Open Letter to Farhad Rahbar Written by Technical College Students

Open Letter to Farhad Rahbar Written by Technical College Students

Your Excellency, Professor Rahbar, Chair of Tehran University,

Following the negotiations conducted by some members of the Polymer and Chemistry Faculty Council with Professor Komrehee regarding the illegal arrest of five students of this faculty, we were informed about a meeting coming up in which the Technical College Students´ message will be delivered to you.

Your Excellency,

In order to prevent political misuse and because we believe in the innocence of our dearest friends and we were sure you were informed about the political record of these students, we did not make public the the pain caused to our friends.

We wanted to solve this problem through negotiating with those responsible for the college and university. We suppose maintaining good relations between teachers and students and saving the lives of five innocent people are much more important for the heads of the university than to be in the position of shame.

Your Excellency,

Now that distorting the truth and oppressing the innocent people are announced loudly in the official media of the country, we do not hope anymore that Your Highness and your subordinates help us, we seek help only from the God Almighty. We only mention this to you because of religious obligation.

May these lead to a result:

1.We have heard worrying rumours about the crimes of our friends. You already know what the punishment could be in such an atmosphere. We wish with all our hearts that the the Almighty returns this deceit to those who orchestrate these childish games, and that no unjust court be held for our dear friends; because if it comes to that, this world and the other world will devastate your life and that of those who had the possibility (and still have), to prove the innocence of our brothers and release them.

2.We hold you with regret as one of the main persons responsible for the tragic events of 16 and 17 Azar in this year [1388-2009], also for the ridiculous intrigue of accusing the true followers of Imam Khomeini of defaming him. In addition to that, we hold you responsible as a key person in the Intelligence system of the country. Though our request will be without result as it was with our complaint against the results of the recent election submitted to the Guardian Council [Shurayeh Negahban], we find it necessary to remind[you] that these arrested students, because of the document counterfeiting the judicial lie [Persian text here not clear], have been mostly active in playing instruments in the Music Institute of Technical College and have never had any kind of political tendencies. We do not hope that you can guide your former colleagues, but we wish that they aimed at the students who are political activists to hear the harsh answers [from these students], instead of those who are the most innocent and know nothing about all these dirty political games of the ruling wing.

3.If you take a look at history, you will understand that the human conscience remembers only the names of those who have not sacrificed their ideals for the sake of their own interests [because of] shortsightedness, and the names of those who were infatuated with power and ambitiousness darkened their heart making them cruel. Now that the country is exposed daily to a new tragic event, the historians are doing their work as well. Sooner or later, the circle of supporters[Khodiha] will get smaller and this process will shake even the base of those who are much higher than you. Therefore, if there is still a hint of belief in moral and religious principles to be felt in you, and before being rejected by the hands of those in power, do something for them who are innocent, not to mention hear the worrying thoughts of disgrace facing the collective conscience. Let the collective conscience recall you as a good person. Otherwise , after a few years, your name will be recorded in the darkest parts of history, like many thousands who closed the eyes on the oppression done to the innocent.

4. Finally, we must mention that if your effort for hearing our [students] message is not, like the rest of your promises in the last six months, empty and sheer propaganda, then, before it gets late, arrange a meeting and sit down to listen to the oppressed students of [this] university.

If this request seems ridiculous to you, then you must know that you have gone so far away from moral and human principles. Because, the thing which leads to an acrimonious smile on one´s lips is the winter sleep in the conscience of those who are blinded by the love of rank and position, but not the loud cries of complaint and grief of the students for their innocent friends.

- Siavash Sartipi, Persian2English