Iranian Political Prisoners Association - انجمن زندانیان سیاسی

Names and particulars of those killed in recent clashes in Tehran

2009-07-07T21:42:00.000+04:30

1- Mohammad Hossein Barzegar: killed by a bullet shot to the head

2- Seyed Reza Tabatabaii 35, with a degree in accountancy killed by a bullet shot to the head

3-Iman Hashemi 27, Killed by a bullet shot to the eye

4- Parisa Kali 25, post graduate of Omran killed by a bullet shot to the chest

5-Mohsen Haddadi 24, ITC engineer, killed by a bullet shot to the forehead,

6-Mohammad Nikzad 22, post graduate of Omran killed by a bullet shot to the chest

7- Ali Shahedi 24, murdered after arrest and transfer to TehranPars police station. According to the government post-mortem examination the reason for death is unclear by his parents insist that his death followed extensive beatings he received by baton in the police station.

8- Vahed Ajbari 34, killed by a bullet shot to the waist.

9-Abolfaz Abdollahi 21, killed by a bullet to the back of the head

10-Salar Tahmasebi 27, post graduate student of Commerce Management, killed by a bullet shot to the forehead

11-Fahimeh Salahshoor 25, Killed by internal bleeding of the head after bean beaten by baton in Vali Asr square.

12- Vahid Reza Tabatabaii 29, decree in languages, killed by a bullet shot to the head

13- Kianoosh Asa post graduate of science and Technology University in Chemistry.

His memorial was held despite harassments and threats posed by Intelligence Ministry and government thugs, by his class mates and family and his towns men and women as a gesture to continue his way.

According to reports, Intelligence Ministry allows only those buried who comply with the Ministries' conditions. These conditions include:

"Conducting the burial with out anyone knowing bout it and with only the presence of the next-to -kin", "No slogans or speeches to be herd in during the burial", "No reasons to be given on the tomb stone for the death" . The body of those killed have there fore been delivered to the families in discrete.

The latter is only a partial list of those killed by the so called security forces and plain clothes agents of the Iranian regime.

This is while Iranian officials have officially announced only 20 deaths in the recent clashes. Independent sources report a much higher statistic.

Open letter of imprisoned student to Head of Iranian Judiciary

2009-06-07T00:24:00.003+04:30

Lotfollah Poor Abdollah, in an open letter to Shahroudi has demanded for the basic Legal Rights of his son, Mohammad Poor Abdollah, who has been detained arbitrarily for the past 100 days.

According to Mr. Poor Abdollah this is the second letter in a row that he has written to the Judiciary head, demanding a meeting over his sons' situation but in vain.

Parts of this letter read;
It is now 40 days that Mohammad Poor Abdollah has been isolated in solitary confinement and the rest of those arrested simultaneously sent to Ghezel Hessar prison. Of course it is evident that detaining a suspect in solitary confinement under such conditions is –according to International Covenants of Human Rights – equivalent to "torture".

Recently you have been quoted in news media to have said "Prison is not to be used for revenge, torture and obtaining confessions".

How is it then that my son, who is only a student, has been kept in solitary confinement for 40 days? I have no doubt that you are aware how suspects are treated and looked after in solitary confinements to be forced into confessions.

In a separate speech you claimed: "If some one is imprisoned, his or her family would be under severe strain, and they should be cared for".

How is it then that;
-After one month of interrogation, only because my son refused to sign the proposed official testimony his temporary detention has been re-instigated, and he has been ordered transfer to Ghezel Hessar prison

-According to Mr.Mandegars'(Deputy Head of Judiciary) specific orders, he is not allowed to bail out for any amount after which his case has been transferred to the Court.

This action surely is to elongate the prison term of my innocent son and torment his family.

In view of the latter and considering that it is now 100 days that my son is in prison, rejecting the right to bail, and keeping a student in a ward of criminals intercepted for heavy and dangerous crimes and addiction, is not taking revenge and torture"?

Do you not think that these illegal actions are in contradiction to your comments and beliefs and the Judiciary system?

I ask your honor to order the review of my sons' innocence in order to pave the way for his freedom.

Letter to the Head of the Judiciary to Release Osanloo

2009-06-02T09:49:00.002+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi ShahroudiHowzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaieh / Office of the Head of the JudiciaryEmail: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
1 June 2009
——
Your Excellency,
I am writing on behalf of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran to express our alarm about threats to the health and safety of imprisoned labor leader Mansour Osanloo, and to appeal urgently for your intervention.

We are seriously concerned for Mr. Osanloo’s life. He is held in Rajaiee Shahr prison, in Karaj, along with violent criminals who have threatened his life. He could die as a result of such attacks and ensuing mayhem. He should not be held under such dangerous circumstances. Furthermore, having served more than half of his prison term, the Iranian laws allow for his release, which we urge you to immediately implement.

Mr. Osanloo has been violently attacked twice in the past 10 days. On 19 May 2009, he was assaulted by a group of prisoners, and only escaped harm by being defended by others. On 30 May 2009, Osanloo’s life was threatened by Morteza Lak Tabrizi, one of the violent criminals with whom he is currently confined. While other prisoners managed to pull away Lak Tabrizi, he threatened Osanloo by repeatedly screaming, “I will have you cut into pieces with a knife.” We understand Lak Tabrizi is one of the most dangerous criminals inside Iranian prisons. Holding Osanloo in his proximity and exposing him to such threats only exacerbates our concerns.

Osanloo’s aging mother and his wife are also in vulnerable situations, witnessing how his life is threatened inside prison and his health deteriorating. They have made several attempts to submit a letter to your office but your staff refused to accept their petition addressed to you, treated them rudely, and ignoring their submission, they were expelled from the premises.

Osanloo’s health situation has been deteriorating for many months. Numerous human rights and labor organizations, as well as international organizations and governments, have expressed concern about the lack of proper attention to his severe health problems; about the fact that he is inappropriately incarcerated along with some of the most dangerous convicted criminals in Iran; and about the fact that Osanloo is a political prisoner and a prisoner of conscience, whose only “crime” has been his work on behalf of the legitimate rights of workers in Iran.

The continued neglect of Osanloo’s life-threatening health problems and threats against him by other prisoners can easily result in further deterioration or even his death. Official medical experts have warned that he cannot tolerate continued imprisonment under the prevailing conditions. As you know, under international law, Iranian authorities are legally responsible for the welfare of prisoners under their supervision.

At this point, Mr. Osanloo has served over half of his sentence, and has been allowed no vacation from prison. According to his lawyer, he can be released at this time, a course of action we respectfully ask that you consider.

We will be deeply grateful for your urgent intervention in this matter, which, if left unattended, can result in a tragedy with far-reaching, negative consequences for Iran.

Iranian Torture Prisoner on Hunger Strike

2009-05-24T06:19:00.002+04:30

Written by The Media Line Staff
Published Sunday, May 24, 2009

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=25216

New York-based Human Rights Watch called yesterday for the immediate release from an Iranian interrogation center of Behrooz Javid-Tehrani, a human rights activist who was first arrested in 1999 and has been in and out of prison ever since.

Javid-Tehrani, 29, has been on a hunger strike for over two weeks and is believed to have various health problems resulting from years of torture.

"The prison wardens do not show any concern for the prisoners on hunger strikes, and we have been informed that the officials have tied [Javid-Tehrani]'s arms and legs from behind and severely beaten him up," Kianoosh Sanjari, a spokesperson for the Iranian Political Prisoners' Association, told The Media Line.

"He was in solitary confinement next to me," said Sanjari, a former fellow prison inmate who has received asylum in the U.S. "He has endured severe torture many times before... I could hear him screaming."

Sanjari described the torture methods used by Iranian prison authorities: "Round the clock interrogation without food or water; threatening family members and falsely informing [the prisoner] of their deaths; simultaneous beatings by seven torturers; forced standing for 48 hours; lashings with thick cables and rough wires to beat the flesh out; standing on parts of the body; banging the head against the wall, and forbidding any visit by doctors."

Javid-Tehrani's sister, contacted by phone by Ahmad Batebi, another former prisoner recently escaped from Iran, confirmed that prison officials have tortured Javid-Tehrani.

In a letter written by Javid-Tehrani and revealed by Sanjari, the prisoner wrote: "For some time now, no one in this prison has been following up my ill health... deteriorating due to torture inflicted by the ‘Ministry for Security.’ The prison clinic refuses to refer me to a civilian hospital, as I need an M.R.I. I have been suffering from the loss of 50 percent of my vision due to blows to the back of my head which has partially damaged the rear of my brain.

"I have been captive for over 10 years as a political prisoner," Javid-Tehrani concluded. "Have I any option other than starting a hunger strike?"

"Court and prison officials have no respect for the basic rights of political prisoners and deny them medical care," said Sanjari. "When a political prisoner does not receive any medical attention and loses all hope, a hunger strike is the only tool he has to publicize his case."

Javid-Tehrani was first sentenced to eight years in prison for “acting against national security” during non-violent student demonstrations in 1999.

His sentence was commuted in 2003 but he was detained twice for advocating for the rights of political prisoners in front of the United Nations offices in Tehran.

During one of these detentions he was sent to Evin prison in Tehran where he and Sanjari were tortured by a prison official, who was referred to as Saeed Sheikhan.

In 2005, Javid-Tehrani began documenting the cases of various political prisoners and protesting the lack of transparency in the Iranian presidential elections, eventually won by Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad.

As part of his activities, Javid-Tehrani interviewed Akbar Mohammadi, a political prisoner who had been temporarily released. Mohammadi died shortly thereafter under suspicious circumstances during a hunger strike in prison.

Javid-Tehrani was re-arrested, repeatedly interrogated about the interview, and sentenced to over seven years in prison for “acts against state security,” and 40 lashes for “insulting the leadership and the state” by the same judge who later sentenced Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi to eight years in prison for espionage.

Javid-Tehrani, who is being held in the “doghouse” section of Gohar Dasht prison north of Tehran, has never had access to a lawyer.

Despite an independent medical examination, which confirmed he had been tortured while in prison, and the partial loss of his eyesight due to head injuries inflicted by prison authorities, requests for Javid-Tehrani to be given a medical release have been denied.

Beyond a series of suspicious prisoner deaths, Gohar Dasht was also the site of the mass executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.

Human Rights Watch raised Javid-Tehrani's case yesterday out of fear for his life.
“The Iranian government is legally bound to ensure safety and provide healthcare for all its prisoners,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Behrooz Javid-Tehrani, who is critically ill, is in prison for his peaceful political dissent and his human rights advocacy... He should never have been imprisoned in the first place and he should be released at once or he will likely die in prison.”

"It was in this prison that prisoners such as Amir Saran, Omid Reza Mirsayafii and a student named Akbar Mohammadi recently lost their lives under extremely suspicious circumstances," Sanjari added.

"The prison officials once told [Javid-Tehrani]: 'You counter revolutionary idiot, you will soon join your friend Saran.' At the time of Akbar Mohammadi's hunger strike, the wardens had also tied his arms and legs to a bed and taped his mouth [shut] so his voice would never be heard...
“Just before he lost his life, he was told by the wardens, 'Even if you die like a dog we have nothing to do with you.'"

Iran: Political Prisoner’s Life in Danger

2009-05-23T21:56:00.001+04:30

Human Rights Watch: (New York) -The Iranian government should immediately release ailing political prisoner Behrooz Javid-Tehrani, a human rights activist first arrested during 1999 nationwide student protests, and ensure he has access to adequate medical care, Human Rights Watch said today. Javid-Tehrani, who has been continually detained since 2005, is on hunger strike and suffers from health problems caused by prolonged torture.

A student activist and leading defender of the rights of political prisoners and their families, Javid-Tehrani has spent the last 10 years in and out ofprison. He is currently held in the "doghouse" section of the infamous Gohar Dasht prison in Karaj city, north of Tehran, with his hands and feet cuffed.

"Behrooz Javid-Tehrani, who is critically ill, is in prison for his peaceful political dissent and his human rights advocacy," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "He should never have been imprisoned in the first place and he should be released at once or he will likely die in prison."

Javid-Tehrani, 29, has never had access to a lawyer, and has had limited access to his family since his 2005 arrest. Despite an independent medical examination in 2006 that confirmed he had been tortured while in prison, Javid-Tehrani has been refused release to obtain needed medical care. Amongst his current known ailments are fresh bruises and wounds to his body as well as the loss of 50 percent of his eyesight due to head injuries inflicted by his interrogators in prison. In addition, authorities have not provided adequate medical care during his 18-day hunger strike, according to his friend Kianoosh Sanjari, a human rights activist who was a fellow inmate during part of Javid-Tehrani's term inEvin prison in Tehran.

Iranian officials first detained Javid-Tehrani on July 9, 1999, when he was 19, as he participated in student demonstrations that spread across Iran. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of "acting against national security." Four years into his sentence, his sister phoned him to say their mother had passed away but the Iranian Judiciary refused to let him attend his mother's burial. His sentence was later commuted and he was released in late 2003.

In 2004, he was detained twice, both times for demonstrating for the rights of political prisoners and their families in front of the United Nations offices in Tehran. Prison officials interrogated and tortured him in Section 209 of Evin prison in Tehran, Kianoosh Sanjari told Human Rights Watch. Sanjari became aware of Javid-Tehrani's torture in Evin because of the close proximity of their cells and the fact that they shared the same interrogator, an official who goes by the name of Saeed Sheikhan.

In 2005, ahead of the presidential elections won by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Javid-Tehrani and others in an organization called Jebhe-ye Democratic-e Iran(the Iranian Democratic Front), organized activities such as putting up posters, distributing fliers, and writing political graffiti to protest the lack of transparency and lack of democracy in Iranian elections. The group also raised funds to help families of political prisoners and made short films interviewing the families.

After Javid-Tehrani interviewed political prisoner Akbar Mohammadi during the latter's temporary release and shortly before Mohammadi's death under suspicious circumstances during a hungerstrike in prison, he was again arrested in 2005. According to Sanjari, that interview was of special interest to prison officials, who raised it repeatedly during their interrogations of both friends.

The head judge at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Judge Hasan Zare Dehnavi, known as Judge Hadad, sentenced Javid-Tehrani to four years in prison for membership in an "illegal" organization (the Iranian DemocraticFront) that "acts against state security," 40 lashes for "insulting the leadership and the state," and three-and-a-half years on charges of belonging to the Mojahedin'e Khalgh Organization (MKO). According to Sanjari, this charge was fabricated by the interrogator Sheikhan and furthered by a personal conflict with Judge Hadad, the judge who later sentenced Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi to eight years for espionage.

An appeals court reduced the sentence on the MKO charge by six months. Javid-Tehrani has now served more than half his 2005 sentence. Most prisoners in Iran are eligible for release after serving half of their sentence, but he has not been granted even one day of customary temporary release since 2005.

Human Rights Watch is concerned that Javid-Tehrani's life is in immediate danger, in light of the suspicious deaths of political prisoners at Gohar Dasht prison (also known as Rajayi Shahr), most recently that of Amir Heshmat Saran in March 2009. Gohar Dasht was one of the main sites of the 1988 mass summary executions of political prisoners which killed thousands.

"Amongst Iran's political prisoners, Gohar Dasht prison is known as the ‘doghouse' because prisoners are sent there to die," said Whitson. "The Iranian government is legally bound to ensure safety and provide healthcare for all its prisoners. But it has consistently failed to do so for political prisoners, with deadly results."

Human Rights Watch urged Iranian authorities to release Javid-Tehrani immediately and end its persecution of peaceful critics and dissidents.

Deplorable situation of arrested workers' activists

2009-05-15T18:23:00.002+04:30

According to Pegah Farajollahi, her mother Mrs.Mohseni and 15 other activists, who was arrested along with 100 workers during the 1st May International Workers' Day re-union in Tehran, have been kept in quarantine.

"I don't exactly know how many have been arrested, but I do know that she and others have been kept in a ward called "Motadun" (druggies) in which drug addicts are being detained' has sated Pegah.

According to Pegah , her mother has been allowed only once to contact her. "It is now a week that she is suffering insomnia. I only know that her ear had swollen0up just like an egg and I just don't know the reason. She could not move her head. They have not even allowed her to use her medication" adds Pegah.

Despite the fact that it is now 11 days since Mrs.Mohseni and the rest have been arrested for attempting to assemble to commemorate the International Day for Workers, but they have not been allowed visits by lawyers and relatives.

According to Pegah, her mother and the rest have been accused of threatening National security and creating public disorder, despite the fact that there was no chance to venerate the day because of extreme suppressive measures.

More than 100 people were arrested in the congregation on May 1, 2009, in Laleh Park. Those arrested were Workers Union leaders, journalists and civil rights activists.

Since their arrest, each day, their families have been approaching the Revolutionary Courts and also the prisons demanding their release and an end to impossible heavy bail conditions.

Baha’i Leaders Remain Unjustly Detained After One Year

2009-05-14T20:16:00.001+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: Seven Baha’i leaders detained in Evin prison, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, should be immediately and unconditionally released, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. Six members of the group were arrested one year ago today; Mahvash Sabet was arrested on 5 March 2008.

“The illegal and unjust detention of these seven Baha’i leaders, which again shows a policy of oppressing a religious minority, must be brought to an end,” said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign. “The group is being denied basic civil rights by neither being allowed to visit with their lawyer, nor being formally charged with any crime.”

Family members of the detainees have reportedly been told that the charges against them will be Mofsed-e fel-Arz, or “spreading corruption on earth,” a charge that carries the death sentence. This same charge was used against Baha’i leaders immediately following the Islamic Revolution as justification for their executions.

Alireza Jamshidi, the Judiciary’s spokesperson, announced on 17 February 2009 that a court hearing for the group would be arranged within a week, but no hearing has been announced or held.

“These charges are extremely serious and the Iranian government should account for such accusations with verifiable evidence, or release the detainees” Rhodes said.

Members of the Baha’i Faith in Iran number approximately 300,000, making them the largest non-Muslim religious minority group. In recent years the persecution of Baha’is has intensified to include cemetery desecration, arbitrary detention, home raids, property confiscation, work expulsion and denial of basic civil rights. Iranian Baha’i youth continue to be denied the right to higher education, and any university found to have a Baha’i student is ordered to expel them. Baha’i professionals are denied government jobs and face discrimination from private businesses because of their faith. Harassment also occurs from ordinary citizens, for example the cars and homes of Baha’is reportedly being vandalized. Even those who come to their defense are targeted. Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has come under fire for taking up the case of the seven Baha’i leaders.

There are currently at least 40 Baha’is in detention throughout Iran. In the month of April alone, arrests were reported in six cities.

Baha’is released on bail have been ordered to pay exorbitant amounts. Aziz Samandari and Jinous Sobhani, a former secretary at the Defenders of Human Rights Center, were released on 11 March on bail of 700 million Rials (approximately $73,000). Didar Raoufi, Payam Aghsani and Nima Haghar were released on the same day and ordered to pay the same amount. Shahrokh Taef was released six days later on 17 March 2009 having paid the same amount in bail.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran calls on the government of Iran to comply with international human and civil rights standards and account for the detentions of all Baha’is in Iran. The Campaign urges Iranian leaders to investigate all discriminatory crimes against Baha’is and to allow Baha’i youth the opportunity to attend university.

“The continued persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran degrades all of the people of Iran,” Rhodes said. “The arbitrary detention and targeting of members of any single community should not be tolerated in any country, including Iran.”

AmirKabir University student: "We were tortured 4 times a day"

2009-05-08T09:02:00.003+04:30

IPPA: One of the five captive Amirkabir students, released on 5 May 2009, in an interview with the Iranian Rooz Online site said all of the students in 209 Evin prison were under severe physical and psychological torture during their detention.

According to this report Kourosh Daneshyar's thumb has been broken under constant beatings, and other students were physically and mentally pressured to falsely admit that they are "Hypocrites" or "Anti-Martyrs".

This report says that they were told during interrogations that the site "Amirkabir" is propagating against the system. The aim of the torturers was to find more information on the source and system of organization of Amirkabir site.

Evidently the students each had at least 4 times interrogation during the day while at other times spent time in solitary confinement and were not allowed visits.

Nariman Mostafavi, Kourosh Daneshyar, Hossein Tarkashvand, Esmaiil Salmanpoor and Yasser Torkaman were all released on bails each of 200 to 300 million Tomans on 5 may 2009.

This is while another five students are still under interrogation namely; Abass Hakimzade, Mehdi mashayekhi, Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad ghassaban, and Masoud Dehgan.

These students have been charged with being in touch with the US, Israel, PMOI, different political figures and even drinking wine and seduction.

Roxana Saberi’s Appeal Process Should be Transparent

2009-05-07T09:12:00.000+04:30

(6 May 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed serious concerns regarding the secrecy and continued lack of transparency surrounding the prosecution of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, and asked the Iranian Judiciary to adhere to international standards of due process and allow independent observers in the courtroom at her appeals trial.

