Hashem Khastar, a 71-year-old teacher, political prisoner, and one of the signatories of an open-letter signed by a number of activists inside Iran calling for the resignation of regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, says he will be facing another trial.
In an open letter that Khastar has sent from Mashhad’s Vakil Abad Prison, he explains that this hearing, presided by Judge Yazdankhan, was held online and he will be denied legal representation on April 25. Khastar will be facing charges of “insulting the leadership and [regime founder Ruhollah] Khomeini, and propaganda against the regime”.
Khastar’s letter reads in part:
To the heroic nation of Iran,
To the freedom-loving teachers and educators,
As you know, the last time the ruling regime arrested me along with several other people without any reason was on August 20, 2018. Ever since, they have placed me under various pressures and even confiscated my phone for months. If I wanted to make a call, someone would be monitoring me.
They also placed me under interrogation on numerous occasions. Since I have committed no crime, delegations from the regime’s judiciary have many times demanded that I resign from my positions and they would grant me leave. But my word was that I will not change my position regarding the rights and freedom of my people.
Following further pressures by regime authorities, on January 19, 2023, an investigator by the name of Alinejad from the 902 Branch Court said that during this period that you have been imprisoned, you have sent 30 letters and six messages outside. In order to voice more threats against me, he said that your wife has published those letters and messages.
However, the prosecutors, investigators, and prison guards know that I only met my family twice during the seven months that I was in solitary confinement. How could I have written 30 letters and six messages and have them transferred by my family on different dates, while seeing them only on those two occasions?
I told the judge that with this trial you brought my writings and words back to life for the people. People are asking what did Khastar say that they are trying him again in prison? I even told the judge that if you keep me in prison for another ten years or even sentence me to death, I am not afraid. The Ministry of Intelligence and Security also knows that I have made my thoughts known under any circumstances because I am a 71-year-old teacher, and my writings and statements are based on a scientific and real analysis.
I assure the heroic nation of Iran that these dark days will pass and the spring of freedom will be upon us.
Vakil Abad Prison, Mashhad, northeast Iran – April 2023