need to add title here

Torture In Iran

April 5, 2009 6:44 PM

Ahmad Batebi tells CNN's Anderson Cooper, in his 1st U.S. television interview how he was tortured for 9 years in an Iranian prison and how he managed to escape.

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by nedaka July 26, 2009 6:42 AM EDT
Many thanks for revealing a tiny reality of ?Islamic Republic? regime in Iran. when he was in jail I always tried to find out about his health. never crossed my mind that he was treated so savagely. God bless you always Ahmad.
Neda K
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by iraqvideos_net April 26, 2009 9:54 AM EDT
I am american and I am not so stupid as to believe that. Usa news like this is usa news grin. I need nto say more.
as for the usa pretending and such about torture in iran and as for the past lies of usa it was just cuz they are too stupid to know the diff in people there. Also was cuz they wanted to attack for the natural gas since they took oil from iraq.
americans are just retarded and their news reporters are either as retarded or part of the usa govt lies. is just as it is there. They had to again report they were wrong last yr. grin. inbreeding should not be legal then 99% of the usa population would be no more. grin.
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by NimaNas April 12, 2009 11:24 AM EDT
Torture is bad... It doesn't matter where in the world it is... but what has that to do with this video?? So because torture exist in other countries, 60 minutes aren't allowed to show this case about Iran??!?!
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by NimaNas April 12, 2009 11:16 AM EDT
Maryam-Maryam.. I would like to see your scources and research which confirms that there exist no torture in Iranian prisons... You need to do some more neutral research and not the kind research the islamic government supports. the comments and so called facts you spread are false and against all the researh and works organisations like Amnesty have done.. So please stop this.. It is very hurtfull for those who have their childrens being tortured and killed in these satanic prisons...

And by the way: how hard is it to get a cellphone which can record his way out?? Seriously!?!
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by maryam_maryam April 10, 2009 5:03 PM EDT
LOL!!! You mean to tell me that Iran's gov't just let this man go free and live a life with a cell phone and transport access. I am an Iranian American, I've lived here and in Tehran and Kurdistan, this notion is absurd!

Iran does have it's repressive problems, clearly it's a theocracy, however, there are other motives and interests not exposed here. Now this man will be the poster-boy for the looney Shah-loving, imperial Iranians living in Los Angeles and Great Neck, NY. I suppose the Shah's American trained Savak tortures were okay, right?

Please, Mr. Cooper, I thought you were more investigatory and smart, this is more likely to come out of FOX. 1 more point for the fanatics of Israel.

It seems, if this were true, Iran is taking tips from the uneducated, poor, martyrs of the U.S. military on how to torture. And has anyone been to Angola prison in the south or Ryker's Island and checked on conditions there? Prison torture is bad EVERYWHERE.
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by bsaheb April 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT
Thanks to internet I have not been watching TV for a long time but I was told by a friend to watch your story about Mr. Ahmad Batebi. I do not know what he truly had done to be taken to prison as he claimed? whether he was guilty or innocent of the charges but I only wondered about several things?
1- Interesting how he was offered a job with the Voice of America in Washington which airs anti-Iran propaganda and fully financed from the hundreds of million of tax payer dollars given to so many radio and TV stations which air anti-Iran propaganda.
2-I have done years of independent research on the treatment of Political prisioners in many of the Middle Eastern countries. I would be happy to share with you my opinion backed by facts that Islamic Republic of Iran does not torture prisioners. Even during the nine year of war when Iraq under Saddam attacked Iran with the full support and backing of the West, not one Iraqi soldier captured by Iran was tortured.
3-I wish that 60 Min producers would go to Libya, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Israel and see how those countries treat their political prisoners. The world would love to see that. I have done my homework and will be happy to share with you. Unfortunately the US Media has made a very bad image of Iran ever since the Islamic revolution of 1979 and continues to this day. We talk about democracy in the Middle East, but support all the dictators running almost all the countries in that region. We will see the day when this paradox expoldes and the millions living in those countries rebel against dictatorships like Iran did against the Shah.
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by buddy12325 April 8, 2009 5:57 PM EDT
What an interresting story but one question if he was fleeing for his life what kind captor
supplied a camera phone to record his escape
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by thebullss April 8, 2009 6:56 AM EDT
This is the beginning, I hope the networks would have more articles and documentaries for the crimes of this regim.
Marchello
Senellville GA.
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by Babak_M April 8, 2009 5:53 AM EDT
There would hardly be any improvement or progress in the relations between Iran and USA unless both sides try to learn lessons of the past ; for USA new adminstration : that their foreign policy has led to a mistrust in the mind of the majority of Iranians (even young people reading the history of their land) and considering that the rule of a single nation (or with few others) over the rest of the world is bygone (let's do not forget that the Persian Empire was the bigest of the planet once upon a time...) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_Rbka6eZ8

