Saeed Mortazavi
Encyclopedia
Saeed Murtazavi is a controversial Iran
ian jurist and former prosecutor of the Islamic Revolutionary Court
, and Prosecutor General of Tehran, a position he has held from 2003 to 2009. He has been called as "butcher of the press" and "torturer of Tehran" by some observers. Murtazavi has been accused of the torture and death in custody of Iran
ian-Canadian
photographer Zahra Kazemi
by the Canadian government and was named by 2010 Iranian parliamentary report as the man responsible for abuse of dozens and death of three political prisoners at Kahrizak detention center
in 2009. He is now deputy prosecutor-general of Iran.
On 18 May 2003 he became Prosecutor General of Tehran, a position he has held till 29 August 2009. It had been unfilled for the previous eight years, since Iran abolished prosecutors in 1995. In the intervening years judges performed the prosecutor's role.
, an Iran
ian-Canadian
photographer who died in the custody of Iranian officials in 2003. As a judge, Murtazevi was involved in some unknown capacity in Kazemi's interrogation. He was later assigned to investigate the disputed circumstances of her death, although it was subsequently reported that Mortazevi had decided to let a military court perform the investigation. In late 2003, the Iranian Parliament issued a report accusing Mortazavi of trying to cover up Kazemi's death and forcing witnesses to the event to change their stories. Murtazevi strongly denied the accusations, although the government of Canada
continues to claim that not only did Mortazavi order Kazemi's arrest, but he also supervised her torture and was present when she was killed.
. It has been reported that Iranians call him the "butcher of the press". As a judge he shut down 60 pro-reform newspapers.
In 2004 he was behind the detention of more than 20 bloggers and journalists whom were held for long periods of time and forced to sign “confessions” of their “illicit activities”.
In 2005, journalists reported receiving death threats after testifying about their alleged torture at the command of Mortazevi. In a press conference, Murtazevi denied the journalists had been mistreated while in state custody. Also in 2005, Murtazevi ordered Iran's major ISPs
to block access to Orkut
and other blogging and social networking websites.
On 15 February 2008, it was announced that Murtazavi had banned
five Iranian websites that comment on politics and current events. Murtazevi was quoted as saying they were "poisoning the electoral sphere" in advance of Iran's mid-March parliamentary elections.
as part of the Iranian delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council
, a decision that was met with some criticism at home and abroad, due to Mortazavi's controversial human rights record. Human Rights Watch
urged Iran to remove him from the delegation, and other countries to decline to meet with the Iranian delegation until his removal. Mortazevi's first official meeting was with the also-controversial Zimbabwe
an minister of justice Patrick Chinamasa
. Mortazavi took advantage of his position on the delegation to advocate the right of access to high technology, including nuclear power, for all nations. He also warned the council that it should avoid being manipulated into doing the bidding of powerful states, and that it should investigate human rights abuses perpetrated by western powers, notably human rights abuses in the War on Terror
, extraordinary rendition
, Islamophobia
, criticism of the Islamic dress code and veil
, and the suppression of the freedom of speech of Holocaust deniers
.
He has been involved in more contentious cases since then as well. Mortazavi was a prosecutor on the cases of Roxana Saberi
, an American-Iranian journalist accused of spying, and Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan
, whose posts were critical of the establishment.
across Iran, Mortazavi has been active in suppressing the protests. He has signed arrest warrants for reformers, such as Saeed Hajjarian
, and is believed to be instrumental in the more than 600 arrests that have occurred across the nation.
In early 2010 the Iranian parliament released a report identifying Saeed Mortazavi, as "the main culprit in the scandal" over the Kahrizak detention center
. The report stated that 147 prisoners arrested for participating in demonstrations
against irregularities in the 2009 election of President Ahmadinejad had been "held in a 70-square-metre room for four days without proper ventilation, heating and food on Mortazavi's orders". Three of the inmates died, including Mohsen Rouhalamini
, the son of a "distinguished government scientist."
Mortazavi had maintained that the prisoners had "died from meningitis" and that "inoculation kits had been sent to detention centres" to stop the condition from spreading. This claim was dismissed by an examining doctor, Ramin Pourandarjani
, who refused to certify it as the cause of death until he was arrested and forced to do so. Pourandarjani later died mysteriously after being charged with failing to properly treat the prisoners. The report rejected Mortazavi claim.
The report however also "strongly rejected" reports that rape or sexual assault had taken place in the prison. Opposition websites have reported rapes at the prison including the rape of a pro-regime photographer, Saeed Sadaghi, which allegedly led to the closing of the prison. Sadaghi is said to have been accidentally swept up in the mass arrests and held at Kahrizak after which he complained to Supreme Leader
Khamenei of his treatment. Khamenei later closed the prison.
