Recipients

• President Barack Obama
• Sen. John Cornyn
• Rep. Mike McCaul & Lloyd Doggett
• Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
• Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
• Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

I am deeply concerned by the unprecedented and possibly illegal campaign of political pressure and intimidation being carried out by a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), because our terrorist laws do not seem to be implemented and because this organization is a threat to the peaceful pro-democracy movement in Iran.

The MEK is a violent extremist cult–as documented by the State Department, FBI, Human Rights Watch, RAND Corporation, and others.  MEK has murdered American and Iranian civilians, called for the execution of U.S. hostages in Iran in 1980, and fought under Saddam Hussein until he was deposed in 2003.  The MEK even celebrated the September 11th attacks, with their leader Masoud Rajavi telling his followers on September 12, 2001, “if (Al Qaeda) could do such a sophisticated military operation we must be able to do so in a much better manner…wait and see the fruits of our revolutionary Islam!”

Yet despite its extremist ideology, its history of violent anti-Americanism, and its terrorist designation, the MEK has been given a free hand to organize conferences in Washington, lobby U.S. officials, and pay former U.S. officials to advocate on behalf of removing the MEK from the FTO list.

The State Department is currently reviewing the FTO status of the MEK and its decision is expected imminently.  The MEK and its affiliates and supporters are working feverishly to exercise maximum political pressure and intimidation to influence this decision.  The politicization of the State Department decision as a result of this potentially illegal MEK campaign would be disastrous.

It is illegal to coordinate, provide material support, or receive funds from Foreign Terrorist Organizations.  Yet top former U.S. officials have acknowledged receiving cash to appear alongside MEK leader Maryam Rajavi and to call for MEK to be taken off the terrorist list.  Some have even called for Rajavi to be recognized as Iran’s president.  Why is this activity allowed to continue?

It is unfathomable that a terrorist organization would be allowed to game our political system to manufacture policies in their favor.  The U.S. Government is supposed to be protecting the American people from terrorism, not turning a blind eye to it.  The U.S. must enforce the laws on the books.

What is Congress doing to protect us from the MEK?  What is the FBI doing to enforce the laws that are supposed to protect us from terrorist organizations?  How is the State Department ensuring the decision on the MEK’s FTO designation is not manipulated by political pressure and intimidation?

If not, will we soon see Al Qaida lobby freely in Washington as well?

The sources of funding MEK activities must be investigated, any activities being coordinated with MEK must be shut down, and officials must stop taking cash from the organization and its affiliates to advocate on behalf of MEK.

The MEK has curried favor in Washington by misrepresenting itself as the “main opposition in Iran” and claiming to speak on behalf of the Iranian people and the Iranian-American community, despite being reviled by Iranians and Iranian Americans.  Iran’s indigenous democratic opposition, the Green Movement, have warned that the Iranian regime seeks to discredit the peaceful opposition by “reviving” the MEK.  Delisting the MEK would severely undermine Iran’s peaceful opposition movement, destroy U.S. credibility among the Iranian people, and unleash a major force for war.

The MEK does not speak for me.  It does not speak for the Iranian-American community, the Iranian people, or Iran’s indigenous democratic opposition.  I call on you to ensure that U.S. laws regarding terrorism are enforced and the MEK’s political pressure and intimidation campaign is halted so that the State Department decision is based on facts.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

HH

Subject: Announced new visa policy for Iranian students
May 21, 2011

Dear Madam Secretary,

As an Iranian-American I am delighted by the latest announcement by the State Department regarding the two-year multi-entry visa for Iranian students in support of President Obama’s policy toward improving relations with people of Iran.

After careful consideration of the new policy, it seems that while a positive step in the right direction, two issues need further deliberation:

1) The new policy is limited to “non-sensitive, non-technical fields of study and research”

2) The new policy does not apply to the Iranian students already in the United States and they have to leave the country and apply for a new visa to become eligible

As the former Vice Chancellor of Aryamehr University and past President of SUTA [Sharif University of Technology Association], it is my understanding that the majority of Iranian students already here or wishing to come, are interested in pursuing and continuing their educations in the fields of Science and Technology.