For the "governers" of this regime that has absolutely nothing to do with our National Identity, what some people call the "iranity", there will be no other issue than the one faced by the Shah in 1979 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHEynnldZDE
With a population composed by the young up to 60-65 per cent who are more than fed-up with this barbaric regime, it's just a question of time. Meanwhile, the democracy Movement and the NGO's inside the country (students, workers, women, etc.) need most of all the moral support of the rest of the world.
As people said in 1979 : " We shall overcome ! ", let's hope that this time will be for the best ...
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by jogan9 April 7, 2009 6:51 PM EDT
Persians need to be united and west and eu need to support over throwing this torturers and barbaric Islamic regime
http://www.u-too.blogspot.com/
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by jogan9 April 7, 2009 6:33 PM EDT
this barbaric regime under Islamic law torturing Iranians for 1400 years ,the problem was jimmy carter by not supporting shah of Iran let mullah come to the power and today after 30 years of terror Mr obama wants to become friend with this barbaric regime 70% of people in Iran don't support this barbaric regime and hopefully soon we will over throw this barbaric regime and bring peace to the Persians
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by PooyaJ April 7, 2009 2:56 PM EDT
Thank you Mr. Copper for this interview that exposes a small part of Iranian regime's human rights abuses. I'm glad to see US media finally giving coverage to this subject matter and listen to the voices of the Iranian people, and not that of the rulers of Tehran. It is particularly refreshing to see a CNN and/or CBS correspondent who gives coverage to Iranians who are not part of the ruling elite. I wonder if Ms. Amanpour would ever do such an interview which, of course, would jeopardize her future trips to Iran.
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by mondana April 7, 2009 12:43 PM EDT
Thank you Mr. Cooper for this interview. It is vital for American people to hear about serious human rights violations from other countries, violations perfected by their own government (outside of USA), but also violations of human rights in a variety of ways inside USA.

I have lived here for over 30 years. Prejudice & treatment of naturalized citizens has not subsided in this country for the past 30 years and I have well documented all these incidents. It is a shame both for USA whom brags about human rights and equality through its "constitutional law" and for countries such as Iran whom brakes the law under "Islamic Law". They are both the same, but one to the extreme end. It least this is how I thought until the story of Guantanamo surfaced out.

Citizens should do their parts. Talk to others even when you get slapped in the face. Join groups even if it looks fruitless now. Do your part.
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by Babak_M April 7, 2009 8:42 AM EDT
With all due respect to the new American administration with Mr. Obama, I just wanted to add that I hope what USA and their allies did in Afghanistan and Iraq will not be repeated (or even imagined) about Iran. No military or any other aggresive intervention would help the Democracy movement inside our country , not talking about that Democracy can NEVER be "injected", no matter which country we're talking about. And Americans have not a good reputation to teach Iranians what democracy means :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTGf4X_Qjew
So thank you for supporting the movement for Democracy via Amnesty International, Human RightsWatch or other similar organisations.
With my all Regrads.
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by Ma_Hastim April 7, 2009 7:54 AM EDT
Mr. Cooper, due to this report, I could say Islamic Republic of Iran will only allow Mrs. Christian Amanpour to interview its president and other representatives when they come to NY, United Nation. She is very good in reporting what Islamic Republic wants outside world to see and hear. I am really happy to see there is someone like you who values the dignity above all...

What Islamic Republic does to her own children is a warning to non-Muslim west. Beware this regime will not give you a moment of peace, their God has told them not to rest till everyone bows down. Meaning of Negotiation and Dialogue to Islamic Republic is: give me more time till I find the right tools to remove you.... Negotiation will not change their God's order. God's orders are not negotiable and you can not proof them wrong in this lifetime. they believe they will be rewarded in the next life, in eternity.... ... so good luck to all of us with new president Obama and his ideas of negotiation and more negotiations with Islamic Republic.. The leadership of Islamic Republic loves what they hear from White House.....

Ma Hastim
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by waystedkiss April 7, 2009 12:38 AM EDT
Thanks, excellent piece. Lets hope it was viewed by many. I did want to comment on a comment though. I found Mr. Parkers comments both disturbing and wrong. To equate what was done on the worst of days by any US serviceman or women to the worst of the worst with what goes on in Iran is STUPID plain and simple and most rational people relise that . I know President OBAMA does !
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by Nila-kassiri April 6, 2009 10:00 PM EDT
My father was in prison in Iran some 24 years ago for being a known member of the Baha'i community. at first when he was released it was very difficult for him to talk about it, later he put it into a poem and hand it to me..it was heart aching for me to ask question afterward. I still have not asked him anything but I wish I could have. from the poem I remember kicking him to the face while wearing army booths until his tooth broke. I also remember verbal humiliation, and breaking his prescription glasses on his face and never made another pair available to him. I feel for all of those in prison and for their families.
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by IranianCaliGirl1981 April 6, 2009 9:47 PM EDT
I encourage all Iranians and non-Iranians alike to read the letter of the petition pasted below. By providing your name and email address, you will have signed it. Please forward the petition to as many people as you know.
Please protest Obama's resolve to engage in diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, giving it the legitimacy it craves to continue torturing and abusing its citizens in Evin Prison for at least 100 more years.

Please read the letter and then scroll down to click on "Click Here to Sign Petition"

http://www.petitiononline.com/upo27m09/petition.html
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by jaromematthew April 6, 2009 6:49 PM EDT
Good to see Anderson exposing what goes on in Iran. This issue of wrongful imprisonment and torture has affected me greatly as a Baha'i, one of the most oppressed minorities in Iran.

This persecution of Baha'is in Iran in their attempt to force them to recant their beliefs is a very unfortunate issue that perpetuates despite it's futility.

Baha'i artist Elika Mahony has released a song to help spread awareness of the suffering Baha'is in Iran face because of this issue. Find out more and download it on her blog post here:
http://www.elikamahony.com/2009/03/10/new-song-persecution-dedicated-to-bahais-in-iran/
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by hamidmkash April 6, 2009 5:22 PM EDT
Thank you 60 Minutes. It is about time for the American media to focus on the systematic human rights violations by the Islamic regime. 30 years of bloody rule by these thugs have to come to an end. This is how the Iraninan people are being kept under control. By toture and terror. The world needs to know the true nature of this regime and not be distracted by all the nuke talk. On the other hand imagine if these folks get their hand on the bomb. Are they going to treate the rest of the world better than their own people?!!
Thanks again and keep up the good work exposing the Islamic regime for what it truely is.
Hamid
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