Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Promoting tolerance and justice through knowledge and understanding
Victims and Witnesses

YOU EXECUTED AN INNOCENT MAN!

The family of Captain Monir Taheri
The newspaper Ayandegan
February 25, 1979
Letter

We summon those who can prove us wrong to come forward

It was reported in the news that in Seda va Sima-ye-Inghelab another agent of the previous regime, Captain Monir Taheri, was tried and executed in Roudsar by the revolutionary forces. He was accused of committing the following offenses:

"Obtaining honorary [police] rank;"

"Participating in the cinema Rex tragedy in Abadan;"

"Receiving training in a guerrilla camp in the United States;"

"Being responsible for the murder of three martyrs in the city of Roudsar; and"

"Aiding in the torture of political prisoners in the cities of Mashhad and Shiraz."

1. Regarding the allegation that Captain Monir Taheri obtained an honorary [police] rank:

I summon all the officers of the National Police Headquarters who have the rank of Police Captain, especially his coworkers who became Captains two years ago, to testify and explain to the people of Iran that he became a Captain prior to the tragedy of cinema Rex in Abadan.

2. Regarding the allegation that Captain Taheri was an agent in the cinema Rex tragedy:

He had never been to Abadan, let alone during the onset of that catastrophe. He was not in the south of Iran, and there is clear evidence to prove to the people of Iran that he was in another city using his annual vacation time.

3. Regarding the allegation that Captain Taheri received training in a guerrilla camp in the United States:

Monir Taheri never stepped foot outside of Iran. He made several professional visits to the following cities respectively: Mashhad, Semnan, Ahvaz, Roudsar, a three-year Police Academy in Tehran, and a six-month motor vehicle training program at the Police Academy — all the related documents are available at the National Police Headquarters. Furthermore his colleagues can support the evidence by testifying on his behalf.

4. Regarding the allegation that Captain Taheri was responsible for the murder of people of Roudsar:

Captain Taheri began his duties during the first year of the insurgency, but only after September of that year, three people were killed. As far as we have investigated the only people who died were killed in the following manner: the protesters attacked the police car and injured the police officers inside including Captain Taheri, they were later treated at the Shir-o-Khorshid hospital. In another incident, one protestor was crushed to death by a stampeding crowd of protestors, after sustaining a shot in the leg during police shootings. During all the contentions both protesters and police were involved and the shootings were instigated by the police force of Roudsar. A probe will shed light into the coercive circumstances under which Captain Taheri confessed to the murders. We ask all the personnel of the police force of Roudsar to testify. Furthermore, Captain Taheri was in a subordinate position.

5. Regarding the allegation that Captain Taheri was responsible for the torture of political prisoners in Shiraz and Mashhad:

Captain Taheri had never served as a police officer in Shiraz, never having even entered that city. During his term of service he only worked in the Motor Vehicle Department in Mashhad, during which time he was seen on the streets. In fact he was from Mashhad. We invite all the political prisoners who know Captain Taheri or who have been tortured by him to come forward to testify before the people of Iran.

If all the allegations that were reported in the news about officer Taheri were to be considered true, then he should have been financially well off and enjoyed a comfortable life. But on the contrary, the people of Iran should be informed that Captain Taheri had a lot of debts, did not own a car or a house, and was still paying installments on a refrigerator.

We [the family] ask Imam Khomeini, the leader of Shiites, to look into the case of Captain Taheri and to inform the people of Iran as soon as possible of the procedures under which Captain Taheri was tried and the grounds on which he was sentenced.