Why we don’t see more genuine Muslim reformers, part 37,950: “Ayatollah Tortured, Near Death, in Iran for Criticizing Political Islam,” by Shadi Paveh for the Gatestone Institute, February 5 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
Ayatollah Hossein-Kazamani Boroujerdi, a senior member of the Shiite Muslim clergy, is presently serving the eighth year of an 11-year sentence handed down to him by the Islamic Republic’s courts for advocating the separation of state and religion inside Iran. He has also spoken against political Islam and its leaders. As a result, during his time in prison, he has been exposed to torture especially reserved for the Islamic Republic’s dissident clergy and political prisoners. Boroujerdi has endured the rape of his spouse in front of other family members. He has been purposely exposed to toxic chemical agents while kept in a small solitary cell. As a result, he now suffers permanent neurological damage, further aggravated by group beatings. Urgent medical attention has been systematically withheld for his long list of ailments, which are mostly a direct result of years of torture and malnutrition.
On September 29, 2013, for example, Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffered a heart attack in prison for which he was refused medical intervention. His condition has reportedly worsened as of January 28, 2014, when he had severe body tremors and was motionless for hours in his cell, where he presently remains with no medical care.
Possibly due to Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s prominence, the regime has apparently chosen not to execute him, but instead to kill him silently in prison. There were two failed attempts on his life by poisoning inside prison in 2012. His mother, detained at the same time, was also poisoned and died as a result. Previously, in November 2011, a prisoner on death row was told by the authorities that if he succeeded in killing Boroujerdi he would be set free. The attempt failed when other prisoners intervened.
To protest the violent crimes of political Islam in the Islamic Republic, Boroujerdi announced via audio tape from prison that: “I am not inclined anymore to wear this frock; this frock has no credit or value in Iran or the international community” and removed his clerical robes.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi descends from a long line of renowned Shiite clergy; both his father and grandfather were staunch opponents of religious leaders in politics. As a result, both of his parents, along with his brother, were killed by the authorities under mysterious circumstances, as is the regime’s custom.
Despite his critical medical condition in prison, he remains defiant and his spirit remains unbreakable: he has stated hopes that his case will serve as a strong indictment of the Islamic Republic’s despotic rule and unspeakable human rights violations.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi has risked losing his life slowly under torture by writing letters from inside prison to then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and to the United Nations, speaking of the absolute lack of freedom inside Iran, the grotesque human rights violations and the imminent danger of political Islam. Further, he recently urged people of Iran to boycott the so-called elections on June 14, 2013. As a direct result of this statement his tortures recommenced despite his extremely fragile medical condition….

fair_dinkum says
even within the school of thought, there is no room for actual thought.
i wouldnt say it usually, but this poor man. i feel for him. he has paid for his conscience dearly.
and they always react with the catch 22 (you call us violent, we kill you)
hes suffering exactly what he is protesting.
OT: Robert, we have a kidnapped army dog:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=589086204504528&set=vb.259773434102475&type=2&theater
http://www.news.com.au/world/taliban-claims-to-have-captured-gi-dog-named-colonel/story-fndir2ev-1226820303369
JamesonRocks says
Per CNN.com, this K-9 is from the “British Army.” So, what happened to the dog’s handler?
fair_dinkum says
and here mate: http://www.closeronline.co.uk/2014/02/emotional-images-of-colonel-the-military-service-dog-kidnapped-by-the-taliban-have-been-released
BLFer says
Here is a man that we truely should pray for.
Who will join me?
Salah says
I will.
Here we have another example of a decent Muslim following his conscience. The Holy Spirit is at work in this man’s heart…even if he doesn’t know it!
Egyptian Muslims tearing up the Qur’an.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2014/01/egyptian-muslims-tear-up-quran.html
CogitoErgoSum says
I don’t know what this man may have thought or done before his imprisonment but I have to admire his courage and strength of will. He sounds like a man of conscience and a seeker of the truth…one who may actually deserve to be called “martyr.” I feel great pity for him and pray that God has mercy upon his soul. I trust that his suffering will not be in vain and that it will serve to inspire others.
Bradamante says
I’m with you. I pray that God continue to give him strength, and give peace and healing to him and to his wife who was raped.
mortimer says
Muslims who demand SEPARATION of mosque and state end up being called HERETICS and then MURDERED!
