I scarcely dare believe the news we've received from Iran.
I scarcely dare believe the authorities have committed the error, theinsane and irreparable misdeed of arresting Sakineh's own son, Sajjad,as well as her attorney, Houtan Khian.
I scarcely dare believe that the regime is so unsure of its case, soafraid of seeing the truth -- that is, the innocence of Sakineh -- exposed in the light of day, that the simple act ofgranting two German journalists an interview could have motivated thisraid, this collective punishment, this hostage-taking.
I scarcely dare imagine -- in truth, I cannot imagine -- the intellectualcontortions Iranian "justice" will have to go through to justify suchan extreme, arbitrary act, like nothing we have seen since the earlydays of the Islamic Republic, like nothing we have seen anywhereexcept, perhaps, in North Korea or, long ago, in China during theCultural Revolution, or Cambodia.
Are they going to explain that Sajjad, a young ticket taker on thebuses of Tabriz, the adolescent whose father was murdered and who isfighting to have his mother freed is, he too, suspected of murder?Of complicity in the murder of his own father? Of complicity, whilethey're at it, in the adultery his own mother is accused of? Whatinsanity are they going to invent? What Ubuesque charges are theygoing to produce this time? Or will they simply tell us that thepapers of the two journalists from Bild were not in order, that theywere in the country without professional visas, and that this is whatentitled a commando of Basiji to lock up everyone, in utter disregardfor international law and diplomatic practice, as well as pure andsimple reason?
As I write these lines, the news of the arrest of Sajjad and of HoutanKhian has not as yet been fully confirmed.
The German government, for its part, is trying to elucidate thecircumstances of this bizarre and incredible incident. But 'incident'isn't really the word.
There is no incident in this ongoing tragedy that has been called "theSakineh affair".
And, on this day after the World Day Against the Death Penalty,in this world where the mere idea of stoning incites feelings ofabsolute horror in all our consciences, we must, more than ever,repeat: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is guilty of nothing; SakinehMohammadi Ashtiani should be exonerated. They must put and end to thislugubrious masquerade of the persecution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtianithat has been going on for six years. And they must, for the timebeing, provide us with news of Sajjad, her son, and of Houtan Khian,her attorney. And if they have been incarcerated, they must be freedat once.
The Probable Arrest of Sakineh's Son and Her Lawyerby Armin Arefi, French journalist and author
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her attorney,Houtan Khian, were apparently arrested by Iranian authorities in the city of Tabriz while being interviewed by two German journalists, we learned yesterday afternoon from Mina Ahadi, spokeswoman of the International Committee Against Stoning, who was translating theinterview by telephone from Frankfurt (Germany).
"Sajjad (Ghaderzadeh) had accepted to grant this interview on thecondition that it take place in the office of the attorney, HoutanKhian. I was in the middle of translating the interview when adisturbance occurred, around 5:00 PM. The German journalist asked whatwas going on and was forced to hang up. Since then, the cell phonesof Sajjad, Houtan Khian, and the two journalists have all four beenswitched off."
La Règle du jeu, in permanent contact with Sakineh's son and herlawyer, have tried, in vain, to call Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and HoutanKhian since yesterday afternoon.
This morning, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh's family confirmed that Sakineh's sondid not come home last night. As for the office of Houtan Khian, ithas been closed by the Iranian authorities. At this time, no one knowswhere the four men have been taken.
According to Mina Ahadi, who spoke with the German Foreign Affairsministry, the German journalist and the photographer who wereconducting the interview did not return to their hotel either.
If confirmed, the arrest of Sajjad and of Houtan Khian, who haveremained the last two sources of information concerning Sakineh as theycourageously dared to break the silence, despite intimidation on thepart of the government, would be a tragic piece of news, but also acruel confession of guilt on the part of an Iranian justice system thatwill henceforth stop at nothing to silence any voice expressing thedisturbing truth.
Houtan Khian, Sakineh's attorney, was summoned by the IranianIntelligence ministry and subjected to a severe interrogation, obligedto stand for twelve hours, in an effort to make him shut up about thestate of his client. Iranian intelligence has also threatened to havehim disbarred if he does not obey their orders.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, condemned to death by stoning foradultery, still risks being stoned at any moment. She has been lockedup in the «special quarter» of the prison of Tabriz since August 11thand has been denied any contact with her attorney and her son sincethat date.