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Tonight we will talk to Mr Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, one of the signatories of the open letter by 14 Iranian dissidents in which they have called for ayatollah Khamenei to resign and an overhaul of Iran’s Constitution so the country could peacefully go through a democratisation of its institutes.
Mr Ragheb is a former employee of the Tehran City Council as a fireman whose pension has been suspended for his political views.
Having served the public all his life he has also been jailed and we will find outfrom him what charges had been brought against him and other signatories ofthis famous letter, including Mr Zare, that has incensed the Iranian authorities.
Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb:
I began to work in the city council of Shariar in 2001 as a labourer but a little later I received a letter from the security organs of the government that told me I was an activist in defence of the working classes and I did not have the right to stay in my job.
I have been subjected to harassment and pressure by the security forces all these last 18 years everywhere I have worked because of my views and finally lastyear the city council fired me.
At the moment I am still waiting to hear about my complaint made to Iran’s supreme court of justice against the decision to suspend my salaries and pensions. My family’s social security has also been cancelled and every time I have gone to the justice ministry to complain they have arrested me instead.
Jamshid Chalangi:
What made you join the rest of the signatories of this open letter?
Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb:
This letter is a true reflection of the desires and aspirations of the Iranian people, especially when you look at the 40 years of the record of this regime’s policies which are nothing but deception and despotism and squandering the wealth of our nation and taking the country to the brink of social and economic collapse.
By openly publishing this letter we have tried to reach the international community and ask their support for the just and humane demands of our people for peace and prosperity.
Now our colleague Mr Nourizad has been jailed on charges of insulting the leader but we do not really recognise the legitimacy of these courts and charges and even the justice system itself that bring these phoney accusations against us.
