Majid Tavakoli

Majid Tavakoli is a vocal critic of the religious dictatorship in Iran. He was arrested for speaking out against the government’s brutal practices, and for insulting the nation’s political leaders. Despite repeated physical and psychological torture, Majid has refused to give a false confession (the state-run media often broadcast forced confessions to discredit dissidents).

Majid has become an important symbol of opposition, eloquently arguing against the legitimacy of the nations religious authority, and making a principled, dignified stand against the brutality he is forced to endure.

Unable to get a confession through physical torture, his captors resorted to psychological methods. Forcing him into women’s clothing, they took humiliating pictures of Majid and published them in the national media.

Within hours, people across Iran, and across the world, responded. If the aim of this cruelty had been to alienate Majid, and to crush his spirit, it had failed miserably. Thousands posted pictures of themselves, posed as Majid had been forced to pose.

The message: Majid, you are not alone.

Since then, the severity of the situation has increased. Majid has been sentenced to over 8 years in prison, and his physical, psychological, and emotional torture continue daily.

On the 23d of May, upon being transfered to solitary confinement, Majid declared a dry hunger strike in protest – no food, no water.

We’re here today because we believe people like Majid should not have to stand alone. Stand with us, help us give Majid a voice.

What you can do:

Step 1) Go to the Iranian judiciary website and voice your support for Majid. Let’s make sure these tyrants know that the world is watching.

The contact form for the head of the Iranian judiciary, Sadeqh Larijani, can be found at http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx.

Once there, you can either copy-and-paste the letter below, or you can voice your concerns in your own words.

The page is in Farsi, so you have to fill in the starred fields in this way:

- First starred field > Your First Name
- Second starred field > Your Last Name
- Third starred field > Your Email Address
- In the large field you have to paste the text of the letter:

I am deeply concerned about the condition of Majid Tavakkoli. He’s detained since 5 months and a half, the most part spent in solitary confinement. He has been sentenced to 8 years and a half of jail. For unknown reasons he has lately been sent to solitary confinement cell again, in ward 240 of Evin prison, and he is now on hunger strike (that includes food and water) until he will be transferred back to the general ward of the prison.

According to reports, over the past week, Majid Tavakoli’s health deteriorated to the point where he could not speak properly and he was sent to the prison clinic on a few occasions.
I’ve right to believe that he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. I consider you, your Excellency, reponsible for what is happening to Majid Tavakoli: his unjust detention and the ill-treatments he suffered, as well as his deteriorated health conditions. Therefore I urge you to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, and order a prompt and impartial investigation into reports that he has been beaten during arrest.

Yours sincerely,

[[ Your name ]]
[[ Your country ]]

Step 2) Go to the Canadian foreign affairs website and voice your concerns to Minister Lawrence Cannon. Let’s make sure Ottawa know’s we support action against Iran’s dismal human right’s record.

The contact form for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, can be found at http://www.international.gc.ca/common/form-formulaire.asp?subject=Other&form=1.

Once there, you can either copy-and-paste the letter below, or you can voice your concerns in your own words.

I am writing to appeal to you to do everything in your power to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of Majid Tavakoli, an Iranian student leader detained in Evin prison (Tehran) since the 7 december 2009. He was arrested after giving a public speech in Amirkabir University of Tehran. He has been tortured and he has spent months in solitary confinement. In the meantime, he was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months of jail. Recently (without any reason) he has sent again to a solitary confinement cell in section 240 of Evin prison. After his transfer, Tavakoli declared a hunger strike (that includes food and water) until he is transferred back to the general ward of the prison.

According to reports, over the past week, Majid Tavakoli’s health deteriorated to the point where he could not speak properly and he was sent to the prison clinic on a few occasions.

Tavakoli is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. His detention is illegal, his trial has been unfair, his health conditions are now poor. That’s why I consider that international community should be mobilized to urge Iranian authorities to release him (as well as all the other prisoners of conscience now detained in Iran), and to stop the continuous and gross violations of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.