DATE=1/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224978
TITLE=IRAN OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMBERS OF AN IRANIAN OPPOSITION GROUP HAVE SMUGGLED OUT
A FILM SHOWING GRAPHIC AND HORRIFIC SCENES OF PEOPLE BEING STONED
TO DEATH FOR SO-CALLED MORAL OFFENSES. LISA SCHLEIN -- WHO
VIEWED THE FILM IN GENEVA -- REPORTS THE GROUP CLAIMS THE FILM
DEPICTS THE SORT OF SYSTEMATIC ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH EXISTS
IN IRAN. IT IS CALLING UPON THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN GENERAL TO CONDEMN THESE BARBARIC
PRACTICES.
TEXT: ///CROWD AND PERSON ACT///
(MIX CROWD NOISE) AND ADD ACTUALITY... "THEY ARE
BRINGING THE VICTIMS. AND NOW THEY ARE GOING TO DIG A
HOLE. THEY WANT TO PUT THE VICTIMS IN THE HOLE
AND...YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY WANT TO STONE THEM."
///END ACT///
"MOHAMMED," A POLITICAL OPPONENT OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT,
DOESN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED FOR FEAR OF ENDANGERING THE LIVES
OF HIS FAMILY IN IRAN. THE FILM ON VIEW WAS SHOT AT A POLICE
BARRACK IN THE IRANIAN CAPITAL, TEHERAN, IN 1992. IT WAS
RECENTLY SMUGGLED OUT OF IRAN BY THE MOJAHEDIN'S UNDERGROUND
NETWORK.
THE FILM SHOWS ONE MAN BEING LASHED AND FOUR OTHER MEN BEING
STONED TO DEATH. AMONG THOSE PRESENT AT THE SCENE ARE THE CHIEF
RELIGIOUS JUDGE OF THE ARMED FORCES AND A NUMBER OF COMMANDERS OF
THE STATE SECURITY FORCES. THE FILM SHOWS THE VICTIMS COMPLETELY
COVERED BY A WHITE SHEET AND TIED TIGHTLY SO THEY CAN'T MOVE.
THEY ARE PUT IN A HOLE AND BURIED WITH SAND UP TO THEIR WAIST.
MOHAMMED SAYS IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW IN IRAN TO STONE SOMEONE
TO DEATH.
///MOHAMMED ACT///
... BUT USING THE WRONG STONE IS. IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO
SMALL AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO BIG BECAUSE THEY WANT THE
VICTIMS TO SUFFER, NOT TO KILLED VERY SOON OR VERY
EASILY.
///END ACT///
WHILE THE VICTIMS IN THE FILM ARE ALL MEN, THE IRANIAN OPPONENTS
SAY WOMEN TOO ARE SAVAGELY AND VICIOUSLY STONED TO DEATH, USUALLY
FOR ADULTERY.
A GROUP CALLED "THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN" HAS
DOCUMENTED ABOUT 50 CASES OF STONING OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THESE HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN BIG CITIES. BUT, THE COUNCIL SAYS,
MANY MORE CASES OF STONING IN SMALL VILLAGES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY GO UNDECLARED.
THE OPPONENTS SAYS THAT DESPITE HIS MORE MODERATE STANCE, THE
NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF IRAN HAS TO RESPECT THE LAW AND CAN DO
NOTHING TO CHANGE WHAT THEY CALL THIS BARBARIC PRACTICE. THE
OPPONENTS OBSERVE THAT 200 EXECUTIONS FOR AN ASSORTMENT OF
ALLEGED CRIMES HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED
KHATAMI ASSUMED POWER. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
08-Jan-98 9:41 AM EST (1441 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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