Ahmad Batebi, Human Rights Activist
The story of Ahmad Batebi is very interesting and we at MEY encourage all readers to become familiar with his persecution and trials. You can read more about him here. Briefly, Ahmad was arrested after this widely published photo in the 1999 student demonstrations. The shirt he is holding up was his friends who was beaten to death by the Basij, Iranian paramilitary forces.
Below is a translation of an article, big thanks to Mohammad Memarian.
Before New Year holidays [~ 4.5 months ago] they called me and said that I had to return to prison. I was surprised. They had told me that I could stay out of prison as long as I refused to do politics. Yes, I did some politics, but it was not public.
I called my inspector in Intelligence Ministry, but he would not respond. Thus I thought that even intelligence agents wanted me back in prison.
My analysis was that after 9 years in prison, it was not easy to return to it. In addition, it would exert pressure on my family, especially my mother. And prison is of a limited capacity [to spread one's words], and more than that threshold would be well worn. Then I decided to call my friends in Kurdistan Democrat Party [to arrange the escape].
They said: “be ready.” They did not say how or when, just told me “be ready.” And it was exactly the first day of New Year when I was going to Karaj (a city close to Tehran) to pay a visit to my family that they called and said: “we want to meet you somewhere.” When I reached there, with my usual stuff (backpack, camera and some documents), they said: “Mission started. Come one.”
I had nothing. They brought me city to city, till we reached a border city. We moved along the border and finally crossed it. I just had 400 dollars.
In Iraq, democrat agents took me and brought me to Kuyeh [a city]. They hide me in a room. After a while, due to requests of me and my attorney in US, I was introduced to UN office in Arbil.
Then some bad things happened. First, I was threatened in Iraq. A terrorist group was sent to assassinate some people. Even local newspapers published the event. Second, we were trying to convince Intelligence Ministry that I’ve escaped to Turkey. But they found my telephone number and called me (just UN had my number). They asked me to introduce myself to Iran’s consul. They said: “we will give you a passport and financially help you to go anywhere you may want.” I recorded their voice.
Thanks to these developments, officials of Kurdistan Democrat Party submitted a letter to UN officials in Iraq and said “we have some evidences showing that Batebi is under threat.” Then UN officials decided to send me to Sweden. But before that, my attorney got permission from US and I went to Austria and then US.
In Austria, in the airport, I was watching people. Euro games were underway and all were watching TV. I thought that what a difference there exists between our concerns and theirs; they come from everywhere to watch football, and we just want to survive.
I’ve recorded everything: how I left Tehran, riding a mule, UN office, even that intelligence agent who called me in Iraq. Human Rights Activists will publish them all ASAP.
Join the Conversation
All I’ve got to say is “Welcome to the real world, Dude. Glad you escaped the mullahnazis.”
Batebi is arguably the most inspiring Middle Eastern activist for our generation. He will continue to be an icon for freedom fighters everywhere. Thanks for writing about this Omid.
This line in particular makes you think hard. People in Europe and elsewhere really must feel lucky to have been born into such life, many of them anyways.
MEY team, thanks for posting about Ahmad Batebi, he is truly a very important figure and I hope he will become even more important. I think we must do all we can to support him in his efforts in bringing true change to Iran and establishing Human Rights. I look forward to hearing more about him.
There’are great news. I hope Ahmad Batebi will help the world to understand the truth about Iranian regime. God bless him.
The world need more men like Mr Batebi. All faiths need more dialogue, more leaders, more understanding of each other, more tolerance of each other and lot less shouting, orthodoxy, relgious bigotry and finger pointing. Good luck to Mr Batebi
Persians are known around the world as some of the friendliest people in the world.
So why is the Iranian government known as one of the worst and most brutal governments in the world?
I believe that the problem is Islam.
Islam is a works based religion and therefore Muslims are trying to earn their salvation by doing things they perceive to be pleasing to Allah.
Killing and torturing the infidels is taught in the Koran as a good work.
My wish is that Persian would see that Islam was forced upon them by conquering Arabs. They are no longer a conquered people they should chose the religion they want now.
Or maybe they still are conquered.
I do not think the problem is Islam, just the particular interpretation of greedy mullahs.
The problem is definetely ISLAM.
You know, finger-pointing people like you are part of our problem. Have the sense and decency to explore the issue beyond what is thrown on to you by Western media.
Few days back, he was protesting in front of the UN in New York, with the rest of people who gathered there to oppose Ahmadinejad. He wanted to get into the building and in front of Ahmadinejad talk about his being torutered and all what he had to say. Iranian deigation did not wish for that. I wish he could talk about the students’ uprise and the way they were treated back then. I can’t believe he was senbtenced to death for holding that shirt over his head. I am happ that he is alive and free and acitve. I wish to see him back in the country.
I’M GLAD TO SEE HIM FREE!
GOD BLESS HIM!
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