So, I am writing to you to kindly request a clarification of the terms of the new visa policy and urge you to consider removing the restrictions that cover the majority of Iranian students.

With warm regards,

Fredun Hojabri,
Former professor and Academic-Vice-president of Sharif University of Technology
San Diego, CA

http://www.educationusairan.com/newvisa.pdf

Delara Darabi was executed on May 1, 2009

`The following is a recent letter on *Delara Darabi’s execution that occurred two years ago, from the blog of Mohammad Mostafaei, one of Delara Darabi’s lawyers. Delara was executed in Iran on May 1, 2009.

*An alternate spelling to the name Delara is Delaram. “Del” in Persian means heart, “aram” means calm.

Who is responsible for Delara’s death?

Written By Mohammad Mostafaei, Modafe
Translation by Siavosh Jalili, Persian2English

In Norouz (March) 2009, I decided to spontaneously go to Rasht prison and visit a girl [artist/painter] on death row. I was feeling very anxious, but I wanted to see Delara Darabi, the girl who was arrested when she was only 17 years old and charged with murder. I wanted to do something for her. I had read about her in the newspaper several times. I entered the visitation room after gaining permission from the judicial assistant supervisor of the prison. Several officers were also present. When I showed one of them the Judge’s order, the official looked at me and asked, “Are you Mr. Mostafaei?” I replied, “Yes, why?” He said, “Nothing. I have heard a lot about you. I hope you can do something for Delara so that she will not be executed.” The official knew that there was nothing more anybody could do. Delara Darabi’s fate was execution because a powerful person made it his mission to execute her. Her execution was certain.

The person in charge of the office picked up the phone and told the person on the other side of the line to bring Delara to the visitation room. I was really stressed out. I was about to see the girl whom I had already told the press my opinion on her case. I waited half an hour when, from behind the window, a girl with dyed hair and a bright [fair] face walked toward the room. She was accompanied by a lady who was evidently a prison guard. The closer she reached, the faster my heart palpitated.

The meeting room door was opened. The girl looked and recognized me. She could not speak. She was laughing and shedding tears of joy. “I did not think anybody would come visit me. You’re the first person who has visited me in the New Year,” [she told me]. I asked her what I could do to help. She replied, “I want you to also be my lawyer as Mr. Khorramshahi works on the case.” I asked her to tell me her story one more time.

Delara began to recount the story. She said that she was not the murderer. [She said] it was Amir Hossein (her boyfriend) who committed the murder. “I agreed to take the blame for the murder, because I was young and really liked him,” she said, [and added] that she lied to her father and said she was the murderer. [Delara] cried as she told the story. She said no one believed her, [but swore] that she did not commit the murder. She also said that the Rasht Prosecutor pulled her aside several times and threatened to execute her.

Delara’s innocent face told me that she was not the killer. She was different form all the clients I had before. She put make up on and always dyed her hair. She said that she spent most of her time drawing, [because she loved it]. She also studied. She never thought that one day she would be executed. She had suffered so much in prison that one could see the reflection of her pain and agony. I left the prison that day, and she stayed behind in the place where she was eventually executed.

The ignoble Rasht Prosecutor along with his mercenaries visited the prison [early morning] on [Labour Day] (May 1, 2009). They called Delara’s name [for execution] on a holiday, like they had gone to hunt a beautiful gazelle. Violent beasts wanted to devour this beautiful gazelle like wolves to prevent her from ever drawing again. They took her to the execution hall. They cackled, passed her the phone, and told her to call her mother to tell her that she would be executed in a few moments. She took the phone handle while her hands shook. She begged them and said, “I am not the murderer. Do not kill me.” Everybody knew she was not the murderer, but they needed to have fun on their days off. And no game was better than Delara: a stunning gazelle with excited eyes, a bright face. She called her mother and, in a shaky voice, told her about what was to happen. Her mother hung up the phone, took a copy of Qur’an and rushed to Rasht prison. She banged on the closed gates of the prison with both fists. She begged. She screamed, but nobody opened the door. The hunters had their game. The large gates of the prison opened up and an ambulance took Delara away. The [young woman] with the calm heart did not rest in peace…

I had taken part in execution ceremonies before, and I could imagine how she was executed. She could not believe that she would be hanged. She lost control. She could not think. The wolves surrounded her. She had no choice but to beg…the begs that went unanswered. They took her two hands and led her to the stool. Delara continued to implore. She was only 17 years old when the murder took place. Even if she was the murderer, given her age, she did not deserve to die; the same way no human being deserves to die.

