Ayatollah Tortured, Near Death, in Iran for Criticizing Political Islam Translations of this item: Spanish Ayatollah Boroujerdi's condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he suffered severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell. The authorities still refuse to transfer him to a medical facility and are denying him the most basic medical care. We ask for intervention to save his life. Ayatollah Hossein-Kazamani Boroujerdi, a senior member of the Shiite Muslim clergy, is presently serving the eighth year of an 11-year sentence handed down to him by the Islamic Republic's courts for advocating the separation of state and religion inside Iran. He has also spoken against political Islam and its leaders. As a result, during his time in prison, he has been exposed to torture especially reserved for the Islamic Republic's dissident clergy and political prisoners. Boroujerdi has endured the rape of his spouse in front of other family members. He has been purposely exposed to toxic chemical agents while kept in a small solitary cell. As a result, he now suffers permanent neurological damage, further aggravated by group beatings. Urgent medical attention has been systematically withheld for his long list of ailments, which are mostly a direct result of years of torture and malnutrition. Ayatollah Hossein-Kazamani Boroujerdi, in better times (left) and in his prison cell (right). On September 29, 2013, for example, Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffered a heart attack in prison for which he was refused medical intervention. His condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he had severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell, where he presently remains with no medical care. Possibly due to Ayatollah Boroujerdi's prominence, the regime has apparently chosen not to execute him, but instead to kill him silently in prison. There were two failed attempts on his life by poisoning inside prison in 2012. His mother, detained at the same time, was also poisoned and died as a result. Previously, in November 2011, a prisoner on death row was told by the authorities that if he succeeded in killing Boroujerdi he would be set free. The attempt failed when other prisoners intervened. To protest the violent crimes of political Islam in the Islamic Republic, Boroujerdi announced via audio tape from prison that: "I am not inclined anymore to wear this frock; this frock has no credit or value in Iran or the international community" and removed his clerical robes. Ayatollah Boroujerdi descends from a long line of renowned Shiite clergy; both his father and grandfather were staunch opponents of religious leaders in politics. As a result, both of his parents, along with his brother, were killed by the authorities under mysterious circumstances, as is the regime's custom. Despite his critical medical condition in prison, he remains defiant and his spirit remains unbreakable: he has stated hopes that his case will serve as a strong indictment of the Islamic Republic's despotic rule and unspeakable human rights violations. Ayatollah Boroujerdi has risked losing his life slowly under torture by writing letters from inside prison to then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and to the United Nations, speaking of the absolute lack of freedom inside Iran, the grotesque human rights violations and the imminent danger of political Islam. Further, he recently urged people of Iran to boycott the so-called elections on June 14, 2013. As a direct result of this statement his tortures recommenced despite his extremely fragile medical condition. Ms. Roya Araghi, an advocate of Boroujerdi who herself was jailed and tortured for defending the him, and has since fled Iran, believes that without medical treatment and international intervention, Ayatollah Boroujerdi will most likely die soon under torture. On June 29, 2013, members of Ayatollah Boroujerdi's family went to Evin prison to visit him, and were shocked to see nature of his physical condition in the seventh year of his 11-year sentence. He has developed acute heart disease, which has led to the severe swelling of his feet and knees. He also suffers from ocular, pulmonary and respiratory disorders, but has been denied medical treatment by officials until he "repents "and "mends his ways". On July 8, 2013, Boroujerdi was interrogated for an extended period of time by government agents for his refusal to concede to the demands of the regime by signing a letter of "repentance." He was informed that "the pressures and tortures will increase until he has been destroyed". He has thus far refused to surrender. In a rare phone call to his family that followed this episode, he stated that he "will never give in to a single threat or intimidation tactic of the regime." His family stated that he also added, "he does not regret any of his actions and stands by his word, as he is prepared to die". After their visit, the Boroujerdi family announced that the tyrannical regime of the Islamic Republic's fanatics continue systematically to exterminate political prisoners and prisoners of conscience through well-planned prolonged torture; both psychological and physical. Despite a statement by then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012 and a plea by the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Dr. Ahmad Shaheed, to release Ayatollah Boroujerdi, the Iranian regime continues to torture this man of God whose only crime is advocating separation of religion from politics, democracy and human rights. On July 24, 2013, Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador to the Office of Religious Freedom, condemned the prolonged detention of Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi by Iranian authorities, but to no avail. The regime of Iran is silently executing Mr. Boroujerdi, without a bullet or a noose -- away from the eyes of the world. These silent executions are now a common method of killing political prisoners in Iran as the regime tries to hide its grotesque human rights violations and its escalating rate of executions of opponents. The human rights activists for democracy in Iran would like to bring to the immediate attention of all international human rights organizations and governments that Ayatollah Boroujerdi's life is in grave danger due to deliberate withholding of necessary medical care by the authorities in Iran. We ask for an intervention on his behalf, to save his life. Appendix: Partial List of Political Prisoners in Iran Source: The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners (CFPPI) Name Age Prison City Sentence Charges Ailment Arrest Date Mohammad-Reza Pourshajri 53 Central Prison Karaj 4 years Acting against national security

