Exclusive: Reza Salmanzadeh to Nada Al-Nashif: Meet with Prisoners 'Directly'

Reza Salmanzadeh, a member of the families of victims and political prisoners, addressed a message to Nada Al-Nashif, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging her to visit Iranian prisons, particularly in Tehran and Karaj, and to meet directly and unselectively with known prisoners and the families of those killed during street protests. This father of a victim wrote in a letter from Ghezal Hesar prison, which was obtained by Voice of America, that the legitimacy of Al-Nashif's upcoming trip to Iran is conditional upon a direct visit 'without the presence of Iranian and security officials' to 'the women's and men's wards of Evin prison and the execution center in Ghezal Hesar prison in Karaj' and to death row inmates in 'sham trials.' The father of Mehdi Salmanzadeh, a teenage protester killed during the nationwide protests of 2019, wrote in his letter to the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: 'Be careful to meet with individuals who are not under the pressure of the regime and choose from known sources rather than prisoners supported by the regime.' Reza Salmanzadeh emphasized that 'direct' and unselective contact with political and ordinary prisoners, death row inmates, and the families of those killed in street protests over the past two decades would allow the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights to accurately understand reports from human rights activists about the 'massacre of the Iranian people in prisons and street protests.' This political prisoner, held in Ghezal Hesar prison, wrote in part of his letter to Al-Nashif: 'Specifically, meet with families who represent the Iranian people's quest for justice, not government-selected individuals.' This member of the families of victims further stated that any intervention by the Islamic Republic in 'selecting justice-seeking individuals would indicate a complete violation of human rights by the representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,' and in that case, all of Al-Nashif's reports 'would lose their credibility.' Al-Nashif is scheduled to visit Iran on February 3rd to address two human rights issues regarding 'executions' and 'women's rights.' The 'International Committee in Search of Justice' recently called for 'unrestricted and free access to prisons' in Iran in a letter to Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Previously, 25 human rights organizations had warned in a letter that Iranian officials would attempt to use Al-Nashif's visit as a propaganda tool to undermine human rights reports against the Islamic Republic. These human rights organizations, referring to the two issues of 'executions' and 'women's rights' in Al-Nashif's mission, warned that Iranian officials 'have shown no signs of political will to address these longstanding issues.' Meanwhile, as Al-Nashif's visit approaches, the wave of executions in Iran has intensified, with at least six political prisoners executed in Ghezal Hesar prison. Is Al-Nashif's visit to Iran serving the government or benefiting the people? Debate between Sadegh Zibakalam and Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam. Open letter to Al-Nashif: Avoid a 'preordained mission' to Iran. Warning from the families of Flight PS752 to Al-Nashif: Perhaps the IRGC missiles will hit your plane too. Warning from 25 human rights organizations: The Islamic Republic will use Al-Nashif's visit for propaganda purposes.