. Observers disagree over whether the post was a promotion to "deputy to the nation's top prosecutor," with "a fancy title and protection from future legal action," or "a demotion" that strips him of powers he had enjoyed, such as the ability to order an arrest or halt to political activities.
Saeed Mortazavi is facing a potential investigation into his conduct of post vote trials.
. The appointment was seen by some as an example of President Ahmadinejad's loyalty to his "dwindling" band of core supporters.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian jurist and former prosecutor of the 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...
, and Prosecutor General of Tehran, a position he has held from 2003 to 2009. He has been called as "butcher of the press" and "torturer of Tehran" by some observers. Murtazavi has been accused of the torture and death in custody of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
photographer Zahra Kazemi
Zahra Kazemi
Zahra "Ziba" Kazemi-Ahmadabadi was an Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer, residing in Montreal, Canada, who died in the custody of Iranian officials following her arrest....
by the Canadian government and was named by 2010 Iranian parliamentary report as the man responsible for abuse of dozens and death of three political prisoners at Kahrizak detention center
Kahrizak detention center
Kahrizak detention center is a detainment facility operated by the Judicial system of Iran in southern Tehran.-Before 2009 election protests:...
in 2009. He is now deputy prosecutor-general of Iran.
Career and actions
Before his prosecutorial appointment, Murtazavi was a judge.On 18 May 2003 he became Prosecutor General of Tehran, a position he has held till 29 August 2009. It had been unfilled for the previous eight years, since Iran abolished prosecutors in 1995. In the intervening years judges performed the prosecutor's role.
Zahra Kazemi
Murtazavi is notable for his involvement in the case of Zahra KazemiZahra Kazemi
Zahra "Ziba" Kazemi-Ahmadabadi was an Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer, residing in Montreal, Canada, who died in the custody of Iranian officials following her arrest....
, an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
photographer who died in the custody of Iranian officials in 2003. As a judge, Murtazevi was involved in some unknown capacity in Kazemi's interrogation. He was later assigned to investigate the disputed circumstances of her death, although it was subsequently reported that Mortazevi had decided to let a military court perform the investigation. In late 2003, the Iranian Parliament issued a report accusing Mortazavi of trying to cover up Kazemi's death and forcing witnesses to the event to change their stories. Murtazevi strongly denied the accusations, although the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
continues to claim that not only did Mortazavi order Kazemi's arrest, but he also supervised her torture and was present when she was killed.
The Press
Murtazavi is often portrayed in the western media as a symbol of problems within the judicial system of IranJudicial system of Iran
A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza Shah, with further changes during the second Pahlavi era....
. It has been reported that Iranians call him the "butcher of the press". As a judge he shut down 60 pro-reform newspapers.
In 2004 he was behind the detention of more than 20 bloggers and journalists whom were held for long periods of time and forced to sign “confessions” of their “illicit activities”.
In 2005, journalists reported receiving death threats after testifying about their alleged torture at the command of Mortazevi. In a press conference, Murtazevi denied the journalists had been mistreated while in state custody. Also in 2005, Murtazevi ordered Iran's major ISPs
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
to block access to Orkut
Orkut
Orkut is a social networking website that is owned and operated by Google Inc. The service is designed to help users meet new and old friends and maintain existing relationships...
and other blogging and social networking websites.
On 15 February 2008, it was announced that Murtazavi had banned
Censorship in Iran
Censorship in Iran is the limiting or suppressing of the publishing, dissemination, and viewing of certain information in the Islamic Republic of Iran...
five Iranian websites that comment on politics and current events. Murtazevi was quoted as saying they were "poisoning the electoral sphere" in advance of Iran's mid-March parliamentary elections.
United Nations visit
In 2006, Mortazavi was sent to GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
as part of the Iranian delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
, a decision that was met with some criticism at home and abroad, due to Mortazavi's controversial human rights record. Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
urged Iran to remove him from the delegation, and other countries to decline to meet with the Iranian delegation until his removal. Mortazevi's first official meeting was with the also-controversial Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an minister of justice Patrick Chinamasa
Patrick Chinamasa
Patrick Antony Chinamasa is a Zimbabwean politician, currently serving as the Minister of Justice.-Career:A leading member of the ruling ZANU-PF party, Chinamasa became first deputy Agriculture Minister, and then Attorney General of Zimbabwe; he also holds the role of Leader of the Zimbabwean...
. Mortazavi took advantage of his position on the delegation to advocate the right of access to high technology, including nuclear power, for all nations. He also warned the council that it should avoid being manipulated into doing the bidding of powerful states, and that it should investigate human rights abuses perpetrated by western powers, notably human rights abuses in the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition is the abduction and illegal transfer of a person from one nation to another. "Torture by proxy" is used by some critics to describe situations in which the United States and the United Kingdom have transferred suspected terrorists to other countries in order to torture the...