Insulting Islam

Insulting the Supreme Leader Diabetes, kidney stones, heart attack, enlarged prostate 2010 Dr. Sayed Madani Central Prison Bandar Abbas 6 years Acting against national security

Civil rights activist

Sociology Research Gallbladder stones 2011 Dr. Nader Babai Evin, ward 350 Tehran 74 lashes and 6 years suspended sentence Social and civil activist arrested during the 2009 protests for helping his student Omid Dana.

war vet for Iran/Iraq war 2 strokes

internal bleeding

seizures 2012 Vahid Roohbakhsh Evin, ward 350 Tehran 18 months suspended sentence he was arrested during the 2009 protests on charges of protesting/gathering and propagating propaganda against the regime due to severe beatings during torture he has lost 70% of his hearing and needs a hearing aid 2010 Dr. Haani Yazloo 59 Evin, ward 350 Tehran 6 years propaganda against the regime

he was previously arrested and sentenced to 1 year in prison and 15 years in exile He has had 2 open heart surgeries and suffers from extremely high blood pressure. 2012 Pajman Abdodlhossein Zade Evin, ward 350 Tehran Held for 1 year Green movement activist from 2009 and arrested before and this year again Broken arm during arrest 2012 Mehdi Khodai Evin, ward 350 Tehran 7 years human rights activist

acting against national security Injured jaw and gums (due to beatings) 2012 Zaniar Moradi Rajai Shahr Karaj Death-hanging enemy of God

alleged killing of the son of an Imam Broken spine and unbearable pain as result of routine torture, paralysis 2008 Loghman Moradi Rajai Shahr Karaj Death-hanging enemy of God

alleged killing of the son of an Imam Broken spine and unbearable pain as result of routine torture 2008 Yashar Daralshafa Evin Tehran 5.5 years acting against national security

insulting the President Problems with spine and disc 2009 Saeed MatinPour 38 Evin Tehran 8 years acting against national security

contacting with foreigners Extreme back pain and numb legs 1997 Ahmad Doneshpour Evin Tehran Death Supporter of the MEK Crohn's and intestinal bleeding 2009 Ayatollah Hossein Boroujerdi 54 Evin Tehran One year in Tehran and 10 years exile Accused of acting against national security, holding lectures and public incitement against the regime and Islamic Constitution Due to torture he is suffering from Parkinson's diseases, heart disease, kidney failure, pulmonary edema, edema of the legs, diabetes, high blood pressure, 90% loss of vision in the right eye and many other ailments 2006 Rasool Badaghi Rajai Shahr Karaj In prison 6 years Teachers Union board member Severe debilitating headaches 2009 Reza Shahabi Evin ward 350 Tehran 4 years prison and 5 years ban on union activities, 70 million Tomans fine Union worker activist member of imprisoned workers union high blood pressure and neck and low back pain 2010 Mohammad Jarahi Tabriz Prison Tabriz 5 years Workers Union member Thyroid gland tumor which has developed to cancer 2011 Mohammad Ali Taheri 54 Evin ward 209 Tehran 7 years prison, 900 million Tomans fine and 64 lashes Apostasy, violating national security establishment of a spiritual center( Erfan-e Halghe) Has been on hunger strike 9 times and has serious infection of the mouth and jaw Hamid Navid Evin ward 350 Tehran Death Lymphatic cancer Ali Alaee Evin Tehran 7 years Collaboration with a hostile enemy government Heart disease and spinal cord pain/injury Mostafa Daneshjoo Evin -- intelligence /security section Tehran in prison without sentencing part of the Dervish Gonabadi group Lung disease, difficulty breathing 2011 Reza Entesary Evin Tehran Webmaster, blogger (blog: Majzobane Noor) Injury to left arm 2011 Assadollah Hadi Evin Tehran 5 years Ex-political prisoner in '80s

acting against national security Severe heart disease along with problems with the meniscus of the knee 2009 Asghar Ghattan Evin ward 350 Tehran 5.5 years Ex-political prisoner in 80's

connection to MEK organization Kidney and heart problems along with prostate issues 2010 Mohmmad Salemi 64 Evin ward 350 Tehran 3 years Ex-political prisoner in 80's

