Disclosing Statement of Suffering by the Families of Tavakoli, Ghasaban and Mansouri: Details of the Polytechnic University Students Torture

The families of Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad Ghasaban, and Ehsan Mansouri are releasing a Disclosing Statement of suffering to Ayatollah Hashemi Shadroudi, in an attempt to reveal what has happed to these three students while in prison. This letter states that 80 days after the trial of these three individuals, they are enduring mental and physical injuries as a result of being imprisoned and it has been requested of the judiciary to report on their condition. The text of this letter is as follows:

Islamic verse from Qu’ran

To the honorable head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran,Mr. Hashemi Shahroudi,

Hello and GreetingsThis is the fourth letter that has been sent within the past 80 days after the trial of our loved ones. As you are aware from the previous letters, we expressed our concern over the mental and physical harm that has beset these students in an attempt to force a false confession out of them. In the capacity of the most powerful rank of the judiciary we are asking you, honorable sir, to assist in ceasing this method of behavior. At this point from 8 prisoners, 5 so far have been released and these three are still being imprisoned.

Honorable Mr. Shahroudi, in this extensive period of time, whatever we have heard from the condition of our loves ones, we have not divulged in the hopes that the fairness of the judiciary will lead to their freedom. However, today after two court sessions and the freedom of those 5 afore mentioned students, and after hearing what has beset our loved ones in solitary confinement in section 209 of Evin Prison, we began divulging what was made known to us. The following has been made known of their condition:

Psychological Torture<!–[if !supportLists]–>1. <!–[endif]–>Extensive periods of interrogations (24 hours at a time) at the hands of a 7 member team and interrogations that are random and throughout the night. <!–[if !supportLists]–>2. <!–[endif]–>False reporting to the prisoners about the arrest, beating and torture, and hospitalization of members of their family.<!–[if !supportLists]–>3. <!–[endif]–>The broadcasting of horrific sounds in prison cells during the night hours so that the student’s sleep is disturbed.<!–[if !supportLists]–>4. <!–[endif]–>Belligerent insults to the students as well as members of their family.<!–[if !supportLists]–>5. <!–[endif]–>Disrespect to the students and inappropriate behavior of the warden in prison section 209.<!–[if !supportLists]–>6. <!–[endif]–>Various threatening statements including that of execution, severe and brutal beatings, as well as threatening the student’s family members with the same fate. <!–[if !supportLists]–>7. <!–[endif]–>Threatening the status of employment of the student’s parents by way of expulsion or dismissal, the sentencing of 80 lashes to be endured by those involved.<!–[if !supportLists]–>8. <!–[endif]–> Sending the students to reside in the same cell as dangerous criminals. <!–[if !supportLists]–>9. <!–[endif]–>Falsely notifying the students of their dismissal from prison, giving them their belongings, and then returning them to solitary confinement. Physical Torture:<!–[if !supportLists]–>1. <!–[endif]–>Brutal beatings of the face at the hands of 7 interrogators (at the same time) that lead to the student’s unconsciousness and consequently being taken to the prison clinic for those in section 209 of the prison. <!–[if !supportLists]–>2. <!–[endif]–>Beatings to the feet, arms, chest, back, etc. brutal beatings by the fist as well as kicking to the head, face, and feet to the point that the students fall out of their seats and consequently and are smashed against the wall by brute force. <!–[if !supportLists]–>3. <!–[endif]–>Beating the students while handcuffed on the wrist area to the point of bad bruising and swelling that stays prominent for weeks at a time. <!–[if !supportLists]–>4. <!–[endif]–>Confining the students to an extremely small cell in which they are not able to walk or extend their legs. <!–[if !supportLists]–>5. <!–[endif]–>Confining them to cells without a mat or other necessary items. <!–[if !supportLists]–>6. <!–[endif]–>Forcing the students to stand upright for 48 hours at a time<!–[if !supportLists]–>7. <!–[endif]–>Utilizing cables and whips to beat and torture the students<!–[if !supportLists]–>8. <!–[endif]–>Laying the students horizontal on the ground and inflicting pressure and pain to the head and leg area by the team of 7 interrogators who also stand on top of the legs and backs of the students thereby inflicting great pressure and pain. <!–[if !supportLists]–>9. <!–[endif]–>Forcing the standing of the students on one foot for 18 hours at a time.<!–[if !supportLists]–>10. <!–[endif]–>Throwing and smashing the students against the wall. <!–[if !supportLists]–>11. <!–[endif]–>Withholding food and nourishment from for periods of 48 hours at a time.<!–[if !supportLists]–>12. <!–[endif]–>Beating the students as soon as they are taken into custody to the point where those responsible for section 209 of the prison refuse to take responsibility for them upon their arrival. <!–[if !supportLists]–>13. <!–[endif]–>Requiring the students to read immoral material out loud and forcing them to recite it and write it by memory as well.<!–[if !supportLists]–>14. <!–[endif]–>Forbidding the students the right to medical treatment by the prison doctors as well as withholding necessary medication.<!–[if !supportLists]–>15. <!–[endif]–>Forcing the students to make repetitive moves (such as sitting and quickly standing, or squatting and grabbing the ankles) for a prolonged period of time.Mr. Shahroudi, word for word what we have written above is equivalent to a bullet residing in our heart. Again, we ask the question that how much torture one student in their 20’s must endure? For anyone, these types of torture are intolerable for the length of 80 days. Again we ask this question, are these forced confessions by way of torture acceptable? For students who condemn the slandering of Shi’i religious figures (Imams) as well as disrespecting the hijab (female headscarf) why is it that they are being depicted as having published immoral articles? Is the goal of investigating these files (of the students) finding the truth and the prevention of such a case from happening again, or convicting a few innocent university students at any price? What has been revealed is in conflict with the legal constitutional code, and moral as well as religious values. These restrictions placed on these students does not leave room for the accusation of breaking the law, or religious values and there is no need to repeat this over again. What we do know from our loves one in prison is that they are being forced to confess under the circumstances mentioned above, namely by way of the worst forms of psychological and physical torture. We do not believe in the veracity of these forced confessions and the only confession that is acceptable is one that is made in a free and unthreatening atmosphere outside of the prison cell. Mr. Shahroudi, we as well as our loved ones are waiting for your just actions to keep the flame of hope alive in our broken hearts. We want to believe that these gifted students of this country who are the future of this land are neither the enemy nor corrupted and never will the permission be given to say they have committed crimes they have not nor to pressure them into saying they have done so. Without a doubt, in front of God almighty our conscience and in the people’s legitimacy we will be held accountable. Our request from you honorable sir is that your diligent perusal of this situation would end this trend in regards to the investigation of these fraudulent publications. By doing so, you would prevent the blatant denial of rights to our loved ones who are imprisoned; thereby facilitating their release. With thanks and respect,The Families of these three students Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad Ghasaban, and Ehsan Mansouri