News

Woke up this morning with the 9 am radio newsbulletin. The first I heard was that Iran executed Zahra Bahrami. A Dutch national who was born in Iran.
I shiverred and it's not the first time with such bad news from Iran. It's not confirmed yet by the Dutch embassy so there is still hope.

* Execution by hanging has been confirmed and the most exterme Dutch party has said that we should expel the Iranian ambassador.

This is the nightmare every person could find himself in, esspecially with double nationality. The Netherlands warns nationals with also an Iranian nationality not to go to the land of origin.
This is so absurd. I heard that just yesterday there were movements in the juridical field. That possibly triggered her execution by the ones who wanted her dead.
This is a foreign political game. The Netherlands should remain giving shelter to the surpressed in the world. Calling the ambassador back home isn't a wise thing because you have to stay on spreaking terms. Even if the other country has different values.

* update January 31 2011 Bahrami is convicted to have smuggled almost 16 kilograms cocaine into the Netherlands in 2003.

Documentary

I saw a part of a documentary on BBC Worldservice today. I didn't really pay attention to it and I thought it was about the economic recession in Iran.

What I saw was a man who showed the rooms in a house. Listening I learned that he was a famous football player. He was married and had a so called mistress. Now his wife was murdered and the football player his mistress found the dead body.

Now she is the accused murderer. Her name is Shahla Jahed. She confessed she did the manslaughter. But later she withdraw her confession, saying she was under pressure.

The law is severe in Iran. She is sentenced to death by hanging. When I see her in the documentary as a smart woman pleading not guilty I believe her. There is reason for doubt and that is one of many reasons I am against death penalties.

Investigate this, prosecutor of Iran, instead of prosecuting peaceful demonstrators.

google on "Shahla Jahed" bbc

Free Abdullah al-Mansouri

Abdullah Al-Mansouri is a Dutch Citizen with Iranian roots.
He's imprisoned in Iran because he defends the civil rights of minorities in Iran.
Because of his work he's been given a royal order in name of our queen.
He's been jailed for over a year now, without an attorney of his own choice, juridical assistance, and without contact with a Dutch representative which was allowed in the first place.

This Dutchman might be sentenced to death because of being a defender of civil rights.
The Iranian Ambassador denies this sentence. Amnesty International insists on a fair trail.

I want you to help me and sign the letter at the bottom of this post. Please act now.
Hopefully you understand the urgency of acting.

Iran is sensitive for public opinion (which country isn't in these times? Libya, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, and other countries)

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you regarding the plight of Faleh Abdoullah Al-Mansouri who I understand has been detained for more then one year without any reason being given. Amnesty has been informed that Faleh Abdoullah Al-Mansouri has been brought into court without the assistance of a lawyer of his choice.
This appears to be in violation with the right to a fair trial and therefore against the Convention on Civil and Political Rights that Iran has ratified. I therefore appeal to you to look into this case urgently, with a view to releasing Faleh Abdoullah Al-Mansouri. Faleh Abdoullah Al-Mansouri should get immediate access to a lawyer of his choice, and receive any medical treatment he may require. Furthermore he should be allowed a Dutch representative to be present during the hearings. In no case should the death penalty be imposed.
Yours respectfully,

I signed it. See this link Sadly I couldn't get the english version of it.