Hoder's appeal denied

June 8, 2011 6:15 PM

Mefi's own Hoder, Hossein Derakhshan's appeal denied.

From the Facebook group:

"Dear all, as recently posted by Hamed, Hossein's brother, the judge rejected Hossein's appeal and confirmed the 19.5-year sentence. The lawyer will now file for the Supreme Court. But we all know this is not only a judiciary matter - politics play a greater role in Hossein's future. Thanks to keep on spreading the news about Hossein's situation - especially to put pressure on Canadian authorities which remain dead silent since Hossein's arrest in November 2008."

posted by IndigoRain to MetaFilter-Related at 6:15 PM (33 comments total)

.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 6:17 PM on June 8, 2011

That's terrible news. I'm so sorry to hear about this. I don't know what else to say, but thanks Indigo for keeping us updated.
posted by marsha56 at 6:36 PM on June 8, 2011 [5 favorites]

What's the background on this? Where is he? What was he convicted of?
posted by octothorpe at 6:48 PM on June 8, 2011

What's the background on this? Where is he? What was he convicted of?

Check the hoder tag in the upper right corner of this page.
posted by jedicus at 6:50 PM on June 8, 2011 [2 favorites]

The good news here, if there is any: there is no way that the current regime will last for 19.5 years.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:56 PM on June 8, 2011 [4 favorites]

This is awful.
posted by rtha at 7:07 PM on June 8, 2011

There's a page about him on the MeFi Wiki, though it mostly just links to the threads in which developments were reported.
posted by Gator at 7:07 PM on June 8, 2011

"especially to put pressure on Canadian authorities which remain dead silent since Hossein's arrest in November 2008"

This is unlikely to change until "the Harper Government" is replaced.
posted by Mitheral at 7:19 PM on June 8, 2011

I wrote Harper a letter. I thought of writing a few to various Iranian authorities, but I feel that would do more harm than good (being a westerner).

I have a few Canadian friends. They hadn't even heard of Hoder.

I'd do more if anyone has some suggestions that are practical.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:34 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

This is awful.

The good news here, if there is any: there is no way that the current regime will last for 19.5 years.

I remember saying that in the 80's then the 90's, and then during the last "green" protests a bit back. "There's no way these guys can last." Unfortunately, I suspect that the only way this regime goes down is if the Iranian youth are willing to spill enough blood to make it happen. So far it hasn't come to it.
posted by drpynchon at 8:11 PM on June 8, 2011 [3 favorites]

This is heartbreaking. I think about Hoder often and continue to pray for his safety.
posted by 26.2 at 8:37 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'd do more if anyone has some suggestions that are practical.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:34 PM on June 8 [+] [!]

for real. what can we do?
posted by sweetkid at 9:00 PM on June 8, 2011

it's time to make noise.
posted by clavdivs at 9:02 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

Thanks to keep on spreading the news about Hossein's situation - especially to put pressure on Canadian authorities which remain dead silent since Hossein's arrest in November 2008."

The Canadian government has barely any consular staff in Iran. Back in Canada, it's not a file that any government employee wants to touch - Iran is radioactive.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:07 PM on June 8, 2011

I remember reading that someone posted bail for him, and he was out for at least a few days. I assumed he would go underground. Is this being done in absentia, or is he back in their custody?
posted by Houstonian at 3:02 AM on June 9, 2011

Not good.
posted by klausness at 3:29 AM on June 9, 2011

for real. what can we do?

There's plenty of stuff you can do in this situation to make yourself feel better...but when it comes down to stuff that will actually HELP the situation, I think you're out of luck.

Unless you have experience or means to break someone out of a foreign prison.

Its a damn shame...but this dude is SOL.
posted by hal_c_on at 4:40 AM on June 9, 2011

I remember reading that someone posted bail for him, and he was out for at least a few days. I assumed he would go underground. Is this being done in absentia, or is he back in their custody?

I would think that he'd be under close supervision while being allowed to visit with his family. Besides, since his family live in Iran, it might make him reluctant to flee for fear of what the authorities might do to his loved ones. From the articles quoted in the Wikipedia article on him, it looks as if his family is under pressure and threats of arrest themselves even with Hoder in custody.
posted by aught at 5:32 AM on June 9, 2011

Houstonian: I remember reading that someone posted bail for him, and he was out for at least a few days. I assumed he would go underground. Is this being done in absentia, or is he back in their custody

He got out, complied with constraints of his leave, and returned to prison awaiting this appeal. Which has now been denied. So, failing successful diplomatic pressure or a regime change, he's in custody for the next 19 years. The Canadian government doesn't seem very interested in helping him, but a change in government there might be worth a renewed effort in the future.

