Azerbaijan, Baku, July 3 / Trend T. Konyayeva /
International legal organization "Amnesty International" urged the Iranian authorities to immediately disclose all the facts in the case of two Iranians. They were sentenced to death for ill-treatment of people detained in notorious prison Kahrizak last year, situated south of Tehran, the report said.
Iranian state news agencies reported June 30 that the trial over 12 suspects, 11 of them policemen, was completed. They were convicted for abuse of prisoners in Kahrizak. At least three detainees died as a result of torture and ill-treatment.
According to the reports, two accused were sentenced to death for "deliberately inflicting beatings resulting in death". Nine of them were sentenced to imprisonment for various terms, flogging, compensation and temporary removal from office. One was acquitted. Two sentenced to death were also sentenced to flogging, fines and compensation. All charges and sentences can be appealed.
According to the organization, the trial over 12 suspects were held behind closed doors in the presence of relatives of the victims. Thus, the details of the charges and evidence against them remain unclear. Supposedly, the Iranian authorities intend to continue to conceal serious violations in the treatment of prisoners in jail Kahrizak, where people protesting against the results of presidential elections in June 2009 are detained.
Moreover, the Iranian authorities do not divulge the identity of 12 accused, as well as their current posts and their titles, by causing suspicion that they may be officials of lower rank, which were tripped up. But the real perpetrators continue to occupy high positions in the government and the judiciary.
Kahrizak became notorious after the presidential elections June 12, 2009, peaceful demonstrators were arrested. They were tortured and mistreated. Initially, prison officials claimed that two of the three victims suffered from meningitis. But subsequent forensic examination revealed that all three died as a result of severe beatings.
In July 2009, after numerous allegations of mistreatment over prisoners, Kahrizak was closed by the Iranian Supreme Leader's order. It was reported that the warden and other officials were arrested.
Later, a special investigation committee under the Iranian parliament in January 2010 made a decision that "serious steps" against all responsible elements should be taken. Representatives of the judiciary, government and police officials can be among them.
"Amnesty International" calls upon the Iranian authorities to disclose all the facts of the investigation of torture and other cruel treatment, committed in Kahrizak, and details of charges and evidence against those who have already appeared in court. Such information is necessary to ensure observation of victims' and their families' rights to truth and justice.
"Amnesty International" also calls on the Iranian authorities to disclose the names of the defendants and their positions that they occupied during the events in Kahrizak, and provide detailed information about the court's verdict towards them.
"Amnesty International" opposes the death penalty in all cases, regardless of the severity of the crime, the report said.