Iranian executions draw criticisna, U.N. body plea
The Sass ( 1837-3983); Sep 8, 1979; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Baltimore San, The (1837-1986)
pg. A2
Iranian executions draw
criticism, U.N. body plea
From Wirg Snvkes
Geneva—A United Nations n
rights panel yesterday described reported'
summary executions of Kurds In Iran as
inhuman and decided to send a telegram
calling on the iranian government to stop
such executlons immediately.
The U.N. expert subcommlssiOn on pro -
veritlon of discrimination and protection
of minorities adopted a text proposed bys
Greek member, Erica-Irene Pa with
objections only from Dumitru Ceausu, of
Romanla.
Mr. Ceausu said . hnjnJ
lacked official information on summary
executions and be therefore could not as-
sociate himself with the telegram.
The protest message, adopted by the
other experts In the 25-member subcom-
mission on the final day of Its three-week
annual meeting, expressed atdeep sense
of shock at reported summarytecutloru
of numerous Kurds in iran and requests
the immediate cessation of these Inhuman
practices?'
In Paris, a lawyer representing an In-
human rights organization
ay that political prisoners In
Iran were being held in appalling condi .
f i nns and have told him they were Ill.
treated bylsiamiognards.
The French lawyer, Michel Zavrlan, of
the Paris-based InternationE LL.Fon
of Human Rights, spoke at a 5ews confer-
encefollowinga visit to Iran last month to
imatigate the conditions experienced by
political prisoners.
lie accused the Tebran authorities of
arbitrary arrests of political opponents
and saId, “II the situation regarding basic
freedoms Improved at the beginning of the
revolution, It baa deteriorated In * terrify-
ing way In thelast few months.”
During his two-week stay, be visIted
the Ahwaz orison In Khuzestan orovinee
where there were some 240 politIcal
prisoners, Including 14 left-wing militants
sentenced to death or life tinprisoninent.
Ayatollah Ruholish Khomeini, spiritual
leader of iran's Islamic republic, pledged
ynsterdaythatKurdlshrebelswhohand is
their weapons “will be treated in a broth-
erly manner and will enjoy the general
amnesty,” Tehran radioreported.
The recorded message, monitored in
London, left no doubt that severe punish-
ment awaits rebel leaders.
Earlier, Tehran radio broadcast a inn-
sage from Islamic Judge Sadeq Khalkali,
who Is in the captured Kurdish capital of
Mahabad, in which he said leaden of the
Kurdish Democratic party would be tried
and punished severely.
The broadcasts gave no details of the
continued bloody fighting, in which I ra-
nian armored forces and helicopter gun-
and fighter-bombers have launched
an apparently successful major offensive
against some 20,000 Kurdish guerrillas
seeking independence for their moan-
tainouslranlan-nded homeland.
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