Vancouver activist says his cousin was arrested in Tehran, where ‘change-makers’ are targets | 24CA News

On Monday, a gaggle of eight safety police confirmed up at Semiramis Babaei’s house in Tehran with a clean warrant, then used her brother’s telephone to ship a textual content urging her to return house, based on her household in Canada.

No one has heard from the award-winning writer and playwright since.

Her cousin, who lives in Vancouver, realized the news when he awoke at 4:30 a.m. PT and checked Instagram. He noticed a message from household in Iran concerning the arrest.

“I was horrified,” stated Amir Bajehkian, 38, who lives close to False Creek in Olympic Village.

He’s one in all many Iranian-Canadians who reside with a sickening concern for relations again in Iran, as they watch ongoing uprisings finish in violence and mass arrests — and now, not less than one execution. 

Bajehkian needs the world to know his cousin’s title to maintain a highlight on her state of affairs. He believes that can assist shield her.

‘Change-makers’ a goal

Iran has been rocked by a nationwide rebellion towards the Islamic regime, touched off by the dying of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini whereas within the custody of Iran’s infamous morality police on Sept. 16, 2022.

There have been a number of stories of demonstrators disappearing after they’re tracked and arrested by safety forces.

Bajehkian says household who noticed the arrest warrant say it didn’t state his cousin’s title, and that the costs she could face had been unclear.

“I feel powerless in this situation,” Bajehkian stated.

He says he is been fearful for household again in Iran, particularly his flame-haired cousin, whose performs and writings are rebellious. He says Babaei produced award-winning theatre and translated Western classics into Farsi.

“She was this very sassy, funny character,” he stated.

“They are going after those who are change-makers — lights in the darkness,” stated Bajehkian.

Security forces have cracked down — killing tons of and injuring 1000’s, based on Amnesty International.

WATCH | Iran executes protester:

Iran executes 23-year-old man over anti-government protests

Iran has executed a 23-year-old protester, the primary recognized execution of an individual associated to current mass anti-government protests. As the regime cracks down, there are fears for others who’ve acquired dying sentences.

On Dec. 3, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hailed Iran’s Islamic Republic for safeguarding rights and freedoms, defending the ruling system as justified in cracking down on anti-government protests, which have price greater than 300 lives, based on Reuters.

But worldwide human rights teams say that dying estimate is low, and that Canada must push again.

The Canadian authorities imposed new sanctions on Friday, one day after the execution of protester Mohsen Shekari.

Shekari, 23, was accused of blocking a avenue on Sept. 25 and wounding a member of the pro-regime Basij militia in early protests triggered by Amini’s dying.

Iranian-Canadian human rights advocate Nazanin Afshin-Jam condemns the execution calling Shekari’s trial a “sham.”

She says Iran hanged him after he was discovered responsible of “waging war against God.”

“The moment his mother found out there is video of her on the street wailing at the top of her lungs. It is absolutely heartbreaking,” stated Afshin-Jam, who based the volunteer group Stop Child Executions, from an interview in Nova Scotia.

“This is completely a political execution in order to send a message to peaceful protesters to halt their uprising,” she stated.

“If the international community doesn’t act with a strong response, it gives licence to carry out further executions. At least 10 others are at imminent risk of execution, including a physician and his wife who were aiding a wounded protester.”

Numbers are unclear

Arrest and dying counts associated to the Iranian rebellion stay extremely contentious.

Amnesty International UK says a leaked audio file obtained by BBC Persian estimated there have been round 15,000 arrests with many “subjected to enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, torture and other ill treatment, and unfair trials.”

Oslo-based non-governmental group Iran Human Rights says the nation’s safety forces have killed not less than 458 protesters, together with 63 kids.

On Dec. 9, Amnesty International reported it had confirmed the deaths of not less than 44 kids killed by Iran’s safety forces since September.The deaths had been attributed to photographs, metallic pellets, beatings — and in a single case, a woman was struck within the head by a tear gasoline canister.

Amnesty International confirms 21 susceptible to dying penalty

A listing of 21 Iranians susceptible to execution has been confirmed by Amnesty International.

The checklist included six males charged with “enmity against God” or “corruption on Earth,” of which 5 had been already sentenced and referred to the Revolutionary Court in Tehran for a gaggle trial.

They embody Mohammad Ghobadlou, Saman Seydi (Yasin), Saeed Shirazi, Mohammad Boroughani, Abolfazl Mehri Hossein Hajilou, and Mohsen Rezazadeh Gharagholou.

Three others — Sahand Nourmohammad-Zadeh, Mahan Sedarat Madani and Manouchehr Mehman-Navaz — face separate trials. According to Amnesty eight of those circumstances contain “no accusations of intentional killing,” and stem from alleged vandalism, arson, property destruction or disturbing public order.”

Eleven more people — including married couple Farzaneh Ghare-Hasanlou and Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou — are accused of “corruption on earth” before a Revolutionary Court in Karaj, Alborz province, according to Amnesty.

And 26-year-old Parham Parvari, who was also charged with “enmity towards God” after being arrested as he was returning home from work during protests in the capital Tehran.

Afshin-Jam believes the estimates of how many have died or are at risk of the death penalty are low.

She says 28 people are facing charges that could carry the death penalty, including two children and Iranian rapper Saman (Yesin) Seyedi, 24.

She says the Center for Human Rights in Iran is reporting 475 people have been killed and 18,000 arrested since September.

She is urging world nations to cut ties with Iran and freeze the assets of regime officials and their families including 83-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.

“This is a crimson line that should not be crossed,” she said.

Iranian-Canadians with family at risk

For Amir Bajehkian, naming and publicizing as many people at risk as possible holds power.

“It is essential as a result of what the regime needs is for folks to overlook about who’s behind the partitions of prisons. You have to speak about it,” he said.

But he knows there’s fear in the Iranian community.

Bajehkian has been advocating for human rights in Iran on Canadian streets organizing rallies and protests since 2009 knowing it would put him at risk. He hasn’t returned to Iran in 17 years.

After vanished, the Iranian Playwrights’ Association issued a statement condemning her arrest, demanding her release and denouncing “all types of intimidation, violence, and restriction on freedom of speech within the society.”

Bajehkian wants his cousin released from Evin prison in Tehran, where he believes she is being held.

He knows that’s where Iran’s regime often holds political prisoners and where Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi was tortured and killed back in 2003.

So he’s shouting his cousin’s name.

“Silence shouldn’t be the reply,” he said. 

“Definitely what’s introduced us to this second was 4 a long time of the world wanting the opposite manner.”