The description below is intended to be a brief sketch of how the Iran Tribunal campaign was operated from the very beginning of the campaign in September 2007 until the end of the two stages of the proceedings in 2012.
The working Groups
Various groups and people´s networks were formed in many countries, carrying out extensive operational and preparatory tasks, as well as dealing with publicity and fund-raising for the campaign. These committees and groups composed mainly of the family members of the executed prisoners and the survivors of the 1980s massacre from across the globe.
In addition international working groups were formed, the number of which- throughout the campaign- was affected by the increase or decrease in the number of campaign volunteers and members as well as the number of regional working groups.
The list of Iran Tribunal’s working groups and committees; since its formation are as follows:
General Meeting, Co-ordination Committee, ‘Spokesperson’ (PR) Committee, Media & Publicity Group, Finance Committee, Preparation Committee, Translation, Editorial Committee, Web Design Team, Social Media Outlet Team, Accounting & Banking, International Legal Steering Committee, Regional Working Groups, International Committee, Executive Committee, the Truth Commission, Legal Team (in charge of management of the hearings and organization and preparation of legal documents, Prosecution team and the Iran Tribunal Panel of Judges.
The structure of working groups and its active members between the two stages of the proceedings:
- Co-ordination Committee:Behrooz Pertow (political activist and responsible for the Campaign´s working group in Sweden), Ardavan Zibaram ( former political prisoner and responsible for Campaign´s working group in Canada), Sahar Mohammadi (family member of four executed political prisoners and responsible for the Campaign´s working group in Germany), Leila Ghalebani (Sister of two executed political prisoners), Babak Emad (former political prisoner and International Co-coordinator of the campaign), Payvand Bashkandi (former political prisoner), Roya Ashrafabadi (sister of an executed political prisoner and Campaign co-ordinator in Switzerland), Jamshid Paydari (Former political prisoner and responsible for the campaign´s working group in United kingdom), Balouch (Political activist and responsible for the Campaign´s working group in Denmark) Roya Rezaei Jahromi (sister of 4 executed political prisoners).
- Spokespersons:Behrooz Pertow, Peyvand Bashkandi, Sahar Mohammadi, Ardavan Zibaram, Roya Ashrafabadi, Akram Biramvand (former political prisoner and familymember of an executed political prisoner), Ahmad Mousavi (former political prisoner), Iraj Mesdaghi (former political prisoner), Farid Daneshian (former political prisoner), Leila Ghalebani.
- Publicity Committee: Nima Sarvestani (documentary maker and brother of an executed political prisoner), Sahar Mohammadi, Masoud Jaberi (political activist and family member of an executed political). Behrooz Pertow, Sousan Golmohammadi (former political prisoner and wife of an execute political prisoner), Sousan Bahar (Children’s’ rights activist), Mersedeh Ghaedi (former political prisoner and family member of three executed political prisoner), Mehdi Memarpouri (activist and former political prisoner), Ali Damavandi (political activist and brother of an executed political prisoner), Leila Ghalebani, Ardavan Zibaram, Khatereh Moini ( sister of an executed political prisoner), Neda Farokh(human rights activist) Farshid Arian (political activist and theatrical actor), Hedieh Shamsi (daughter of an executed political prisoner), Akram Biramvand, Kaveh Holland (political activist), Rouzbeh Bayat (political activist), Saman Dory(political activist).
- Finance Committee: Kambiz Kafi (family member of an executed political prisoner), Vida Rostamalipour (wife and sister of two executed political prisoners), Bahram Mohseni (brother an executed political prisoner), Asghar Barsang (political activist), Amir Niloo (human right activist), Jamshid Paydari, Roya Ashrafabadi, Roya Rezaei Jahromi, Khatereh Moini, Balouch, Rouzbeh Bayat, Leila Ghalebani, Babak Azarakhsh (political activist and student activist), Sahar Nikou ( sister of an executed political prisoner).
- Media Group: Maryam Chitgar (journalist and her father was assassinated by the agents of IRI), Nima Sarvestani, Leo Gleeland (cameraman), Rahim Karimi (cameraman), Saeed Afshar (radio presenter and brother of an executed political prisoner), Mostafa Heravi (cameraman), Ali Damavandi , Behzad, Mehdi Memarpour, Amir Nilou, Sahar Mohammadi, Hedieh Shamsi, Farshid Fani.
- The Translation Team (1): This team was responsible for compiling the written testimonials of the London Truth Commission’s witnesses. This took place under the guidance of Dr. Nancy Hormachea and support from Nasser Rahmaninejad, as well as some numbers of supporters of the campaign in California.
- Translation team (2): This team consisted of Dariosh Afshar, Pardis Shafafi, Maral Shafafy, Sara Khan and Maryam Chitgar. They were put together in order to help the media team with the transcription of video footage from the first phase of the Tribunal.
- Accounting:Bahram Mohseni, Kambiz Kaafi and Babak Emad.
- Banking:Farid Daneshian, Vida Rostamalipour, Dariosh Afshar, Jamshid Payedari, Bahram Mohseni
- Social Media Outlet Team (Facebook and Twitter): Saman Dory, Basi Shameri, Amir Niloo, Roya Ashrafabadi, Bethan Halls (British Journalist).