connection to MEK organization

enemy of God Heart disease and spinal sciatica and kidney problems 2009 Mohammad Sadigh Kabodavand Evin Tehran 10.5 years establishing a human rights organization and acting against national security Prostate problems 1997 Kamyar Sabeti Evin Tehran 5 years spying Heart disease Sina Azeemi Evin Tehran 5 years spying Problems breathing/lung issues Mohsen Daneshpour 67 Evin Tehran Death acting against national security

enemy of God

connection to MEK organization Heart and prostate disease 2009 Hassan Faraji Evin ward 350 Tehran 7 years spying Heart disease, spinal cord injury, intestinal disease 2009 Alireza Ahmadi 30 Evin ward 350 Tehran Collaborating with enemy Broken legs during interrogation as a result of being kicked 2012 Tasavor Taghipour Evin ward 350 Tehran 7 years member of human rights organization and thus propaganda against the regime Jaw and gum problems 2012 Mohammad Davari 41 Evin ward 350 Tehran 5 years Acting against national security Knee and lower back joint problems along with mouth and teeth injuries 2009 Amir Khoram 51 Evin Tehran 8 years Member of the Freedom Movement - conspiring against national security Jaw and gum injuries 2009 Amir Eslami Evin ward 350 Tehran No sentence arrested in 2011 Member of Darvish Gonabadi and webmaster, blogger (blog: Majzobane Noor) Severe heart and intestinal pain 2011 Rahman Ghahermanpour Evin ward 350 Tehran 3.5 years spying Spinal cord pain, nose, ear and throat issues 2011 Esmael Barzagari Evin ward 350 Tehran No sentence arrested 2011 Acting against national security Gum and jaw issues 2011 Nader Jani Evin ward 350 Tehran 3.5 years Assembly and collusion against national security Spinal cord, heart lung problems 2012 Saeed Mohammad Ebrahimi Evin ward 350 Tehran 5 years insulting the Supreme Leader

Acting against national security

involvement in a soft Coup Asthma and intestinal issues plus lower back Joint problem - herniated disc 2010 Hamid Reza Moradi Evin ward 209 Tehran No sentence Member of Darvish Gonabadi

acting against national security

spreading lies and propaganda Spinal stenosis 2011 Hossein Zarrini Evin ward 350 Tehran 4 years Assembly and collusion against national security epilepsy 2010 Behnam Ebrahim Zade Evin ward 350 Tehran 5 years Workers Union Activist Arthritis in the neck and ear, jaw and kidney pain 2010 Saeed Abedeeni Evin ward 350 Tehran 8 years Establishing and running a church from his home Bleeding from stomach and bladder 2012 Farzad Rohi Evin Tehran 3.5 years Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam Sinusitis 2010 Assadollah Assadi Evin ward 350 Tehran 10 years Collaborating with enemy Lung problems/disease 2010 Gholamreza Hosseini Evin ward 209 Tehran 10 years Collaborating with enemy The destruction of the hip joint, and leg – gum issues 2010 Majid Assadi Evin ward 350 Tehran 4 years Assembly and collusion against national security Anxiety and severe headaches 2008 Nader Karbassi 58 Evin Tehran No sentence Communicating with opposition groups Joint problem - herniated disc 2011 Mohammad Banazade Amir-Kheezi 68 Evin ward 209 Tehran 5 years Communicating with MEK organization History of surgery and has severe bone pain 2010 Mushallah Hatteri 61 Rajai Shahr Karaj 15 years Ex-political prisoner in the 80s

protesting in 2009 demonstrations Has had heart surgery and suffers from brain hemorrhage 2009 Riazollah Sobhani 68 Rajai Shahr Karaj 4 years Professor of online Baha'i school, member of the Baha'i faith History of heart surgery. arthritis in hands and feet 2011 Jamal Khanjani 80 Evin Tehran 20 years Member of the Baha'i faith

Accused of spying for Israel Old age 2008 Mohammad Saifzadeh 66 Evin ward 350 Tehran 8 years Establishing human rights organization and acting against the regime Stroke, numbness of hands and feet. Severe chest pains 2011 Farhad Sadaghi 67 Rajai Shahr Karaj 4 years Professor of online Baha'i school and member of Baha'i faith Kidney stones, gall bladder stones and cataracts 2011 Kayvan Samimi 65 Rajai Shahr Karaj 6 years Questioning the 2009 election results and calling the results fraudulent Severe heart disease - joint problems - need for internal operations 2009 Sharokh Tanef 64 Rajai Shahr Karaj 4 years Being a member of the Baha'i faith Joint pain 2008 Karim Ma'rof Aziz 70 Rajai Shahr Karaj Life in prison spying Diabetes - old age 1995 Behrooz Azizi Tavakoli 62 Rajai Shahr Karaj 20 years Member of Baha'i faith

