Concerns of Amnesty International Over the Reissuance of Death Sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri

Amnesty International reported the possibility of a renewed death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri, a political prisoner accused of 'corruption on earth.' The organization urged Iranian authorities to unconditionally release this political prisoner. Based in London, Amnesty International issued a statement on Wednesday, July 4, 2017, calling for 'impartial and independent' investigations into the status of Mohammad Ali Taheri, who has been held in Evin Prison for over six years. It is anticipated that his second trial session will be held by the end of this month. Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stated in support of Mohammad Ali Taheri to the 'A for Master' campaign: 'Mohammad Ali Taheri has endured years in prison without a fair trial.' According to Shirin Ebadi, the reason for Mr. Taheri's arrest is the 'government's fear of his influence' among the people and his supporters. Shirin Ebadi also described Mohammad Ali Taheri as an 'innocent person' and called for his swift release. Previously, in March 2018, Mohammad Ali Taheri's lawyer announced that his client's court session was held after the Supreme Court annulled his death sentence. Mr. Alizadeh Tabatabai stated that in this session, the judge posed questions, and it was agreed that Mr. Taheri would provide answers, after which time would be set for final defense. According to Amnesty International's statement, the questions posed were related to his writings about the Circle of Gnosis, but prison officials rejected his request for access to copies of his previous writings to respond to these questions. Amnesty International stated that 'without these writings, the questions cannot be fully answered.' Mohammad Ali Taheri founded an institute called 'Circle of Gnosis' in 2001, where he engaged in activities related to 'Iranian complementary medicine, transcendental therapy, and cementology.' He was arrested in 2011, and the initial sentence issued against him was 'death.' In 2016, his death sentence was annulled by the Supreme Court, and the case was referred back to the Revolutionary Court for retrial. Nevertheless, Mr. Alizadeh Tabatabai, quoting Mr. Taheri, announced that he established his institute in collaboration with Mr. Ali Pour and Brigadier General Jorjesh, who were senior security officials of the police force and held the rank of brigadier. Supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri have also held several protest gatherings in recent years, and some of them have been arrested and imprisoned. In Amnesty International's statement, it was mentioned that last March, the Islamic Republic's broadcasting service aired a program titled 'Satan's Circle,' labeling Mohammad Ali Taheri as the leader of this 'deviant sect.' At the end of this program, individuals identifying themselves as 'survivors' called for punishment for Mohammad Ali Taheri. The statement from Amnesty International also noted that 'this is the third time Mohammad Ali Taheri is being tried on charges of corruption on earth.' Some conservative media previously published images of 'fatwas' from Nasir Makarem Shirazi, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, and Mohammad Ali Alavi Gorgani, announcing that these three religious authorities had issued a 'fatwa of apostasy' against Taheri. However, the Iranian labor news agency ILNA reported on September 1, 2015, quoting Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, that 'such a matter (the fatwa of apostasy) is not true, but he has many deviations, and participation in his classes is not permissible.' Ayatollah Alavi Gorgani also wrote in response to a question that 'no definitive fatwa' regarding Mr. Taheri's 'apostasy' has been issued.