The Campaign called upon the Judiciary to allow representatives of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), a group led by Nobel Peace Laureate and human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, to observe the trial, which will take place next week.

“In the absence of independent observers, Saberi’s prosecution will continue to lack legitimacy and will further deprive her of due process,” said Campaign spokesperson Hadi Ghaemi.

“Here’s a chance for the Iranian justice system to demonstrate its impartiality and independence from the Intelligence Ministry. But the planned secret appeals trial can be manipulated by the intelligence apparatus, and will not serve justice,” he added.

On 5 May 2009, Alireza Jamshidi, the Judiciary’s spokesperson, told a press conference that Saberi’s appeals trial will take place next week at Branch 14 of Tehran’s Appeals Court. He said the trial will be closed to the public and will include representatives of the Intelligence Ministry, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Iranian Bar Association.

While the presence of an intelligence official and prosecutor is routine in cases brought against defendants by the Intelligence Ministry, the addition of a member of the Bar Association appears to be a ploy to deflect attention from the fact that authorities have denied Saberi the right to independent counsel by refusing her to employ Shirin Ebadi and her team of lawyers to represent her.

After Saberi’s conviction to eight years in prison on espionage charges on 18 April by a lower court, her family asked Shirin Ebadi and her colleagues from DHRC to represent her. However, after five attempts by Ebadi and her colleagues to meet with Saberi and prepare for her defense, the authorities refused to allow her to choose her legal representation.

The Campaign noted that the Iranian Bar Association lacks independence and is controlled by the Judiciary, which has previously prevented Bar Association members to elect independent lawyers on its board.

The continued secrecy regarding the evidence against Saberi is a violation of Iranian laws and international standards for fair trials. The authorities have failed to even disclose under what article of the law Saberi has been indicted. Her father has publicly announced that Saberi’s conviction is based on confessions extracted under duress and false promises made by her interrogators.

Although Iranian officials, including President Ahmadinejad and head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, have called for a fair appeals process, legal proceedings continue to demonstrate a lack of conformity to due process standards. Those calls for fairness and justice now seem insincere or are possibly being disregarded.

In light of the Judiciary’s failure to disclose convincing evidence against Saberi, the Campaign called on the Iranian authorities to acquit and release Saberi during the appeals process.

“Any other outcome from the appeals process, given absolute lack of evidence, would be unacceptable and should be strongly condemned by the international community,” Ghaemi said.

Roxana Saberi ends her hunger strike

2009-05-07T08:49:00.002+04:30

Reporters Without Borders is extremely relieved to learn that Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who is in a Tehran jail on a spying charge, has ended her hunger strike. The press freedom organisation continues to call for the appeal against her conviction to be given a fair hearing and not any sham proceedings.

When Saberi’s parents visited her in Tehran’s Evin prison on 4 May, she agreed to begin eating again at her father’s insistence and took two spoonfuls of yoghurt. Yesterday evening, she confirmed to her parents during a phone call that she had decided to end the hunger strike she began on 21 April.

She also expressed her gratitude for the international campaign of solidarity that has been waged on her behalf.

In accordance with Iranian law, Saberi’s lawyers yesterday filed a request for her release on bail before the judge of the 28th chamber of the Tehran revolutionary court.

“The Iranian authorities should respect Roxana Saberi’s rights by granting her lawyers’ request and releasing her on bail pending the appeal hearing,” Reporters Without Borders said.

Iranian judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi announced yesterday that the appeal would be heard behind closed doors “in the course of next week” with representatives of the prosecutor’s office, the intelligence ministry and lawyers association in attendance.

“This is a travesty of justice,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Leading independent figures should be present at this appeal hearing. We call for Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi of the Human Rights Defenders Centre to be allowed to attend.”

Timeline of Saberi case

31 January: Roxana Saberi is arrested.
1 March: The US public radio network NPR breaks the news of her arrest (after getting a call from her father on 10 February).
2 March: Foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi says Saberi was working “illegally” in Iran.
3 March: Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi says she has been “arrested on the order of the Tehran revolutionary court and is being held in Evin prison.”
9 April: Saberi is charged with spying by deputy prosecutor Hassan Zare Dehnavi. This charge is often used by the Iranian authorities to arrest journalists and tighten the muzzle on freedom of expression.
13 April: Saberi is tried in a closed-door hearing on a charge of spying for the United States.
18 April: Saberi is sentenced to eight years in prison.
20 April: Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi announces that she will join the Saberi defence team.
21 April: Saberi begins her hunger strike.
25 April: Her lawyer files an appeal against her conviction.
28 April: Reporters Without Borders begins a hunger strike in Paris.
1 May: Saberi is hospitalised for a few hours after ceasing to take liquids.
2 May: Shirin Ebadi voices her support for Saberi and Reporters Without Borders.
3 May: The Reporters Without Borders hunger strike continues outside UN headquarters in New York.
5 May: Saberi confirms that she had decided to end the hunger strike.
5 May: Saberi’s lawyers file a request for her release on bail.

Three journalists arrested

2009-05-05T22:17:00.000+04:30

Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrests of three journalists in Tehran on 1 May, as May Day demonstrations were taking place. “The authorities continue to crack down on journalists,” Reporters Without Borders said. “These arrests, which were made without a warrant and without good reason, were illegal.”

Journalists Alireza Saghafi and Kaveh Mozafari were arrested in the centre of Tehran in the morning, about an hour before the start of the May Day demonstration. Their arrests were witnessed by Saghafi’s wife, who said the authorities used violence to arrest them. The two journalists were transferred to Tehran’s Evin prison the next day.

Saghafi, who edited the magazine Rah Ayandeh (Way of the Future) until the authorities closed it in May 2008, is a member of the Iranian Writers Association. Mozafari is an online journalist who writes for FeministSchool (http://www.feministschool.com/) and Wechange (http://www.4equality.info/), two websites that defend women’s rights. He has been summoned for questioning by the authorities several times in the past.

At around midnight on 1 May, intelligence ministry agents went with Mozafari to his home to conduct a search and while there they arrested his wife, Jelveh Javaheri, who also defends women’s rights online and contributes to the FeministSchool website. Javaheri was previously arrested on 1 December 2007 because of the articles she had posted online and spent a month in detention before being freed on payment of 50 million toman (40,000 euros) in bail.

“The arrests of Mozafari and Javaheri and the search of their home were illegal because of the lack of a warrant and the time at which the ministry’s agents went to the couple’s home,” their lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, said, announcing her intention to file a complaint against the agents concerned.

On 3 May, Javaheri was taken before a judge, who said she could be released if she paid 100 million toman (80,000 euros) in bail. Her lawyer said she refused to sign the bail release form on the ground that she had “committed no crime.”

Saghafi’s lawyer, Nasser Zarafshan, also insisted that his client had been arrested illegally. “As a journalist, he had the right to be near the demonstration’s point of departure,” he said, adding “demonstrating is not a crime in Iran.”

8 years imprisonment for visiting close relative in Iraq

2009-05-02T22:46:00.001+04:30

IPPA: Mrs. Sedighe Falahatzade, 40, has been condemned to 8 years prison sentences for having visited her brother in the PMOI base (Ashraf Camp) -Iraq, by the 28th Branch of the Revolution Court.

According to reports by Human right activists, Judge Mohammad Mogheisei, a torturer responsible for the 1980 massacres of Political prisoners, has been personaly reponsible for passing the sentence for Mrs. Falahatzade.

Mrs. Falahatzade was arrested in an organized attack by Intelligence ministry agencies at home, on 14 February 2009 in Tehran and transfered to the notorious Evin prison.

According to reports she has been harassed and tortured in detention and denied contacts with her relatives or attorney.

Security Forces Violently Attack and Detain Labor Rights Activists Observing May Day

2009-05-02T03:17:00.001+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights is Iran: (1 May 2009) Security and police forces violently attacked Iranian workers as they gathered in Laleh Park in Tehran to observe International Workers’ Day on May 1^st, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported. The demonstration had been called by ten independent labor organizations. According to information received by the Campaign more than 100 persons were arrested, and citizens not participating in the attempted May Day observance were among those beaten.

“These brutal and deplorable attacks are emblematic of the Iranian government’s utter contempt for workers and for the state’s international obligations to protect worker’s rights,” stated Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the Campaign.

An eyewitness to the events in Tehran told the Campaign that she saw five police vans full of arrested people. She described the attack as follows:

“It was about 5 pm. Many people were in the Park. Usually on Fridays the park is crowded. Many people were walking around the fountain where the gathering was supposed to be held at 6pm. Without warning, two vans parked and plain-clothes agents came out of them and started to arrest people. Suddenly, I heard the call, “Long live the labor movement!” Two more vans came, and agents attacked and arrested people. As people resisted, they were beaten with batons and punched and kicked. The attack took 15 minutes after which people walked away because the park was full of security agents who would arrest anyone near the fountain.”

One of the detainees reported by cell phone from the police station in Vesal that more than 100 persons had been arrested.

Citizens detained in the incident have been transferred to different police stations and detention centers. According to the Iran Free Trade Union website, some of the well-known labor activists detained include Jafar Azimzadeh, Shahpour Ehsanirad, Maryam Mohseni and Behrouz Khabazzadeh. Other sources and eyewitnesses reported that seven members of the Association to Defend Child Workers are among detainees.

According to the Iran Free Trade Union website, another May Day gathering was scheduled to take place at 5pm in Sanandaj in Amirieh, the main square. On the morning of May 1^st, five labor rights activists were summoned to the Intelligence Office in Sanandaj and arrested in an attempt to prevent the gathering: Sedigh Karimi, Sharif Saedpanah, Majid Mohammadi, Seyed Khaled Hosseini and Zhyan Sobhani. As activists formed a group in the square, plain-clothes agents and police forces tried to collect their placards, meeting resistance from the demonstrators. The crowed started to chant, “Long live workers” and “Political prisoners should be released.” They were attacked and severely beaten by the security forces, and at least 10 were arrested. Ghayegh Key Khosravi is also among the detainees.

Other assaults on labor activists have taken place in Kurdistan in recent days. On 29 April, Karim Fateh, Ali (Omar) Minaie, and Hadi Tanoumand, members of the Coordinating Committee to Help to Establish Workers Organizations, were summoned to the Intelligence Department of the police station in Bukan. On the same day, Zhiyan Sobhani and Kourosh Bakhshandeh, members of the Committee, and Amaj Nikdel (14) were summoned to police station number 12 in Sanandaj. Sobhani, Bakhshandeh and Nikdel were previously arrested and released in Sanandaj on 17 April when they went to visit Ghaleb Hosseini, a prisoner sentenced for his May Day activists last year.

On 27 April, Yousef Bokhrabad and Vahed Resideh were questioned about May Day observances in the Intelligence Office in Mahabad. On the same day, Hassan Rasoulnejad and Ahmad Eski Baghdadi were summoned and questioned in Bukan. All these 4 workers activists are members of the Coordinating Committee to Help to Establish Workers Organizations.

The International Campaign for Human Rights is Iran appeals for the immediate release of labor activists detained as they sought to peacefully demonstrate their commitment to fair labor practices. The Campaign also notes the urgent need to release and drop charges against unfairly incarcerated Iranian labor activists, including Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Maddadi, Farzad Kamangar and Ghaleb Hosseini.

American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi on hunger strike for past five days

2009-04-26T00:42:00.001+04:30

Reporters Without Borders: Roxana Saberi, the young American-Iranian journalist who was sentenced to eight years in prison on a spying charge in Tehran on 18 April, has been on hunger strike for the past five days, her father has told Reporters Without Borders. He said she called him today from prison to tell him this. She is “determined and ready to go all the way,” Reza Saberi said, adding that he was “very worried.”

“We voice our complete solidarity with Roxana Saberi, who was unjustly arrested and convicted in a trial lacking any transparency,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Her decision to go on hunger strike, a last-ditch form of protest, is an act of rebellion against a fundamental injustice.”

The press freedom organisation added : “Saberi must know that she is not alone. Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and 35 other press freedom organisations, as well as Iranian human rights activists and journalists, are all supporting her and demanding her release. We will not abandon her.”

Saberi’s lawyer was not allowed to speak at her trial, held behind closed doors on 13 April, five days before the verdict was issued. He has filed an appeal against her conviction. She will be 32 tomorrow.

Saberi was arrested at the start of February although her arrest was not revealed until the start of the following month. The daughter of an Iranian father who lives in the United States and who acquired US citizenship, Saberi moved to Iran six years ago and worked for various international news media including the BBC, Fox News and the US public radio network NPR.

She was initially accused of working illegally as a journalist but was finally tried for “spying” for the United States, a charge that the Iranian authorities often use to silence outspoken journalists. Several American-Iranian journalists have been arrested in Iran in recent years but Saberi is the first one to be tried and given a jail sentence.

Seven journalists are currently imprisoned in Iran, which was ranked 166th out of 173 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on the Reporters Without Borders list of “Predators of Press Freedom.”

Read 24 April’s press release "International support for Roxana Saberi ahead for her birthday"

Student under critical condition in 209 Evin

2009-04-23T06:17:00.004+04:30

Esmaiil Salmanpour, member of Student association of Amirkabir University, who was arrested on 6 February 2009 for participating in Bazargan's commemoration day ceremony with unspecific reasons, has been transferred to Evin clinic because of extreme physical conditions.

Human Right activists have reported that Mr. Salmanpour has had unusual weight loss, his hair was shaved and he did not seem to be physiologically apt. According to this report, the reason for the loss of weight is not clear, since this student has been kept in solitary confinement , under intense interrogation, all during his detention and while he was on hunger strike for several days.

He has not been allowed any visits by family or attorney so far. He is kept in incommunicado with the outside world as an extra method of pressure, known as the white torture.

Apart from Esmaiil Salmanpour, 8 other Amirkabir University students are under detention and extreme pressure in solitary confinement of 209 Evin prison, namely: Majid Tavakoli, Hossein Tarkoshvand, Kourosh Daneshyar, Ahmad Ghassaban, Nariaman Mostafavi, Mehdi Mashayekhi, Yasser Torkaman, Abbas Hakimzadeh.

Bahman Ghobadi, Iranian filmmaker, has written an open letter following the arrest and conviction of Roxana Saberi

2009-04-21T20:31:00.000+04:30

The text of Bahman Ghobadi's letter is the following:

"To Roxana Saberi, Iranian with an American passeport"

If I kept quiet until now, it was for her sake. If today I speak, it is for her sake.

She is my friend, my fiancée, and my companion. An intelligent and talented young woman, whom I have always admired.

It was the 31st of January. The day of my birthday. That morning, she called to say she would pick me up so we would go out together. She never came. I called on her mobile, but it was off, and for two-three days I had no idea what had happened to her. I went to her apartment, and since we had each other's keys, I went in, but she wasn't there. Two days later, she called and said: "Forgive me my dear, I had to go to Zahedan." I got angry: why hadn't she said anything to me? I told her I didn't believe her, and again she said: "Forgive me my dear, I had to go." And the line was cut. I waited for her to call back. But she didn't call back. She didn't call back.
I left for Zahedan. I looked for her in every hotel, but nobody had ever heard her name. For ten days, thousands of wild thoughts came to my mind. Until I learned, through her father, she had been arrested. I thought it was a joke.

I thought it was a misunderstanding and that she would be released after two or three days. But days went by and I had no news from her. I started to worry and knocked on every door for help, until I understood what had happened.

It is with tears in my eyes that I say she is innocent and guiltless. It is me, who has known her for years, and shared every moment with her, who declares it. She was always busy reading and doing her research. Nothing else. During all these years I've known her, she wouldn't go anywhere without letting me know, nor would do anything without asking my advice. To her friends, her family, everyone that surrounded her, she had given no signs of unreasonable behavior. How come someone who would spend days without going out of her apartment, except to see me; someone who, like a Japanese lady, would carefully spend her money, and had sometimes trouble making a living; someone who was looking for a sponsor to get in contact with a local publisher so her book would be printed here (in Iran); could now be charged with a spying accusation?! We all know – no, we have all seen in movies – that spies are malicious and sneaky, that they peep around for information, and that they are very well paid.
And now my heart is full of sorrow. Because it is me who incited her to stay here. And now I can't do anything for her. Roxana wanted to leave Iran. I kept her from it.
At the beginning of our relationship, she wanted to go back to the United States. She would have liked us to go together. But I insisted for her to stay until my new film was over. She really wanted to leave Iran. And I kept her from it. And now I am devastated, for it is because of me she has been subject to these events. These past years, I have been subject to a serious depression. Why? Because my movie had been banned, and released on the black market. My next movie was not given an authorization, and I was forced to stay at home. If I've been able to stand it until today, it is thanks to the presence and help that she provided me with.
Since I had no authorization for my last movie, I was nervous and ill-tempered. And she was always there to calm me down.
Roxana wanted to leave Iran. I kept her from it. She is the one who took care of me while I was depressed. Then I convinced her to stay, I wanted her to write the book she had started in her head. I accompanied her, and thanks to my friends and contacts, I knocked on every door and was able to set up meetings with film makers, artists, sociologists, politics, and others. I would go with her myself.
She was absorbed by her book, to the point that she could stay and bear it all, until my film would be finished, and we would leave together.
Roxana's book was a praise to Iran. The manuscripts exist, and it will certainly be published one day, and all will see it. But why have they said nothing? All those who have talked, worked and sat with her, and who know how guiltless she is.

I am writing this letter for I am worried about her. I am worried about her health. I heard she was depressed and cried all the time. She is very sensitive. To the point she refuses to touch her food.
My letter is a desperate call to all statesmen and politics, and to all those who can do something to help. From the other side of the ocean, the Americans have protested against her imprisonment, because she is an American citizen. But I say no, she is Iranian, and she loves Iran. I beg you, let her go! I beg you not to throw her in the midst of you political games! She is too weak and too pure to take part in your games. Let me be present at her trial, sit next to her wise father and gentle mother, and testify she is without guilt or reproach.

However, I am optimistic about her release, and I firmly hope the verdict will be cancelled in the next stage of the trial.

My Iranian girl with Japanese eyes and an American ID, is in jail. Shame on me! Shame on us!

Bahman Ghobadi
April 21st, 2009.

Ronak Safazadeh Sentenced to 6 Years Mandatory Prison

2009-04-14T21:15:00.001+04:30

Change for Equality: The sentence of Ronak Safazadeh, women’s rights activist, was issued to Mr. Mohammad Sharif, her defense lawyer. According to the ruling of the court, Ronak Safazadeh has been sentenced to serve 6 years in prison. The courts acquitted Ronak, on the charge of enmity with god, of which she was accused in this case. Dr. Sharif, the lawyer representing Ronak intends to object to the ruling by the court.

Dr. Sharif explained further: “my client was acquitted on the charge of enmity with god, but on the issue of membership in Pejak, and in reference to Article 499 of the Penal Code, she was sentenced to 5 years mandatory prison sentence and with respect to spreading of propaganda against the state and in favor of Pejak she was sentenced to one year mandatory prison sentence. In accordance with the Articles in the Penal Code relating to the charges against her, my client will be serving her prison term in the city where the crime was committed, meaning Sanandaj. Clearly given the nature of this case, I will object to the ruling of the court, so that the appeals court can make the final ruling in the case pending against my client.”

With respect to Ronak’s membership in the political opposition group Pejak, Mohammad Sharif had the following to add: “the activities of my client were limited to activities within the Azar Mehr Women’s NGO, and so her activities in Pejak were carried out toward this end as well. My client aimed to research “the reasons for women’s participation in Pejak under difficult conditions.” We hope that the appeals court will take into consideration the fact that my client’s activities were limited to the women’s movement and examination of women’s issues in this relation and overturn the sentence issued in this case.”

Students Held in Incommunicado Detention Are At Risk of Torture

2009-04-05T04:35:00.002+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran:
(4 April 2009) The Iranian government should immediately and unconditionally release all detained students the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. The students are being held in incommunicado detention in Tehran, Rejaee Shahr and Isfahan. The Campaign is seriously concerned for their safety and high risk of torture.

On 23 February 2009, the Amir Kabir University campus was violently attacked by government forces. Students were protesting the burial of “unknown martyrs” on their campus. The following day, 24 February 2009, security agents attacked the homes of four Amir Kabir students, Ahmad Ghasaban, Nariman Mostafavi, Mehdi Mashayekhi and Abbas Hakimzadeh. All four were detained. Previously, on 5 February 2009, four other Amir Kabir University students were detained. Majid Tavakoli, Hossein Torkashvand, Esmael Salmanpour and Koursh Daneshyar were arrested for participating in a ceremony to honor Mehdi Bazargan, the first Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic. The eight students are all being held in Evin Prison in Tehran.

In an interview with the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) on 6 March 2009, Judge Hadad, the Deputy of the Security Prosecution Court, was asked him about the situation of the four students arrested on 24 February. He said, “We have been after these people for a long time. This group planned and implemented radical student actions and they disseminated and published false information in Amir Kabir News. They were also being interviewed by radio services abroad. This group of students conducted the majority of these activities.”
“It is a violation of due process to announce charges against detainees publicly while their attorneys have not been allowed to visit them or even read their files,” Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson, said.

