Rights Group Attacks Iran's 'Ministers Of Murder'

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-15-2005 | Anton La Guardia

[blam]

Rights group attacks Iran's 'ministers of murder'

By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 15/12/2005)

Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has packed his government with former security and intelligence officials responsible for serious human rights abuses, including the killing of thousands of dissidents in Iranian jails, a leading human rights group said yesterday.

After Mr Ahmadinejad caused renewed international outrage by calling the Nazi Holocaust of Jews a "myth", a report by Human Rights Watch, based in New York, took aim at his hardline cabinet - in particular the new interior minister, Mustafa Pour-Mohammadi.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has renewed his attack on Israel

Mr Pour-Mohammadi, a notorious former deputy intelligence minister, held the post from 1987 to 1999 at a time when his agents "systematically engaged in extra-judicial killings of opposition figures, political activists and intellectuals", HRW said.

The report, entitled Ministers of Murder: Iran's New Security Cabinet, links him to the murder of thousands of political prisoners in Iranian jails in 1988.

"The deliberate and systematic manner in which these extra-judicial executions took place may constitute a crime against humanity under international law," said HRW.

Mr Pour-Mohammadi was in charge of foreign intelligence operations from 1990 to 1999, a time when dozens of opposition figures were assassinated abroad.

"In some of these cases the hand of the Iranian government has been well established, while in others there are credible allegations of government involvement. Pour-Mohammadi is at the centre of strong allegations of direct involvement in orchestrating these assassinations," the campaign group said.

The minister was also implicated in a series of political murders of intellectuals in Iran in the 1990s, HRW said.

The campaign group also singled out Gholamhussein Mohseni Ezhei, the new minister of intelligence, or "information", who had previously served as a member of the judiciary that "spearheaded the prosecution of prominent reformist clerics".

There was no immediate response from Teheran to the allegations last night.

Western diplomats familiar with Iran say the two men have long been regarded as leading members of hardline factions that have tried to roll back political reforms promoted by the former president Mohammad Khatami. "If either of them were to turn up in Europe for medical treatment there would be a case for arresting them on the precedent of Gen Augusto Pinochet," said one European official.

President Ahmadinejad faced another round of western condemnation yesterday when he launched a renewed attack on Israel.

"They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred, and place this above God, religions and the prophets," he said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

"If somebody in their country questions God, nobody says anything," he added. "But if somebody denies the myth of the massacre of Jews, the Zionist loudspeakers and the governments in the pay of Zionism will start to scream."

[fish hawk]

What human rights group? Did I miss the name somehow?

[blam]

"What human rights group? Did I miss the name somehow?"

"After Mr Ahmadinejad caused renewed international outrage by calling the Nazi Holocaust of Jews a "myth", a report by Human Rights Watch, based in New York, took aim at his hardline cabinet - in particular the new interior minister, Mustafa Pour-Mohammadi."

[fish hawk]

These groups were bitching their heads off about The Passion of Christ way before its release. They are just now starting to gripe about this deplorable human being that wants to wipe them off the face of the Earth. It's about time they speak.

[RTINSC]

It will be only a matter of time before HRW concludes that America has caused the problem in Iran.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I don't know if we caused the problem but American voters elected Jimmy Carter in 1976. He abandoned the Shah of Iran and his regime beliving--like a lot of Iranians--that the Ayatollah would usher in Democracy and new freedoms. Instead Iran became more oppressive and totalitarian and the world's main sponsor of terrorism. I believe it's time for the U.S. to openly support the Iranian opposition with funding, weapons, and regional mercenaries. Unleash chaos of them.

[RTINSC]

Let's hope the Iranian people take the goverment down. I agree we should give them financial support to help. Carter was naive and still is.