- International Legal Steering Committee:John Cooper (Professor of Criminal Law, The United Kingdom), Richard Falk (Professor of International Law, The United States of America), Kader Asmal (Professor of International Law, South Africa), Eric David (Professor of International Criminal Law, Belguim), Sir Geoffrey Nice (Professor of Law, The United Kingdom), Payam Akhavan (Professor of International Law, Canada), Nancy Hormachea (Doctor of Law, The United States of America), Hedayat Matine-Daftary (Doctor of Law, France), Hamid Sabi (Lawyer, The UK).
- Executive Committee: Babak Emad, Hamid Sabi, Mina Siegel, Nafisah Hussein (Law Student, The United Kingdom), Natalia Poliakova (human right activist, The United Kingdom).
- The Truth Commission:Eric David (Professor of International Criminal Law, Belgium), Maria Louise Asmal (writer and anti-apartheid activist, South Africa), Daniel Turp (Professor of law, Canada), Anne Burley (Human Rights Researcher, New Zealand), Maurice Copithorne (Professor of International Law, Canada), William Schabas (Professor of Criminal Law and Human Rights in Ireland).
- Legal Team (Truth Commission-London):Hamid Sabi, Eylon Aslan-Levy (Philosophy, Politics and Economics student), Nafisah Hussein (Law student).
During the first stage of the hearings in London Mr Hamid Sabi acted as a consultant to the Truth Commission. His two young assistants Mr Eylon Aslan-Levy and Ms Nafisah Hussein– acted in the capacity of clerks toTruth Commission.
After the unfortunate death of Professor Kader Asmal (d. June 2011), Mr. Hamid Sabi joined the steering committee, which now consisted of eight members.
The Tribunal also sought assistance from Anie Begum, Anna Philipprova, Benjamin Aaron, Francesca Lily Marguerite Gage, Gillian McCall, Jiachao Xie, Nagham Al-Turaihi, Pegah Tamkinfard, Saad J Karim, Sandeep Channa, Sonia Mashiana¸ Tara Sabi, Valentina Emiliucci, Zeinab Harb, Ameer Kotecha- thesixteen law students of The College of London and Tara Sabi, Sharis Sabi, Ramin Sabi and Kasra Sarikhani, who worked voluntarily in preparation and organization of the hearing, documentation and provided technical support.
- Panel of judges, The Iran Tribunal (The Hague):the honourable judges: Johann Kriegler (renowned South African judge), Michael Mansfield (Professor of Law, United Kingdom), Margaret Ratner-Kunstler (renowned American lawyer), Patricia Sellers (Professor and specialist of International Criminal Law, USA), John Dugard (Professor of International Law, South Africa), Makau Mutua (Professor of International and Human Rights Law, Kenya).
- Prosecution Team:Payam Akhavan (Professor of International Law, Canada), Nancy Hormachea (Doctor of Law, USA), Mojdeh Shahriari (Lawyer, Canada), John Cooper QC (Professor of Criminal Law, UK), Kaveh Shahrooz (Lawyer, Canada), Sir Geoffrey Nice QC (Professor of Law, UK), Gissou Nia (Lawyer, USA).
- Legal Team (The Hague):Hamid Sabi (Lawyer), Sara Khan (Graduate of Law), Pardis Shafafi (Researcher and Doctoral Candidate of Anthropology), Maral Shafafy (Student of Law).
With this in mind the supporters of the Iran Tribunal in Toronto and California must be accounted for as they, through spontaneous collaboration, formed two social outlets which raised funds for the second stage of The Tribunal.
The Iran Tribunal Working Groups after the Hague Hearing
19. In addition to the above-mentioned working groups and committees, two working groups were formed to carry out the remaining tasks from both stages of The Tribunal in December 2012.
The first group, under the supervision of Fatan Jokar and with the assistance of Mehdi Tashkand and Asghar Barsang, are responsible for the transcription of the testimonies from the London stage.
The second group, under the supervision of Nina Toobai and with the assistance of seven individuals from the supporters of the Iran Tribunal in Toronto and Vancouver, were responsible for the preparation and translation of the Truth Commission Report and testimonies given during the Truth Commission sessions in London.
20. In addition to the above-mentioned two working groups, a collection of Individual and team efforts carried out by Hamid Sabi, Babak Emad, Sara Khan, Pardis Shafafi and Maral Shafafy, preparing and translating the court’s verdict into Farsi, editing the court’s transcripts and witness statements, should be recognised. Pardis Shafafi is leading this group. Due to the large amount of works, Nina Tobaei, Nasser Rahmani Nejad, JonathanTracy and Maraym Chitgar joined the group in November and December 2014. They are in charge of translating the court documents, discussions and similar papers – altogether over 300 pages in length.
21- All the witnesses, including families and political prisoners, are activists and supporters of the tribunal. During the past years they all have participated in the development and the activities of the Campaign based on their ability. By coming together and through financial contributions they have helped the campaign to move forward. They created a new and important chapter in the history of the Iranian people’s struggle for justice. They wrote a history – something that has never been accomplished before!
They created a kind of people´s campaign that almost all of the activities are carried out voluntarily and on pro bono basis, and all are directly involved in activities of the campaign – from developing to decision making.
Iran Tribunal adopted a new structure and new constitution in June 2013.