“The students’ colleagues and family are seriously concerned they are being tortured to make false confessions. Any confessions obtained under such circumstances should be impermissible by any court,” he added.

Brief phone conversations of the eight students with their families indicate they are likely being tortured. Some of the students, including Hakimzadeh and Torkashvand, have not been allowed to contact their families at all. Hakimzadeh is also critically ill and requires special medical treatment. Any effort by family members and attorneys to visit the students and ask for their release has had no effect.

Security and judiciary forces have not stopped at targeting students. During New Year Celebrations, family and friends of the detained students gathered in front of Evin Prison to show their support. The gathering led to the detention of Bahareh Hedayat, Milad Asadi, Mehdi Arabshahi, Majid Dari, Saeed Fayzolahzadeh, Hamed Azizi, Nariman Mostafavi’s mother and Milad Asadi’s parents. Following these detentions, Farid Hashemi and Amin Nazari, members of the Office to Foster Unity (Daftar e Tahkim Vahdat) were arrested when they went to the security office to ask for the release their colleagues. All these detainees were held in Darabad Police Station and ill-treated, causing Judge Matteen Rasekh to issue an apology. The detainees were released over the course of three days, with the last being released on 23 March 2009.
The Campaign has consistently reported on the relentless surveillance and targeting of university students. A report issued on National Student Day in November 2008 included an alert on surveillance of Majid Tavakoli. For the past three years, Tavakoli and three other students have been the subject of an anti-Islamic defamation case, even though the prosecution hasn’t met Iranian and international standards of fair trials. The three accused students in the case, including Tavakoli, spent 15 months in jail under severe pressure, ill treatment and torture despite the fact that they weren’t found guilty by a court. After their release, not only were they denied the opportunity to continue their studies, but their daily lives were monitored constantly by security forces. In a short phone call to his family, Tavakoli told them that he is still being interrogated with regard to this case.

Regarding the arrest of Tavakoli and others on 5 February, Judge Hadad told ISNA, “Seven people were arrested in the illegal ceremony to honor Bazargan. All of them have records and one of them is Majid Tavakoli, who is the main accused in the anti Islam defamation case at Amir Kabir University. These people were being monitored and pursued by security and judiciary forces for some time.”

“The surveillance and detentions of innocent students is not justifiable and the words of Judge Hadad once again show that the Iranian Judiciary works in concert with the Intelligence Ministry,” Ghaemi said. “Hadad is the presiding judge and should make clear under which laws and regulations students can be followed and arrested without judicial warrants and without being formally charged,” he added.

Another student, Shabnam Madadzadeh, a student at Teacher Training University and a member of the Students Union, was arrested on the street after being surveilled. She was abducted while on her way to attend the Students’ Union meeting in Tehran on 19 November 2009. She was transferred to Evin Prison on 24 February. Her mother went to the University and asked for her daughter’s release but was told that Madadzadeh was under investigation by Judge Hadad. According to Madadzadeh’s friends and classmates, she was a student activist who was involved in the students concerns and played an important role as a member of a team that negotiated with university authorities during a sit-in last year. After six weeks Madazadeh is still in incommunicado detention and being denied access to her lawyer. According to informal reports, Madadzadeh was charged with “acting on behalf of political opposition groups abroad.”
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has previously expressed its deep concern about Madadzadeh’s health and safety. Last year in a similar situation, a group of students faced the same charge. One of them, Ibrahim Lotfolahi, died under suspicious circumstances. Two other students, charged with “acting on behalf of political opposition groups abroad,” were tortured to make false confessions. These confessions were used as evidence against them during their prosecution. The confessions led to an execution sentence for Habibolah Latifi and lengthy prison sentence for Yaser Goli.

Several members of the Freedom and Equality Seeking student group have also been detained in February and March 2009. On 12 February, Mohammad Pourabdolah was arrested in Tehran and Alireza Davoudi, the spokesperson for the Freedom and Equality Seeking students was arrested in Isfahan. Bahman Khodadadi, a student in Isfahan, disappeared on 17 February 2009. Security agents went to his home for further search where it was revealed that Khodadadi was arrested. Arsalan Sadeghi and Hossein Sarshoomi, members of the group in Isfahan, were arrested on 28 February after being summoned to Intelligence Offices by phone. On 29 February, Amirhossein Mohammadifar and Sanaz Allahyari were arrested when intelligence forces attacked their homes. After long periods of pressure and torture, Allahyari and Mohammadifar were released on 18 March with the signs of physical torture still on their bodies. Mohammad Pourabdolah’s parents reported that Mohammad was under torture in Evin Prison. Without any explanation he has been transferred to a prison in Rejaee Shahr which holds violent offenders.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, citing the Iranian government’s international obligations to respect the rights of students to freedom of association and freedom of expression, called for the immediate release of all detained students. The Campaign urged the Judiciary to investigate and prosecute officials who ordered and implemented these arbitrary detentions. The Campaign called on the international community and UN mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detentions and the Special Rapporteur on Torture, to condemn the wide range of student rights violations in Iran and remind Iranian authorities of their obligations under international treaties.

Rejecting freedom of two woman activists arrested for New Year visits

2009-04-03T02:57:00.001+04:30

On 26 March 2009, many families of political prisoners who were visiting their loved ones in prisons were arrested. Later ten of the arrested were released.

Ms. Khadijeh Moghadam and Mahboobeh Karami are still in custody of the security forces.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, attorney to one of those still in custody has explained that the Court has ordered Mrs. Moghadams' detention because she has had previous detention records. Accordingly they have announced Mrs. Moghadams' role in the families visiting their beloved ones for the New Year as pivotal and for this reason have prevented her release.

"My client in a telephone contact said she has been charged for "disturbing public order and congregating to create insecurity in public in favor of "strangers". The term "strangers" is absolutely illegal to be used for my clients" said Mrs. Sotoudeh.

Mrs. Sotoudeh reiterates: "According to article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, congregating is lawful; therefore even if our clients did try to congregate, they would not have underestimated the law. The fact is that; they were waiting in their cars for their friends to arrive, when they were surrounded by agents and arrested with no Court Order under the pretext that "they are under suspicion". They were therefore forced to accompany the agents to the police station. Therefore as is clear there was no "congregation".

Mr. Poor Babaii, attorney to Mahboobeh Karami has announced concern for his client explaining that her release under bail (Right of all individuals arrested under suspicion) has been rejected two times.

He declared his client innocent saying that it is not a crime to see relatives on the New Year! There fore her place is not in prison and that she should be encouraged for attaining to ancient customs with regards to the New Year.

Second transfer of political prisoner sentenced to 10 years to 209

2009-03-21T23:53:00.002+03:30

There has been reports indicating the clandestine transfer of a political prisoner Saleh Kohandel, to the notorious 209 Evin's prison, and also of constant torture of prisoners in that section, which has worried their relatives immensely.

Prison agents transferred Mr. Kohandel suddenly on 18 March (only a day before the Iranian new Year) from section 4 to the death cells of 209 section, never announcing reasons for this transfer. It is almost certain that he is going to pass the New Year under torture and interrogation.

Mr.Kohandel was arrested on 6 March 2007 on the streets by intelligence Ministry agents. During his house search, all windows were smashed and his things were ransacked his written papers taken. He went under harsh and intense interrogation for at least 6 months and later sent to 209 after which he was transfer to public ward of 350 in Evin and again transferred to Rajayee shahr prison of Karaj.

His friends say Mr.Kohandel was sentenced was issued in a closed court, which only took a couple of minutes, for instigation against national security.

Mysterious death of a bloger in Evin

2009-03-19T01:51:00.004+03:30

Omidreza Mir Sayafi, journalist and bloger, has died for unknown reasons in Evin prison.

On 6 March last, another political prisoner called Amir Saran also died under similar circumstances in Rajaii Shahr prison of Karaj. His death had deeply touched other prisoners.

Human Rights activists in Iran had previously reported that Omidreza Mir Sayafi, 28 years old was spending time in prison for "insulting sacred values". It is reported that he had last been removed to prison clinic on the morning of the 8 March this year, while his conditions became critical. It is not clear what had passed in the clinic but inmates have reported that had been suffering a considerable psychological pressure with no medical treatment.

Prison and judicial officials have not commented in this case so far, while his attorney has confirmed the death in prison of his client Mohammad Ali Dadkhah.

Dr.Hessam Firouzi who was Doctor to several political prisoners, has been imprisoned in Evin on charges of attempting against National security. It is said that he has on many instances asked and insisted on the transfer of Mr. Sayafi to hospital but his request was met with reluctance by prison officials, which lead to the death of this prisoner. It is therefore clear that the death of Mr.Mir Sayafi has been due to "incompetence and medical disregard" of Evin prison authorities.

Mr.Firouzi adds; "according to my professional view, Omidreza Mir Sayafi was deeply depressed and prison conditions would have been unbearable for him."

"The prison Doctors were even reluctant to have his blood pressure and primitive medical test done. Every thing was done because of my persistence at every step of the way" explained Dr.Firouzi.

Omidreaza's blogs were mostly on music ands culture, where as he was charged with "Insulting Ayatollah Khomeini and Khamenei" as well as inciting against national security for a 2 year prison term by the 15 Branch of Tehran revolution court.

He also had a second open case in the general prosecutors' office in Tehran for "insulting sacred values", and was supposed to be heard in the month of May to come.

Iran has one of the highest records in arresting blogers for contents of their blogs.

Mohammad Ehsani charged for “soft overthrowing”

2009-03-13T06:03:00.001+03:30

Mohammad Ehsani, born in 1964, student of linguistics and member of documentary film production of Iran, has been imprisoned for the past 8 months in Evin prison. His name is the forth in a group of people who are charged with “soft overthrowing” by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Prior to this Alireza Jamshidi, Iranian judiciary spokesman had announced Alaii brothers charges to have been co-operating with the United States to topple the Islamic Republic, and had been sentenced to repeatedly six and three years imprisonment and financial penalty. He had not announced the third person charged but had referred to his sentence to have been 3 years of imprisonment.

Mohammad Eshani had been invited by Asian Association of New York and 5 other film centers in five US states, to exhibit his work in April 2005. His work was met with much enthusiasm. It is said that he was arrested unexpectedly during his wedding ceremony on 6 July 2008 in Tehran and sent to Evin prison. The same report also indicated that Mr.Ehsani has spent all his 8 month detention in solitary confinement while his situation was not mentioned by the media.

It is not clear, where and when his court has been held and if he was allowed an attorney, however he has been charged with co0operatiing with the United States for 3 years imprisonment.

IRNA state media, on 30 MAY 2008, reported the production of a film on Iranian music by Mr.Ehsani at the request of the New York Asian association, and the US Metropolitan Museum. This film was to be showed first at the inauguration of the Iranian art and culture beginning with Iranian music at its centre in New York. Reports indicate that the film was the request of sate Iranian Cultural Heritage and tourism and it was confirmed after visit of the Asian Associations delegation and US Metropolitan Museum to Iran.

It appears that the formal cultural transactions made under the supervision of the President had been part of charges of “soft overthrow brought onto Mr. Ehsani

Mysterious death of Political prisoner

2009-03-08T06:16:00.002+03:30

Amir Heshmat Saran, political prisoner of Rajaii shahr prison in Karaj, dies mysteriously on March 6, after he was transferred to hospital for brain damage.

His sudden death has been confirmed by his family.

The reasons of his death are claimed to be brain hemorrhage, but according to Human Right activists, experience with mysterious deaths of other political prisoners makes Mr. Saran's death a suspicious one.

Amir Saran was arrested in 2004 for founding a group named "National United Front", and was finally sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by Karaj Court.

He was spending his fifth year of imprisonment in Rajaii Shahr prison during which he was only allowed out once after which he was once again arrested and transferred to prison. He had announced in an interview "Since I am not guilty , I shall not go to prison"

Deputy Prosecutor says Roxana Saberi will be released

2009-03-08T06:12:00.003+03:30

Hassan Haddad, deputy Public Prosecutor of Tehran, referring to US-Iranian journalist Raxsana Saberi's case in the 2^nd enquiry branch said: "We have processed an investigation on her and she will be released in a couple of days".

Judicial authorities have neither announced charges adhered to Ms. Saberi nor details of her arrest, but it appears her engagement in providing news for US media has been the basic reason for here detention.

Roxans' father, Mr. Saberi in an interview with Radio NPR had explained the last telephone contact with his daughter from 209 Evin Prison.

Roxana Saberi , 31, had traveled to Iran six ears prior to her arrest as a journalist working for the NPR and some other news media.

Family denied of their beloved ones corps

2009-03-04T00:16:00.001+03:30

On the early hours of Saturday morning 2009, Mehdi Ghassemzadeh , a follower of the "Ahle Hagh" dervishes, was executed on charges of blasphemy, in Urumieh prison.

Neither his arrest, charges nor imprisonment were officially announced by authorities, but it is claimed that Mr.Ghassemzadeh was arrested when he was wounded in an armed clashe with the police in "Ojtapeh" ( A district in Urumieh) . He had been in prison for 4 years till his execution.
His family was denied the corps of their son, and was told to peruse the matter with the Intelligence Ministry.

It is worth noting that three others who shared the same case, sentenced to be hanged have now received a thirteen year prison sentence. These individuals are: ShahandAli Mohammadi, BakhshAli Mohammadi, Ebadollah Ghassemzadeh.

All three are members of the "Atashgera" (Fire lenient) sect in "Ojtapeh" district and have been reported to have been tortured in prison.

According to Azerbaijan websites following news on political prisoners, all three individuals have been on hunger strike in protest to Mr.Ghassemzadehs's sentence for execution.

Parallel to the hanging of Mr.Ghassemzadeh, Human Right activists are expressing concern on the possible hanging of another follower of the dervishes ; Youness Aghayan in the following days.

Four Student activists arrested in Tehran

2009-03-04T00:11:00.002+03:30

Early morning of March 1st, 2009, four students affiliated with the leftist "Freedom and Equality seeking Students" movement were arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents and are reported to have been transferred to Evin prison.

The situation of these students is not yet clear but, there is concern that they will face persecution or solitary confinement.

Student committee of Human Rights Reporters has announced these students to be as follow: Sanaz Allahyari, Nassim Roshanayee, Maryam Sheikh and AmirHossein Mohammadi. This report has been confirmed by their families.

It is also reported that other students seeking freedom and democracy have also been amongst those arrested.

Prior to this purge, two other students affiliated with the same movement had been arrested in two different cities on 12 February 2009. Mohammad Poor Abdollahi and ALireza Davoodi were both arrested in Ispahan and Tehran and are detained in unknown locations.

On the verge of the "Student Day" in Iran, in December 2007, intelligence agents had arrested 40 students affiliated with the leftist who are known to be under torture in the notorious 209 section of Evin.

More than 70 students have been arrested on 23 February 2009, during recent protests against the burial of the remains of those killed in the Iran-Iraq war in University campuses. According to Iranian student internet sites, 20 of those arrested are in Evin prison. Four of these students who had not been in the protests had already been arrestee at their homes on 24 February.
Many students had been treated in hospital because of knife wounds received from thugs and Bassidge forces .

4 other students who had been arrested for participating in a commemoration ceremony for Bazargan ( first prime minister after Shah's downfall) , had been arrested on 5 February 2009 on charges of taking part in the ceremony, and are still in Evin Prison.

20 students under torture

2009-03-01T04:01:00.002+03:30

According to the students commitee of Human Rights reporters, those arrested in the recent demonstration of students, protesting burial of remains of the old Iraq-Iran war dead in University compounds have been taken to the notorious Evin prison and are under torture.

The students committee of Human Rights reporters has released information indicating the aforementioned students have been put under immense pressure and torture and are not allowed to contact anyone.

Abbas Hakimzade – central committee of "Tahkim Vahdat", Mehdi Mashayekhi, Nariman Mostafavi and Ahmad Ghassaban were arrested a day after the remains of the dead were buried. There was no warrant for their arrests.

Amirkabir website, which is the students informing site has recently been threatened by unknown persons and has been hacked.

Other imprisoned students such as: Majid Tavakoli, Hossein Tarkashvand, Esmail Salmanpour and Kourosh Daneshyar have long begun a hunger strike in support of their friends.

The students were to participate in a commemoration celebration of Mr.Bazargan, when they were arrested.

Bahai leaders charged for spying for Israel

2009-02-13T00:14:00.002+03:30

On 21 February, Haddad, vice chair of Tehran prosecutors office announced that 7 Bahis , known to be leaders, have been charged for Insulting " sacred values of Islam", propagating against the State and spying for Israel.

According to Haddad, the seven were charged by the First prosecutors' office in Tehran and would be followed in Tehran's revolution court later.

All seven arrested are part of the known "Iranian Bahai Assembly" and had been arrested on 14 May 2008 during an attack by security forces on their homes.

Mahvash, Fariba kamal Abadi, Jamal Aldin Khanjani, Afif Naiimi, Saiid Rezaii, Behrooz Tavakoli and Vahid Tiz Fahm are the arrested members' concerned.

Prior to this Bani Dogal, Bahai community representative in the UN, had condemned the attack saying : " Their only crime is their faith ".

The arrested individuals are known to be part of a group called:"Friendship group" whose mandate was to take care of difficulties faced by the Bahai community.

Priro to this case, Ali Ashtari who was charged with spying for Israel has been hanged. According to the Bahai community spokesman, they suffer a great deal of prejudice in Iran for their religious belief.

Expelled Human right Student under torture

2009-02-09T22:30:00.002+03:30

Javad Alizadeh, student of Alameh Taba Tabaei, was expelled from University for activities allegedly against the Islamic regime in Iran. Mr.Alizadeh was arrested for the second time on 15 January 2009 and is reportedly held in Sanandaj interrogation centre- in the Iranian Kurdish region- and is under intense interrogation and torture.
Mr.Alizadeh's relatives have reported a telephone conversation with him after 22 days in which he was cutt-off while revealing his appalling physical condition.

According to this conversation, Mr. Alizadeh is suffering from brain hemorrhage and facial bone fracture as well as psychological damage.

Mr. Alizadeh , was arrested after participating in the funeral of an other student reported to have been killed under interrogation – Ebrahim Lotfollahi- and has been in Evin prison for several months as he was unable to pay the enormous Bail asked by prison authorities.

Concern over elderly prisoners' situation

2009-01-29T17:04:00.000+03:30

Relatives of over 18 families, including elderly men and women, who had been arrested in Tehran's International airport for trying to legally go to Iraq to visit their next of kin and relatives of Camp Ahsraf (where PMOI members reside) have been arrested and are in a dangerous situation.

Most of the arrested are elderly women aging between 60 to 80 years.

Soleiman Zahed, Zahra Javadi,Ferdows Mahboobi,Fateme Sadeghi, Kobra AMirkhizi, Mr.and Mrs. BoorEghbal, Parisa Pooreghbal,Azizeh Shafinia, Jamileh Mohammadzadeh, Kobra Badiroodi, Mr.Bahrami, Atifeh Bahrami, andmany members of the Rezaii Familly. ( Rezaii family has been famous in Iranian families for having 9 members of their family killed under the Shah and Khomeini)

No reasons have been given for their arrest, but that they had tempted to visit their family members (in Camp Ashraf).

It is said that some of these people are in a very bad physical condition. Considering the fact that these people are in a volatile situation and under heavy interrogation, families fear their health.

Prior to this incident, the Judiciary of the Intelligence Ministry had arrested a young student named Houd Yazerloo, who had been visiting his relatives in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.

Mr. Yazerloo has been transferred to the public ward 7 of Evin after having been in solitary confinement.

British film director Ken Loach: I am writing to strongly protest against a new wave of arrests and repression of labour activists in Iran

2009-01-24T19:09:00.000+03:30

Ken LoachBritish
Film and television director

To: info@leader.ir ; dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir ; info@judiciary.ir ; iran@un.int Cc: info@workers-iran.org

Subject: protest letter

I have read the information about Labour activists imprisoned in your country. These words express exactly the outrage of many people at your government's callous disregard for civil liberties. From Ken Loach, Film Director, England.

I am writing to strongly protest against a new wave of arrests and repression of labour activists in Iran. According to the latest news, the current labour activists who are known to be in jails across Iran are as follows:

- Mr. Mansour Osanloo, the president of the board of directors of the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburb Bus Company, sentenced to five years imprisonment, incarcerated since July 2007. Mansour Osanloo was kidnapped by plain clothes agents in the evening of Tuesday, July 10, 2007. Osanloo has been beaten numerous times by security forces. He has some serious health problems.

- Mr. Afshin Shams, a member of "Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers' organizations", a member of the "Committee in Defence of Mahmoud Salehi" and a member of "Caricaturists. He was arrested at his work in city of Aligoodarz on July on July 3, 2008 and later was transferred to Dastgerd prison in Isfahan. On November 1, 2008, he was November 1, 2008. Afshan Shams received his verdict from the court according which he has been sentenced to one year imprisonment. The verdict was given without the presence of Afshin's lawyer.

