URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION

Death Sentence Upheld for Teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari and Sent for Implementation

Abdolreza Ghanbari
Posted by royahayesabz August 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

August 12, 2011 – Persian Banoo – HRANA: Abdolreza Ghanbari’s death sentence order has been sent to the Revolutionary Court’s Implementation Division.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports the Amnesty and Clemency Commission has rejected Ghanbari’s clemency request and has sent the case to the Implementation Division.

Ghanbari with a PhD in Literature and Persian Language was a high school teacher in Varamin when arrested during Ashura protest on December 27, 2009.

He was charged, convicted and sentenced to death for video taping the protests and sending them to opposition groups.

About a month after his arrest, without access to a lawyer, or knowing his legal rights, Ghanbari was put on trial on January 30, 2010. He was found guilty of all charges and was sentenced to death in the court room of Judge Salavati.

In an illegal act, the death penalty verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court was sent to Judge Zargar’s Branch 36 Appeals Court instead of being sent to the Supreme Court. Judge Zargar upheld Ghanbari’s death sentence.

His wife filed an appeal and requested a new hearing which was rejected. She then sent a letter to the Amnesty and Clemency Commission. One year after her request for clemency, the case has now been sent to the sentence Implementation Division.
The letter from Abdolreza Ghanbari’s 10 year-old daughter, Saleh:

Dear Papa,

I hope you are well. Today is one of those days that I don’t have you near me. Every time that I miss you, I write to you or glance at my blue watch that you bought for my birthday. (I check) to see how fast time flies since you have gone. I’m growing more and getting taller every day.

Today is Father’s Day and we celebrated it. We bought presents – but we have missed you for six months now, and, instead of being with you, I talk to your framed picture on the table. I hope that the loving angels bring you my good wishes for Father’s Day. Dear papa, our celebration today was dampened by mom’s bitter tears.

There were a lot of happy shows on TV today, for the occasion of Father’s Day, but I could not watch them because they kept showing children who were wishing “Happy Father’s Day” and giving flowers to their dads. They were happy. The TV was not at all concerned about us kids who don’t have our dads with us. So, I got really upset and turned off the TV. Daddy, I only have one dream: for you to come home and stay near me, forever.

I am awaiting your return any day now

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