I think about Hoder all the time. The worst case scenario is this one: he really remains incarcerated for the next two decades. There doesn't seem to be very much that people who want Hoder to know he hasn't been forgotten can do. The Red Cross in Iran is not going to be much help and we can't exactly write to him and send him care packages.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:36 AM on June 9, 2011

Damn. You are not forgotten, Hoder.
posted by cashman at 6:47 AM on June 9, 2011

Here is a wordpress page about Hoder which I think is written or contributed to by his sister. It's in Persian and google translate is not all that helpful.
Do we have a mefite Persian speaker/ reader.?
I think one of the most practical things to be done is to let Hoder know that there is an outside support system to know that he is not forgotten.This could be relayed to him by his family. Is it possible to get books to him? We are not going to be able to "spring" him but we should be able to help somewhere in the background with little things which make a big difference as well as make sure that he does not evaporate into the memory hole.
posted by adamvasco at 8:36 AM on June 9, 2011

Contact page for Amnesty International in Canada and in USA.
posted by adamvasco at 8:44 AM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Damn it.

Thank you IndigoRain, for keeping us updated.

adamvasco, the Free Hossein Derakhshan page on Facebook was mentioned but not linked in the FPP. Members of his family (specifically his brother Hamed and his sister) weigh in there from time to time. There is a petition for his release which can be signed here. The last time that link was posted in MeTa, many of us signed it.

Also see Iranian-American journalist Cyrus Farivar's blog for infrequent updates.
posted by zarq at 8:46 AM on June 9, 2011

octothorpe: "What's the background on this? Where is he? What was he convicted of?"

I posted this to the Blue last year around this time.
posted by zarq at 8:48 AM on June 9, 2011

Terrible, terrible news.

Stay strong, Hoder. Not that you can read this, but stay strong.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 9:06 AM on June 9, 2011

What happened to freetheblogfather.com?
posted by Shepherd at 9:10 AM on June 9, 2011

Shepherd: "What happened to freetheblogfather.com?"

It became freetheblogfather.org
posted by zarq at 9:17 AM on June 9, 2011

:(
posted by nile_red at 12:08 PM on June 9, 2011

hal_c_on: There's plenty of stuff you can do in this situation to make yourself feel better...but when it comes down to stuff that will actually HELP the situation, I think you're out of luck.

adamvasco: I think one of the most practical things to be done is to let Hoder know that there is an outside support system to know that he is not forgotten.

I think both of these things are simultaneously true. I've been percolating ideas pending the outcome of this last appeal, and since hearing today that it was denied, I went ahead and put together Letters to Hoder today. I've posted it to MeFi projects and presumably it will turn up there in due course.

It's not much and it isn't enough, but doing nothing isn't enough either.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:06 PM on June 9, 2011

adamvasco: "Here is a wordpress page about Hoder which I think is written or contributed to by his sister. It's in Persian and google translate is not all that helpful.
Do we have a mefite Persian speaker/ reader.?"

It was last updated April 5. It's about spending Noruz, the Persian New Year, with his family.

"After ten years, Noruz with the family

Thank God, after such a long time, this year Hossein was at home with us for the Noruz holiday.
It's been ten years since the last time he's spent the holiday with us.
Two years ago, he was also in Iran, in prison.
Sunday night, the 29th of Esfand, he came, and Saturday morning, the 6th of Farvardin, he left. [Iranian calendar - March 20-26]
Monday night, the 8th of Farvardin [March 28], they granted him leave again and he was with us until midday on the 14th of Farvardin [April 3], when he returned to prison.
After two years and four months, this was the best holiday we've had."
posted by Gordafarin at 2:27 PM on June 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

MeFi Projects.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:49 PM on June 10, 2011 [5 favorites]

I saw this today, which contains a link to a recent post from Hoder's sister after the news that his appeal was turned down. A bit is translated in the first link there:

Twenty years ... When God forgives his creatures and accepts their repentance, why can't God’s creatures forgive Hossein? No one listened to what Hossein had to say. No one wanted to hear his defense. God, please rescue him.

Unbearable.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:32 AM on June 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

So where are all your letters? maybe you forgot to post them.
posted by adamvasco at 5:22 AM on June 18, 2011