- Mr. Farzad Kamangar, a 33 year old teacher and union and human rights activist from Kurdistan province. He has been sentenced to death by the Iranian government and has been severely tortured. He has been transferred to Rajayee Shahr Prison since December 25, 2008 and he is kept in Infectious Diseases section of the prison. His lawyer has expressed surprise with this transfer. Despite legal efforts in Iran and international protests, Farzad's execution sentence has not been revoked. For more info please refer o the http://www.labourstart.org/farzad

- Mr. Mohsen Hakimi, a member of the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers' Organization and a member of the Iranian Writers' Association, was arrested by the plain-clothes security agents near midnight on December 22, 2008 in Tehran. According to the latest news, he is incarcerated in section 209 of the Evin Prison.

- Mr. Bijan Amiri, who is an auto worker and a member of workers' mountain-climbing board, was arrested by the Iran Khodro Company's security forces on December 22, 2008 in the factory. According to the latest news, he is incarcerated in section 209 of the Evin Prison.
- Mr. Ebrahim Madadi, the vice-president of the board of directors of the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. Mr. Madadi has been arrested a number of times before. The latest arrest took place in the North Branch of the Employment office in Tehran on December 27, 2008. Mr. Molayee, Maddi's lawyer, has told the BBC Persian that Mr. Madadi has been arrested according to a court order issued by division 14 of the Islamic Revolution Court according to which he has been sentenced to three and half years of imprisonment for "acting against the national security" and "propaganda against the system" . However, Mr. Molayee reports that the court order was never given to him or Mr. Madadi, thus they did not have a chance to appeal it. The court claims that they had verbally informed Mr. Madadi about it when he was detained for another case previously. Mr. Madadi had spent about 4 months in prison last year. Mr. Madadi is currently detained in Evin prison.

- Mr. Pedram Nasrolahi, who is a member of the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers' Organizations in Kurdistan, arrested on December 24, 2008.

- Mr. Bakhtiar Rahimi, a labour activist in Kurdistan was arrested on December 23, 2008. Mr. Rahimi had been previously incarcerated and released after a few months.

In addition, many labour activists in Iran are under suspended sentences or await trials and are suspended or expelled from their workplace as the result of their labour activities, including many member of the Vahed Syndicate in Tehran as well as five leaders of the Syndicate of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company Workers' Syndicate who were put on trial on December 20, 2008 and are now awaiting their verdict.

Therefore, I condemn all these arrests and repression of labour activists and organizations in Iran and demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of all incarcerated workers. I also ask the Iranian government to respect workers' rights to organize, assemble and strike, put an end to persecution of labour activists and not to interfere in the affairs of independent workers' organizations.

Save the life of Farzad Kamangar

2009-01-24T19:04:00.002+03:30

Please join with the thousands of trade unionists and human rights defenders around the world who are mobilising in defence of Farzad Kamangar, an Iranian Kurdish teacher and trade unionist who is at risk of execution.

Education International received information from reliable sources that on 26 November Kamangar was taken from his cell 121 in ward 209 of Tehran's Evin prison in preparation for execution by hanging. However, the latest information is that he is still alive and was able to meet with his lawyer on 27 November for the first time in over two months. His situation remains precarious nonetheless.

Kamangar, aged 33, was sentenced to death by the Iranian Revolutionary Court on 25 February 2008 after a trial which took place in secret, lasted only minutes, and failed to meet Iranian and international standards of fairness. His lawyer, Kahlil Bahramian, said: "Nothing in Kamangar's judicial files and records demonstrates any links to the charges brought against him." Indeed, Kamangar was initially cleared of all charges during the investigation process.

Education International, the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Transport Workers Federation, Amnesty International and LabourStart are appealing to the Iranian authorities to commute the death sentence and ensure his case is reviewed fairly.

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=453

Alaei brothers given 9 year prison term

2009-01-22T23:25:00.002+03:30

Iranian revolution Court has sentenced Dr. Arash Alaei and his brother Kamyar Alaei , specialists in research and curbing AIDS, to altogether 9 years imprisonment. They are charged with participating in "soft toppling".

On Monday 19 January the head of the anti espionage section of the Intelligence Ministry had referred to the brothers as those who had participated in" toppling the regime softly".

Mr.Shafiee, their attorney, has said that the terms given are not final and they still have time to appeal!

According to article 508 of the Islamic penal code, the brothers have been sentenced to 9 years. The code indicates " Any person or organization in touch with a foreign government for any activities against the Islamic Republic, if not sentences to be untouchables, will be sentenced to one to ten years of prison". The attorney sees this reference inapplicable for his clients because the brothers have declined any relation with any US institution or foreign institutions. They have solely been active on scientific research to combat AIDS.

The anti espionage section has prior to this announced that they will release some of the confessions received of the convicted persons in a TV channel.

TV confessions have been used against political prisoners as long ago as 29 years and is a tactic well known to cover political motives.

Political prisoners whose "Confessions" have been released in the TV later have revealed the amount of torture inflicted on them for these confessions.

Trials of those involved in "peaceful toppling" of Tehran

2009-01-18T18:32:00.002+03:30

According to ISNA-17 January, the 25th branch of Tehran's Revolution Court has convicted those involved in "soft toppling" of the regime in Iran to life imprisonment .

The court has not clarified their names and whereabouts or even the prison in which they are being detained. According to a statement released by three Human Rights NGOs; Doctors defending Human Rights, Human Right Watch (Iran), and "International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: The Alaei brothers are amongst those accused of trying to topple the regime.

According to the Court , these people had been "in contact with US Intelligence", under the pretext of working in governmental and non governmental institutions while being supported by the US Ministry of State and financed by the Senate". According to the accusations, they have been trying to instigate a "soft toppling" and were arrested by Iranian Intelligence.

Prior to this Alireza Jamshidi, spokesman of the Judiciary, had referred to the trial of four members of a network formed for a "soft toppling of Tehran", which was "financed by the US", on 13 January 2009.

He had declared their crimes to be in context with article 508 of the Islamic Penal Code: "Cooperating with Hostile governments to the Islamic Republic", which could result in a ten year prison term for the accused.

Many Arrested; Bahai affiliates and Dervish members

2009-01-16T19:23:00.002+03:30

14 January 2009, in a coordinated operation, ten families affiliated with the Bahai faith were harassed by Iranian regime security agents, their belongings searched, confiscated and their members arrested and taken away to Evin prison.

According to reports released by Bahai students; Jinus Sobhani, Shahrokh Taeff, Azizollah Samandari, Payam Aghsani, Didar Raoof, Nima Haghar have been arrested.

Junis Sobahani had been secretary of the society of "Defenders of Human Rights" until it was banned in December 2008. She was also a member in the "Society of participating mine detectors".

A spokesman from the Society of Defenders of Human Rights said Sobhani was arrested at 6.30 in the morning of the day her house was searched, along with her husband. She had recently written legal articles on Human Rights in local media.

Iranian officials have not yet clarified the reason for their arrest. Dian Alaei, representative of the Bahai Community in the UN has declared the arrest to be related with their affiliation to the Bahai faith.

Other members of the Bahai faith, arrested previously on 14 May 2008 are still in detention without legal clarifications.

Gonabad Dervishes

Six members of the Dervish community of Gonabad, have been arrested in an attack by security agents in Kish (Island in the South of Iran)

According to these reports, Mohammad Jafar Entezami, Abdolreza Goodarzi, Ahmad Goodarzi, Amin Goodarzi, Omid Hassan Zadeh, Mehran Assadpoor,TOoraj Yeganeh have been among those arrested.

These people have been arrested during a violent attack on Mr. Jafarpoor's house by intelligence agents. Their location at the moment is reported to be in the Security Detention centre of Kish.
This attack follows the forced closure of the "Hosseinieh" (prayers sanctuary) of the Gonabad Dervishes in Kish.

They have been arrested for their religious beliefs.

Alaei brother's trial ahead

2009-01-02T10:32:00.003+03:30

On 30 December 2008, Alireza Jamshidi, spokesman for the judiciary confirmed the awaiting trials of Arash and Kamiar Alaei. He stated the brother's crime to be "acting against National security by collaborating with the USA, carrying out media campaigns against the state and also being a member of outlawed political groups".

Kamiar and Arash Alaei have been vanguards in combating Aids in Iran. They were both arrested on 23 June 2008 by security agents and are believed to be kept in the notorious 209 section of Evin Prison.

+ Hossein Derakhashan's arrest confirmed

Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian- Canadian citizen, was arrested as he returned to Iran on November 1 2008.

His relatives have indicated that he has been accused of traveling to Israel, which is not allowed in the Islamic constitution.

Mr.Derakhsahn who has been one of the leading Iranian blogger, was invited to participate in a seminar in Israel in 2006. The seminar was titled: "Reforms, opposition and disputes in the Middle East" and also " Blogging, a true way to oppose in the Middle East".

Harassing a prisoner for annulling the Quaran

2008-12-21T22:21:00.000+03:30

Azizi is the name of the head of section 7 of the notorious prison Evin, in which thousands of prisoners are being tortured and harassed. The most common punishment used on a prisoner is to abandon them in a solitary confinement.

Hamidreza Mohammadi, imprisoned in section 7, has been charged with insulting the holy book Qoran and inciting revolt to overthrow the regime, and has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. He said that he was harassed and insulted after which he was sent to solitary confinement in section 240. After six days of psychological torture in solitary confinement, he was sent to be among dangerous inmates in the public ward.

Mr.Mohammadi has said he faces the danger of being deported to Rajaii shahr prison, a place known to be used for pressurizing prisoners into false confessions. Despite the fact that prison laws have distinctively reiterated on the separation of political prisoners from criminals, as Mohammadi reminded the head of prison of the law, Azizi had replied "I am the law!"
It is said that Hamidreza Mohammadi who has actually stamped all seven pages of the Quoran as void of authenticity has been badly harassed and deprived of having an attorney.

Apart from Mr.Mohammadi, Ahmad Ghassaban has also been sent to the criminal ward 8 of Evin prison, for having undermined prison code of conduct, is also undergoing much distress and harassment.

It is known that these wards are used to increase pressure on political prisoners, and are being used by prison authorities since the latest change in prison organizations.

It is important to note that the mixing of political prisoners with normal criminals is a sign of implosion within regime ranks who cannot even abide by their own laws.

Students harassed in prison for informing whereabouts of Alaei brothers

2008-12-10T23:31:00.001+03:30

Hood Yazerlou, student of Industrial management of Massoomein University of the religious city of Quom, who was arbitrarily arrested on 24 May 2008, for no clarified reason, has been transferred to solitary confinement since 7 December in 209 section of Evin prison and is under immense pressure.

Hood had informed his family during a visit about the transfer of Kamyar and Arash Alaei (two Aids specialists also arrested under charges of being in contact with the US) to solitary confinement.

The two brothers are founders of the triangular system of clinics established to curb Aids and are members of the Asian society, and have been in prison since June this year. In this regard, Hassan Haddad, deputy prosecutor general for security was quoted to have stated "The US is infiltrating Iran, and apart from using tough measures they use methods to attract people to their cause".

According to information received by Human Rights activists for Democracy in Iran, Mr.Yazerloo has been transferred to solitary confinement and is deprived of basic warmth and sanitary facilities under the present cold weather. He has been deprived of blankets and windows leading to his cell have been left open intentionally by prison officials as a means of torture. Hood (nearly 21 years old) is spending day and night under freezing conditions. He is left in unbearable conditions as a weak light is always on so as to prevent his sleep (if any).

Hood Yazerloo has been under these horrendous situations for the past 6 months. During the first thirty seven days of his solitary confinement, his prison conditions and sanitary was extremely poor as the result of which his lungs were infected and eventually he was coughing blood, but any medical assistance for him was prevented by prison officials.

Mr.Yazerloo, 21, was arbitrarily taken in to detention, after he came back from visiting his Aunt who is a member of the PMOI stationed in Iraq.

Four deprived University students end up in Evin Prison

2008-11-27T17:33:00.001+03:30

Sadegh Shojaii, Mehdieh Golroo, Majid Dorri and Saiid Feizollahzade, the four students who had been deprived of their studies by the University Allameh Tabatabaii, have been arrested on Monday 24 November, after a sit-in and then transferred to Evin prison.

According to the students committee of Human Rights reporters, the four had begun a sit-in in front of the University which drew attention and support from other students.

The four students had been deprived after there were protests in Allameh for the shut down of Student press and clashes and harassments caused by the security forces of the University in the spring of 2007.

Their families had joined their protest in support of their loved ones outside the University.

Before being arrested, Ms. Mehdieh Golroo had spoken of the harassment by the University guards and said; "It was dawn, all four of us were sleep. Suddenly we were confronted with 25 people who dragged us out of the University Campus. I told them they have no right to speak and treat students like this, but the security agent began using foul language and begun hitting me instead, slapping me so much that I felt half of my face had gone paralyzed and swollen.".

At least 500 students rushed to support the four subjects and their demands; to be allowed to study.

It is noticeable that the Right to Education is one of the basic rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 26, and the Iranian constitution has also accepted this. But in reaction to the explosive situation and the student's activities, the Islamic Republic officials use the disciplinary committees created in the Universities to curb student movements.

Two related to the Bahai faith arrested

2008-11-21T10:32:00.003+03:30

According to Shole Allah Verdi Gorji , her parents , Sonya Tabibian and Tarazallah, both Bahais, are being held in Sari's Intelligence Ministry.

"When we approached my parents' house we realized it was in a mess for some reason. Some o the books and documents had also been taken. There had been no contact with us neither to say that they had been taken away", Says Shohel in an interview with Radio Farda.

According to Mrs.Shole, judicial officials have agreed to release her parents with bail, but local officials of Sari, refrain from releasing them, under the pretext of "unfinished investigation".

In a visit to her parents Shole says her parents seem to be under heavy stress. Although the family has not received any official charges m but apparently during their interrogations and verbal exchange with the prosecution officer , they are supposedly "offending the sacred and also promoting this" in the region, and should not continue doing so.

Mrs. Shole says that it has been difficult to get an attorney for her parents' defense, obviously because most fear consequences of taking cases related to the Bahai faith. "If they accept, it would bear consequences for them as well" says Sholeh.

She said they have been looking for help from Lawyers without boarders, but that even is not clear to give fruit.

Iranian-American student released though bail

2008-11-11T22:38:00.003+03:30

Esha Momeni Iranian-American student who had returned to Iran to complete her thesis involving a film documentary on women's situation -arrested on 15 October 2008-, has been released on a 198000 dollar bail from Evin prison.

According to Reza Momeni, his father, Esha is not allowed to leave Iran and has to be present in a political court hearing on charges of "acting against national security and propagating against the government".

These charges are heavy enough to have her sentenced to a life prison term.

Mr. Momeni says her daughter has lost eight kilos under stress and difficult situation in prison but is generally in a moderate situation. He emphasized that his family house has been taken ransom for Esha's bail while she is waiting to confront the judge on Tuesday to be clarified on the future process of her case. He was hopeful that her daughter would soon leave Iran for Los Angeles.

Esha was arrested by the traffic police in Tehran for driving errors but was followed to her house, arrested and her belongings searched and confiscated.

Miss Momeni had only ten weeks left to finish her course in the US, and had traveled to Tehran to complete her thesis using a documentary over women activists' campaign collecting the 1 million petition in support of Women's Rights in Iran.

Two other Iranian-Americans are now in prison, charged with "acting against National Security". Arash Alaei an Kamyar Alaei , two brothers have long been specialists working on the elimination of aids in Iran. They have also been held by the Intelligence agents in 209 of Evin prison.

Student activist condemned for 15 years imprisonment

2008-11-07T20:39:00.002+03:30

Second Branch of the revolutionary courts of Sanandaj (Iranian Kurdistan) has sentenced Yasser Goli to 15 years prison term in exile.

"The sentence ordered by the court is only 10 lines! This court order which is supposed to be based on article 168 of the Islamic penal code has no reference on any evidence provided against my client Yasser Goli. My client has in none of his interrogations, let alone in the court sessions held against him, confessed against himself" Reiterates attorney Nemat Ahmadi.

According to Human Rights defense organization in Kurdistan (Iran), while rejecting all charges against his client of being affiliated to opposition Kurdish groups Mr.Ahmadi said: "Unfortunately there is a plot here to handicap Kurdish writers and give them guns and send them off for battle in the mountains". Mr.AHmadi continues" I see no logic in labeling civil activists as supporters of political parties, while there is no proof supporting this claim, and no crime committed to prove this and no pretext for the prison term".

Mr. Ahmadi refered to Yasser Golis' high marks in the national University exams said " Is it just to label such highly enthusiastic youth of our nation and dispose of them in different corners and prisons of our land and waste them, instead of encouraging them? What lies ahead for such youth, after they spend 15 years of their best and ripe years behind bars?".

Dr.Ahmadi adds; "I shall put on trial all judicial conscience with regards to this court decision". He then reiterated a point for the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Intelligence and said "As a jurist, I am not against clarifying crimes, but I like to ask Mr. Shahroodi and Mr. Ejei both with practical experiences in both domains, specially that the agent who has been directly involved in fabricating the case against my client has been a direct employee of Mr.Ejei ,to call my clients case from the Sanandaj tribunal and review it with a righteous conscience, the true Islamic and judicial values , so that the innocence of my client be revealed".

Yasser Goli is the first secretary of the Kurdish Student union of Iranian Universities and a civil activist in Sanandaj. It is now 13 months since Yasser has been arrested and imprisoned by the Intelligence of Sanandaj.

According to Dr. Nemat Ahmadi, he has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

American-Iranian student in solitary confinement in Iran

2008-10-31T02:30:00.004+03:30

Gholamreza Momeni, in an interview with Rooz Online expressed deep concern about her daughter's wellbeing.

Esha Monein is a graduate student at the School of Communications, Media and Arts at California State University, Northridge, and an active participant of the 1 million campaign signature collection in support of basic women's rights in Iran, said his efforts to ensure the safety and freedom of her daughter has been ineffective so far.

"We have not been able to do a thing. They simply won't answer. They keep saying go away. We will call you as soon as her interrogation is over". He nevertheless expressed his hopes that Iranian officials would realize the misunderstanding concerning her daughter and set her free.

"In any case, when a student, institutions or even an organization wishes to have social activities, it should be supported by the government, and not be imprisoned for trying to improve situations. My daughter was a volunteer and was helping people. My daughter returned to Iran for her thesis. She had interviewed respected and known people in the society. All exchanged contents and comments have been already released publicly in the media. The subject was about women and women's rights. Neither the questions posed not the content replied has been out of the unusual framework permitted in the media. It was concentrating on women's rights' was Mr. Momeni's comments n his daughters charges.

"I believe Iranian officials have to face the issue concerning women's rights one day.
There is a lot to be defended here. Is it right to imprison some one for talking about his rights and the rights of his kind? Women's right is not a political issue. It has nothing to do with regime change! It is not a political issue" expressed Mr. Momeni emphasizing on her daughters principles on civil rights.

" I am ashamed of this situation and that I live in this country under these conditions. I have served this country for years. It is 10 am and I still am engaged on Esha's situation. Her mother is in a wreck. Is there no justice?' exclaimed Mr. Momeni.

As Mr. Momeni highlights the effect of Esha's arrest on other people around them he says "The effect has been simply this: I and many of my colleagues have opened a new interest on the issue concerning women. Women's issues are not to be dodged. Imagine a lady having married a madman. And later when she wishes to divorce the madman, who would support her? It would be practically impossible for her to divorce the Guy.! So it turns out that, if my daughter has such concerns she has to go to prison! My daughter had a good life in the US, but her hear beats with Iran and her fellow Iranians and their problems. Is it fair to treat her like this? If someone tries to produce a University documentary about social problems so that even government officially could use to develop the issues, should she be arrested? This kind of research would have to finally be done at the expense of the government, while she is doing it now foe them.'

Esha's father asks; "why should anyone be arrested for having a camera? She was not loose in public places taking photos. On the contrary, she had taken shots of people with a prior agreement. Why is there no comprehension of charges before any one is arrested without notice in this country? My daughter has not committed any crime to be imprisoned for it. I had no intention of talking to the media, because I was hopeful that officials would realize the misunderstanding and release my daughter. But unfortunately this is what happens" you are suddenly faced with a sudden search and confiscation of your belongings! My daughter lives with her parents. Why have they poured into our house with no notification and searched our house? My wife was seriously hurt in the raid and my other daughter had to leave school for a couple of days for the shock she received. Is this how they should treat citizens whose hear beats for the sake of their country's well fare? We have under gone a revolution in our country and it is time that things follow legal procedures here. They surge some one while he is driving then it turns out that they are themselves members of the security forces. If the case is judicial, then they should summon her for the court. The normal legal procedure of questioning and self defense in the court would guarantee that both sides have had their rights preserved.

