The Islamic Republic of Iran has shifted its tactics. Instead of merely shooting Iranian democracy protestors in the streets, or abducting them to rape in prison, the regime is now holding show trials, ending in conviction on a bunch of trumped up charges and – inevitably – execution.
The first such trial took place last week. Three were sentenced to death.
Here is the story of Nasser Abdolhosseini, one of those who is to be hanged:
‘There is a God, I have done nothing wrong and surely He will protect me in the end.‘ This is how Nasser Abdolhosseini, accused of being an MeK member and sentenced to death in Iran’s Stalinist show trials comforted his brothers when they came to see him in Evin prison.
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Nasser Abdolhosseini is seen in this footage here during his trial, looking gaunt and confused, it is as if he is reading his confessions from an autocue, only he does not even know what a cocktail molotov is and calls it a cocktail molophone!
Nasser’s brothers say he has never been political and has never been arrested before, he is just a working class kid from South Tehran, who makes a living by selling car spare parts. He was arrested on June 26th, without any incriminating evidence. ‘Nasser has no computer, he does not even have an email, how was he sending information outside Iran as it is alleged?’ Nasser’s brothers ask in disbelief.
According to Nasser’s brothers, he was duped into making the confessions by his interrogators who had promised him an early release if he did so. ‘But contrary to their promises not only he was not released, he has now been sentenced to death. They took advantage of Nasser’s naivety. Our parents don’t even know about the death sentence, we have not had the heart to tell them. They think Nasser will be released soon. Our father is a war veteran who lives on his pension. Their son has been charged with waging war against God, Nasser has never harmed anyone in his life’
This is simply heartbreaking.
