When
our father went to Iran for his first extended trip after the revolution, I
wondered how long it would take him to finish his business, and come
home. His family was facing hardship on their livelihood and personal
belongings. I can only wonder what my brother
and sister were feeling when they got the news that Karan and Afarin were in
prison. The bureaucracy in Iran can be
brutal from what I witnessed while I stayed with Karan and Afarin for the summer of
2009. When he took me to obtain
paperwork for his business, it took my father a few hours to find the correct
person to speak with. We feel that court process so
far has been the same in a sense. Karan and Afarin
were in “temporary confinement” since July 20th, 2016. We know
for a fact that it was in solitary confinement for a period of one month.
During the time in solitary confinement, twelve of the days were spent by the
Sepah searching their house and offices in Tehran. During the stint in
solitary, Afarin and Karan were
questioned almost continually about being spies. This is wildly
inaccurate set of charges brought upon them caused the family and us children a
lot of unnecessary stress. What the IRGIS found and did not amount to
anything which was outside of the statute of what a Zoroastrian or art gallery
owner would be allowed to have within private premises. Since evidence
for “espionage” were non-existent the interrogations were lacking, originally we
were to believe that these charges were dropped. Soon to hear that they were brought up again
by the presiding judge. Afterwards, Karan and Afarin
were moved into a slightly larger cell which was 2 X 3.5 meters. The cell had 3
blankets on which to sleep, a communal bathroom, TV, a daily newspaper and
two additional prisoners. Mind you, this is without going through the
proper channels and statutes necessitated by law. What Karan’s three
children, Aundia, Cyrus and myself want is the immediate release of Karan and Afarin as we know they are
kind and nice, and are certain they are innocent and have committed no crime.
In case of any trial we ask for an open trial to the public
with national and independent international lawyers to present them, with
unbiased jury (including of women, artists and Zartoshti minority), and independent
press and without pressures to influence the outcome.
If the trial comes to a head, and there is no
other option, we will bring support from friends, family and numerous other
supporters of civil
liberties and the love for Karan and Afarin.
With Love from your son Maziar