Mr. Momeni while expressing deep concern of his daughter's well being in solitary confinement said "Any statement made by my daughter in solitary confinement is void of any credibility. Talking under stress and fear has no validity. Mr. Ahmadinejad who claims to defend Freedom, had gone to the US and spoke out. Did his reflections hurt the US? On the contrary, everyone praises the US democracy. Now my daughter has interviewed a couple of civil right activists as a researcher, but she is sent to prison. Is there any justice in this? Where is justice?

Mr. Momeni stressed that her daughters concerns are his and said: We should re think over women's issues. They should talk to spiritual leaders here and solve the problems.
It is not right to allow all rights for men and none for women. My daughter is saying the same thing. What I leaned from my daughters arrest is that our government should take women's issues seriously. It is nit a good idea to imprison the one who is trying to point to shortcomings that have to be looked over. This is not good for the Islamic Republics image! Where is Islamic justice?

Esha Momeni, producer and photographer, student activist on women's issues and a volunteer of the 1 million signature campaign. She was arrested in Modaress highway on 15 October by the camouflaged police. She was illegally arrested. Her car was stopped for speed, but she was transferred to 209 Evin prison ward. Before she was arrested, her house was searched and her belongings had been confiscated, which included her computer, the films she had recorded for her theses.

Her parents approached the Court to clarify her situation after 5 days. They were told not to approach the court any more until her interrogations are over.

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, declared Esha's arrest illegal. Mr. Dadkhah officially declared in the "Equality" Internet site, that she is representing the Momeni family for Esha. "As far as I have been told by the family, Eshas arrest has been for filming for a University thesis. According to article 23 f the Constitution, photography and taking film of public places which are not listed as illegal does not constitute a crime and therefore is subject to inquiry prior to any attempt for guilt. The aforementioned films had been taken in homes of the subjects interviewed, which does not fit the category of public places and buildings.

Being a member of the Human rights society, Mr.Dadkhah said; "Iran has accepted the general framework of the Human Rights charter. Article 27 of this Charter reiterates that no government can, under the pretext of respecting its own rules, undermine internationally respected rules. According to basic civil rights mentioned in the charter, and article 3 of Nations rights in the constitution, guarantees individual freedoms of citizens. Therefore this arrest is illegal and in violation of all international covenants" .

Hassan Ghashgaii, spokesman for Foreign affairs said in a press conference, on Monday 27 October 2008; "Institutions concerning this issue are following up the persons arrest, the foreign office has not yet received any news of the investigation so far."

9 years prison sentence for two Isfahan University students

2008-10-25T08:43:00.001+03:30

Jamal Rahmani of the industry faculty and Rashed Abdollahi of the political science faculty of Isfahan University were arrested on 12 June 2008 by the security guards in Isfahan. They were first taken to Kermanshah security centre and later transferred to Sanandaj prison centre (Situated in the western Kurdish region of Iran).

They have been put on trial by Judge "Tiary" and charged for having contacts with Kurdish opposition groups.

Kamal Rahmani has been sentenced to 6 years conditional imprisonment and exile to Izeh prison in a small village.

Mr.Abdollahi has also been sentenced to exile, but in a separate district of Masjid Soleiman, along with 3 years conditional imprisonment.

Relatives to the two students have reported that both have been subjected to torture and psychological pressure while under interrogation.

17 years imprisonment for ceremony

2008-10-23T06:25:00.002+03:30

According to Amirkabir news site, political activist, Mr. Mohammad Ali Mansouri has been sentence 17 years prison and exile to Gohardasht prison, for having participated in a ceremony marking the great massacre of more than 5000 political prisoners in 1988 by Khomeini's orders.

Mr. Mansouri was arrested in September 2007, at his home. This arrest was only three days after the memorial held in remembrance of the massacred political prisoners. In the attack, his belongings were confiscated, his house searched and Mr. Mansoori was scuffled and transferred to the notorious 209 solitary confinement.

It is unclear, how ever, why the Intelligence Ministry has removed the first applied charges against him, which entailed his participation in the mentioned memorial services, and later charged under other pretexts.

During the six month of his detention, Mr. Mansouri had spent four months in the notorious 209 Evin section and in solitary confinement. According to family members and eyewitnesses he has been subjected to violence during his detention.

Concerns over situation of Al Alam sacked journalist

2008-10-13T03:13:00.002+03:30

Mohammad Hassan Falahi Zade, former journalist working in Al Alam TV channel, has gone on hunger strike. He was said to have been dismissed for refusing to work with the Intelligence Ministry agents at work and hence sacked, and later arrested.

Prisoners rights group; Activists in support of Human Rights and Democracy, has reported that Mr. Falahi Zadeh has been protesting against ethnic prejudice used against him has been demanding for his basic rights.

Considering his blood disorder and also previous cases of political prisoners murdered under various pretexts while on hunger strike, such as Akbar Mohammadi and Valiollah Feiz Mahdavi , activists are extremely worried of Mr. Falahie Zades situation.

On his second day of hunger strike, Mr. Falahi Zade was summoned to prison security and threatened by a known " Koorgal".

Mr.Falahi Zade is demanding for his basic rights such as, the right to council, the right to defense and clarification of his charges and an end to psychological torture.

According to reports released by Activists in support for Human Rights and Democracy, Mr. Falahi Zade had revealed news on execution of those charged with bombing attacks in Southern Iran in an interview with Dubai TV and various other Arab media.

Mr. Falahi Zade was arrested on 1 November 2006, transferred to Evin prison and under went White torture. His trial was only a few minutes in which he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment along with 30 thousand dollars for compensation.

Baghi is freed

2008-10-11T09:04:00.002+03:30

The one year prison sentence of Emadeddin Baghi, a renown Human Right activist has officially terminated .

Mr. Baghi approached the First Branch of the prosecutor on 14 October 2007, to account for his accusations regarding activities in defense of freedom of press, when he was arrested.

He had protested his deteriorating conditions in the 209 Evin sections, where he was kept in complete isolation by the Intelligence Ministry. He suffered two heart attacks and was transferred to public ward and later to Hospital and eventually was allowed temporary leave for his health conditions.

During his leaf, Mr.Baghi was interrogated 5 times, for which he was transferred to and from Evin. Despite his Doctors' prescription which emphasized on his deteriorating heart condition and suggested a peaceful atmosphere for his recovery, he was again transferred to solitary confinement in 209 Evin. This prompted much protest.

His wife, in the meantime printed an open letter addressed to the Public prosecutor, protesting to 24 restrictions imposed on his husband. In this letter she had also pointed out that Mr. Baghis' family members were also called by the prosecutors' office at least 77 times during his detention.
Although confiding prisoners strictly to solitary confinement and blindfolding them are supposedly illegal, Mr. Baghi had claimed, he was not allowed to leave his cell for 4 days, not even for the bathroom, which lead to severe kidney disorders later on.

Osanlou's transfere to Rajaii prison: He talks

2008-10-01T20:26:00.003+03:30

Parvaneh, spouse to Osanlou, a prominent leader of the independent Transport Syndicate of Tehran and the suburbs, has said her husband is in prison because he has been striving for the rights of workers within Iran's legal framework.

Parvaneh's interview has appeared in the "Shahregan" site.

"here eyes all filled with stress and anxiety, as she speaks of her husbands heart problems or the recent stitches of his eyes. She tries very hard to hide her troubled mind but her trembling voice gives way to her stressful life.

She complains of Iranian official conduct which contradicts the Iranian President's comments in New York, while he had told a reporter that in Iran, prisoners are trialed with presence of their attorney and have a fair and open trial.

As far as she is concerned, her husband has never had these advantages.

She is aware of the "Right to have Leave" for prisoners, but is puzzled as to why her husband has never been allowed to leave the prison , during the last painful 25 months, even for his heart problems and medical care, let alone for any "Leave".

Parvaneh speaks with much complaint, as she explains how her husband was harassed and handcuffed, when he was being taken to hospital once, for a heart failure, and tears run down her worrisome eyes.

Shahregan reporter: Mrs. Osanlou, according to information received your husband was taken to hospital in hand cuffs and chains?

Mrs.Osanlou: Yes! After several months of delay they finally allowed my husband to be visited in LabfiNejad hospital on 21 September. The way he was transferred was shocking in hand cuffs and chains. Seeing this only caused more pain. One of his stitches had gone bad and apparently his blood pressure was exceptionally high (it had reached nearly 14). Drs prescribed new medication for his heart and looked over his stitches.

Shahregan reporter: What did the Doctors say about his condition?

Mrs.Osanlou: They emphasized Mansour should be under treatment and his conditions to be controlled and checked. It seems that two of his arteries are blocked and to treat this situation he has to be kept in a hygiene and peaceful atmosphere. One of the Drs. had also written a letter to prison officials, highlighting the fact that handcuffs and chains and so forth will cause much stress and should not be used on this patient.

Shahregan reporter: Mrs. Osanlou, how have officials in charge of this case, explained this transfer?

Mrs.Osanlou: I along with his mother and sister approached the judge responsible for his case on 25 August. He claimed he knew nothing of the situation but would follow it up. The next day we approached the judge and after several hours of waiting finally were received. He said the decision had been taken by the Security Council of Tehran and Prison Organizations, and the only reason is that Mr. Osanlou "Talks". I replied "any living man "talks". When you hold some one in prison, his reaction to talk and release his stress or even protest, is very natural".

Shahregan reporter: You are defiant to Mr.Osanlous transfer to Rajaii Shahr prison and seek his hospitalization. Could you tall us about his conditions in that prison?

Mrs.Osanlou: Osanlou should never, under any conditions be kept there. Firstly, he should not be held in the non political ward. He should be kept in the political wing, even if he is to be imprisoned. At the moment, we are worried at all times, (because f the threats posed to political prisoners moved to these wards). Our life is shattered. For example fo reach call, he has to wait in a long queue (with his conditions) and finally when his turn comes, we are never able to confer with him all the problems and hazards.

On the other hand the atmosphere and environment of that prison is in sharp contrast to conditions necessary for his treatment. As my husband had said several times, the inmates in that ward often have knife fights and the place is very dangerous. Most people smoke and there is no ventilation. It is practically airless. Apart from the conditions, apparently from two in the afternoon onwards, they are not allowed to have fresh air. Smoke and stress is the worst thing for Mansour's heart and eye conditions.

19 Azerbaijanis Arbitrarily Arrested

2008-09-19T11:11:00.000+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Rights of Ethnic Minorities Routinely Violated

(17 September 2008) Intelligence Ministry agents arrested 19 prominent members of the Azerbaijani minority at a private Ramadan celebration on the evening of 10 September 2008, and detained them in Evin Prison where nine are still being held without charge, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“We condemn these arbitrary arrests and detentions, and call upon the authorities to return the citizens to their families,” the Campaign said. “The mistreatment of the Azerbaijani minority in Iran should end.”

According to witnesses, between ten and fifteen plainclothes security agents entered the home of Sayad Muhammadian, who was hosting the Iftar dinner, and began arresting the guests. Among those arrested were three youths attending the dinner with their mother Raqieh Alizadeh, the wife of Abbas Lisani, an Azerbaijani activist imprisoned in exile in Yazd.

Upon arrival in Evin Prison they were separated from their mother. Raqieh was interrogated until 2 AM on 11 September. She was later released from prison with three of her children, along with Akram Najari, Rabab Azimi, and Farhad Rezai. On 14 September, three other prisoners, Yusef Hoshiar, Shabaz Ebrahimzadeh, and Muhammad Abbaspour, were released. No reason has been given for any of the arrests.

Most of those arrested are prominent writers, teachers, and journalists. The nine men currently in detention are: Alireza Sarafi, Hasan Rashdi, Akbar Azad, Saeed Muhammadi, Mahdi Namimi Ardabili, Hasan Rahimibayat, Abbas Naimi, Hasan Haydari and Sayad Muhammadian.

Alireza Sarafi is the author of the book, Ethnic Pluralism and Iranian National Identity, and director of the monthly publication Dilmaj (which until October 2007 was being published in Azerbaijani Turkic and Persian). He is also a contributing writer for the bilingual magazine Varliq, and teacher of Azerbaijani folklore at universities in Tehran. He has conducted seminars on language at Tabriz University and is also one of the founding members of the National Peace Council.

Hasan Rashdi and Akbar Azad are contributing writers for Varliq magazine. Rashdi is a teacher of Azerbaijani Turkic literature, journalist and contributor to various national publications, author of three books on the Azerbaijani Turkic language and Azerbaijani identity. Rashidi and Azad are founders of the Chicheklar Qorulushu Forum that works for the protection of children’s rights. Akbar Azad is also the author of children’s books in Azerbaijani Turkic and contributor to numerous publications.

Saeed Muhammadi is a poet, author, journalist, and editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Yashmaq. He is the former editor-in-chief of the publication Paryaq.

Namimi Ardabili is a poet and teacher of Azerbaijani Turkic language at Tehran University. Hasan Rahimibayat is a human rights activist and a member of the Reporters Committee for Human Rights.

Iranian authorities routinely accuse Azerbaijani cultural activists and scholars of acting against national security. Those involved with promoting Azerbaijani culture and its study have routinely been arrested and sometimes imprisoned. According to Mr. Alireza Javanbaksh--spokesperson for the Committee for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners (ASMAK)-- ten Azerbaijani activists are currently serving prison terms, and ten Azerbaijani university students are awaiting sentencing in Iranian prisons.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called for an investigation of the arbitrary arrests on 10 September, and for the observation of cultural and linguistic rights of Azerbaijanis and all minorities in Iran.

“While the government of Iran, as a member of the United Nations, is obligated to protect the rights of its minority citizens to pursue studies in their own language, yet the authorities consider the study of Azerbaijani culture and language as a transgression,” the Campaign stated.

Open Letter from the Families of Currently Imprisoned Tabriz University Students

2008-09-12T11:55:00.002+04:30

Families of the Imprisoned Students
By Gozaar

September 7, 2008

To the Chief of Justice Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi:The signatories of this letter—being the families of the imprisonedstudents of Azerbaijan—respectfully bring forth our objections to, andcomplaints about, the legal and security departments for wrongfullyarresting our loved ones and subjecting them to mental and physicalpressure.

In July and August, our children were arrested by safety officials andtaken to the National Security Office's temporary prison without anexplanation. There, in individual cells, they were interrogated dayand night and subjected to severe mental and physical pressures.

Our children were robbed of the most basic human rights granted to anaccused person, such as the right to meet with family, the right tosee a lawyer, and even the right to study or get fresh air. Instead,the accused were only allowed brief telephone communication with theirfamily members every two weeks.

Such restrictions have been implemented despite news of the waningphysical and mental condition of our loved ones. This bad news hasdirectly caused stress, and even mental and emotional illness, for thestudents' families.

As the Chief Justice, we request that you issue an order to deal withthe cases of our loved ones. We ask you to declare that the treatmentof our loved ones—appropriate only in the case of serious crimes—is inno way proportionate to the actions of these students. We ask that youmatch the imprisonment procedure with accusations against thestudents—which are not serious enough to warrant the currentpunishment. We would also like you to grant our loved ones permissionto meet with their families and lawyers. Further, we request thatthose who have been hit or injured be transported to a medical centerimmediately.

The family of University of Tabriz law student, Faraz Zahtab
The family of University of Tabriz law student, Aydin Khaje'i
The family of University of Tabriz mechanical engineering graduatestudent, Sajad Radmehr
The family of University of Tabriz mechanical engineering graduatestudent, Mansoor Aminian
The family of University of Tabriz electrical engineering student, Amir Mardani
The family of University of Tabriz geography student, Maghsood Ahdi
The family of former University of Tabriz student and militaryofficer, Daryoosh Hatemi
The family of "Malik Ashtar Isfahan" University student, Majid MakooyizadThe Families of

Currently Imprisoned Tabriz University Students
CC:The Prosecutor of the Public and Revolutionary Courts of Tabriz
The National ProsecutorThe Head of The Supreme Court

Kamyar and Arash Alaii under torture in 209

2008-09-09T21:35:00.002+04:30

Both Kamyar and Arash Alaii were arrested on 23 June 2008 by security forces, and are still in detention after 2 months under going interrogation and torture.

The Alaii brothers have been vanguards in combating Aids in Iran.

According to reports by the Student Committee of the Human Rights Reporters, the two Doctors have been separated in solitary confinement and are undergoing immense pressure. Apparently security officials have managed to compel them to fake confessions suggesting their involvement in a plot to overthrow the government. They have been threatened not to ask for lawyers.

The Islamic Republic had previously charged the Alaii brothers of "acting to overthrow the Islamic Republic", through establishing an NGO, affiliated to the USA.

This has been the case during last year in which civil activists have been targeted with charges such as "acting to overthrow the government", in order to pave the way for security forces to carry out widespread arrests.

Dr.Kamyar Alaii has been a researcher in Harvard University and the founder of triangular clinics, specialist in World Health planning, and an activist in preventing the spread of Aids in Iran.

Before his arrest, in an interview with the Farsi speaking Radio Zamaneh, he had expressed concern over the spread of Aids indicating the rising statistics of those infected by Aids to have reached 100 000 so far. In the same interview he had re iterated that the spread could be contained.

Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and is obligated to pertain to the obligations of this Covenant.

These include: refraining from arbitrary arrests and detention, announcing reasons of arrest with no delay, announcing charges under which the victims are detained, allowing the right to defense and to have a legal defense, and also allowing the victim to be present when charges are ruled.

Political activist abducted and under interrogation

2008-09-09T20:41:00.002+04:30

Political activist Kourosh Ahmadi, from Karaj city, has been arrested by the Intelligence security forces on 25 August 2008 and is at the moment under interrogation and torture.

According to eye witness accounts and family members, Kourosh was beaten up and abducted near his home by plain clothed agents who appeared to be of the Intelligence Minsitry.

On the other hand some prisoners of Rajaii Shahr have asserted to have seen him in that prison.

According to their reports, Mr.Ahmadi is being held in the security section number 3, which is officially run by the Intelligence section of the RGC (known as the Sepah Pasdaran).

It is also reported that he is prohibited from all contacts with his family and is under intense interrogation and pressure.

Mr.Ahmadi has had a prior arrest in 2004 on charges of propagating against the State.

Defend the Rights of Kurdish Political Prisoners who are on Hunger Strike in Iran

2008-09-09T05:08:00.003+04:30

Issued by Sayeh Hassan: On August 25th 2008 a large number of Kurdish political prisoners went on a hunger strike, to protest against the brutal treatment of Kurdish political prisoners, as well as the imposition of heavy sentences including lengthy prison terms and the death sentence.
The Islamic Regime in Iran is well known for its inhumane treatment of political prisoners in general, and ethnic minorities in particular. Most of the Kurdish prisoners have been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture; many of them have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, and some to death.

Many of these prisoners are human rights, civil rights or women’s rights activists and they include teachers, journalists, womens’ rights activists and students. The trials of these individuals have taken place behind closed doors, without a defence lawyer and on numerous occasions without the presence of the accused himself/herself.

Currently there are at least 8 Kurdish political prisoners on death row, the names of these individuals include Adnan Hassanpour, Hiwa Bwtimar, Farzad Kamangar, Anwer Hussein Panahy, Farhad Vakily, Ali Haidarian, Arsalan Awliaiy and Habibullah Latify.

Some of the prisoners sentenced to lengthy prison terms include Ms. Hanna Abdi (5 years imprisonment), Ms. Zaynab Baiazidy (4 years imprisonment), and Ms. Fatima Eftary (18 months imprisonment).

There are also many prisoners who are being held without a charge being laid against them or without a verdict. Some of these prisoners are Kawa Jwanmard, Ysir Guly, Hidayet Gazali, Sabah Nasri, Masoud Kurdpur, Rwnak Safarzade, Kamran Alaiy, Arash Alaiy.

We the undersigned urge The United Nations Secretary General, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, The European Union as well as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to condemn the brutal treatment of political prisoners in Iran, in particular the treatment of ethnic minorities, and to pressure the Islamic Regime to:

1. Release all political prisoners who are being held without a charge, or in the alternative to charge them with internationally recognized crimes.

2. To rescind the death sentences for all political prisoners.

3. To have new trials for political prisoners whose trials took place behind closed doors. These new trials must meet international standards, be held in open court before a jury, with the presence of the accused and his/her defence lawyer.

4. To allow for visitations from independent human rights organizations to monitor the condition and treatment of political prisoners in Iranian prisons.

This is a petition has been created by Sayeh Hassan a human rights activist in Canada and is addressed to Ban Ki-moon Secretary General of the United Nations, Navi Pillay: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, The European Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Two years sentence for Kurdish students

2008-08-26T20:35:00.002+04:30

Sabah Nasri and Hedayat Ghazali have been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the 13th branch of the revolutionary court.

Sabaha Nasri a student of the law faculty of Tehran University and Hedayat Ghazali studying psychology in Alameh Tabatabaii University, were involved in printing a student news release called "Rozhameh", which covered articles on civil rights for students. The Court has accused these students of participating in illegal congregations.

