Unjust Accusations and Inhumane Treatment: The Darvish Family's Ordeal Under the Islamic Republic of Iran

Unjust Accusations and Inhumane Treatment: The Darvish Family's Ordeal Under the Islamic Republic of Iran

By Babak Darvish

In the annals of history, there are tales of injustice and cruelty that leave a lasting scar on the collective conscience. The story of Khalil (Shoja) Darvish and Mohandes Esfandiar Darvish is one such narrative, an agonizing account of false accusations and inhumane treatment at the hands of the Islamic Government of Iran and its formidable Supreme Court Attorney, Mr. Rishahri, infamously known as the "executioner."

**A Courtroom Drama Unfolds**

The stage was set in the year 1982, on a fateful Sunday in March (5 Farvardin, 1361), as a group of political and supplier agents involved in the ill-fated coup d'état of Tir 59 (Nojeh) faced trial. This trial, presided over by Hojat-ol-Islam Ri Shahri, unfolded in the first branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Military. Among the nine previously accused individuals, four more names were added to the list of the accused:

1. Esfandiar Darvish, the political advisor to the fugitive President Bani-Sader.

2. Hossein Bam Rafia, a civilian.

3. Mohammad Bahrami, another civilian.

4. Golam Ali Varasteh Poor, a retired Colonel from the Traffic Department.

The court session commenced with the solemn reading of Quranic verses, setting the tone for what would transpire next.

**The Accusations Against Khalil Darvish (Shoja)**

The heart of the matter lay in the charges brought against Khalil Darvish, known as Shoja. Born in 1327 (Shamsy-Ghamary), a resident of Noshahr, a high school graduate, married with children, and devoid of any prior criminal record, he found himself facing grave allegations. He was accused of playing a pivotal role in the "unsuccessful Coup D'état," particularly in the procurement of arms and ammunition for the coup agents and the takeover of the Radio and TV station of the Islamic Republic. It was alleged that he had associated with coup agents and may have been involved in Bani Sader's escape plan. Another accusation pointed at his supposed misuse of the Mostazafan Foundation.

The charges outlined in this document were presented by Mr. Rishahri, the Supreme Court Attorney notorious for accusing, sentencing, and ordering the execution of numerous innocent Iranian youths. These young souls endured unspeakable tortures that harked back to the darkest days of medieval practices.

**A Family's Tragic Odyssey**

The Darvish family's ordeal extended beyond Khalil (Shoja) and Esfandiar. On September 25th, 1982, the same year Khalil (Shoja) met his tragic end, the Islamic Government of Iran arrested Pahlavan (Champion) Jafar Darvish, the patriarch of the family, on charges of political treason. His crime? Failing to prevent his sons from plotting against the government. Jafar Khan paid a grievous price, languishing in political prison for six agonizing years while enduring barbaric and inhumane tortures that evoked comparisons to the dark ages of Europe.

Both Pahlavan Jafar Darvish and his son Esfandiar were imprisoned for roughly six years, subjected to the cruelest forms of brutality. The torment they endured defied all notions of humanity.

**The Enigma of Khalil (Shoja) Darvish's Fate**

Khalil (Shoja) Darvish, the champion of this heart-wrenching narrative, found himself incarcerated in a political prison. His suffering was so severe that the Islamic government chose not to return his lifeless body to his grieving parents. Instead, they informed Champion Shoja's parents that he had been laid to rest in a grave in Behesht Zahra. To add to this tragedy, they callously demanded payment for the bullet used to end his life. To this day, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery, as his family never had the chance to bid a proper farewell.

**A Glimpse into Widespread Atrocities**

The harrowing tale of the Darvish family is but a small window into the extensive catalogue of crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hundreds of thousands of individuals, both young and old, have been subjected to torture, rape, and execution. This oppressive regime, following the establishment of the Islamic Revolutionary Government, left no stone unturned in its quest to arrest, torture, and execute any Iranian deemed nationalistic, strong, educated, or affluent, all in a bid to eliminate potential opposition.

Simultaneously, they embarked on a campaign of systematic indoctrination, keeping the masses secluded in prayer and religious fervor, effectively shielding them from the harsh realities of the world.

The Darvish family's story stands as a poignant testament to the enduring human spirit in the face of the darkest of adversities. Their suffering, alongside that of countless others, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice, human rights, and the unyielding resolve to expose and condemn atrocities wherever they may occur.