Spying for Israel Coronary Heart – Arthritis and herniated disc 1997 Fariba Kamal Abadi (female) Evin Tehran 20 years Member of Baha'i faith

Spying for Israel Osteoporosis 2007 Mahvash Shahriyari (female) Evin Tehran 20 years Member of Baha'i faith

Spying for Israel Osteoporosis and depression 2008 Hassan Fatali Ashtiani 64 Rajai Shahr Karaj 15 years Communication with MEK organization Joint pain 2007 Kamran Mortezai 61 Rajai Shahr Karaj 5 years Member of Baha'i faith

Spying for Israel Severe back and knee pain 2011 Amonollah Mostaghim Rajai Shahr Karaj 5 years Member of Baha'i faith

And a teacher of the faith online Diabetic, heart disease and history of open heart surgery 2010 Favad Moghadam 62 Rajai Shahr Karaj 5 years Member of Baha'i faith

And a teacher of the faith online Swelling of the arteries and herniated disc 2011 Adelle Naemi 61 Rajai Shahr Karaj 11 years Member of Baha'i faith

Spying for Israel Heart disease, diabetic and past gall bladder and intestine surgery 2011 Neymat Rashidi 21 Evin Tehran No sentence Member of the minority group of Kurdistan

communications with opposition groups Pain from injuries caused by torture 2011 Ali Ma'ezi 59 Central prison Karaj One year in prison - suspended Enemy of God and supporter of MEK organization bladder cancer 2011 Reza Joshan 27 2.5 years in prison and 3 years exile Enemy of God Vision and heart problems and increased blood platelet count 2010 Mijagh Bozdannejad 27 Rajai Shahr Karaj 13 years Communication with MEK

And paying tribute to those executed in 1988 depression 2007 Mohammad Ali Mansouri 53 Rajai Shahr Karaj 18 years Communication with MEK 2007 Saeed Maasoori 48 Gohardasht Karaj Life Communication with MEK Heart disease painful gums,, back pain 2000 Shahram Radmehr Rajai Shahr Karaj 9 years Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam Behnoud Gholizadeh Rajai Shahr Karaj 9 years Propaganda against the regime and insulting Islam Sedigheh Moradi 54 9 years Motahareh Bahrami 60 Evin Tehran 10 years Enemy of god and connection with MEK 2009 Kobra Bannazadeh Amirkhizi 62 Evin Tehran 5 years Enemy of god and connection with MEK Peyman KasNezhad Evin Tehran 3 years Connection with Israel Davoud Asadi 78 Kianoush Sabouri Omid Shahmoradi Sanandaji Evin Tehran 3 years Acting against national security 2011 Mahdi Sajedifar 35 Evin Tehran Connection with foreign government 2011 Amir Moladoust Morteza Rahim Tayefeh Majid Mohammadi Moien Evin Tehran 4 years Connection with foreign government 2012 Afshin Karampour MohammadHossein Yousefpour Evin Tehran 5.5 years Propaganda against the regime and apostasy 2009 Abdollah Momeni 36 Evin Tehran Propaganda against the regime and apostasy 2009 Alireza Ousivand Karimi Omid Kokabee 31 Evin Tehran 10 years communicating with a hostile government kidney problems some stomach issues 2011 Zeynab Jalalian 33 Dizel-Abad Kermanshah Life enmity against God (moharebeh) losing eye sight 2007 Hossein ronaghi 28 Evin Tehran 15 years Acting against national security Kidny disease, stomach bleeding, several hunger strikes in prison 2009 Sakhi Rigi Karoon Ahvaz 20 years Acting against national security, Webmaster, blogger, Jondollah supporter Issue with his Thyroid gland Ebrahim Rigi Karoon Ahvaz 11 years Acting against national security and Jondollah supporter Bladder, Kidney and urine tract Esmael Vafavi Karoon Ahvaa 25 years Acting against national security and Jondollah supporter Seizures, severe headache and deformed in the region of the scalp due to lashing Syed Zia Navabi Karoon Ahvaa 10 years Acting against national security, Support for right of education Gum and tooth infection Majid Doori Karoon Ahvaa 6 years Acting against national security, Support for Right ofEducation Gum and tooth infection Yousef Fotuhi Karoon Ahvaa 9 years Connection with PEJAK Suspicious painful lump between his shoulder Kazem Khosh Namak Karoon Ahvaa 10 years Collaborating with enemy Extreme weakness of vision © 2020 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute. Related Topics: Iran Recent Articles by Shadi Paveh Executions Surge in Iran after Nuclear Talks, Iran off U.S. Terror List, 2015-04-20

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