Farhad Mishtami Criticizes Judiciary and Rejects US Request for His Release

Farhad Mishtami, a jailed civil activist, has detailed the proceedings of his trial in a letter from Evin Prison, describing the judiciary as "incompetent" while simultaneously rejecting the US State Department's request for his release. The title of Mishtami's letter is "A Twin Writing on Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court and the Trump State Department." The first part of the letter describes the urgent summons to court, the refusal of his lawyer, and his insistence on legal matters regarding the case. He provides an account of the hearing regarding the charges against him in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, indicating a biased approach from the judge - Abolqasem Salavati - suggesting that the judge had issued a verdict prior to the trial. For example, in the first question, the judge asked, "What motivation did you have to conspire and gather against the national security of the country?" to which Farhad Mishtami responded, "The question is incorrect! Because from the very beginning, this unfounded claim has been taken as a basis that I have acted against my country's security and is asking about the motivation for a non-existent matter!" His response was met with the judge's anger and verbal attacks against him. Mishtami also states in part of his letter, "Repeated, persistent, and systematic violations of the law by a judicial body certainly leave no competence for the name 'court' to remain on it." Nevertheless, Mishtami defends what he describes as "transformative reformism," stating that this process "in thought and action aims to show that the cumulative effect of actions and continuous enlightenment, along with standing firm at the right time and place, can bring about behavioral change even in the most difficult parts of governance." He argues that to ensure the sustainability of these changes, there must be an expansion of small civil efforts. This civil activist also criticizes what he calls "social confounding versions," stating they are "unstable and frightening." On the other hand, some other opponents and political activists believe that the current regime will not transform under any circumstances and that the paths taken have led nowhere. They argue that only by fundamentally changing this system can existing problems be solved. Some supporters of the complete overthrow of the Islamic Republic believe that "a national will among the people of Iran for fundamental changes has expanded." They argue that 40 years of the current regime's rule shows that the Islamic Republic is incapable of solving ongoing crises and problems, whether in foreign policy or in social and environmental issues. A group of opponents of the Islamic Republic, who seek its overthrow, have also criticized those who have reformist approaches, claiming that this government is not reformable. Some of them recently described the ruling political regime in Iran in a letter to the US President as "occupying," "illegal," and "apartheid." Mr. Mishtami states that those who are currently "incompetent or competent" in "power" must be held accountable for their actions; and this "in no way means accepting the competence of the mentioned authorities." In the second part of his letter, Farhad Mishtami rejects the support of the US State Department for himself. He writes, "The [Donald] Trump State Department (of the United States) called for the 'freedom' of this small civil activist. I was astonished at what relationship could be found between 'Trump's State Department' and 'freedom' and 'myself.'" The US State Department had described Mr. Mishtami's arrest on December 7 as an "arbitrary" action. This department, referring to the deteriorating physical and health conditions of this civil activist, had called for his immediate release. The US State Department stated that all "the people of Iran deserve a government that respects their rights, not a government that subjects them to gradual death." Mishtami also strongly criticized the Trump administration's withdrawal from the JCPOA, stating in part of his letter that he does not seek support from the US government and instead "would prefer to spend my entire life in the prison of a group of my wrongful compatriots and dedicate my life to reforming their mistakes." Donald Trump has stated that the nuclear agreement reached during Barack Obama's presidency with Iran did not prevent Iran's "destructive" activities in the region, "support for terrorism," missile tests, and other issues, and at the same time provides funds for such activities to Tehran. The Trump administration exited the JCPOA last spring. America's European allies have criticized the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, but have also echoed Washington's criticism of the Islamic Republic's actions in the region or its missile activities. The Trump administration has called for "behavioral change" from Tehran and the return of the Islamic Republic to the negotiating table on a range of issues, including its nuclear program and its actions in the region. Farhad Mishtami was arrested on July 30 and has reportedly been on a hunger strike since then in protest against his arrest and "unjust charges." The charges against Farhad Mishtami include "conspiracy and gathering with the intent to disrupt national security," "propaganda against the regime," and "insulting hijab."