October 19, 2010
Hey NoMoreStoning.
There hasn’t been anything on the Save Sakineh site so I went to Mission Free Iran. Evidently today was the hearing for Ms Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, who were arrested October 10 in Kian’s office during an interview with 2 German journalists. Not sure what the charges are or what has happened to the German journalists. Don’t know if Ms Ashtiani is aware her son is being held in the same prison – also innocent of all charges. Don’t know what has happened to his sister – she is only 17.
SAJJAD GHADERZADE, HOUTAN KIAN (ICAS)
[All emphasis added]
International Committee against Stoning/Execution via MFI:
ICAS and ICAE has received news that at least two of the four people arrested last Sunday in Tabriz, Iran are due to appear in court tomorrow, Tuesday 19 October 2010. Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, the 22 year-old son of Sakineh Ashtiani and her lawyer Houtan Kian were with two German journalists when the Islamic regime’s forces raided the house and arrested all four of them last Sunday.
The arrests have not been confirmed officially and we have no information on the wellbeing of the four men. They are being held in a secret prison unit in Tabriz and have been interrogated over the last week. According to our information they have been interrogated about their contact with foreign media and it is particularly Sajjad Ghaderzadeh who has been put under extensive pressure.
And on Sunday there was a Mission Free Iran protest at the Islamic Republic of Iran’s offices at the Pakistani Embassy in DC. Iran should not be allow any recognition on US soil.
MFI statement follows.
STAND FOR SAJJAD!
Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, the son of Sakineh Ashtiani, has rallied the world in a struggle for the life & honor of his mother – even when disowned by his family – because his fight is just.
He has shattered the the foundations of the Islamic Republic’s misogyny by raising his head proudly and announcing to the world that women have a right to their bodies – that the shame of an “adultery” charge is not woman’s, but the Islamic Republic’s.
Sajjad has drawn global leaders to his side. He has exposed the crimes of the Islamic Republic and called murderers & torturers to account – while still inside Iran.
And now, those same murderers and torturers have abducted Sajjad, taking him, Sakineh’s lawyer Houtan Kian, and two German journalists to an unknown location.
We know this regime. We know their expertise is in lies, torture, and execution. And we know that they would like nothing more than to silence our courageous and honorable Sajjad forever.
The time has come to stand up for the young man who fearlessly moved the entire world to the defense of his mother, and in doing so, shook the foundations of this regime. He stood up for his mother, and for all women, and now we must stand for him.
Maria Rohaly
Coordinator, Mission Free Iran
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