Zamaneh Media
  • Latest Articles
  • Latest News
  • About Zamaneh Media
    • Exiled Media Report
    • Sponsors
    • Donate
    • Contact us
    • Legal
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest Articles
  • Latest News
  • About Zamaneh Media
    • Exiled Media Report
    • Sponsors
    • Donate
    • Contact us
    • Legal
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Zamaneh Media
No Result
View All Result

Malekpour’s death sentence challenged by Iran’s academic community

by Zamaneh Media
February 10, 2011
in Latest Articles
Reading Time: 2min read
0
Malekpour’s death sentence challenged by Iran’s academic community
Saeed Malekpour

More than 500 alumni of Sharif University and scores of other Iranian students and academics have issued an open letter protesting the death sentence of Saeed Malekpour, an Iranian web developer accused of setting up “pornographic websites.”

The 35-year-old metallurgy graduate of Sharif University, one of Iran’s top universities, has been in prison since September of 2008.

Malekpour is also a computer software designer, and his charges are linked to his expertise in that area.

At the time of his arrest, Malekpour was a Canadian resident. On a trip to Iran, he was arrested and charged with “designing and operating pornographic websites, rioting against the regime and insulting Islamic sanctities.” The authorities claim Malekpour confessed to these crimes while in custody.

Malekpour, however, has recently written a letter to the Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran’s judiciary, insisting that his so-called confessions were obtained “under severe pressure, torture, threats and false promises of release on bail and leniency.”

In his letter, Malekpour claims to have been “flogged and threatened with sexual abuse” and adds that his teeth and jaws were broken from the beatings during interrogation.

The judiciary has made no response to Malekpour’s letter, and his death sentence remains in force.

In the open letter published today, Iranian students and academic elite write: “The main evidence for this death sentence is one of the hundreds of computer programs written by Saeed throughout his professional life, which was actually used without his knowledge on an internet site. And yet Saeed is deprived of the least possibility of defending himself.”

They add: “Any internet accusation against Saeed should be brought against him in an open and official trial adhering to all legal regulations, in the presence of a jury and with the participation of computer experts that are considered qualified and independent by Iran’s scientific community.”

The signatories of the letter maintain that a death sentence, even for the actual organizers of the said website, is an unjust ruling.

On January 30, Tehran’s prosecutor announced that two directors of pornographic websites had received the death penalty, and their sentence is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court for final approval.

Fatemeh Eftekhari, Malekpour’s wife, has sent a letter to the judiciary indicating the charges against her husband are invalid, and a computer science expert would easily attest to this.

Previous Post

Iranian opposition leader under house arrest

Next Post

Iran’s Guardian Council promises healthy elections

Related Posts

Zamaneh Media’s 16th Labor Rights Report
Latest Articles

Zamaneh Media’s 16th Labor Rights Report

April 8, 2021
Encyclopaedia Iranica: a Dossier
Latest Articles

Encyclopaedia Iranica: a Dossier

February 28, 2021
Veiled Identity
Latest Articles

Veiled Identity

February 22, 2021
Untold Stories from Encyclopaedia Iranica: Interview with Abbas Amanat
Latest Articles

Untold Stories from Encyclopaedia Iranica: Interview with Abbas Amanat

February 11, 2021
November 2019: Which security and militia institutions started violence and shot people?
Latest Articles

November 2019: Which security and militia institutions started violence and shot people?

January 8, 2021
Encyclopedia Iranica “A real tour de force” is in Peril
Latest Articles

Encyclopedia Iranica “A real tour de force” is in Peril

December 24, 2020

RSS Iran in other media

  • Opinion | Keep the Pressure on Iran - The New York Times
  • Chabahar is not against China, Gwadar: Iran FM Javad Zarif - Zee News
  • Israel says it will 'definitely' stop Iran from getting bomb - WBNG-TV
  • Israel stands alone on Iran - Al-Monitor
  • Iranian TV censors Premier League match over 100 times due to woman referee - WION
  • Iran's Push to Enrich Uranium Amid Nuclear Talks: What to Know - The New York Times
  • A cyber-attack puts Iran's nuclear program back in the spotlight - ABC News
  • Alert: Iran official says Tehran has started enriching uranium up to 60% purity, its highest level ever, after Natanz sabotage - Thehour.com
  • Our Afghan retreat is a surrender to Iran - Telegraph.co.uk
  • Ukraine now says it believes Iran intentionally shot down Flight 752 - The Globe and Mail
Zamaneh Media

© 2020 Zamaneh Media

More information

  • Sponsors
  • Donate
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Legal

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest Articles
  • Latest News
  • About Zamaneh Media
    • Exiled Media Report
    • Sponsors
    • Donate
    • Contact us
    • Legal
  • Advertise

© 2020 Zamaneh Media