|
IRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN, APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE EXECUTION OF DJALALI
December 13, 2017: On the confirmation of the death sentence of Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali with allegations of espionage by the Supreme Court, Hands Off Cain demands Italy to take a strong stand.
It is serious that the Iranian Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence issued against Ahmadreza Djalali, 46, a university researcher for years active in Italy and detained in Tehran since April 2016 on charges of espionage.
And even more serious is that the Italian government does nothing to stop the execution of a person convicted of collaboration with Israel at the end of an absolutely summary trial.
Djalali has worked for many years in Italy in Piedmontese universities. One more reason to appeal to the Italian government to intervene.
The confirmation of the conviction against the Iranian researcher took place on the same day that, with the budget maneuver, the transformation of the Invitalia agency was approved to ensure investments in countries at high risk like Iran and thus overcome the resistance of Cassa Depositi Prestiti, Sace and large banking groups to start business between Italy and Iran.
To think that "good" business can be done uncritically with a theocratic, obscurantist regime that makes anti-Zionism a priority of its foreign policy is a mistake.
Since the beginning of the year, Iran has sent more than 520 people to the gallows, overcoming the number of executions carried out in 2016.
Ahmadreza Djalali's death sentence calls us to consider that the struggle for the abolition of the death penalty in totalitarian countries like Iran is above all a struggle for the full affirmation of the rule of law, and we appeal to the Italian government to put the question of respect for human rights and the release of Djalali as a priority request in relations concerning Iran.
|
