IRAN EXECUTES THREE AHWAZI ARABS

the Iranian regime executed three Ahwazi Arab political prisoners just days after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, visited Iran. The three men - Abdulreza Nawaseri, Mohammad Ali Sawari and Jaffar Sawari - were hanged on charges of preaching Wahabbism and bombing the Zergan oilfields in 2005. They denied the charges in a one-day trial in which they were not given adequate legal representation. Their lawyers complained they were not given time to read their clients' files or meet their clients. The regime has not provided any evidence to substantiate its claims. Abdulreza Nawaseri, aged 32, was arrested in 2000 and then sentenced to 35 prison. He was in prison at the time of the bomb attacks in Zergan. Brothers Mohammad Ali Sawari and Jaffar Sawari had been in prison since 2005, along with a third brother, Hamzah Sawari. They were initially accused of attempting to convert Ahwazi Arabs to Sunnism, but they were later blamed for the Zergan oilfield attacks. No evidence has been produced to substantiate the government's charges. Mohammad Ali Sawari is a 37 year old teacher, married with five children. "The Sawari and Bawi tribes appear to be key targets, due to the fact that their lands are oil-rich and members of these tribes have been heavily involved in opposition to the government's land confiscation programme and forced displacement of Arabs. "Every Ahwazi activist is seen as being 'at war with god' and as such can be executed under Islamic law."