Pervasive Heart Disease Among Journalists and Political Activists in Iran

Death of journalists and political activists while in custody in Iran has become part of daily business of the Islamic Republic. The striking similarity of all dead, however, is their heart disease only to be diagnosed after their death.  

Islamic Republic has earned itself a place in the Guinness World Records this week. Three political activists have died in one week in Iran, two in custody while the third one at her father funeral believed to have been beaten by security officials and left to die at her father grave. Mrs. Hale Sahabi was the fifty-one years old daughter of Mr. Ezzat Alah Sahabi, leader of Nationalist-Religious Coalition , the first victim who has died in the notorious Evin jail's clinic last week.

The second person died in custody was Mr. Huda Saber, a journalist and political activist. Before his death, he had also been transferred, owing to his chest pain, to the clinic. But instead of being taken to a hospital immediately; he was savagely beaten by the security officers disguised as medical staff at the clinic. That is what over 63 of other political inmates, whom were told by Mr. Saber himself before his death, have said in an open letter to the media. Mr. Saber, at the time, had been on hunger strike; protesting the suspicious death of Mrs. Sahabi.

On the wake of these deaths comes the belated appointment of the UN Human Rights Council's special envoy for Iran. The council has appointed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, former Maldivian Foreign Minister, to report on the violation of human rights by the regime in Tehran. However Tehran is not a stranger to the condemnations for its decades-long violation of human rights; without teeth of course. Tehran is the World Champion and the record holder of the human rights violation.

Nevertheless, today, considering the reform-train steaming through the Middle Eastern and African countries; Islamic Republic as a whole, regardless of being its political body; security; intelligence; military; militia; or otherwise; must be very careful. The violation of human rights is no longer tolerated by the international community. It is no longer acceptable for a minority few; just to hold into their political or economical powers and advantages; to use torture; rape and killing of innocents. I am hopeful!