This is while the two students have already spent 14 month in prison, and accordingly their attorney, Mr.Nikbakht has filed a complaint.

Recently Dorri Najafabadi, Tehran prosecutor, had warned students that any one attempting to "Create a political trend", will be dealt with by the Judiciary.

According to International Organizations reports at least 150 students have been detained and prosecuted during the past year.

Mohamad Hashemi and Bahareh Hedayat, the other two students arrested by the Intelligence agency were released on 16 August 2008. They were charged to be in contact with opposition forces outside the country. This is how the Agency has legalized the arbitrary detention and arrest of the students.

Ahmad Ghasaban, Majid Tavakoli and Ehsan Mansoori, the three famous Amirkabir University students were released on conditions on 13 August 2008. They had been detained on charges of "Insulting the sacred of the State".

4 year prison term for a Kurdish name and denouncing gender apartheid

2008-08-19T15:53:00.003+04:30

Zeinab Bayazidi is being punished for choosing a Kurdish name for her shop and participating in the 1 Million petition camping against gender apartheid. According to reports received from The Iranian Women's Guild, she has received a 4 year prison term and has begun a hunger strike in protest to this charge.

Ms Bayazidi , 26 , and an activist of the 1 million campaign petition and a graduate of computer engineering , was summoned to the Intelligence offices of Mahabad (Iranian western Kurdish region). She was "trialed "with no attorney presence and exiled to Zanajan. She is passing her eight day of hunger strike at the moment.

Zinab had owned a health shop in Mahabad called "Zeylan", named after a known plant used for medical treatment. She threatened a number of times by the Intelligence offices of Mahabad to change the name claiming that the aforementioned name is being used by the insurgent group "PKK" and represented a "code". Since the name was a regular official Kurdish name and legally used by the registry offices of Kurdistan, she had decided to ignore the warnings.

A member of Ms. Bayazidi's family had informed the Iranian Women's Guild site that, the Intelligence Ministry of Mahabad had summoned her in a telephone contact for an interrogation 40 days ago. After being interrogated for 2 hours she was released and told to return in the next 2 days. She was arrested the second time.

According to this information, "She was refused an attorney and was sentenced with the charges almost immediately". They have claimed they were tricked by the court and Intelligence office, and have asked for an attorney.

All human right and gender equality activities in the Kurdish region have been hampered under the excuse of the presence of opposition groups and have grounded all activists. They are very easily charged and their files are tempered with, to make any legal defense, or support by other civil activists, difficult.

8 Kurdish political activist sentenced to death

2008-08-14T20:18:00.003+04:30

According to reports from the "Campaign to stop the death penalty in Kurdistan", so far 8 political activists have been sentenced to death in the Sanandaj district –West of Iran.

This includes Habibollah Latifi a student from the law faculty of Sanandaj University in Ilam province.

Habibollah , 26 years old , has been in detention since the beginning of September 2007.

He has been charged for being an infidel (The term used against those who oppose the regime through armed struggle). He has also been charged to death for co-operating with Kurdish opposition parties by so called Sanandaj "revolutionary court", on 2 August 2008.

It is noticeable that the charge has not yet been officially issued to his lawyer Mr.Nemat Ahmadi.

During his detention , Mr.Latifi has been subjected to violent torture and punishments , resulting in internal hemorrhage and occasional unconsciousness .

The deterioration of his physical condition forced his transfer to Tohid hospital and later to the public social hospital of Sanandaj.

Political activist who have been sentenced to death are named as follow:
Anan HassanPour- Journalist
Hiwa Boutimar – Civil Rights activist and journalist
Farzad Kamangar- Civil and Human Rights activist
Anvar Hossein Panahi- Civil Rights activist and teacher
Farhad Vakili- Civil Rights activist
Ali Heydarian- Civil Rights activist
Arsalan Oliayee- Civil Rights activist
Habibollah Latifi - Civil Rights and student activist

Iran, after China, holds the top toll of death penalties.

Political Activist Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

2008-08-10T10:36:00.002+04:30

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Iranhumanrights.org

(7 August 2008) Abbas Khorsandi, a political activist, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by an appeals court, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. The only evidence in his prosecution is apparently based on his political beliefs and internet writings.

Branch 36 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court confirmed Khorsandi’s sentence on 12 July 2008. The appeals court decision was issued by Judges Salimi and Zargar. Khorsandi is currently held in Evin Prison.

“Given Khorsandi’s activities, there is no justification for his lengthy imprisonment. The Judiciary must be held accountable as to why Khorsandi is being locked up for eight years,” the Campaign stated.

According to information received by the Campaign, Khorsandi’s activities involved only expressing his peaceful opinions on the internet and his sentencing is not justified under any circumstance.

Plainclothes intelligence agents detained Khorsandi at his shop in Firoozkooh, a town outside Tehran, on 9 September 2007. On the same day, intelligence agents raided and searched his home but could not find any incriminating evidence to confiscate.

He was held in incommunicado detention for three months in Evin prison. The authorities subsequently charged him with “acting against national security through formation of an illegal association.” Khorsandi founded the Iran Democratic Party, whose activities were limited to publishing internet writings and involved only five other people who communicated their political views.

He was put on trial on 4 March 2007 at Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The presiding Judge Salavati announced an eight- year prison sentence on 17 March 2007.
According to his associates, he is in ill health. The Campaign called on the Iranian Judiciary to hold a public trial adhering to international standards of due process, in which a fair assessment of Khorsandi’s guilt or innocence could obtain.

http://www.iranhumanrights.org/themes/news/single-news/article/90/political-activist-sentenced-to-eight-years-in-prison.html

Arbitrary Detention and Ill-Treatment of human rights defenders Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi

2008-08-09T12:46:00.003+04:30

Front Line:

http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1532

Iran: Arbitrary Detention and Ill-Treatment of human rights defenders Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi

Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to ill-treatment and torture. Hemid Valai is a human rights lawyer. Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi are all activists working to promote the rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran.

Further Information
Posted 08/08/2008 Hemid Valai was reportedly detained on 15 July 2008, after being summoned to the interrogation unit of the Ministry of Information in Tabriz. While in custody, Hemid Valai has reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment and torture. Following repeated requests from his family, he was transferred to a prison hospital to receive treatment for injuries allegedly sustained during his detention and was permitted to receive family visits. Reports indicate that Hemid Valai's two front teeth are broken, as are several of his ribs and his right leg, and that his jaw has been damaged. He also reportedly lost consciousness several times while in detention as a result of the beatings inflicted by authorities.

Sejjad Radmehr was arrested by security agents on 17 July 2008 at the entrance of Tabriz University following his defence of his graduate thesis. It is believed that the arrest was in connection with Sejjad Radmehr's conducting a peaceful sit-in of university students on 11 May 2008 in protest against his treatment by the university authorities, who had initially banned him from defending his thesis and in protest against arrests of human rights activists. Sejjad Radmehr is reportedly in incommunicado detention and no charges against him have as yet been made public.

Vedud Esedi was arrested on 22 July 2008 at his home in Rasht. Four security agents reportedly entered Vedud Esedi's home, conducted a search of the residence and confiscated his computer, several CDs and other personal belongings. Vedud Esedi's current whereabouts have not been confirmed by authorities but reports have indicated that it is probable that he has been transferred to Section 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. According to information received, no charges have been publicly brought against him.

Front Line believes that the arrest and detention of Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi is directly related to their activities in defence of human rights, particularly in defence of the rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran. In light of reports of the ill-treatment and torture of Hemid Valai, Front Line fears for the physical and psychological integrity of Hemid Valai, Sejjad Radmehr and Vedud Esedi, and believes that their continued detention may form part of a campaign to restrict the work of ethnic Azerbaijani human rights defenders in Iran.

7 members of the Bahaii Faith in solitary confinement of 209

2008-08-06T00:06:00.002+04:30

The seven leaders of the Bahaii faith, who have received prison sentences, are: Fariba Kamal Abadi, Jamol-Aldin Khanjani. Afif Naiimi, Saieed Rezaii, Behrooz Tavakoli, Vahid TizFahm, and Mahvash Sabet.

All are being detained in solitary confinement of the 209 section of the notorious Evin prison.

Six of the detainees were arrested at their homes after a night raid by the Intelligence agents on 14 May 2008.

Hassan Haddad , deputy Prosecutor of Tehran- known as the butcher by most students – announced on 2 August that the detainees are charged for founding an illegal groups and being in contact with Israel.

Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham had accused the six members 'of a group working together "against national interest." And that it was "an organized establishment linked to foreigners, the Zionists in particular."

In reaction to these allegations, Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, called Iran's assertion "utterly baseless."

"The allegations are not new, and the Iranian government knows well that they are untrue," he had said.

He had categorically denied accusations implying that the Bahaiis have been involved in attempts to overthrow the Iranian government, and asserted that "The Bahai community is not involved in political matters. Their only 'crime' is their belief in the (Bahai) faith."

In an interview Bani Dugal had stressed: "The argument for a ploy with Israel is a bald-faced lie and deception. The Iranian government is taking advantage of the fact that the Bahai community's governing council is based in Israel," (August 4 1980)

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize the followers of the Bahaii faith. This was particularly obvious during the 1980s open.

Human right activist under torture in Tabriz

2008-08-02T22:21:00.002+04:30

Hamid Valayee, human right activist, who has been undergoing constant torture for at least 13 days in the detention centre of the Intelligence Ministry of Tabriz, was bailed out to be treated on 1 August 2008.

According to witnessed reports of a Human right association in Tabriz, Mr.Valaiees' teeth have all been broken, his leg smashed, and he had been unconscious several times during torture. Because of his deteriorating physical conditions Mr. Valayee has been transferred to the prison clinic even after he was returned to prison.

According to the same sources, Tabriz prosecutor has rejected all attempts by Mr.Valaee 's attorney to ask for a coroners' report and an end to torture. Mr.Naghi Mahmoudi , attrorney, asserted that his clients' file is still in the 4^th prosecutors branch in Tabriz, and "under Investigation".

Mr.Valayee ws arrested arbitrarily after he was summoned to the Prosecutors office on 15 July 2008.

Student goes on Hunger strike after family receives threats from Intelligence Ministry

2008-08-02T22:14:00.002+04:30

According to the campaign supporting Abed Tavanche, he has begun a hunger strike on 31 July , to protest against threats made against his family by the Intelligence Ministry. Abed has been sentenced to 8 months in prison.

According to information received from the campaign, officials of the Intelligence Ministry of Arak city have been exerting much pressure on his family asking them not to approach the media and keep silence, and have sent for his sisters' husband for a hearing at the offices of the Intelligence Ministry this Tuesday. (In the usual terms this normally implies to interrogation and even arbitrary arrest).

Mr.Tavanche has in a contact made it clear that he is very serious and he shall keep to one glass of water each day till these unjust threats are stopped.

In December 2008 the Intelligence Ministry had arrested at least 40 students to prevent them from commemorating the "student day", and Mr.Tavanche was amongst those arrested. He is affiliated with the movement called "Students seeking Equality and Freedom".

Discrimination against Kurdish Iranians unchecked and on the rise

2008-07-30T22:10:00.001+04:30

Amnesty International:
30 July 2008

Iran’s government is failing in its duty to prevent discrimination and human rights abuses against its Kurdish citizens, according to a new Amnesty International report.

The organization fears that the repression of Kurdish Iranians, particularly human rights defenders, is intensifying, according to the report Iran: Human rights abuses against the Kurdish minority.

The report also says that women face a double challenge to their human rights, both as members of a marginalised ethnic minority and as women in a predominantly patriarchal society.

Around 12 million Kurds live in Iran making up 15 percent of the population. Expression of Kurdish culture, such as dress and music, is generally respected and the Kurdish language is used in some broadcasts and publications.

However the Kurdish minority continues to suffer deep-rooted discrimination. Kurds in Iran have their social, political and cultural rights repressed along with their economic aspirations.

Parents are banned from registering their babies with certain Kurdish names and religious minorities that are mainly or partially Kurdish are targeted by measures designed to stigmatize and isolate them.

Discriminated against in their access to employment and adequate housing, the economic neglect of Kurdish regions has resulted in an entrenched poverty which has further marginalized Kurds.

Kurdish human rights defenders, including community activists and journalists, face arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and prosecution when they protest against the government’s failure to observe international human rights standards.

When they link their human rights work to their Kurdish identity they risk further violations of their rights. Some, including women’s rights activists, become prisoners of conscience. Others suffer torture, grossly unfair trials before Revolutionary Courts and the death penalty.

Ethnic Kurds Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili were sentenced to death in February 2008 after conviction of “moharebeh” (enmity against God), following a grossly flawed process that fell far short of international standards for a fair trial.

This is a charge levelled against those accused of taking up arms against the state, apparently in connection with their alleged membership of the armed group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which carries out attacks in Turkey. Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili were also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, apparently for forging documents. Under Iranian law, they must serve their prison sentences before being executed.

In May this year Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The sentence apparently comprises 10 years’ imprisonment for “acting against state security by establishing the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HROK)” and one year’s imprisonment for “propaganda against the system”.

The verdict followed a closed trial session. Amnesty International considers Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association during his work as chair of the HROK and his activities as a journalist. Such rights are expressly recognized in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party.

“Iran’s constitution provides for equality of all Iranians before the law. But, as our report shows, this is not the reality for Kurds in Iran,” said Malcolm Smart, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme of Amnesty International.

“The Iranian government has not taken sufficient steps to eliminate discrimination, or to end the cycle of violence against women and punish those responsible.”

Although women and girls form the backbone of economic activity in the Kurdish areas, strict social codes are used to deny their human rights.

Such codes make it difficult for government officials to investigate inequalities in girls’ education, early and forced marriages, and domestic violence against Kurdish girls and women - and the severe consequences of some of these abuses, including “honour killings” and suicide. “Kurdish women are victims of violence on a daily basis and face discrimination from state officials, groups or individuals, including family members.” Malcolm Smart said.

Return to prison for writing a slogan on the walls

2008-07-25T12:07:00.002+04:30

Mehrdad Lahrasbi, former student activist who Participated in the 1999 student protest, and released after undergoing 9 years of prison term, has again been sent to prison.

Mr.Lahrasbi was taken from Evin prison to the revolution court, to be informed of his "charges', he was later transferred to solitary confinement of 240 ward of Evin Prison.

His "charges "include; writing anti government slogans on the wall.

In 1999, Mr.Lahrasbi and five other student activists who had participated in the student protest had been sentenced to death. His sentence had been reduced to 15 years. During the period of his detention, he had been tortured and under went much psychological pressure:

The coroner at the Prosecutors' office had acknowledged his physical loss. In return, prison officials had transferred him to the public ward with ordinary prisons, to increase pressure and enforce confessions.

Bherooz Javid Tehrani charged once again!

2008-07-21T08:53:00.003+04:30

Political prisoner, Behrooz Javid Tehrani, a former student activist who has been facing prison for 7 years in various sequences since 1999 has again been sentenced to an additional 3 years .

He is charged with having contact with opposition groups outside of Iran.

This so called "court order" was sentenced to Mr. Tehrani on 19 July 2008, while undergoing other sentences in the Rajaii-shahr prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).

The (so called) judiciary process of Mr.Tehrani has been devoid of any rights: he was sentenced without having a lawyer and his trial was confidential.

In May 2005, he was arrested at home by Intelligence agents and subjected to violent physical and mental torture. According to his later revelations, the coroner of the public prosecutor had identified and testified to obvious marks of torture on his body.

In 2005 Mr.Tehrani was sentenced to four years imprisonment for being a member of the Iran Democratic Front.

His activities go back to 18 Tir (July 1999) during the famous student demonstration in Tehran for which he had received an 8 eight year sentence, but was released after undergoing 4 four years of detention in Rajaii-Shahr prison.

Family of Human right activist writes to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

2008-07-21T08:41:00.006+04:30

Mohammad Sedigh Kaboodvand's family has written a letter, to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other humanitarian Organizations, in a desperate attempt to save his life from the a medically deteriorating situation in his detention centre.

In this letter it is reiterated that Mr. Kaboodvand has been arrested for at least seven months. He has been kept in solitary confinement and undergone inhuman interrogations and physical harassment while in custody, which has lead to his health deteriorating. so far he has experienced problematic heart failure, kidney and blood problems.

It is quoted as saying that Mr.Kaboodvands wife and child have been threatened to be arrested by the Intelligence Ministry of Iran.

Part of this letter reads: "The revolution court has recently charged Mr. Kaboodvand for his activities defending Human Rights in the Islamic Republic and has sentenced him to 11 years imprisonment. This (so called) court order had been passed on to Mr.Kaboodvand by his interrogator prior to the Courts' official order release. Kaboodvand is the editor in chief of the "People's Message" weekly and for this also he has received another 6 months prison sentence along with a 5 year prohibition of work as journalist and Editor of People's Message weekly. Parallel to this, there has been another file opened in his case which relates to a book on women's rights and is (currently) under investigation."

Another other part of this letter reads; "Kaboodvand is a noble journalist, with immense humanitarian beliefs and obligations and a conscience mind.

Mr.Kaboodvand , began his activities 15 years ago during the realm of raising Human Rights awareness and individual conscience on Democratic rights within peaceful frameworks.

He was arrested on 30 June 2007 and charged with "founding the offices of Defending Human Rights in Kurdistan" and engaging in acts of threat against the Islamic Republic.

A copy of this letter has been sent to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights , Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Mohammad Hashemi and Bahare Hedayat in 209 of Evin prison

2008-07-18T08:21:00.002+04:30

Both Bahare Hedayat and Mohammad Hashemi are student activists of Office for Student Solidarity (daftare tahkim vahdat) , who were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry agents on 13 July 2008 and are now in 209 section of the notorious Evin prison.

According to reports from their families the two victims have been informed of their so called charges as "endangering National security", by the first branch prosecutor, judge Matin Rasekh , on 14 July.

The state news agency "IRNA", quoting judiciary officials, claimed that Bahare Hedayat and Mihammad Hashemi , had been alleged to have affiliations with opposition groups abroad. The Office for Student Solidarity, in defense of its two members has categorically denied charges made by government controlled media as an attempt to take revenge on the student movement.

In the current moth at least 20 students have been illegally arrested. In Mashad a group of students who had improvised a committee to examine arbitrary arrests of students, have themselves been victim to illegal arrests and were arrested. Five of the detainees have been released so far.

Execution of three Human Right activists ordered

2008-07-15T21:51:00.003+04:30

The Iranian High Court announced the death penalty of a teacher and Human right activist , Farhad Kamangar , and two political activists- Farhad Vakili and Ali Heidarian- who are of Kurdish origins.

Apparently the Head of the Judiciary, Shahroodi has personally released the order.

The three human right activists had been arrested during a trip to Tehran in August of 2006.

The 36th so called revolutionary court, had previously sentenced Mr.Kamangar , after 19 months detention, to death for being a member of the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party).

Alireza Jamshidi spokesman of the Judiciary had announced on 27 May 2007, that Mr.Kamangar had been charged for membership in a terrorist organization, and with holding explosives.

After his sentence was delivered, Mr. Kamangar in a letter smuggled out, revealed that he had been tortured physically and mentally in the Intelligence Ministry detention centre. He had been tied to a bed and tortured and threatened to be raped.

Human right activists have already announced that Mr. Kamangar had been transferred twice to the prison clinic because of severe conditions resulting from torture.

Prior to this, Khalil Bahramian, and Mr. Kamangars' attorney had announced that they believe Mr.Kamangars' case is only a result of prejudice on Kurdish nationalists. He had rejected all accusations against his client.

Mr. Khalil Bahramian had also declared that his client had no knowledge whatsoever of explosives mentioned to have been found in his car. He had asserted that the aforementioned explosives had been implanted in his car in Tehran.

Teachers of Kamyaran province had collected a petition in support of the release of their colleague Farzad Kamangar. In their petition they had born witness to the fact that Mr.Kamangar had always been a law abiding citizen, and demanded the death sentence be annulled.

Farzad Kamangar has been a teacher in the Kamyaran province art college in Kurdistan. He was a member of the teachers' association, the environmentalists of Asak (meaning deer) . He was also a known writer in the monthly "Royan" of the Ministry of Education

Mahboobeh Karami on Hunger strike

2008-07-12T04:57:00.002+04:30

Mahboobeh Karami , a member of the 1 million petition project, which denounced sexual apartheid under the current regime in Iran, n a telephone call to her family, announced that she and 9 other women inmates have begun a hunger strike.

The reasons for their hunger strike was explained to be : deprivation of food, incommunicado and reluctance to be allowed any contact to protest their deteriorating conditions in their prison cells, and also the fact that no legal reason for their detention had been provided.

The ten women age between 17 to 70 years, have not been allowed a meeting with the prosecutor to enquire the reasons of their detention.

According to the Iranian Women's Movement site, Mr. Babaii, attorney to Ms.Karami approached the so called revolutionary court on July 6, to obtain given legal reasons for her detention, but in vain.

