Protest at Iranian Embassy to seek freedom for Malekpour

A group of Canadian activists hopes to put pressure on the Iranian government to commute the death sentence of a Canadian resident, who is being held in Iran's notorious Evin prison, by staging a protest in Ottawa on Sunday.

Maryam Nayeb Yazdi, a Toronto-based human rights activist, told Postmedia News that the protest is necessary because Saeed Malekpour is at risk of being executed at any time.

Malekpour, a 36-year-old web programmer, was arrested in 2008 while visiting family in Iran. He is charged with "corrupting the Earth" and "insulting and desecrating Islam" after a program he developed for uploading photos online had been used to post pornographic images without his knowledge.

Malekpour was sentenced to death on Oct. 19 of last year, by the Revolutionary Court, a sentence that was recently confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court.

The group Free Saeed Malekpour will be leading the event in front of the Iranian Embassy in the nation's capital.

Among the groups scheduled to participate are Muslims for Progressive Values Canada, Raging Grannies and Amnesty International.

A group of supporters gathered Saturday afternoon in front of the Islamic Republic of Iran offices in Washington, D.C.

Yazdi said prisoners have been executed without the knowledge of their lawyers or family, with the news being delivered to them afterward.

In March 2010, Malekpour wrote an open letter recounting torture through beatings, electrocution, threat of rape and forced confessions while he was held for more than a year in solitary confinement in Evin prison.

According to Amnesty International, Malekpour did not have legal representation for much of his detention.

Iranian state television aired Malekpour's "confession." However, in a March 2010 open letter, Malekpour said this "confession" was extracted after "prolonged torture following orders by Revolutionary Guard interrogators," Amnesty said in a statement.

Yazdi said Free Saeed Malekpour is in touch with Malekpour's lawyers in Iran who provide updates on his case and condition.

According to Yazdi, while the physical torture has stopped, he experiences "psychological torture."

She said prison guards keep the light on at all times in his prison cell, and then take Malekpour outside blindfolded. He has controlled access to the washroom.

Malekpour himself isn't aware of his death sentence because family have chosen not to inform him of the situation, she said.

Alex Neve, secretary general for Amnesty International Canada, said it's important to keep Malekpour's case in the public eye and to put pressure on the Iranian and Canadian governments to take further action to save Malekpour's life.

"We believe his file is with officials with the responsibly of setting the time of his execution. You can't get more urgent than that," he said.

On Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird's office reiterated Canada's condemnation of the reported decision to execute Malekpour.

"Our officials are actively speaking out on behalf of Mr. Malekpour with Iranian authorities. Unfortunately, and contrary to international norms, Iran refuses to discuss his case," said Joseph Lavoie, Baird's press secretary.

"Sadly, his case is one of many examples of Iran's utter disregard for human life. The Iranian government ignores legal principles, such as due process for its citizens domestically, and fails to meet its international human rights obligations generally," he told Postmedia News in an email.

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