Ahmad Batebi (Leader Of The Iranian Student Movement ) Escapes Iran To U.S.
Ahmad Batebi background:
He is an Iranian student who gained international fame for his appearance on the cover of The Economist magazine holding up a bloodied shirt claiming to belong to a fellow student beaten by the Basij paramilitaries. The photo, which has been called “an icon for Iran’s student reform movement,” was taken during the Iranian Student Protests in July 1999 in Tehran. Following its publishing, Batebi was arrested, tried in closed-door proceedings, found guilty of “creating unrest,” and sentenced to death. This was reduced to 10 years after domestic and international outcry. Less well-known are persistent reports of torture and ill-treatment of Batebi in prison, and his resulting poor physical and mental health. While temporarily released from prison to receive medical attention, Batebi fled the country and was taken into the United States as a refugee.
For the story:
Voice Of America
PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., June 30, 2008 - Ahmad Batebi, a leader of the Iranian Student Movement and an activist for human rights in Iran, told the Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian News Network (PNN) that, “torture, human rights violations, and abuses towards women still are prevalent in Iran.”
On the set of NewsTalk, Batebi described the physical and mental abuse of prisoners inside Iran. Having spent more than nine years in jail, he spoke of suffering torture and abuse that triggered massive swelling of the right lobe of his brain. Batebi observed that, “the main aim of the severe, humiliating torture that me and my fellow prisoners endured was to force us to say what the authorities wanted to hear, and if we did not adhere, they would intimidate and abuse our families.”
Batebi has recently arrived in Washington, after leaving Iran, and traveling through Iraq and Austria. During the interview, Batebi said, “I wish each and every Iranian could travel abroad, come to the U.S. or go to Europe, for just one week, and feel, smell, and breathe freedom, human dignity, and realize the value of their lives.”
Ahmad Batebi, gained notoriety in July 1999 for holding up a bloodied shirt belonging to Ezzat Ebrahim-Najad, a fellow student, who had been beaten by the ‘Basij’ paramilitaries. Following publication of the photo, called “an icon for Iran’s student reform movement,” Batebi was arrested, tried in closed-door proceedings, found guilty and sentenced to death by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. His sentence was later reduced to 15 years after domestic and international outcry.
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I hope he ‘recovers’ strong and well …
Iran is going to need this man to rebuild … AFTER we kick the shit out of them.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:52 pmthere is a a strong iranian population in the USA and here in korea as well looking forward to the day that the mullahs are brought down and they , the bahais and other non muslims can return to their home.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pmWelcome to the USA. I hope he lives a long and happy life here, I wish him well.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:21 pmalot of Iranians are good people, in my opinion at least. they just like alot of other countries need help in changing their situation. if we started bombing Iran who the hell knows what might happen. the people could start their revolution against the government at the same time. or maybe we could bomb Ahmedenijad for them and get it over with.
and welcome to the USA. REAL freedom fighter
July 6th, 2008 at 5:02 pmHey, welcome to America. Enjoy your new freedom to the fullest. I have just one bit of advice … STAY AWAY FROM THE LEFT … FAR AWAY.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pmHe now knows what it’s like to “feel, smell and breathe freedom, human dignity.” He should become an attorney and help to defend the U.S. Constitution.
Little known truth about Iran: When the Americans working at the American Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage in 1979, videotapes of hordes of anti-Western Iranians outside the Embassy were shown around the world. Most of the protestors had been bused in from a very poor city south of Tehran. They were paid approx. $15/day, more than a week’s wages for them. Whenever the cameras stopped rolling, they stopped protesting.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:21 pmGood for him!
July 6th, 2008 at 7:30 pmOh, Hell Yeah! This is great to see!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:01 pmGlad he made it out. I agree with you Kurt.
Oded Fehr could, like, play him in the movie … You know?
I’m … just … sayin’ …
July 6th, 2008 at 10:51 pmSomething like 30% of the Iranian population is salivating at the idea of a US invasion. The jihadis are a minority, and most of the troops would be conscripts. The Iraniac apostates in Tehran wouldn’t stand a chance.
If we didn’t kill their apostate leaders, the Iranian people would. How’d you like to see all those hanging cranes turned on the executioners for a change?
Or maybe stoning the Ayatollahs to death and giving ahmedthenutjob 100 lashes….delivered by a woman…in public…before hanging his ass. Now that would be sweet revenge.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:42 amthey are still paying “protesters” to this day. all of that death to America shit we see on tv is all staged. I talk to a few people who live there and thats what i was told. said they are stupid people who accept money to hit the streets and mock protests. and alot of times with pre-made signs even
July 7th, 2008 at 7:03 amAhmad Batebi is on Facebook!
July 8th, 2008 at 2:03 am