Mrs. Sedighe Masaebi, Mahboobeh Karamis' mother, 63 years old, has suffered deteriorating strokes because of her daughters' detention. In every approach for clarifications from the so called officials of the courts, she has been humiliated and has not been directed as to the reasons for her daughters' detention.

Ms. Karami , was harassed , beaten and arrested on 13 June , as she was travelling in a public bus, by "plain clothed agents" of the government.(A term used for trained special forces recruited by the Intelligence Ministry).

This bus was apparently passing along the gathered protest against deteriorating economic situation and poverty, in which around a 1000 people had participated. Practically all the passengers of the bus were beaten up. It is reported that at least 200 participants had been arrested that day by the security agents.

Transfer of an arrested activist to solitary confinement

2008-06-26T22:41:00.002+04:30

Vida Dehganian , 30, a civil right activist, who was arrested on 13 June in front of the Melat park in a congregation, has been transferred to Evin prison.

Friends of Ms. Deghan , have said that she was transferred to the section after she had invoked a clash with security guards in the "women's section" of Evin prison on 23 June. The new section is under the Intelligence Ministry jurisdiction and it seems this move was aimed to put more pressure on Ms. Dehganian .

Vida Dehganian is a member of the Pan Iranian opposition party, which is considered illegal in Iran.

After the protest demonstration of people in Tehran on 13 June, which was against inflation and corruption of government Authorities, the Judiciary's spokesman, announced that 200 people had been arrested in that demonstration .

On 13 June at least 230 people were arrested in Mashad and their where-abouts is not clear. At least 5 students of Ferdowsi University of Mahshad had been amongst those arrested.

Amnesty International has released an appeal, expressing concern over the well being of Ms. Mahboobe Karami , an activist of the 1 million petition who had been in the same parkas those protesting and as consequence had been arrested.

11 years sentence for supporting Human Rights

2008-06-24T21:52:00.001+04:30

Mohammad Sedigh Kaboodvand , a journalist , has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment, by the 5th Branch of the so called revolution Court , on charges of founding an organization to promote Human Rights.

"The lawyers to this case are protesting to the surprising sentence "said Mrs. Nasrin Sotudeh who is one of the attorneys to the case.

Mrs. Sotudeh insists, sentencing her client to 11 years imprisonment only for printing his thoughts, is in violation of the International Covenant of civil and political rights and Human rights.

Mr.Kaboodvand was called to the Court on 1 July 2007 in Tehran and was immediately arrested. He has been in prison since. He has been ill during this period and has suffered a stroke.

Prior to this Mr.Kaboodvand had been imprisoned for 6 months because of printing an article in the Payam newspaper .

Student arrested for visiting a relative in PMOI camp

2008-06-24T21:41:00.002+04:30

Houd Yazerlou , 21, has been arrested after visiting his aunt in the Mojahedin Camp (called Ashraf in Iraq) after returning to Iran.

Numerous activists in Iran have released a statement protesting to Yazerlous' arbitrary arrest on 24 May 2008.

The statement reiterates concern over Mr.Yazerlous well being, saying "despite Mr.Majid Zarghamis' claim (prosecutor of the 2nd Security Branch of the so called revolutionary courts) that Mr.Yazerlou is in 209 Evin prison, there is no news of his real where-a bouts since his family's request to see him has continuously been refused and turned down.

Houd Yazerlou and his mother Nazila Dashti had visited Iraq 3 months ago to meet his aunt, who is a member of the People's Mojahedin organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Ashraf Camp.

According to Houd's Mother, Mrs. Dashti, they were both arrested after return. Mrs Dashti spent 21 days in prison, while her son was 16 days in prison. They were bailed out, each paying 200 Million and 100 million Tomans .

Nazilla Dashti adds that on 24 May, they were called informally through the person who had provided their bail to the Court for further inquiry, but Houd Yazerlou was arrested and taken way since.

Mrs. Dashti explained her ordeal while under "investigation":
"On our entering the building, we were harassed and humiliated and degraded continuously by the person who was to question us. He prevented my son from sitting down and kept him standing all through. He asked him: Are you in touch with other families of the Monafeghin? ( A term used to deface the Mojahedin in public by the Government authorities)

My child, who is not familiar with these terms and their intentions, simply answered "No sir, I know no Monafeghin".

The person who had by this time become extremely angry replied "What then?" , and my son replied : " They are Mojahedin ". This was enough to blow the top off that person. While throwing the paper and pen to my son, he said in a threatening tone "I will show you what I Mean …"

Nazila Dashti says Houd Yazerlou was sent to prison immediately after his so called interview and nothing has been heard so far of his where-abouts.

Nazilla Dashti and her husband Hani Yazerlou are former political prisoners and activists. Fariba and houd , sister and brother to Mrs.Dashti are amongst the victims of the great massacre of the political prisoners in 1988.

A woman activist sentenced to 5 years prison

2008-06-19T19:52:00.002+04:30

21 year old Hana Abdi, former student of PayamNoor University of Bijar , and member of women's association of AzarMerh in Kurdistan (west of Iran) has been sentenced a 5 year prison term in a remote town on the Iranian frontiers.

According to Mr.Sharif , her attorney, the so called revolutionary court has charged her with assisting a crime which was to be a threat against National Security.

The attorney has rejected the charges and reiterated that Hana Abdi's activities have not been in any way related to violence and creating terror amongst people and therefore are irrelevant.

Ana was arrested in October 2007 in Sanandaj0 west of Iran along with her colleague Ronak Safar Zadeh, by the Iranian security agents. It is reported that both activists are undergoing sever pressure and torture to confess against themselves and their friends.

Although the government has related activities of both gender apartheid activists to external political parties, but their families insist that they are and have been independent and have no relation with any political party apposing the government.

School boy condemned 6 months imprisonment for insulting the Leader

2008-06-18T10:50:00.004+04:30

Moham Reza Avazpoor, a schoolboy has been charged with insulting the Leader and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by the 118th branch of the penal Court.

Prior to this Mohamad Reza was sentenced to 5months prison in the 118th Branch of Tabriz Court presided by Niakar, on charges of being a member of a political group whose aim was to destabilize the State.

The first time he was charged with writing a slogan; "I am a Turk" on the walls, in the same court to 4 months detention on 31 of September 2007.

He had testified to have been tortured violently during detention. Inhuman punishment such as such as being hung upside down for 24 hours on end from the feet while being interrogated, and prevented from eating food or using the toilet were practiced on him.

Political prisoner's life at risk

2008-06-17T07:36:00.003+04:30

Human Right activists in Iran have warned of Arjang Davoodi's health, a political prisoner, who has been on hunger strike in Rajaei Shahr prison, in the West of Iran.

Mrs Nazanin Davoodi, has attested to this fact, after she had visited her husband in prison on 16 June.

She reported that her husband had been brought for a visit on a wheel chair and could hardly speak. She insisted that her husband's physical condition is critical and that he needs to be looked after before it was too late.

After he began his hunger strike, Mr.Davoodi released a letter in which he described that prison officials had refused any treatment for his bleeding gum and deteriorating physical conditions.

Mr. Davoodin was arrested in 2003 under the charges of propagating against the system and endangering national security by founding an illegal political group. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

Prior to this, the State Prison Organization had defied its own regulation in "the separation of cases", and had transferred Mr. Davoodi to a prison in BandarAbbas amongst convicts.

This is a method used by the Ministry to crush the political prisoner's resistance.

Iranian authorities approved death of Teacher

2008-05-31T10:59:00.002+04:30

Death sentence of a Kurdish dissident teacher, Farzad Kamangar has been approved by Iranian authorities.

Alireza Jamshidi spokesman of the Judiciary announced on 27 May 2007, that Mr.Kamangar has been charged for membership in a terrorist organization, and with holding explosives.

According to Jamshidi, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili have been announced to be "moharebs"(rebels against God) and sentenced to death.

The three human right activists had been arrested during a trip to Tehran in August of 2006.

The 36^th so called revolutionary court, sentenced Mr.Kamangar , after 19 months detention, to death for being a member of the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party).

After his sentence was delivered, Mr. Kamangar in a letter smuggled out, revealed that he had been tortured physically and mentally in the Intelligence Ministry detention centre. He had been tied to a bed and tortured and threatened to be raped.

Human right activists have already announced that Mr. Kamangar has been transferred twice to the prison clinic because of severe conditions resulting from torture.

Prior to this, Khalil Bahramian, and Mr. Kamangars' attorney had announced that they believe Mr.Kamangars' case is only a result of prejudice on Kurdish nationalists. He had rejected all accusations against his client.

Mr. Khalil Bahramian had also declared that his client has no knowledge whatsoever of explosives mentioned to have been found in his car. He had asserted that the aforementioned explosives had been implanted in his car in Tehran.

Teachers of Kamyaran province have collected a petition in support of the release of their colleague Farzad Kamangar. In their petition they have born witness to the fact that Mr.Kamangar has always been a law abiding citizen, and demanded the death sentence be annulled.

Farzad Kamangar has been a teacher in the Kamyaran province art college in Kurdistan. He was a member of the teachers' association, the environmentalists of Asak (meaning deer) . He was also a known writer in the monthly "Royan" of the Ministry of Education.

A Kurdish student is charged for supporting opposition party

2008-05-30T09:54:00.004+04:30

Yasser Goli a Kurdish student, who was arrested in front of his University, in October 2007 in Sanandaj by the Intelligence Ministry agents, was trialed by the so called evolutionary court of Sanandaj.

Mr. Nemat Ahmadi, attorney to Yasser Goli who was present at the trial, said his client has been charged with attempting against national security by supporting the PJAK (Kurdish armed group opposed to Tehran, situated in military camps of the mountainous region between Turkey and Iran.)

According to Mr.Ahmadi, Yasser Goli has denied all the charges against him in the court.

Mr.Goli is the former General Secretary of the Democratic Union of Kurdish Students.

He was dined his scholarship by direct orders of the Intelligence Ministry.

Heshmatollah Tabarzadi is released

2008-05-27T09:15:00.003+04:30

A journalist and director of a political organization critical of the Islamic Republic – the Democratic front of Iran- Mr.Heshmatollah Tabarzadi has been released after finishing seven years prison sentence from Evin prison on May 25 .

The democratic United Students' Front – a member of the Democratic Front, has announced that Mr.Tabarzadi had announced that officials had given no official reasons his detention.

It is reported that Mr.Tabarzadi has been told that his other sentence by the court which is 10 years of deprivation of social rights, would start on his release.

Mr.Tabarzadi, director of the confiscated Payam Daneshjoo publication, who had been repeatedly arrested in the past, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in July of 2003.

The 26^th so called revolutionary court had sentenced Mr.Tabarzadi to 10 years prison, for founding the Democratic Front, two years for insulting the Spiritual Leader, one year for propagating against the State, one year for disturbing public opinion, and an extra 10 years punishment of social deprivation.

The appeal court shortened the sentence to 7 years on the whole.

Political prisoner double trialed for "insulting Islamic scared s"

2008-05-22T23:10:00.004+04:30

Hamidreza Mohammadi, who has been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment by the 13^th Branch of the so called revolutionary courts on 20 June 2006 , is sentenced to another 5 years.

His second court was held to prosecute him on charges of "insulting Islamic sacreds" for an extra 5 year imprisonment.

Mr.Mohammadi was charged to have stamped the word "Invalidated", on all pages of the 7 editions of the Koran and having sent them to Islamic institutes.

Prior to this, Mr.Mohammadi had been charged with membership in a group called the Iranian kingship association for 6 years imprisonment.

Mr. Mohammadi declares that he has been charged and sentenced twice for one case, without the presence of a lawyer.

In the begging of his arrest he had spent 6 months in the 209 section and then was transferred to the public ward of Evin prison. Government agents had arrested his family at the time of his arrest.

Mr.Mohammadi has committed suicide twice, not withstanding psychological and physical pressures in 209.

Death of a political prisoner in Western Iran

2008-05-17T19:12:00.002+04:30

A Kurdish political activist, Kaveh Azizpour has dies in a hospital in west Iran, after undergoing a double operation, on 16 May 2008. He was reported top have been severely tortured in a so called detention centre.

His relatives have reported that Mr.Azizpour had more than a dozen heart attacks while being interrogated by the Intelligence Ministry agents, and had been unconscious in the hospital for 20 days.

Assad Azizpour , the victims brother has reported that the last operation was carried on his brothers brain because of an attack in which he went into a coma. Evidently Mr.Azizpour was dragged out of hospital by the Ministry agents immediately 48 hours after the operation, while ignoring the medical staff's warnings about Mr.Azizpours situation, only to be interrogated once again.

Assad Azizpour insisted that, the doctors had made it clear to the authorities that any transfer of Kaveh Azizpour , before his 2 month period of rehabilitation, would be fatal for him.

Mr.Aizizpours charges are said to be: collaboration with a Kurdish dissident group.

Prior to this, 25 year old Kaveh, had been arrested in January 2006, in connection with dissident Kurdish groups, by the Mahabad Intelligence Offices and had been imprisoned.

In January 2006, the Organization in defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan, had announced that Kaveh Azizpour and his brother, Assad Azizpour had been arrested in a clash between habitants of the "Daryass" village in Mahabad and government forces, West of Iran.

In January 2008, a Law faculty student; Ebrahim Lotfollahi, had been killed mysteriously while in custody of the Intelligence Ministry agents in Western Iran. In a postmortem, it was reported that Mr.Lotfollahi's skull had been crushed and his nose broken.

Six Bahá'í leaders arrested in Iran

2008-05-16T23:43:00.004+04:30

Six Bahá'í leaders in Iran were arrested and taken to the notorious Evin prison yesterday in a sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Bahá'í leaders were summarily rounded up and killed. It seems the six are held in the notorious Evin 209 section and are undergoing interrogations.

The International Bahaii press agency announced that The six men and women, all members of the national-level group that helped see to the minimum needs of Bahá'ís in Iran, were in their homes Wednesday morning when government intelligence agents entered and spent up to five hours searching each home, before taking them away.

The seventh member of the national coordinating group was arrested in early March in Mashhad after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office there on an ostensibly trivial matter.

Ms.Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations. condemned the detention of the Bahaiis and has said that their only crime is practicing the Bahá'í Faith.

"Especially disturbing is how this latest sweep recalls the wholesale arrest or abduction of the members of two national Iranian Bahá'í governing councils in the early 1980s -- which led to the disappearance or execution of 17 individuals," she said.

"The early morning raids on the homes of these prominent Bahá'ís were well coordinated, and it is clear they represent a high-level effort to strike again at the Bahá'ís and to intimidate the Iranian Bahá'í community at large," said Ms. Dugal.

Arrested yesterday were: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm. All live in Tehran. Mrs. Kamalabadi, Mr. Khanjani, and Mr. Tavakkoli have been previously arrested and then released after periods ranging from five days to four months.

Arrested in Mashhad on 5 March 2008 was Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, who also resides in Tehran. Mrs. Sabet was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly on the grounds that she was required to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Bahá'í cemetery in that city.

On 21 August 1980, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran were abducted and disappeared without a trace. It is certain that they were killed.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran was reconstituted soon after that but was again ravaged by the execution of eight of its members on 27 December 1981.

The International Bahaii press agency announced that a number of members of local Bahá'í governing councils, known as local Spiritual Assemblies, were also arrested and executed in the early 1980s, before an international outcry forced the government to slow its execution of Bahá'ís. Since 1979, more than 200 Bahá'ís have been killed or executed in Iran, although none have been executed since 1998.

In 1983, the government outlawed all formal Bahá'í administrative institutions and the Iranian Bahá'í community responded by disbanding its National Spiritual Assembly, which is an elected governing council, along with some 400 local level elected governing councils. Bahá'ís throughout Iran also suspended nearly all of their regular organizational activity.

Escalating mistreatment of political prisoners

2008-05-15T20:59:00.003+04:30

14 May , Rajaii shahr prison near Karaj: Reports coming from political prisoners in that prison suggest that , Ali Heydarian, affiliated with a dissident Kurdish group has been fatally wounded by security guards of the prison.

The 30^th branch of the so called revolutionary court has in an arbitrary court ruling charged Mr. Heydarian of co-operating with the Kurdish labor party (PKK).

He was refrained from using the prison clinic, but after a protest displayed by other prisoners insisting on his devastating physical condition, he was moved to the local health office of the prison and looked at.

Prior to this, there were reports of abuse committed by one official of RajaiiShahr prison called "Torabi", who had harassed, threatened and insulted Mr.Heydarian and Farzad Kamangar. Both of which have been sentenced to Death by the so called revolutionary court.

It must be highlighted that, political prisoners are intentionally being kept and mixed with criminals in Rajaii Shahr, in order to crush their resistance.

Dangerous criminals are used as proxies by prison officials to carry out certain missions in the wards. They are mostly used to harass, beat-up and threaten political prisoners.

Prior to this, a number of prisoners had revealed in a letter smuggled out of prison, that they fear their death and have no security in RajaiiShahr prison of Karaj.

Saiid Shah Ghale who is affiliated with the People's Mojahedin organization of Iran (PMOI) has been transferred to a prison in Southern Iran.

Prior to this, two other political prisoners with similar background, Hashem Shahinnia and Amirkhizi have been transferred to BandarAbas and GoharDasht (RajaiiShahr) prisons.

Political prisoners believe that transferring prisoners to specific locations such as RajaiiShahr or the Southern provincial prisons, is a tactic used by the Intelligence Ministry to maximize pressure on the mentioned prisoners.

A critic and writer detained in 209

2008-05-08T21:23:00.001+04:30

Reports suggest that, Ahmad Daneshpazir, a government critic and writer, who was arrested on 11 February at his house, has been detained in the notorious 209 section of Evin prison.

He was allowed only one visit with his family, in which he informed them that his interrogation had been finished and his case had been conveyed to the so called court.

His charges are not clear, but it seems that they may be related to several articles written under a fictitious name "Alef Bigharar" and printed on his behalf.

Following Mr.Daneshpazir's arrest, Intelligent Ministry agents also arrested his son Damoon Daneshpazir, and transferred him to solitary confinement of 209 sections. Damoon bailed out after 8 days of solitary confinement. The so called court had charged him with propagating against the State.

Unjust trail for three Kurdish students

2008-04-25T21:22:00.004+04:30

Three Kurdish students; Sabah Nassiri, Hedayat Ghazali and Yasser Gholi, have been detained and are facing torture and interrogation.

Two of these students: Sabah Nassir and Hedayat Ghazali have been held illegally for the past eleven months.

They were transferred mysteriously from the 209 section of Evin prison to the so called court, in which they underwent a summary trial without the presence of a lawyer. They have apparently been held, interrogated and trialed in relation to activities of a student news bulletin called "Rozhameh", No detail of their trial is available.

Prior to the new developments, Sabah Nassiri, Hedayat Ghazali had both asked to be trialed officially in an open court with their attorney present.

The two activists had been arrested eleven months prior to this and were charged with delivering a speech in a meeting held to support "Educating the mother tongue". They were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry and held in Sanandaj intelligence detention centre, west of Iran, and eventually, transferred to 209 section of Tehran.

Sabah Nassiri is the head director of "Rozhameh" in Tehran University, and Hedayat Ghazali is a member of the editorial board of the news bulletin.

At the same time another court in Sanandaj, has announced a destined trial of Yasser Goli to be held in the western city of Iran, on charges of threatening National security, and that Yassers' mother is to be tailed along her son.

Mrs.Goli has been, herself a civil right activist on women's' issues. She had been arrested on a different occasion by the Ministry, but had managed to bail out.

Student arrested in 1999 unrest, freed

2008-04-18T08:59:00.002+04:30

After 8 years and nine months detention, Mehrdad Lohrasbi , who was arrested in 1999 has been released.

Mr.Lohrasbi, was arrested in relation to the 1999 student unrest and sent to "Tohid" and the notorious "209" section of Evin prison. There he was subjected to brutal torture.

The 6^th branch of the so called revolution court, charged him with threatening National security and propagating against the State, and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Later, an appeal court revised his prison sentence along with others arrested during the same unrest, to long prison sentences.

Mr Lohrasbi, was only allowed to under go medical treatment twice during his detention.
He had been transferred from Evin prison to Rajaei shahr, under the supervision of the Intelligence Ministry.

Prison sentence of Amirkabir University students confirmed

2008-04-18T08:52:00.002+04:30

Prosecutor of the 44^th Branch of the appeals court, Mr.Saedi, confirmed prison sentence of the Three disputed Amir Kabir Students; Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad Ghassaban, and Ehsan Mansouri.

The 6^th Branch of the so called revolution court sentenced the three students each, three, two and two years prison sentences respectively. The given verdict is non-appeal able.

It is reported that the Appeal court has disputed the charges under the pressure of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and the General Prosecutors office of Tehran.

Prior to this, the Public court had violated the 6^th branch courts' verdict, which had acquitted the three students and ordered their release on bail.

It is evident that the public court had been influence by the Intelligence ministry, specifically the personal persistence of deputy General prosecutor "Hadad",(Known by the prisoners as the butcher of political prisoners).