They put a thick blue rope around her neck. The wolves indulged in the sight of Delara’s death. The Rasht Prosecutor ordered the stool to be drawn from beneath her feet. Delara was hanged. She shook, then she was in peace…the world cries in sorrow and bereft.

Many months passed. Nobody could believe that this beautiful gazelle fell victim to the violent hunting wolves.

Several days ago, I heard that Amir Hossein, who was the real murderer in the case of Delara, hung himself in Rasht prison. I knew one of his cell mates who was recently released. I was able to obtain his phone number and talk to him. He said, “Prior to Delara’s death, [Amir Hossein] had told the Rasht Prsoecutor several times that he was the [murderer, not] Delara. After Delara was executed, he wrote a letter and said that she was innocent. One time, the Prosecutor went to the prison and threatened to kill [Amir Hossein] if he said anything. Nobody wanted to hear Amir Hossein’s words. He was depressed after Delara’s execution and was having a hard time. Finally, and to ease his conscience, he hung himself”.

Delara was not a murderer, and there are hundreds of other defendants who are accused of murders they have not committed. I have seen many cases in Iran, but the violence of the leaders of the Islamic Republic [consists of] executing and killing innocent people.

Who is responsible? Who will [provide an] answer [for] this injustice? How can one revive Delara? She was innocent. Her crime was drawing paintings and playing in her [youthful] world, but her fate was execution. Was her crime being an Iranian or being in love?

Video showcasing Delara Darabi’s paintings

چه کسي پاسخگوي مرگ دل آرام دارابي است?

درايام نوروز سال 1378 تصميم گرفتم به زندان رشت برم و دختري نقاش که در انتظار اعدام بود را ببينم. تصميمم آني بود و فرداي روز تصميم با خودروي شخصي ام به سمت رشت رفتم. دلهره عجيبي داشتم اما دوست داشتم دل آرام درابي دختري که در سن 17 سالگي به اتهام قتل بازداشت شده بود را ببينم. دوست داشتم برايش کاري انجام دهم. چند بار درباره ماجرايش در روزنامه ها مطالبي نوشته بودم. به رشت رسيدم و بعد از اخذ دستور از داديار ناظر زندان به اتاقي که زندانيان را براي ملاقات به آنجا مي آوردند رفتم. چند مامور هم در اين اتاق بودند. وقتي دستور قاضي را به يکي از آنها دادم. مسئول مربوطه به من نگاه کرد و گفت آقاي مصطفايي شما هستيد. گفتم بله چطور. گفت هيچ. در مورد شما زياد شنيده بودم و اميدوارم بتوانيد کاري براي دل آرام انجام دهيد تا اعدام نشود. اين مامور مي دانست که ديگر کاري از دست کسي بر نمي آيد. تقدير دل آرام دارابي اعدام است و چون دستي قدرتمند کمر بر اعدام اين جوان بسته است. اعدامش حتمي است.

مسئول دفتر تلفن را برداشت و به کسي که آنطرف تلفن بود گفت. بگوييد دل آرام به اتاق ملاقات بيايد. استرس عجيبي داشتم. دختري را مي خواستم ببينم که قبلا در مورد پرونده اش در مطبوعات اظهار نظر کرده بودم. نيم ساعتي منتظر ماندم. از پشت پنجره، دختري با موهاي رنگ شده و صورت سفيد و نوراني به نزديک اتاق ملاقات مي آمد و يک خانم که مشخص بود از مامورين زندان بود. او را همراهي مي کرد. هر چه قدر نزديک تر مي شد. شدت ضربان قلب من نيز بيشتر مي شد. درب اتاق ملاقات باز شد. دخترک نگاه به من کرد و تا من را ديد شناخت. نمي توانست حرفي بزند. مي خنديد و از خوشحالي اشک مي ريخت. گفت فکر نمي کردم کسي به ملاقاتم بيايد و شما اولين نفري هستيد که در سال جديد به ملاقات من مياييد. به او گفتم که چه کمکي از دست من بر مي آيد که برايتان انجام دهم. گفت دوست دارم شما هم وکيل من باشيد. ولي آقاي خرمشاهي روي پرونده کار مي کند. به او گفتم از ماجرايي که برايت اتفاق افتاده است را برايم يک بار ديگر تعريف کنم.