Where are all the ‘MODERATE’ Muslims? Hiding.
Defcon 4 says
“Hiding” or supporting, either actively or passively, the actions of their more violent brethren? Do you really think islam0fascist terrorism is a for-profit business venture? Who do you think funds islam0fascist terrorism?
Bettina says
All this poor man wanted to do was skip over 1,400 years to bring Iran into the 21st Century! And all the more glory to him that he’s an actual cleric, swimming up against the stream. And this, after losing his own parents and brother to the insanity of those Islamic thugs!
They don’t get more heroic than that!!
Dick Bulova says
I think so. I’ve met many muslims and they all seem to be decent folks. But I never hear about the them or the imams in the mosques denouncing Islamofascism. Given the violent nature of the fanatics, it might be comparable to Germans under Hitler publicly denouncing Naziism.
London Jim says
A good man in a bad place and time. Here’s joining you in prayer that The Holy Spirit guard his soul from the darkness.
miriam rove says
seems there is a little hoe here.m
Truthseeker says
Greetings to All,
What a most powerful story!!
I will pray for his health and protection but acknowledge that he could well be laying down his life (possibly very quickly) to raise the standard of a better world and a much higher vision of consciousness.
That said, please consider….
– What is the power of truth the espouses?
– How quickly does his truth flash across the planet and immediately penetrate consciousnesses. (While admittedly I had not heard of him before, his story immediately won me over to his position.)
– How much are people around the World attracted to his perspectives vs. those of the Iranian authorities?
– While he has sacrificed his life has he already totally defeated his oppressors over time and as people increasingly examine the realities around them and visions of the future. Who could possibly be attracted and support the oppressor’s perspectives?
Respectfully yours, TS
Andre says
The faithful lol
Yes he is a decent man
But to say I’ll pray for him in this day and age the faithful make me sick seriously join the 21st century
God ? Seriously what a fantasy
Yes Islam no doubt is by far the worst of the lot and presents a major problem to the world , how disgusting in this day and age , religious zealots PISS OFF with your pure crap
I salute him from one human to another no doubt but I won’t join in and extend or perpetuate the fantasy of pray
What an insult to ones even basic inteigence
WAKE UP WORLD
drop religion and watch the world heal
CogitoErgoSum says
I’m sad to hear that prayer makes you sick, Andre. So telling someone to PISS OFF makes the world a better place for you? How nice. Sorry my belief in God insults your intelligence…which must be so much higher than my own. My belief in God and of a life after death brings me a great deal of comfort and gives some meaning to my current life. So what gives meaning to your life……your intelligence, your possessions, your personal charm? I hope you are fortunate enough to have a loving family that gives your life meaning. But you know, if you are also lucky enough (or some might say unlucky enough) to live a long life, all these things will fade away eventually and then what will you have…….what will you do? Think about it. I wish you well.
TruthSeeker says
An interesting question that someone has raised is…..
“What are the chances that a simple building can erupt out of the ground?”
If yes, please advise the science of this might happen?
If not, that would suggest that a builder is necessary? There is a need for “builder/creator of the universe”, even though this is a reality we might fully comprehend but which we see evidences of
Respectfully yours, TS
PJG says
I met a man the other day who went to great pains to tell me that he was more intelligent than religious people. He was like a dog with a bone. This seems to be the great atheists’ argument: we are clever, religious people are stupid.
So annoying. I compared him to perhaps the most intelligent person I know, the Anglican Mark Durie.
No comparison.
David says
Lebanese Muslim in custody here in Australia after marrying a 13 year old girl in Islamic wedding. What an advertisement for Islam being incompatible with the west this is. He met her in my home town of Newcastle, then moved to Sydney’s southwest where the Muslims are concentrated, along with the crime & shootings. A few years ago they tried to build a big mosque in Newcastle, it was rejected by the authorities & my home town breathed a sigh of relief. We have a small Muslim population here, & want to keep it that way.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lebanese-student-kept-in-custody-over-allegations-he-married-13yearold-girl-20140207-326kn.html
Charli Main says
This man´s indomitable courage and spirit seem to show that he is a true Persian, descended from the Persa, and not from the vermin from Mecca.
May God protect him and guide him back to the faith of his ancestors.
PJG says
I would not be surprised – especially given the number of Iranian converts to Christianity -in the West, where they are free, if he is not there already.
