Jafar Kazemi
Execution by hanging
He was sentenced to death for co-operation with the Iranian opposition group People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK) and was hanged in Evin Prison on January 24, 2011.
Biography
Key Facts:
Born: Iran (exact date unknown)
Died: January 24, 2011 (hanged in Evin Prison)
Occupation: Lithographer at Amirkabir University (printed textbooks)
Affiliation: Accused of ties to PMOI/MEK opposition group
Arrest & Execution:
✔ Detained: September 18, 2009, during post-election protests
✔ Charges:
Visiting son in Camp Ashraf (PMOI base in Iraq)
Sharing protest photos abroad
"Anti-government slogans"
✔ Tortured: Beaten, psychologically abused, forced confession under threat to family
✔ Unfair Trial: No proper defense, evidence from coerced statements
✔ Hanged: With 2 others (Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, Ali Saremi)
Legacy:
Case exposed Evin Prison’s brutality
Symbol of Iran’s suppression of dissent
Family still denied justice
In His Words:
"I only wanted to see my son."
Early Life and Background
Born in Iran (exact date and location undocumented due to government suppression of information)
Worked as a skilled lithographer at Amirkabir University of Technology, producing textbooks and educational materials
Family man with strong ties to his son, who had joined the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK) opposition group
Political Context
Lived through:
The 1979 Islamic Revolution
1980s mass executions of political prisoners
2009 Green Movement protests following disputed presidential election
Arrest and Detention (2009)
September 18, 2009: Arrested during crackdown on post-election protests
Held in Evin Prison's Ward 209 (notorious for political prisoners)
Initial charges:
"Moharebeh" (enmity against God)
Membership in PMOI
Disseminating protest images
Torture and Interrogation
Subjected to:
Physical torture: Severe beatings, stress positions
Psychological torture: Threats against family members
Solitary confinement: Extended periods in isolation
Forced to confess under duress to:
Visiting son at Camp Ashraf (PMOI base in Iraq)
Participating in anti-government activities
Sham Trial Proceedings
Tried in Revolutionary Court without proper legal representation
Key flaws:
No access to evidence against him
Confession obtained under torture used as primary evidence
No opportunity to call witnesses
Sentenced to death based on:
Alleged PMOI membership
Claimed involvement in post-election protests
Final Days and Execution
January 24, 2011: Executed by hanging in Evin Prison
Executed alongside:
Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei
Ali Saremi
Body not returned to family for proper burial
Execution conducted secretly; family notified after the fact
International Reaction
UN Human Rights Office: Condemned execution as violation of due process
Amnesty International: Declared him a prisoner of conscience
EU Parliament: Passed resolution condemning his execution
Family's Ongoing Struggle
Wife subjected to harassment and intimidation
Son remains in exile with PMOI
Family continues to:
Demand return of remains
Seek accountability for his unlawful execution
Preserve his memory as symbol of resistance
Legacy and Significance
Case exemplifies:
Iran's use of capital punishment to suppress dissent
Judicial corruption in political cases
Torture systematic in Iranian prisons
Remembered as:
Victim of 1980s-2010s continuous repression
Symbol of parental love (persecuted for visiting son)
Martyr for freedom of expression
Quote from Final Letter:
"I die for seeing my child, but I die with pride."
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
1. Wife’s Public Campaign for Justice
Exposed Torture: Revealed Kazemi endured beatings and psychological abuse in Evin Prison.
Forced Confession: Authorities threatened to arrest her and their children unless he "confessed."
Denied Final Goodbye: Prevented from seeing his body before execution; burial controlled by state.
2. Son’s Ordeal (Camp Ashraf Connection)
Kazemi’s only "crime" was visiting his son, a PMOI member in Iraq.
Iranian regime used these visits as "proof" of terrorism.
Son remains in exile, unable to mourn publicly.
3. Family’s Unmet Demands
✔ Return of Body – Secretly buried; location undisclosed.
✔ Independent Investigation – Into torture and unfair trial.
✔ Accountability – For judges/interrogators involved.
4. International Response
UN Condemnation: Cited case in reports on Iran’s arbitrary executions.
Amnesty International: Named Kazemi a victim of "state revenge."
Wife’s Defiance:
"They killed a father for loving his child. We will never stop demanding justice."
Sources & References
Jafar Kazemi (Persian: جعفر کاظمی) was a political prisoner in Iran who was sentenced to death for co-operation with the Iranian opposition group People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK) and was hanged in Evin Prison on January 24, 2011, along with another political prisoner, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei. His execution was widely covered by the press and brought international attention to the human rights situation in Iran.1 en.wikipedia.org Open source