Saharkhiz accuses Iranian Supreme Leader of cruelty and impiety

Jailed Iranian journalist, Issa Saharkhiz

Detained Iranian journalist, Issa Saharkhiz says he will not acquiesce to a “cruel and impious leader” like Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Kaleme Website reports that Shahrkhiz addressed a letter to Tehran Prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, condemning that fact that in Iran: “whoever criticizes the leader is presented as a subversive element.”

In reference to Tehran Prosecutor’s statement that the three journalists, Saharkhiz, Massoud Bastani and Ahmad Zeidabadi are “subversive” and for that reason will not be granted leave from prison, Saharkhiz writes that the true reason why we are not being granted a furlough “is that the political and security forces have the last say rather than the judiciary and they are holding us hostage.”

“They fear that when we get out, we might reveal that in various stages of our arrest and interrogation and trial, we were subjected to psychological pressure as well as being beaten and tortured,” the detained journalist adds.

Saharkhiz writes that it is over three months that prison physicians have put in a request for him to get an MRI and the Prosecutor’s refusal to permit this simple procedure, according to Saharkhiz reveals the prosecutor’s complete acquiescence to political forces beyond the judiciary.

Saharkhiz once more accuses Ayatollah Khamanei and the officials under his command of “violating human rights” in Iran and forecasts that they will “receive their just retribution in a fair trial in the near future.”

Issa Saharkhiz was arrested in the widespread protests against the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 elections. He has been charged with “insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime.” In September he was sentenced to three years in prison and five years ban from journalistic activities as well as one year ban from travel abroad.