Court of "Iranian Protesters" and Court of "American Protesters"

Sadiq Zibakalam

Simultaneously with the death of the late "Javad Rouhi", one of the defendants of the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests in Surrey, the court of two of the defendants of the January 2020 protests in favor of Mr. "Donald Trump" after the announcement of the election results and Mr. Trump's defeat, to government institutions had attacked, it was announced. They were sentenced to ten and nineteen years in prison. The charge of "Javad Rouhi" and the American protestors were similar to each other. All three had started street protests during the protests against the ruling systems of their countries. However, a look at the way their courts are held shows the fundamental differences in the judicial system in the two countries of Iran and the United States.

The trial of the American defendants was held in public with the presence of journalists and selected lawyers of the defendants. There were no signs of injury on the accused. Neither they nor their lawyers had any complaints about mistreatment of them during their detention. Their accusations were very specific and clear. In addition, some videos of their actions and speeches during the protests were attached to their files. The defendants and their lawyers were given enough time to respond to the accusations brought against them by the prosecutor in front of reporters and spectators.

Most important was the presence of the jury. At the end of hours of trial and listening to the words of the prosecutor, the defendants and their lawyers, in addition to the witnesses, the jury (not the judge) declared the defendants guilty and the judge then issued their sentences.

Were the accusations of "Javad Rouhi" clear? Was his trial public? Was his chosen defense lawyer able to defend him? Did "Javad Rouhi" accept the charges in court? Basically, what were the prosecutor's evidences that "Javad Rouhi" was sentenced to death three times for committing the crimes? Was "Javad Rouhi" mistreated during his detention? And lastly and most importantly, was the jury present in the "Javad Rouhi" court to be convinced that the accused committed the charges that the prosecutor says?

Democracy is not only about free elections and freedom of speech. "The rule of law" and "punishment of the accused according to the law", and not the report of the security institutions, are among the most basic foundations of democracy.