Docs357 says
This is a moving story it shows his determination to see his people free . It’s also a cry for help his letters to Clinton obviously were of no help it sickens me to see the lack of compassion in this administration. If they had their way such travestys would be common here.
I’ve never seen such inhumane treatment of people since Vietnam .
One thought keeps reacurring in my mind
RELIGION OF PEACE . This is truly the work of satanic forces Nimrods of sorts and they’re proud of it. This is the religion our president has chosen to follow. Very scary God have mercy on the USA
James P. Breslin says
Where is the world wide out rage? If this were a leftist in some anti-communist
country we would hear about it everyday. Has the left no shame?
anonsos says
I feel pity for this guy.. No matter what school of thought he is from, nobody deserves this kind of treatment in life..
I’m a follower of christ… I hope God protects this guy for wanting to reform his country.. But, with islam, their is no room for reform… So, I don’t know what this guy was thinking… Its not the peoples fault that are doing this to him.. Its what is mandated in Qu’ran.. They are just following their prophets words.. Or Satan’s words.. Either way.. They are all brainwashed from an early age..
I pray for this fella to pass quickly so as to stop the pain he and his family is going through…
MonkeyMadness says
Just felt to write that although this site seems a haven for rationally minded people, I am still at a loss to understand the duplicity in people.
Those that say “I will pray for…”. Well, what that actually means is you’re allaying your own conscience by kidding yourself you’re doing something when actually you’re doing absolutely nothing.
Let’s dump all these religious institutions with their fantasy Gods..do you not realise the Christian God is one of the most grotesque fictional characters ever conjured up by the human mind. Read your Bible. Then throw it away. Then read something with a bit more ethical and rational substance. You will then be aiding the cause rather than your one up-manship of “my god is better than yours”.
Bradamante says
We’re allaying our consciences by praying instead of doing something? Could you please give us the list of concrete actions you’re taking, so we can see what all there is to be done in this case?
CogitoErgoSum says
I’m curious as to how you know that the Christian God is fictional. I’m also curious to know which books you suggest that I read with “a bit more ethical and rational substance.” Not trying to trick you or to be cute…….just curious as to your answer. I wish you peace always.
duh_swami says
Leave these religious people alone atheists. You give atheism a bad name.
Iran…Wild animals have better behavior. Mans inhumanity to man rules the Islam world.
The Aton says
Islam was born as a protection racket, and continues as a protection racket.
Just like the Chicago mob, they demand the Jizya protection tax, and if you criticise the mob, you are terminated. It is a very simplistic and very successful methodology – keep the people in fear, and keep them paying the organisation.
Fortunately, the Chicago mob was nipped in the bud, before it went global. Unfortunately, islam took on a cloak of religion, enjoyed many rights as such, and went global with a sword at its side.
bikeboy says
Let the time of Radical Islam end, let the time of good Muslims begin, those that question the rhetoric that makes no sense other than violence. It is time.
voegelinian says
It’s dismaying that all these Jihad Watchers, on the basis of slim evidence of a Muslim Ayatollah being tortured for protesting “political Islam” are suddenly treating him as a friend and not our enemy.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s father was also a cleric, and was also according to Bouroujerdi himself possibly assassinated by the Iranian regime. Does that make his father a good guy? Let’s see:
“Under Reza Shah [i.e., the Shah in pre-1979 Iran], Muhammad Hossein Broroujerdi [Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s father], the cleric who held undisputed authority as leader of the Shiite community, explicitly asked the shah to demolish the Bahai temples and prevent the faith’s members from gathering or being employed by the government.”
http://www.sssup.it/UploadDocs/4687_12_A_Apocalyptic_Politics_On_the_Rationality_of_Iranian_Policy__Mehdi_Khalaji_01.pdf
CogitoErgoSum says
So the son shall be condemned for the sins of his father? You are a tough man (or woman), Voegelinian. As I said above, I’m not sure what this man did before his imprisonment but I admire his strength and courage. I don’t think any human being should be put through what he has undergone. I don’t know what is in his heart now but , yes, I do pray that he is coming to find the right track on his journey through this life and I do feel pity for him. Now….that is being too soft for you?
voegelinian says
Trusting an Ayatollah as our friend just because he’s being tortured by other Muslims is reasonable? What planet am I on?
