Karroubi's Rape Witness Disappears

09/03/09

Source: Roozonline

Mehdi Karroubi announced that one of the victims of rape in Iranian prisons has disappeared, and that "former Tehran general prosecutor and his representatives are responsible for any unfortunate event that may happen to him or his family."�

This individual, who was raped while in detention, went missing after a meeting he had with representatives from the judiciary, according to Karroubi.

Mehdi Karroubi, who continues to protest the June 12 election official results, said in a letter that was published on Monday on Saham News website, the official mouthpiece for the Etemad Melli (National Trust) party, that the judiciary representative's treatment of the victim at that meeting was so "ugly and repulsive" that it led to the victim's disappearance.�

According to the letter, the victim's father is hurt and saddened by the treatment of his son and his family.� The authorities, according to Karroubi, have engaged in "questioning the local neighbors in order to cast doubt on the victim's character rather than carrying out justice," which enticed Karroubi to publicize the crime to raise public awareness.

Witness Who Was Interrogated Instead of the Offender

The details of the meeting held between representatives from the judiciary and the victim at Mehdi Karroubi's office were published some time ago on the website Saham News.

In his letter, citing his disappointment with some judiciary official's behavior, Karroubi announced that the meeting revealed that some judiciary officials are in fact seeking to silence the issue and deny it, rather than assisting the abused victims and carrying out justice.�

According to the letter, "Following the treatment by some judiciary officials, Mr. Karroubi did not hold any further meetings with those gentlemen, and instead wrote a letter to the newly appointed head of the judiciary, Mr. Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, asking him to appoint a fair committee to investigate the post-election events.�

According to Karroubi, Saeed Mortazavi has asked Karroubi in a telephone call to cooperate with Judge Moghaddami, head of the thirteenth branch court in presenting evidence for the case.� Following the request, it was coordinated with Molaghati to attend a meeting at Karroubi's office - the location was suggested by the judiciary - with another official from the judiciary to speak with the abused victim.� In the middle of the meeting, however, the victim left the meeting in protest, went to Karroubi and expressed his anger and sadness with the tone of the questions.