‘House of Isfahan’: The Most Contradictory Legal Case of the Protests

The “House of Isfahan” case is one of the most contradictory legal files during the course of protests.

November 25th was one of the bloodiest days of the nationwide protests. This case pertains to the killing of two Basij members and one law enforcement officer who were present in the Nahavandi neighborhood of the House of Isfahan area to suppress protesters.

In this case, three young men named Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoobi have been accused of involvement in this killing, and death sentences have been issued against them by judge “Morteza Barati” on the charge of moharebeh (waging war against the state).

According to an eyewitness account recently released, he says: “That night, a few friends and I joined the gathering of protesters in the House of Isfahan area and were chanting slogans. A group of Basij forces in civilian clothes on motorcycles approached from a side street intending to encircle the protesters. With shouts and cries, the protesters alerted those around us to the presence of these plain-clothed individuals, and I and others took refuge on the street and nearby alleys. From the side of the street, I saw this group of motorcyclist Basij forces start shooting at people, without realizing that directly across from them on the other side, there was a group of security forces stationed. I didn’t see anyone get shot, but at that moment I told my friend next to me that they are shooting toward their own forces and clearly there is no coordination between them. When I went home that night, I heard on the news about several suppression forces being killed, and I recalled the scene of the suppression forces shooting at each other, and at that moment I called my friend and he confirmed my suspicion.”

A brave woman also, some time ago, without regard to security matters and in relation to this case, during a phone call with judge Barati, disclosed all his private information and threatened judge Barati, saying when you issue the death sentence for 3 innocent young men, wait for us to execute you, your wife, and your children in the same way.

This case continues to make headlines every day, and the Islamic Republic government knows that this killing was its own doing, but in order to cover up its crimes and lies, it is searching for individuals to make them appear guilty and execute them. However, all three of these young men declared in court to judge Barati that their confessions were obtained only under torture and that they had no fault in this case. But judge Barati, disregarding their statements, issued this sentence.

The Islamic Republic government, despite public protests, sends these three young men to solitary confinement and cancels their visits, searching only for gallows ropes to create terror and fear among the people in hopes of perhaps being able to stop this uprising.

Young men whose sentence has not even been sent to the Supreme Court for confirmation. Exactly what was done to Majid Reza Rahnavard, and he was executed without sentence confirmation.

The people of Isfahan and all of Iran have declared that we will be the voice of these three young men, while one of them is sent to solitary confinement every day and it is unclear what their decision is regarding this case that is full of contradictions.

Where will the fate of this entirely contradictory case end?