The three students have been in prison since February 2007.

They have been under constant torture and pressure of the Intelligence Ministry to provide fake interviews and accept their charges.

At the beginning they faced charges of insulting "sacred values" of the Islamic Republic, by printing leaflets with insulting images of the religious leader. They denied the charges categorically, saying the publications had been faked.

The public Court had acquitted the students of all charges, namely: Insulting sacred religious values, insulting kins to all Moslems (a term usually associated with relatives of the prophet , in this case, the country's appointed religious leader), insulting the people of Ghom city, Insulting hejabed women, young believers, insulting the Presidency of the state and other officials including the science and technology Minister, and officials of Amirkabir University.

Political Prisoner transferred to solitary confinement

2008-04-17T05:41:00.005+04:30

Arjang Davoudi, a political prisoner detained in the public section 3 of Evin prison , has been transferred to solitary confinement of the section known as "2-ALef"(2-A) ,on 14 April , for no specific reason.

Section "2-Alef" is supervised under the Security division of the RGC. Prison cells in this section are known to measure 1.5meters wide, and 2.5 meters long, and contradict International standards.

Arjang, was called to the court a day before his transfer and was interrogated.

Mr.Davoudi was arrested in 2003 by the security agents. The 26^th branch of the so called revolution Court, charged him for conspiracy against national security and propagating against the Islamic Republic. He was then transferred from his Home town Tehran to the southern city of Bandar Abass.

Kin of 1988 mass murdered victims arrested

2008-04-10T23:05:00.002+04:30

Elham Yaghoubi, who has lost two of her family members in the state mass murder of more than 5000 political prisoners in 1988, has been arrested.

Ms.Yaghoubi , has been arrested on 5 April by the Intelligence Ministry agents, and accused of participating in a ceremony held in the victims' memory.

She was kept in the detention centre of the 13th district police of Tehran , then transferred to the isolated unit of the notorious Evin prison, and has been there since.

Sources close to Ms.Yaghoubi have reported that her arrest was personally ordered by "Rahmati", who has been her interrogator. They have stressed that prior to here arrest, "Rahmati" had been threatening her through telephone calls
.
Ms.Yaghoubi had been arrested last year too, after a similar ceremony had been held, and spent three weeks in solitary confinement in the notorious Evin prison after which she was released on bail.

She was trialed by the 1st branch of the so called revolutionary court and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

It is reported that Ms.Yaghoubi and others arrested after her, had been tortured physically and mentally, because of their participation in this ceremony. She was charged of threatening national security.

Ms Yaghoubi is 30 years old and has lost two of her uncles (supporters of PMOI) in the massacre, when they were killed by a firing squad 20 years ago.

In November 2007, Amnesty International, condemned harassment and arrest of families of political prisoners and stated that those executions have been a crime against Humanity.

A policial activist sentenced 8 years imprisonment

2008-04-10T22:34:00.002+04:30

The so called revolutionary Court sentenced Abbas Khorsandi, General Secretary of the "Democratic Party of Iran", and a critic of the tyranny in Iran, to 8 years imprisonment. Mr.Khorsandi was arrested last year at his home in Firouzkooh.

The court has charged him of founding a political dissident group and hence threatening the States security.

Mr. Khorsandi had been arrested along with five other activists last September. Sepideh Pouraghaii, Ghassem Shirzadian, Mansour Faraji, Bahram Rasekhifar, and Meisam Roudaki, have been released on bail.

Precedent to this Mr.Khalil Bahramian, attorney to the case, has declared that he has been deprived of his clients' dossier.

Mr.Khorsandi had been kept in the notorious Evin prison 209 section for one month prior to his recent arrest.

Iranian authorities deny releasing Workers movement activist

2008-03-27T19:26:00.001+04:30

Mahmoud Salehi, a Union activist has finished his prison sentence, but Iranian authorities have refrained from releasing him.

Mahmoud Salehi is one of the founders of Workers Union guild of Khabaz city. He is also a member of the founder's board of the Iranians workers Syndicate. He was invited to discuss the 1st of May workers' rally with the Governor this March, but was arrested instead and transferred to Sanandaj prison.

His prison sentenced ended on 23 March this year, but he was given another 2 months of detention by the so called revolutionary court of Sanandaj (West of Iran).

According to his family, Mr. Salehi has begun a dry hunger strike, denying food and water, in protest to this unjust act. This is while he suffers acute kidney problems.

Three Human Right organizations and Workers syndicate have demanded the release of Mr. Salehi from the Islamic Republic authorities. Amnesty International, International Federation of transport workers, and the Free Confederation of Workers have expressed grave concern over Mr. Salehis health, who has began a hunger strike in protest of his continued detention. In this protest they have reiterated that "Mr. Salehi needs long term treatment to heal his kidneys".

On Sunday a group of workers from various cities in Iran, gathered in front of Sannadaj prison in protest of this illegal detention, and demanded Mr. Salehis' freedom.

human conditions affiliates of Sufism in prison

2008-03-06T17:48:00.003+03:30

Four arrested members of "ahle hagh" ; Sahandali Mohammadi, Bakhshali Mohammadi, abadollah Ghassemzadeh and Mehdi Ghassemzadeh, are bearing intolerable situation in the central Prison of Orumieh .

These people have been arrested during an arm clash between a sect known as "Atashbeigi" and the Police, near the "ouch Tapeh" village (Suburbs of Miandoab city).
They all have been sentenced to death.

It is said that these people have been severely tortured while in detention and had no right to attorney for their so called court procession.

Clashes broke out between "ahl Hagh" and police, when one member published its beliefs in a book and began distributing it. In all these clashes the police used arms to suppress the protesters. Six members of the sec were arrested in these protests including Sefaali Shiri and Soltanali Mohammadi.

Spokesman of "Asmek", committee to defend political prisoners of Azerbaiijan, said during his prison term in Mai 2004 in Chay City of Oroumieh , he had encountered two other prisoners of "AhleHagh" who told him that they were severely tortured in detention.

One detainee affiliated with "Ahlehagh" was Mehdi Ghassemzadeh, who had been injured by a shot of the police and his leg had deep infection, but was nevertheless tortured.

The affiliates of "Ahlehagh" have declared they have been under nourished in prison and therefore have become extremely weak.

They have reported of spread of Aides, hepatitis and even tuberculoses with no sanitation or even prevention for the prisoners at the moment.

Alireza Javanbakht declared that prisoners who have been arrested for their religious beliefs have been bullied and threatened by paid thugs in prison.

("Ahle hagh" groups having pro-Sufism who believe righteously in Imam Alis' principles as the basic Islamic belief because of centuries of mis-interpretations of Islam)

10 whippings for a woman's right activist

2008-03-01T02:58:00.003+03:30

The so called revolution Court of Iran has sentences Marzieh Mortazie Langaroodi, an activist of the gender equality movement, to six months imprisonment and 10 lashes. According to her lawyer, Faride Gheirat, the sentence has been postponed for two years so far.

Ms.Mortazie is one of 33 activists who took part in a protest in front of the Revolution Court on 3 March 2007, and who had been arrested the same day. She is the founder of the "mothers for peace".( A movement debating any use of force against the Iranian regime in the nuclear dispute)

- Six months imprisonment for a journalist

Bahman Ahmadi Amooyee was arrested while preparing a report on the womens' peaceful demonstration in HAFTE TIR Square, on 12 June. He stayed in prison for one week.

The security branch of the so called Revolution Court has accused Mr. Amooyee of endangering national security. The Court had referred to a couple of articles and statements carrying his signature, and supporting women's equal rights and their gathering on 12 June.

Details of the case of a teacher facing the gallows

2008-03-01T02:47:00.003+03:30

Khalil Bahramian, attorney to Farzad Kamangar, the teacher who has been sentenced to death on25 February by the so called Revolution Court, has objected to the proceedings of his client's case and declared that it has no legal basis, and would probably be ruled as void of legal substance by the Higher Court.

Mr.Bahramian believes that the sentenced issued against his client has been on prejudice grounds and based on the fact that he is a Kurd.

Farzad Kamangar , is a resident of a town in the West of Iran (more Kurdish region) and is a Sunni. This fact was first mentions in Mr.Kamangar's letter, which had appeared in several Iranian sites in October 2007, in which he had stated that, when the torturers became aware of his origins and religion, they began lashing and insulting him. Things had got worse when they found a Kurdish music in his mobile and his testacles were beaten up.

The so called revolution Court has sentences Farzad Kamangar to death on charges of affiliation to PKK. His attorney argues that his client's case, according to this sentence lies outside of the Iranian jurisdiction, because the PKK is out of Iranian borders.

Mr.kamangar, has been active in defending Kurdish minority rights and women's rights.

In June 2006 he traveled to Tehran along with two other Kurd activists. It is said that traces of explosive powder and a gun were located in the house and the car they had used. Following this they were arrested.

Khalil Bahramian argues that his client has been unaware of the presence of these elements and believes that the powder has been planted on him.

The 30th Branch of the so called Revolution Court has sentenced him and his friends to death. Ali Heidarian and Farhad Vakili have also been given each a ten year sentence.

IRAN: Death sentence for yet another journalist

2008-02-13T23:22:00.002+03:30

Yagoub Mehrnahad, journalist and director of a youth association called "Voice of Justice" (Sedaye Edalat) has been sentenced to death in a court in Sistan Baluchestan province (southeastern Iran).

The so called court held a session behind closed doors, and its decision was delivered to Mr.Mehrnahads' family on 7 February.

Apparently the "Voice of Justice"" association was a legally established entity, and had been registered in the "National Youth Organization" which is a governmental organization as an NGO engaged in promoting literacy amongst the poor and also providing fundamental aid to the poverty stricken province of Sistan Baluchestan.

Mr. Mehrnahad has also been director to "Mardom Salary" news paper in Sistan Baluchestan province.

After the last yearly "Questioner and Responsive youth" convention, which was organized 10 months ago, some members of the central committee of the" Voice of Justice" association were arrested, including Yagoub Mehrnahad. Five of the arrested were released after a while, where as Mr. Mehrnahad is still undergoing pressure after 10 months of captivity.

During this period, he spent five months in the Intelligence Ministry torture center, and later was continued to be held for another two months in the central Zahedan Prison, with no official court verdict.

Last month, a court session was held, but no verdict was released, instead Mr. Mehrnahad was transferred to the Intelligence Ministry detention torture centre once again.

A relative, who had visited Mr. Mehrnahad two months ago, had reporter apparent signs of severe physical torture and loss of weight.

The death sentenced has not been officially declared by judiciary or any other government official. His family believes the real verdict has not been the death sentence. They also believe that Yaghoub Mehrnahad, has been forced to admit to uncommitted crimes under a lot of pressure.

Iranian Intelligent services torture a dissident Clergy

2008-02-12T19:07:00.000+03:30

Mamousta Ayoub Ganji, a clergy and tutor and also Friday prayer Imam of Geba mosque, was arrested by unknown agents on 27 January 2008, and held captive. On 8 February, at 5 am, he was dropped off by an unidentified car. He was dropped off by an unidentified car in front of the Friday prayers of Sannadaj, while he could barely stand on his feet. Witnesses say that he had been severely tortured. They transferred him to hospital.

His relatives say he is extremely weak and fragile after being tortured. His psychological situation is deteriorating at the moment he can not even distinguish his wife and children. He is heard to constantly cry out about "beatings, serum, electricity" and he keeps shouting "No no…they are coming!".

According to close relatives, he has lost considerable weight, and torture signs are apparent on his face and all over his body.

Although officials of the judiciary and Intelligence Ministry have not commented on Ayoub Ganji's arrest but it appears that his detainers have been from the Intelligence Ministry.

It is said that his arrest is due to his Friday prayer' speech which had lashed out against the Government.

Ayoub Ganji had in his Friday prayers speech condemned the death of the Law student Ebrahim Lotfaollahi while in the Intelligence Ministry detention and had described it as a crime. He had also denounced the rejection of the so called "reformist candidates" for the coming Parliament elections by the Government.

Students tortured in 209

2008-02-08T13:07:00.000+03:30

According top reports released by the Students Committee of Human Rights Reporters, and also testimony of recently released victims, students are being violently tortured in the notorious 209 section of Evin prison.

According to these testimonies, methods used to pressure students to go through TV staged confessions against their friends, are not only physical ones but include psychological ones. After long and continuous sessions of interrogation and torture they are left with bruised personalities and zero self respect and self confidence. At intervals they are under physical attacks being punched, kicked and whipped by heavy weighed cables.

Prior to this, Behrouz Karimi Zadeh, former Tehran University student was reported by his family to have had a deep cut from his wrist to his elbow.

During the past weeks, some students have paid incredible sums to be released temporarily; the price has ranged between 53000 to 107 thousand dollars. According to some, the Intelligence ministry has used fake TV confessions to link the students' movement to outside opposition forces.

After 21 days of illegal detention of students, there is yet no news concerning their condition.Some of the other students have had their families visiting them on 5 February for the first time in Evin prison. Saiid Habibi is one of the students who is barred from any visits and is under constant torture.

Sixty students have been arrested by the Intelligence Ministry in the past 3 months and forty are still pending results in prison. They were detained while trying to commemorate the Students day in Iran.

Detention for being of the Bahaii faith

2008-01-30T15:08:00.000+03:30

According to the spokesman of the Iranian regime judiciary on 29 January, 59 people have been arrested in Shiraz for being of Bahaii faith.

According to the Spokeman, Alireza Jamshidi, three of the arrested are sentenced to four years and 51 others have been sentenced to one year imprisonment each.

Although Mr.Jamshidi has claimed that these individuals have been charged with propagating against the Islamic Republic, sources say they are members of a children's NGO working to provide free education for poor children in Shiraz.

Islamic Republic authorities have accused this NGO of promoting the Bahaii faith.

Prior to this, Amnesty International had reported the detention of three Bahaii activists in Shiraz prison: Raha Sabet Sarvestani, Hale Rouhi and Sassan Taghavi. It is clear that these individuals had official permit for their activities and their only charge is to be of the Bahaii faith.

Pressuring arrested students for fake confessions

2008-01-26T10:54:00.000+03:30

Some of the students, who have managed to release themselves with bail, have declared that student activists are under heavy pressure to stage fake confession against themselves and their friends.

It is reported that the interrogators of the Intelligence ministry are trying to force the students confess they are in contact with opposition groups out side Iran.

On 4 December, thirty student activists affiliated with Marxist ideas, were arrested and transferred to Evin prison. They intended to organize meetings to commemorate the student day in Iran. In the past weeks, another two students have been arrested.

It is reported that these students have been tortured. According to the family of Behrouz Karimi zadeh, a former Tehran University student, his right hand had deep scars from his wrist to his elbow. Another detainee, Peyman Piran, has had his shoulder broken.

In the past days, eight students' have paid bail and released temporarily from prison and the rest of the students are still under interrogation.

Anti riot brigade clash with political prisoners of Rajaii Shahr

2008-01-26T10:45:00.000+03:30

Prison anti riot guards attacked unit 2 of Rajaii Shahr prison on 24 January, smashed the locked door and dragged our three political prisoners; Farhad Vakili Rad, Farzad Kamangar, and Ali Heidaryan.

The prison authority's intentions to transfer Farzad Kamangar and Farhad Vakilirad to a separate unit in that prison had brought reactions amongst their inmates.

According to reports, the prisoners resisted the order, locked their door and had asked to see the prison director to discuss the matter.

Pirayesh, deputy director of the prison had met the prisoners along with the prison guard called Zabihi and the political prisoners had asserted their demand that their inmates should not be separated under any conditions.

The prisoners had resisted for 24 hours till they were violently attacked by the guards during which Farzad Kamangar and Farhad Vakili were brutally beaten up and taken to the notorious section of Rajaii Shahr.

Farzad Kamangar is a teacher from Kamyaran, suspected to be in contact with one of the Kurdish opposition parties.

In a letter which was slipped out of prison, he had clearly reported that he had been tortured and also threatened to be raped by the Intelligence Ministry agents.

Sexual abuse is a method used by Intelligence Ministry torturers to break the prisoners' resistance while in detention.

The three activist students, still in captivity in 209 notorious Evin prison, Ahmad Ghassaban , Ehsan Mansouri and Majid Tavakoli had also revealed that they had been threatened of sexual abuse. They had been accused of publishing insulting material against Islam and higher authorities of the government m but were later acquitted of the accusations.

Prior to these incidents, another prisoner Babak Dadbaksh who has recently been transferred from Evin to Rajaii Shahr prison has also been transferred to an unknown location.

Political prisoners have recently revealed that such transfers are used to break down resistant prisoners. Some prisoners in a letter have declared their lives are in danger in these locations.

Mehrdad Lorasbi and Behrouzs Javid Tehrani are known political prisoners who have spent a long period of imprisonment in Evin prison and then had been transferred to Rajaii Shahr.

Legal attorney prevented from visiting arrested students

2008-01-24T00:44:00.000+03:30

Saiid Habibis attorney, one of the arrested students in Iran, announced that he and Saiid's family have been prevented from visiting him in prison.

Mr. Mohammd Sharifi the legal attorney to the Habibi's family while expressing deep concern over the situation of the released students of the previous wave of arrests, declared that he had discussed the situation of his clients with the security interrogator of the prosecutors office.

In the prosecutors office he was warned that he was not to visit his clients: Saiid Habibi and Behnam DarayeeZadeh till the end of preliminary investigations.

On the other hand the prosecutors' office has maintained heavy bail for the arrested students of the recent unrests, ranging from 30 to 100 million Tomans (108000 $). Anooshe Azadbar, Ilnaz Jamshidi, Nassim Soltanbeigi, Mohsen Ghamin, Milad Omrani are among students who have been ordered bail.

Detained Student Dies Under 'Suspicious' Circumstances

2008-01-18T22:03:00.001+03:30

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

By Golnaz Esfandiari

An Iranian student detained in the capital of Iran's Kurdistan Province has died in prison under circumstances described by his family and human rights activists as "suspicious," Radio Farda reported.

On January 15, nine days after Ebrahim Lotfollahi was detained in front of Payame Nur University in the provincial capital, Sanandaj, officials told his family that he had committed suicide while in prison and died of "suffocation."

It is unclear why Lotfollahi was detained in the first place.

Witnesses say he had just finished taking an exam when security officials took him away. Officials were reported as saying they wanted to give him some "explanations," but no more details were offered.

His family says the aspiring lawyer had no reason to take his own life. Ebrahim, they say, was full of "hope in life" -- an avid reader who served part-time as a social worker.

His brother, Ismail, told Radio Farda that Ebrahim was "well" when he last saw him, two days after his arrest. "He said he would be released," Ismail said. "He said he needed a few razors and some other things."

Officials said Lotfollahi has already been buried at the city's Beheshte Mohammadi Cemetery.
But Ismail Lotfollahi says family members, who were not allowed to see the body, are calling for an autopsy. "Nobody has seen the body, [but] they said he's there," Ismail said. "A few days after they buried him there, they covered the grave with concrete."

"We don't know what to do. We haven't seen his body; we don't know whether he was suffocated," he said. "They had taken him there and done everything -- we were informed about nothing."

Saman Rasulpour, a Sanandaj-based journalist and member of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan, said Lotfollahi's death and the conditions surrounding it are unprecedented in the region.

But he added that this case appears similar to that of another student: Zahra Bani Yaghoub, a 27-year-old who died in prison in the western city of Hamedan in October shortly she was detained by the morality police while out for a stroll with her boyfriend.

In Yaghoub's case, officials also said that she committed suicide, but her family accused the police of murdering her. They said her body was bruised and that there was blood in her ears.
Bani Yaghub's family and human rights advocates including Nobel Peace Prize-winner Shirin Ebadi have also called for an autopsy in her case. But some observers say there is little chance officials will grant it. Lotfollahi's family has insisted, however, that they will pursue the case and push for an autopsy. They say officials are responsible for the student's death in prison.

The news of Lotfollahi's death was made public only on January 17, but Rasulpour said it has already led to concern among rights advocates and civil society activists in the region.

Rasulpour told Radio Farda that his organization is supporting Lotfollahi's family in its pursuit of the truth. "We will first try to find a lawyer for this family, which is a very innocent and poor family, to pursue the case through legal channels," Rasulpour said. "This is a suspicious death for us human rights activists, and security forces were responsible for his life and they have to give answers."

The deaths in prison of Lotfollahi and Bani Yaghoub bear similarities to the 2003 unsolved death in prison of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi. Kazemi had been arrested for taking pictures of families of political prisoners in front of Tehran's notorious Evin prison. A few days later, Kazemi died of a brain hemorrhage after being transferred to a hospital.

Officials first said she had died of a stroke before later saying her head had hit a hard object and led to her death. Reports suggested she had been beaten in prison and received head injuries during interrogations.

Some five years after her death, no one has been held responsible and her case was recently sent to an appeal court for further review, although her family has said it has little confidence that Iranian justice will punish those responsible.