36th Session of Hamid Nouri’s Trial: Paralyzed Prisoner Flew Like a Bird Toward Execution Site

The 36th session of Hamid Nouri’s trial was held on Thursday, November 11, 2021, in Durrës, Albania, with testimony from Majid Saheb Jam Etabaki, a witness in the case and a member of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).

Thirty-four previous sessions of this trial had been held, apart from extraordinary sessions in Stockholm, Sweden. According to a pre-arranged schedule, trial sessions 35 through 41 will be held in Albania instead of Stockholm, where seven of the case witnesses are located.

Majid Saheb Jam Etabaki was arrested in September 1982 on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1983 in a three-minute trial presided over by Ali Niri. Two years later, based on new information about him, another court issued a sentence of 12 years imprisonment to be served beginning in 1986.

The witness was transferred to Gohardasht Prison in February 1988 while participating in a strike and protest against conditions at Evin Prison with approximately 200 people. Upon arrival, they were severely beaten by Revolutionary Guards in the so-called “tunnel of death” with cables, batons, and other implements.

Majid stated that in 1961 and 1962, he had repeatedly seen Hamid Nouri in halls one and six of Evin Prison, known as the “training hall,” where he worked as an ordinary Revolutionary Guard. He said the Friday prayer sermons of the 7th and 14th of Mordad determined our future fate. Niri had entered the prison and news indicated executions on the 8th and 9th of Mordad.

According to him, the chief of the Supreme Judicial Council at the time said in the Friday prayer sermons: “I can no longer bear the pressure being put on me about why these prisoners are still alive. We will no longer be a match for the people when they tell us to execute these imprisoned Mojahedeen.”

The witness explained that the sermons were heard through loudspeakers belonging to the Revolutionary Guards. The witness requested that the sermons be registered as evidence in the court.

In the courtroom of the 36th trial session, the names of many executed prisoners were read.

Majid Saheb Jam Etabaki was first taken to the death corridor on the 15th of Mordad and then stood before a death panel consisting of Niri, Eshragi, Shushteri, and Pourmohammadi. Later in the death corridor, he wrote a renunciation letter regarding the People’s Mojahedin Organization. It was here that he first saw Hamid Nouri, who held a list and was taking people called “in charge” toward the execution site.

The witness spoke of one of the most painful scenes, concerning Mohsen Mohammadbagheri, who was paralyzed in both legs and as a child had acted in a famous film because of this condition. This film was also shown at the Swedish Film Festival. The witness said Mohsen Mohammadbagheri was called on the 13th of Mordad before his eyes. The witness said that despite having two canes, he flew like a bird toward the execution site.

The witness was called again on the 22nd of Mordad and brought before the death panel. That day he again saw Hamid Nouri, who read the names of many of his acquainted prisoners and took them toward the execution site.

Majid Saheb Jam Etabaki was returned to Evin Prison in February 1988 along with Nasserians and Hamid Nouri following the executions. He witnessed Hamid Nouri working there with responsibilities similar to his duties at Gohardasht Prison.

The witness was in various prisons for a total of seventeen years from 1961 to 1999 and was then released. He later joined the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran and is currently based at Camp Ashraf 3 in Albania.

Source: Voice of America