دل آرام شروع کرد به تعريف کردن ماجرا و گفتن از بي گناهي خودش. او مي گفت که قاتل نيست و قاتل امير حسين است. من چون او را خيلي دوست داشتم و سن و سالم هم کم بود. قتل را به گردن گرفتم. او از روز ماجرا تعريف کرد و از اينکه به پدرش دروغ گفته که قاتل است و قتل را به گردن گرفته است. زماني که تعريف مي کرد اشک از چشمانش جاري بود. قسم مي خورد که مرتکب قتل نشده است و مي گفت هيچ کس حرفش را باور نمي کند. مي گفت دادستان رشت چند بار او را کنار کشيده و تهديد کرده است که اعدامش خواهد کرد.

چهره دل آرام مظلومانه مي گفت که قاتل نيست. با تمام موکليني که داشتم فرق مي کرد. نگاهش، مظلوميتش و حرکاتش. خودش را خوب نگه داشته بود. آرايش مي کرد و موهايش را مدام رنگ مي کرد و مي گفت در زندان بيشتر اوقاتش را به نقاشي کردن مي گذراند. عاشق نقاشي بود. درس هم مي خواند و فکر نمي کرد روزي بي گناه اعدام شود. آنقدر در زندان سختي کشيده بود که مي شد زجرهايش را از نقاشيهايش ديد. آن روز از زندان بيرون آمدم و او در آن جايي که اعدام شد ماند.

ساعت هفت صبح يک روز تعطيل، دادستان نامرد رشت با چند نفر از جيره بگيرانش به زندان رفتند. روز تعطيل دل آرام را صدا کردند. گويي به شکار آهو رفته بودند. و مي خواستند آهويي زيبا شکار کنند. آهويي که از جنس آدمي زاد بود. و حيواناتي وحشي همچون گرگ مي خواستند اين آهوي زيبا را از پاي در آوردند و جلوي کشيدن نقاشي هايش را بگيرند. به سالن مرگ مي برند. تلفني به او مي دهند و خنده اي مي کنند و مي گويند به مادرت زنگ بزن و بگو که تا چند دقيقه ديگر اعدام مي شود. گوشي را مي گيرد دستانش مي لرزد و التماس مي کند و مي گويد من قاتل نيستم من را نکشيد. من را نکشيد. همه مي دانستند که او قاتل نيست اما براي روز تعطيلشان نياز به تفريح و شکار داشتند و هيچ شکاري بهتر از دل آرام براي آنها نبود. آهويي زيبا، با چشماني هيجان انگيز و چهره اي نوراني و … به مادرش زنگ مي زند و جريان را به مادرش با صداي لرزان مي گويد…. مادرش تلفن را قطع مي کند. قرآن را بر مي دارد و به سمت زندان رشت مي رود. در زندان را با هر دو دست مي کوبد. التماس مي کند. جيغ مي زند و فرياد مي کشد ولي کسي در را باز نمي کند. شکارچيان شکارشان را زده بودند. درب بزرگ زندان باز مي شود و آمبولانسي که دل آرام، آرام گرفته بود بيرون مي رود و …. در مراسم اعدام شرکت کرده بودم و مي توان تصور کنم که چطور اعدام شده است. او باورش نمي شود که اعدام خواهد شد. اراده اش را از دست مي دهد. ديگر توان فکر کردن ندارد. گرگها دور او جمع شده بودند. چاره اي نداشت جز التماس کردن هاي بي پاسخ… دو دست او را مي گيرند. به سمت چارپايه مرگ مي برند. دل آرام همچنان التماس مي کند. او در زماني که قتل اتفاق افتاده بود 17 سال بيشتر نداشت و اگر هم قاتل بود باز هم به خاطر سنش حقش رگ نبود. همانطور که حق هيچ انساني مرگ نيست. طناب آبي رنگ کلفت دار را به گردنش مي اندازند. گرگها مست نگاه دل آرام مي شوند. و از مرگش لذت مي برند. دادستان رشت دستور مي دهد که چارپايه را بکشيد. دل آرام آويزان مي شود. مي لرزد. آرام مي گيرد و ….. جهاني در ماتم مرگ دل آرام مي گريد….

