Iran executes man as Israeli spy, hangs opposition group member

Ali Saremi

Iran Human Rights, December 28: According to the reports from Iran two political prisoners were hanged at Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning.

The prisoners are identified as Ali Saremi (63) convicted of Moharebeh (war with God) through membership in PMOI (Mujahedin-e-khalgh) and Ali Akbar Siadat convicted of espionage for Israel.

Ali Saremi is a well known political prisoner who was last time arrested in 2007, for holding a speech at the 19th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of the political prisoners in Iran. Last year he was sentenced to death by jugde Salavati in Tehran. His charges are membership in a mohareb group (PMOI) and "propaganda against the establishment".

Ali Saremi had been arrested several time during the past 20 years for his political acivities.

Ali AKbar Siadat was arrested in 2007 and later convicted for providing sensitive information to Israel. Iran Human Rights can not confirm Mr. Siadat’s charges.

These executions happen only two days after the scheduled execution of another political prisoner, Habibollah Lotfi, was postponed.

Iran Human Rights had previously warned about implementation of death sentences of the "sensitive" cases by the Iranian authorities during the Christmas holidays.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights, strongly condemned today’s executions and said: " I and surely millions of Iranians are sad and outraged by this news". He added:"Our thoughts go to Mr. Saremi and Mr. Siadat’s families, friends, and other prisoners who are going through a very difficult time right now". Amiry-Moghaddam continued:" Leadership of the Iranian regime must be kept responsible for this crime". "We urge the world community to condemn these executions because lack of a strong international reaction will be interpreted as a green light to the Iranian authorities".

Source: Iran Human Rights, December 28, 2010

Iran hangs man convicted of spying for Israel

AFP - Iran hanged on Tuesday a man found guilty of working as a "spy" for Israeli intelligence service Mossad, state news agency IRNA reported quoting the Tehran prosecutor's office.

Ali Akbar Siadat was hanged on Tuesday in Tehran's Evin prison after having been condemned to death for "working for Mossad," IRNA reported, quoting the prosecutor's office.

Siadat was found guilty of having had links with Mossad for six years, IRNA reported.

"He had received 60,000 dollars to give classified information to the Zionist regime," IRNA reported.

IRNA said Siadat had acknowledged of establishing contacts with one Israeli embassy overseas and that he was transferring information of Iranian military bases to the "enemy."

He was also giving information "about missiles belonging to the Revolutionary Guards." IRNA said three years ago Siadat had received a computer and other equipment for his work.

Siadat used to meet his contacts from the Israeli intelligence service in Turkey, Thailand and Netherlands in different hotels, IRNA said.

He was arrested two years ago with his wife while trying to leave Iran, the report added.

Source: France24, December 28, 2010

Iran executes man as Israeli spy, hangs opposition group member

(CNN) -- Iran has hanged a man convicted of spying for Israel and also executed another man who was a member of a government opposition group, state-run media reported Tuesday.

The executions took place at Tehran's Evin Prison at dawn Tuesday.

Ali-Akbar Siadat was sentenced to death for working as a spy for Israeli intelligence. The Islamic Republic News Agency said Siadat admitted to transferring information to Israel over several years in exchange for $60,000.

He was arrested in 2008 while trying to leave Iran along with his wife, the news agency said.

A second man, Ali Saremi, was hanged for "fighting against the sacred Islamic Republic of Iran system and launching antagonist propagations," the agency reported.

He was a member of People's Mujahedeen of Iran, also known as the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, which has opposed the Iranian government for decades.

Tehran considers the group to be a terrorist outfit, as does the United States. The European Union does not.

Source: CNN.com, December 28, 2010