Background Human rights in Iran

1 background

1.1 reza shah
1.2 mohammad reza shah
1.3 1971–77
1.4 islamic revolution

background

the imperial state of iran, government of iran during pahlavi dynasty, lasted 1925 1979. during time 2 monarchs – reza shah pahlavi , son mohammad reza shah pahlavi – employed secret police, torture, , executions stifle political dissent.

the pahlavi dynasty has been described royal dictatorship . or 1 man rule . according 1 history of use of torture state in iran, abuse of prisoners varied @ times during pahlavi reign.

reza shah

reza shah, founder of pahlavi dynasty

the reign of reza shah authoritarian , dictatorial @ time when authoritarian governments , dictatorships common in region , world , universal declaration of human rights years away. freedom of press, workers rights, , political freedoms restricted under reza shah. independent newspapers closed down, political parties – loyal revival party banned. government banned trade unions in 1927, , arrested 150 labor organizers between 1927 , 1932.

physical force used against kinds of prisoners – common criminals, suspected spies, , accused of plotting regicide. burglars in particular subjected bastinado (beating soles of feet), , strappado (suspended in air means of rope tied around victims arms) reveal hidden loot . suspected spies , assassins beaten, deprived of sleep, , subjected qapani (the binding of arms tightly behind back) caused joint crack. political prisoners – communists – there conspicuous absence of torture under reza shah s rule. main form of pressure solitary confinement , withholding of books, newspapers, visitors, food packages, , proper medical care . while threatened qapani, political prisoners subjected it.

mohammad reza shah

mohammad reza pahlavi, second shah of pahlavi dynasty



mohammad mosaddegh, iranian democracy advocate , deposed pm in pahlavi dynasty

mohammad reza became monarch after father deposed soviets , americans in 1941. political prisoners (mostly communists) released occupying powers, , shah (crown prince @ time) no longer had control of parliament. after attempted assassination of shah in 1949, able declare martial law, imprison communists , other opponents, , restrict criticism of royal family in press.

following pro-shah coup d état overthrew prime minister mohammad mosaddegh in 1953, shah again cracked down on opponents, , political freedom waned. outlawed mosaddegh s political group national front, , arrested of leaders. on 4000 political activists of tudeh party arrested, (including 477 in armed forces), forty executed, 14 died under torture , on 200 sentenced life imprisonment.

1971–77

in 1971, guerrilla attack gendarmerie post (where 3 police killed , 2 guerrillas freed, known siahkal incident ) sparked intense guerrilla struggle against government, , harsh government countermeasures. guerrillas embracing armed struggle overthrow shah, , inspired international third world anti-imperialist revolutionaries (mao zedong, ho chi minh, , che guevara), quite active in first half of 1970s when hundreds of them died in clashes government forces , dozens of iranians executed. according amnesty international, shah carried out @ least 300 political executions.

torture used locate arms caches, safe houses , accomplices of guerrillas, in addition possible ability persuade enemies of state become supporters, instead.

in 1975, human rights group amnesty international – membership , international influence grew during 1970s – issued report on treatment of political prisoners in iran extensively covered in european , american press . 1976, repression softened considerably publicity , scrutiny numerous international organizations , foreign newspapers newly elected president of united states, jimmy carter.

islamic revolution

during 1978-79 overthrow of pahlavi government, protestors fired upon troops , prisoners executed. real , imaginary human rights violations contributed directly shah s demise, (although have argued did scruples in not violating human rights more urged generals).

the 1977 deaths of popular , influential modernist islamist leader ali shariati , ayatollah ruhollah khomeini s son mostafa believed assassinations perpetrated savak many iranians. on 8 september 1978, (black friday) troops fired on religious demonstrators in zhaleh (or jaleh) square. clerical leadership announced thousands have been massacred zionist troops (i.e. rumored israel troops aiding shah), michel foucault reported 4000 had been killed, , european journalist reported military left behind `carnage`.