CogitoErgoSum says
I assume you are on planet Earth but I’m not really sure. You may want to re-read my posts. I never said anything about trusting anybody due to torture by Muslims. But think what you wish. I respect your freedom to live in your own world……on whatever planet it may be.
dumbledoresarmy says
He is no threat to us where he is. And *I’m* not identifying him as a ‘friend’. I’m merely praying for his *redemption*; as I am commanded to do. Orthodox Christians pray for their enemies: the liturgy tells us to pray for their *repentance* – “and turn their hearts”.
There is no harm whatsoever in spending a minute or two praying that the sovereign grace of God – in whom you, of course, do not believe in any sense that any traditional Christian would even begin to recognise – may enter into the deep darkness of the Pit where this man now sits, exorcise the demon allah from him, and recreate his humanity. Such prayers do not sap our energies one iota.
Daniel Shayesteh was a jihadist, once.
Daniel Shayesteh was subjected to similar mistreatment, while still a professing Muslim.
Daniel Shayesteh fled from Iran, went to Turkey, encountered Christians and…apostasised. Now he is busy warning the ground-level pentecostal/ evangelical churches about the danger of Islam. Just Islam. He doesn’t mess around. He tells it straight. He is talking to a whole swathe of western society that probably isn’t here at jihadwatch.
‘Mark Gabriel’, author of “Islam and Terrorism”, went through a similar process, in Egypt. He was *lecturing at Al Azhar*. He ran afoul of the sharia vigilantes (this under Moubarak). He was tortured (at a time when he still called himself a Muslim). And in extremis he encountered..something else. A something else that niggled at him until in the end, when he got hold of a copy of the Gospels and read it, he underwent what one would call a combination deprogramming/ exorcism and reorientation.
And his books, too, are circulating…and warning people and waking them up.
I don’t believe there is any harm done at all, by praying for this person to encounter the divine light – the light that you, of course, have no particular belief in, because – if I understand previious postings by you correctly – you do not and will not and cannot believe it’s a Person who calls by name *every single human being who has ever been created or will be created, which includes those unlucky enough to be born to parents and in countries deep within the dar al Islam*.
voegelinian says
You would also pray for Hitler’s redemption, too. So what relevance does all this post-Tridentine evangelical gushing have for the main objective of this website?
Proximis says
I really do not know which is worse: this atrocity, or all of the beautiful descriptions of Islam that abound cyberspace, public schools, etc. They seem especially more evil after reading of accounts like this one.
Mackelby says
He is a muzlim, nobody cares.
Defcon 4 says
Yep, I almost cared, but then it passed.
gravenimage says
Iran: Ayatollah tortured and near death for criticizing political Islam
……………………..
Islam eats its own…
Among other things, he’s been charged with “waging war against God”. All this goes to show that there is no separation of Mosque and state under Shari’ah.
dumbledoresarmy says
Above, Hesperado/ Lemonlime/ Voegilinian sneered at me for, apparently, indulging in “Post-Tridentine evangelical gushing”, merely because I stated that I did not believe it to be a waste of time to utter a prayer or two for this man’s repentance and conversion, and explained why. Am I not allowed to do so?
Lemonlime/ Voegelinian is not the arbiter of what I, a practising Christian, am allowed to do and not do, say and not say, and pray for or not pray for.
He sneered at me, “You would pray for Hitler’s redemption too”.
No: because Hitler is dead and I leave his judgement to God. So far as I *know* Hitler wilfully chose damnation all the way to his last breath and God gave him what he chose.
On the other hand, *this* man in Iran is still alive. His redemption is, humanly speaking, very unlikely. But not I think absolutely impossible.
I think it quite likely, by the way, that there were Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, *during the time that Hitler was alive*, who – seeing perfectly well that he was a very evil man, doing evil things – prayed not for his immediate destruction and damnation, but for his repentance and salvation. And they would have done so even while also praying for the swift and total defeat of his armies.
In any case, I spend quite a lot of time praying for *other* people who are in prison in Iran: Christians like Saeed Abedini, and a whole lot of others who *have* apostasised from Islam and are now suffering for their faith; and since, as per the *scriptural* instructions, right there in the Gospels, they would be praying for the repentance of their persecutors, I don’t see why I am not allowed to join my prayers with theirs.
Elsp says
God have mercy on him. May his search for truth lead to the one and only truth-Christ Jesus!