. 

Soltani said “Shirin Ebadi and I went to the prison to meet him (Moussavi), however, we were not granted to permission to do so.” 

He discussed whether anyone had seen him: “His wife has been allowed to meet with him for a few short periods of time and his other attorney, Mohammad Sharif, has been able to attend some of his interrogations sessions. Beyond them, no one has met with him, nor has anyone been able to speak with him in private.” 

On Friday, September 20, Moussavi was accompanied by guards to attend the 40-day anniversary of his father’s funeral in a mosque located on the third square in Doolat. 

He used this opportunity to address the crowd and asserted that he “has been interrogated many times per day in prison and has been tortured to write a confession,” before being forced into a vehicle by the guards.  

Abdollah Momeni, Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat’s spokesman, said “Among the reporters and the crowd he (Moussavi) said that regime agents and interrogators use all their efforts to force him to write a renunciation of his past activities.” 

“They want him to write a confession addressing high ranking officials in Iran,” added Momeni.  One of Moussavi’s friends, who wanted his identity kept secret, said “By ‘high ranking officials’ they mean the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. One of the charges against Moussavi is ‘insulting the Leader.’” 

Soltani is a member of the Center for Human Right Defenders in Iran, which is chaired by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. 

“Any confession Moussavi or other political prisoners make lacks legal credibility,” said Soltani. “The regime keeps political prisoners without permitting them to meet with their families or attorneys for months. And the regime will do whatever it wants to them. Therefore, he will confess to everything, even things he has not done. He should have the opportunity to meet with his family and attorneys regularly.” Also, he should be “allowed to be examined by his family’s trusted doctor,” continued Soltani. 

Not receiving permission to meet with his family is not only Moussavi’s problem. “Many prisoners suffer from the same problem too,” said Soltani, who, like his client, once spent many months in solitary confinement. 

Although Moussavi was a member of the “reformist parliament,” the reformists did not assist him. 

“I do not see a single record of efforts from the reformists to protect Moussavi’s civil rights. These days, the only thing reformists are concerned with is preparing themselves for elections in order to return to power,” said Momeni. 

One of Khoeini’s friends, who also wanted to conceal his identity, said “Moussavi Khoeini did so much for those reformers in jail when he was a legislator. And now he is paying for those efforts. But not even those people will make an effort for him.” This friend disapproved of such behavior. 

Within the last week, the pressure on political prisoners and social activists has risen significantly. For instance, in the last two months, two political prisoners lost their lives under suspicious circumstances.