, Islamophobia
Islamophobia
Islamophobia describes prejudice against, hatred or irrational fear of Islam or MuslimsThe term dates back to the late 1980s or early 1990s, but came into common usage after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States....
, criticism of the Islamic dress code and veil
Islam and clothing
Adherents of Islam are concerned with clothing in two contexts: clothing for everyday wear, inside and outside the house; and clothing required in specifically religious contexts....
, and the suppression of the freedom of speech of Holocaust deniers
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
.
Student protesters
In 2008, it was reported that Mortazavi had detained students due to protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government; the students alleged abuse while in jail.He has been involved in more contentious cases since then as well. Mortazavi was a prosecutor on the cases of Roxana Saberi
Roxana Saberi
Roxana Saberi is an American journalist who was arrested in Iran in January 2009. On April 8, 2009, the Iranian government charged Saberi with espionage, which she denied. She was subsequently sentenced to an eight-year prison term...
, an American-Iranian journalist accused of spying, and Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan
Hossein Derakhshan
Hossein Derakhshan , also known as Hoder, is an Iranian blogger. He is credited with starting the blogging revolution in Iran and is called the father of Persian blogging by many journalists. He also helped to promote podcasting in Iran...
, whose posts were critical of the establishment.
Arrests of 2009 election protesters
During the 2009 election dispute2009 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...
across Iran, Mortazavi has been active in suppressing the protests. He has signed arrest warrants for reformers, such as Saeed Hajjarian
Saeed Hajjarian
Saeed Hajjarian is an Iranian intellectual, prominent journalist, pro-democracy activist and university lecturer. He has been an intelligence official, a member of Tehran's city council, and advisor to president Mohammad Khatami...
, and is believed to be instrumental in the more than 600 arrests that have occurred across the nation.
In early 2010 the Iranian parliament released a report identifying Saeed Mortazavi, as "the main culprit in the scandal" over the Kahrizak detention center
Kahrizak detention center
Kahrizak detention center is a detainment facility operated by the Judicial system of Iran in southern Tehran.-Before 2009 election protests:...
. The report stated that 147 prisoners arrested for participating in demonstrations
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...
against irregularities in the 2009 election of President Ahmadinejad had been "held in a 70-square-metre room for four days without proper ventilation, heating and food on Mortazavi's orders". Three of the inmates died, including Mohsen Rouhalamini
Mohsen Rouhalamini
Mohsen Rouhalamini was a graduate student in the computer engineering department at the University of Tehran. He died in July, 2009 at the Kahrizak detention center following his arrest in connection with protests of the 2009 presidential election in Iran...
, the son of a "distinguished government scientist."
Mortazavi had maintained that the prisoners had "died from meningitis" and that "inoculation kits had been sent to detention centres" to stop the condition from spreading. This claim was dismissed by an examining doctor, Ramin Pourandarjani
Ramin Pourandarjani
Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani was an Iranian physician who examined prisoners wounded and killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests...
, who refused to certify it as the cause of death until he was arrested and forced to do so. Pourandarjani later died mysteriously after being charged with failing to properly treat the prisoners. The report rejected Mortazavi claim.
The report however also "strongly rejected" reports that rape or sexual assault had taken place in the prison. Opposition websites have reported rapes at the prison including the rape of a pro-regime photographer, Saeed Sadaghi, which allegedly led to the closing of the prison. Sadaghi is said to have been accidentally swept up in the mass arrests and held at Kahrizak after which he complained to Supreme Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
Khamenei of his treatment. Khamenei later closed the prison.
Deputy prosecutor-general
On August 31, 2009, Mortazavi was demoted to deputy prosecutor-general - "one of six deputies for prosecutor-general Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i" - by the new judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq LarijaniSadeq Larijani
Ayatollah Sadegh Ardeshir Amoli Larijani is an Iranian cleric, politician and current head of the judicial system of Iran....
. Observers disagree over whether the post was a promotion to "deputy to the nation's top prosecutor," with "a fancy title and protection from future legal action," or "a demotion" that strips him of powers he had enjoyed, such as the ability to order an arrest or halt to political activities.
Saeed Mortazavi is facing a potential investigation into his conduct of post vote trials.
Task Force Against Smuggling
In 2010 Mortazavi was appointed head of Iran's Task Force Against Smuggling, shortly after he was discredited by the release of a report by the Iranian parliament naming him as the man largely responsible for abuse of political prisoners committed in July 2009 by state security forces at the Kahrizak detention centerKahrizak detention center
Kahrizak detention center is a detainment facility operated by the Judicial system of Iran in southern Tehran.-Before 2009 election protests:...
. The appointment was seen by some as an example of President Ahmadinejad's loyalty to his "dwindling" band of core supporters.