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Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi

Prosecutor General of Tehran

Born: 1953 Hometown: Yazd

Position: Prosecutor-General of Tehran

Replaced Saeed Mortazavi as Prosecutor-General of Tehran in September 2009.

Subject to US Sanctions for involvement in "serious human rights abuses in Iran since the June 2009 disputed presidential election.

US Treasury designates Tehran Prosecutor General, for Human Rights Abuses in Iran

U.S. Department of the Treasury

23rd February 2011

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State today announced the designation of two Iranian officials, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Tehran Prosecutor General, and Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of the IRGC’s Basij Forces, for being responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Iran since the June 2009 disputed presidential election.

Today’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13553, signed by President Obama in September 2010, to provide the United States with new tools to target human rights abuses engaged in by officials by the Government of Iran. As a result of today’s action, any property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which the designees have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. The designees are also subject to visa sanctions by the Department of State.

“Today’s designations highlight the complicity of two Iranian officials in significant human right abuses against the Iranian people," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. "Dolatabadi and Naqdi have no place in the international financial system.”

State Department Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner added, “Today's action underscores our enduring commitment to support Iranians seeking to exercise their universal rights and expresses our solidarity with victims of torture, persecution, and arbitrary detention.”

Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi

Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was appointed as Tehran Prosecutor General in August 2009. Since his appointment, Dolatabadi’s office has indicted a large number of protesters, including individuals who took part in the December 2009 Ashura Day protests, which saw large scale clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulting in deaths and severe injuries. His office has charged protesters with the charge of Muharebeh, or enmity against God, which carries a death sentence, and denied due process to those facing the death sentence. His office has also targeted and arrested reformists, human rights activists, and members of the media, as part of a broad crackdown on the political opposition.

Some of the defendants were tried at Evin court, which had been recently created within the confines of the notorious Evin prison and whose creation Dolatabadi defended in March 2010. In Evin prison, some of the defendants were held in solitary confinement, abused, and coerced into making false self-incriminating statements.

President Obama identified Dolatabadi’s predecessor, Saeed Mortazavi, for sanctions under E.O. 13553 by listing him in the Annex to the Order.

Mohammed Reza Naqdi

As commander of the IRGC’s Basij Forces, Naqdi was responsible for or complicit in Basij abuses occurring in late 2009, including the violent response to the December 2009 Ashura Day protests, which resulted in up to 15 deaths and the arrests of hundreds of protesters.

Prior to his appointment as commander of the Basij in October 2009, Naqdi was the head of the intelligence unit of the Basij responsible for interrogating those arrested during the post-election crackdown and was in charge of an interrogation team at the Kahrizak detention center. Naqdi extracted forced confessions from high-ranking reformist leaders that were broadcast on Iranian state-run television. At least three demonstrators are reported to have died as a result of injuries sustained at the Kahrizak detention center.

COMMENTS ABOUT SHANE AND JOSH

Feb 6th 2010 - Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, speaking after the trial

"As the questions had to be translated by a translator, the defendants took notes and then the translator read their responses to the court, This process was too time-consuming."

"As the court concluded that more questions had to be asked from the defendants and considered that presence of Ms. Shourd was necessary, today's session was ended at 3pm and it will be held again.

"The session was very good and the words of the defendants were listened. The defense lawyer handed in to the court two bills in the form of a 20-page defense for each defendant that have been attached to the file. In the next session other questions and explanations will be addressed"

"In our report we explained that according to their way of arrest, location, stuff they had with themselves, activities and interrogations, Tehran Prosecutor Office had compelling evidence to issue the indictment."

Sept 14th 2010 - Speaking after release of Sarah Shourd

"They must await their trial in the Revolution Court and therefore there is no talk of granting release to the two Americans for now"

"The detention of the other two has been extended. They both have the right to appeal.”

“Their cased will be referred to the Revolution Court, which is in charge of handling espionage cases."

"Based on the reports by her lawyer, our investigators and evidence provided by the government… we decided to take the detainee's health situation (Sarah Shourd) into consideration and grant her bail."

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