Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani
Encyclopedia
Muhammed-Reza Ali-Zamani (ca. 1972 - 28 January 2010) was an Iranian activist working for the "Iran Monarchy Committee" or Kingdom Assembly of Iran
, who was sentenced to death
by an Islamic Revolutionary Court
, in October 2009 for moharebeh
— "taking up arms against Iran's Islamic system," — and executed on 28 January 2010.
According to his indictment, Ali-Zamani joined the Kingdom Assembly of Iran
"after hearing about it on a television satellite channel" and is accused of "distributing anti-regime CDs and propaganda" and "copies of the Satanic Verses
," being trained in chemical weapons and providing information on Iranian officials "targeted for assassination." According to Dordaneh Fouladvand — an Assembly spokeswoman—he had worked with the organisation but had played no role in the post-election protests. According to the same source: "His job was simply to pass on news for our radio station and to make broadcast packages". In January 2010, his execution was carried out.
His was the first case following the mass protests
following the 2009 election to result in a death sentence, and "Human rights campaigners" fear it may "pave the way for further politically driven executions" in Iran.
Mark Fitzpatrick, from the International Institute for Strategic Studies
, suggested that Mr. Ali-Zamani's harsh sentence was an effort on the part of the Iranian government to discourage future protests: “It sounds like the regime continues to feel very vulnerable and is utilizing all the powers of control at its disposal to stamp out protests,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.
Kingdom Assembly of Iran
Kingdom Assembly of Iran is a militant Iranian royalist group which seeks to overthrow the Islamic Republic and restore the ousted Iranian monarchy...
, who was sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by an Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court is a special court in the Islamic Republic of Iran designed to try those suspected of smuggling, blaspheming, inticing violence or trying to overthrow the Iranian government...
, in October 2009 for moharebeh
Moharebeh
Moharebeh is the title of a crime in Islamic law. Mohareb refers to the perpetrator of the crime. Moharebeh has been translated in English language media sources variously as "waging war against God," "war against God and the state," "enmity against God." Mohareb has been translated by English...
— "taking up arms against Iran's Islamic system," — and executed on 28 January 2010.
According to his indictment, Ali-Zamani joined the Kingdom Assembly of Iran
Kingdom Assembly of Iran
Kingdom Assembly of Iran is a militant Iranian royalist group which seeks to overthrow the Islamic Republic and restore the ousted Iranian monarchy...
"after hearing about it on a television satellite channel" and is accused of "distributing anti-regime CDs and propaganda" and "copies of the Satanic Verses
The Satanic Verses controversy
The Satanic Verses controversy was the heated and sometimes violent Muslim reaction to the publication of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses. Many Muslims accused Rushdie of blasphemy or unbelief and in 1989 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie...
," being trained in chemical weapons and providing information on Iranian officials "targeted for assassination." According to Dordaneh Fouladvand — an Assembly spokeswoman—he had worked with the organisation but had played no role in the post-election protests. According to the same source: "His job was simply to pass on news for our radio station and to make broadcast packages". In January 2010, his execution was carried out.
His was the first case following the mass protests
2009 Iranian election protests
Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...
following the 2009 election to result in a death sentence, and "Human rights campaigners" fear it may "pave the way for further politically driven executions" in Iran.
Mark Fitzpatrick, from the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
, suggested that Mr. Ali-Zamani's harsh sentence was an effort on the part of the Iranian government to discourage future protests: “It sounds like the regime continues to feel very vulnerable and is utilizing all the powers of control at its disposal to stamp out protests,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.