The wife and mother of Peyman Arefi, a political prisoner who was exiled to Masjed Soleyman prison, were tragically killed in an accident on the way back to Tehran after visiting Peyman.
Peyman Arefi and his wife, Ziba Sadeghzadeh were arrested following the 2009 people’s uprising which followed election irregularities. Peyman Arefi was sentenced to death by hanging in the Tehran Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati. However, after an appeal the sentence was reduced to 15 years imprisonment.
The savage, oppressive Islamic regime holding Iran in its grips continues its atrocities by suppressing political and social activities, torturing and raping prisoners,hangings in public and grave violations of human rights of all civic and political prisoners, their families and all Iranian citizens.
The wife and mother of Peyman Arefi, returning from visiting Peyman in prison, lost their lives on the Ahvaz Highway. Their deaths are a result of having to visit their son and husband who has been unjustly imprisoned by the current regime. While the regime is directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranians since the 1979 revolution, there are countless others – like the wife and mother of Peyman Arefi – who have died as a consequence of this regime and its policies: Peyman’s mother and wife never would have been on that highway if he were not unjustly imprisoned by this regime.
This tragic and painful incident increases sorrow in the hearts of the entire Iranian community. We express our deepest heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Peyman Arefi and his family, and our thoughts remain with them in this time of sorrow. We also call upon all Iranians inside Iran to be with Peyman on this longest night of the year, to visit him and help him through this tragedy. Peyman should know that he is not alone – we all share his grief with him.
Spokesperson for The Iran National Council
