Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Haj-Aghaei

His name is Jafar Kazemi. He got executed today, the 24th of January, at 4am. What was his crime? "distributing MKO placards and pictures, taking videos and pictures from post-election events and chanting in favor of MKO." (link) Jafar Kazemi was also accused of organizing the Ashura protest but he was in fact imprisoned much before the demonstration on Ashura took place. "Ms. Ghanavi, Kazemi’s lawyer, noted that while Kazemi had been accused of playing an organizing role in massive 27 December 2009 Ashura Day protests, he had been arrested months before and was in jail at the time". (link)

Roudabeh Akbari, Jafar Kazemi's wife, has said about the conviction:

“They hanged him at 4:00 a.m., because they perform [the executions] early in the morning. They had no evidence, only a few photographs or videos taken and sent during the post-election gatherings. Is the punishment for this the death penalty? According to their own Constitution…punishment for someone who propagates against the regime is one to six years in prison. Look at the sentences they have been handing out". (link)

How did Jafar Kazemi's wife, Roudabeh Akbari, learn about the execution of her husband today?

“This morning we went to visit with him. We filled out a [visitation request] card, too. But they came back and told us that they had hanged him. They said ‘If we want to give you his body, we will call you. Go and take it easy. It’s all finished now.’ Of course, that’s if they want to give his corpse to us. Because in the case of Mr. Saremi, they took the body and buried it. It is very likely that they may want to do the same thing with my husband,” said Jafar Kazemi’s wife.

“Please, I only ask you to tell the world what kinds of criminals and felons they are. Let the world know. How long does the world want to wait? How long do you want to issue statements and put up with them? Can you hear me?” said Roudabeh Akbari" (link)

What was the reason for the execution of Jafar Kazemi, a peaceful protester?

"A human rights activist familiar with the case told the Campaign, “During all phases of his interrogation, investigation, and lower court trial, Jafar Kazemi has been denied the right to a lawyer and a fair trial. The ruling issued for him was completely political and only aimed to intimidate society during the post-Ashura days and the days leading to February 11, 2010 [the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution]. Right now, also, there is concern that in pursuit of its political goals inside and outside the country, the Iranian government may suddenly carry out the execution at an unknown time. Mr. Kazemi is innocent and his only contact with the MEK is the presence of his son at Camp Ashraf". (link)

His name is Mohammad Ali Haj-Aghaei. He was called Haj-Mamad by prisoners. He was executed with Jafar Kazemi for committing the same "crime" which is distributing placards and pictures of MKO and taking photos and videos of the post-election protests. According to the propaganda TV of the state, Press TV, Haj-Aghaei "had traveled to Iraq many times and intended to stay in the MKO headquarters but had been rejected due to his old age"(link).

Haj-Mamad's face reminds me a lot of my wonderful Algebra high school teacher. These victims haven't come from Mars, do not have any criminal characteristics although the state is trying its best to demonize them with allegations of having sympathy for MKO and sending to the MKO photos and videos of people's uprising, these victims are the people one would see in a daily life in Iran in the streets, grocery stores, schools, etc: ordinary weaponless people.

Who are other protesters in death row?

"In addition to the protestors executed today, the Iranian Judiciary sentenced seven other protestors to death, three of whom had their sentences reversed and changed to prison terms. But four others, Zahra Bahrami (an Iranian-Dutch citizen), Mohsen Daneshpour, Meysam Daneshpour, and Abdolreza Ghanbari are in danger of imminent execution. Ghanbari’s sentence is reportedly under consideration for pardon, but given the recent executions, the Campaign is seriously concerned about further political executions"(link).

I have written about Abdolreza Ghanbari earlier in this post.

Haj-Mamad has asked his cell-mates to not cry for him after his execution and whisper Morgh-e Sahar song (here with Shajarian's voice) whenever remembering him. The poem of Morgh-e Sahar is composed by Mohammad Taghi Bahar during the days of Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911).

The lyrics of Morgh-e Sahar with English translation is from here--- Rest in peace dear Haj-Mamad and Jafar Kazemi:

morgh’e sahar, naale sar kon - morning bird, mourn
morgh’e sahar, naale sar kon - morning bird, mourn
daagh’e ma ra taaze tar kon - further renew my pain

z’aah shararbar, een ghafas raa
barshekan o, zeer o zebar kon
- with a sigh that rains fire,
break this cage and overturn it

bolbol’e par-baste, ze kaaj’e ghafas daraa
naghme’ye azadi no’e bashar saraa
-flightless nightingale, from the pine cage sing humanity’s song of freedom

va’z nafas arseye een khake tudeh ra,
por sharar kon
-from the breath of the masses
fill the open earth with fire (?)

zolm, zalem
jor-e sayyad.
-oppression, the oppressor
the hunter’s oppression

aasheeyan’am daade bar baad
- it has left my nest dwindling in the wind,

ey khoda, ey falak, ey tabee-at
shaam’e taareek’e maara, sahar kon
- god, universe, nature
make our dark evening into dawn

no-bahar ast
gol be bar ast
- it’s a new a spring
the flowers have bloomed

abr cheshmam
jale bar ast
- the clouds in my eyes
are filled with dew

een ghafas, chon delam, tang o taar ast
- this cage, like my heart, is suffocated and dark

sho’le fekan, dar ghafas, ey aah aatasheen
- oh fiery sigh! start a flame in this cage,

dast tabee’at, gol’e omr’e mara macheen
- nature’s hand, don’t cut short this flower of my life

janeb aashegh negah ey taaze-gol az een -
look at my dear young flower

beeshtar kon! beeshtar kon! beeshtar kon! -
make it more! [sing more loudly(?)]

morgh’e beedel, sharh hejran!
mokhtasar kon! mokhtasar kon!
- you heartless bird
make it brief! make it brief;
the story of your separation (link)