ماها از اين جريان گذشت. هيچ کس باورش نمي شد که اين آهوي زيبا، اينگونه شکار گرگ هاي درنده شوند.

چند روز پيش شنيدم امير حسين کسي که قاتل اصلي پرونده دل آرام بود در زندان رشت خود را به دار آويخته است. يکي از هم سلولي هايش که به تازگي آزاد شده بود را مي شناختم. توانستم تلفني از او به دست آوردم. با او صحبت کردم و مي گفت. امير حسين قبل از اعدام دل آرام چندين بار دادستان رشت را خواسته بود و گفته بود که دل آرام قاتل نيست و قتل توسط او انجام شده است. بعد از اينکه دل آرام اعدام شد نيز نامه اي نوشت و گفت او بي گناه بوده است. دادستان يک بار به زندان مي رود و او را تهديد مي کند که اگر چيزي بگويد او را خواهد کشت. او مي گفت هيچ کس نمي خواست حرفهاي امير حسين را بشنود. بعد از مرگ دل آرام افسرده بود و زندگي اش به سختي مي گذشت و در نهايت براي آرامش وجدانش تصميم گرفت خود را حلق آويز کند.

دل آرام قاتل نبود و هستند صدها نفر از متهمين به قتلي که قاتل نيستند و نمونه هاي بسياري را در زندان ديده ام اما خشونت طلبي حاکمان جمهوري اسلامي به گونه اي است که تنها به اعدام مي انديشند و به کشتن انسان هاي بي گناه.

حال چه کسي پاسخگوست؟ چه کسي پاسخ اين بي عدالتي را خواهد داد؟ چطور مي توان جان دل آرام را احيا کرد؟ او بي گناه بود و گناهش تنها کشيدن نقاشيهايش و بازي با دنياي کودکي اش بود که تقدير اعدامش را رقم زد. آيا گناه او ايراني بودنش بود يا عاشق بودنش؟؟؟؟؟

محمد مصطفايي يکي از وکلاي دل آرام داربي

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is:

(A) A trade group representing small businesses, like your favorite restaurant or a local car dealership.

(B) Related to the United States Department of Commerce, a federal government agency.

(C) The official voice of the entire business community.

(D) Ruthless lobbyists who push unsustainable policies that benefit multinational corporations at the expense of people and businesses on Main Streets across America.

The correct answer, of course, is D. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not speak for you or me. It speaks for giant corporations who want to pollute our democracy, our economy and our planet in their never-ending pursuit for profits.

Our friends at 350.org have a new campaign — “The U.S. Chamber Doesn’t Speak for Me” — to expose the Chamber’s opposition to sustainable economic policies, including every single effort to curb climate pollution.

Add your name to 350.org’s “The U.S. Chamber Doesn’t Speak for Me” campaign.

Last year, just 16 companies provided more than half of the Chamber’s budget. The Chamber won’t disclose which companies, but its attempts to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency and eradicate the Clean Air Act are pretty clear indicators of where the money comes from.

Along with all that polluter cash, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce exploits the perception that it represents “3 million American businesses.” The Chamber would have us believe that it is merely the voice a nation of neighborhood barbers, florists and mechanics.

We need to show — before the next election — that the Chamber is the voice of the same boundlessly greedy mega-corporations that are trying to take over our democracy in the wake of the Supreme Court’s absurd Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.

Join Public Citizen and 350.org in declaring that “The U.S. Chamber Doesn’t Speak for Me”!