Sunday, November 27, 2011

Singer Arya Aramnejad Arrested

Singer Arya Aramnejad Arrested



Arya Aramnejad, young songwriter and singer, was arrested a few hours ago when five intelligence agents in Mazandaran Province raided his house.

According to a report by Gooya News, Arya Aramnejad had gone to the city of Sari, the capital of Mazandaran Province, in order to appear in front of the Appeals Court handling his conviction. Upon returning home, he was arrested on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 and taken to an unknown location.

During this raid, Ayra Aramnejad was beaten and battered by intelligence agents from Babol County and then handcuffed. Intelligence agents also searched his house and seized the singer’s handwritten notes, documents, computer and other personal belongings.


Translated by Laleh Gillani © 2011

Source: http://www.hra-news.org/00/10345-1.html

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wife of Mostafa Tajzadeh Arrested



Persian2English - Saham News reports that Fakhrosadat Mohtashamipour, the wife of Mostafa Tajzadeh was arrested while protests took place in Tehran today. Mohtashamipour allegedly contacted her daughter with her mobile phone during the arrest. Mohtashamipour’s daughter said, “I could hear my mother disputing with the anti-riot police forces.”

Fakhrosadat Mohtashamipour is the wife of Mostafa Tajzadeh, an adviser to Mir Hossein Mousavi, a member of the Iran Islamic Participation Front and the Islamic Revolution Mujahedin Organization, and the former Deputy Interior Minister in Mohammad Khatami’s cabinet. Tajzadeh is detained in prison. He was arrested after the 2009 presidential election in Iran.

Mohtashamipour had written many letters to the authorities of the Islamic Republic in protest to the illegal arrest and imprisonment of her husband.

According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Mostafa Tajzadeh was tried in branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security, and propagation activities against the regime,” and sentenced to six years in prison and 10 years’ ban on journalistic and partisan activities. He did not request an appeal.

Mostafa Tajzadeh speaks to the Iranian press a month before the 2009 Iranian Presidential election



Iran executes at least 20 people in three days


Iran Human Rights - According to different reports from Iran, at least 20 people may have been executed during the last three days. All those executed have been charged with drug trafficking by the Iranian authorities.

No independent sources have confirmed the charges.

Seven people were executed in the Kerman province:

Seven people were hanged in the towns of Jiroft and Bam in the Kerman province, south east of Iran, reported the official web site of the Iranian judiciary yesterday March 1. According to this report five of the executions took place in the prison of Jiroft and two in the prison of Bam. Those who were executed were identified as: “Mohammad Nabi N.” convicted of trafficking of 60 kilos of morphine, “Mehdi S.” for keeping and carrying 8 kilos and 145 grams of crack, “Ali Bakhsh S.” for keeping, carrying and selling 50 kilos opium, “Hamidreza D.” for carrying 31 kilos and 250 grams of heroin, “Sohrab N” for carrying 2 180 grams of heroin, “Malek N.” for keeping 900 grams of crack and “Saeed M” for participation in trafficking of 6 kilos morphine, 5 kilos heroin and 23 kilos of crack.

“Malek N” and “Saeed M” were hanged in the prison of Bam while the other five were hanged in the prison of Jiroft.

Three people were executed in Shiraz:

According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Shiraz, three people were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz. According to this report that was published yesterday, “A. A.”, “H. R.” and “S. K.” were convicted of “armed” drug trafficking of heroin and opium.

According to the same website, another person identified as “M. M.” was lashed 70 times in the “Khomeini square” of Lamerd , in the Fars province. He was convicted of stealing animals and sentenced to three years in prison and 70 lashes.

Execution of 8-11 people in Orumiyeh:

According to reports from unofficial sources, between 8 to 11 people may have been executed in the prison od Oroumieh, north-west of Iran. According to the Kurdish news agency “Mokarian”, eight people have been execued in Oroumieh during the past days. However, HRANA, reported that nine people were executed in this prison on Monday Februart 28th. According to this report 7 of those executed were Kurdish prisoners and two of them were Azari. Two of the executed were women according to the report. The campaign for the rights of the “ethnic minority” prisoners reported that 10 people were executed in the prison of Oroumieh, Three of them were identified as “Hamid Bahadori”, “Seyad Ansari” and “Behzad Honareh”. Another unconfirmed report said that 11 people have been executed in the prison of Orumiyeh on Sunday. According to these reports, all of those executed in Oroumieh, were convicted of drug related charges.

Official Iranian sources haven’t confirmed Orumiyeh’s executions.

According to the IHR’s annual report on the death penalty in Iran in 2010, at least 546 people were executed in 2010 in Iran. According to this report there are more than 200 cases of unconfirmed executions in addition to the 546, that haven’t been included among in the annual report.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR, condemned these executions and said:” This is a regime which is uses execution as a tool to extend its survival”.

Interview with human rights activist on executions: “silence allows violators set the standards”

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, spokesperson for the Iran Human Rights organization

The International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran spoke to human rights activist Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam on his organization’s recent annual execution report that covers Iran’s 2010 record. The Iran Human Rights group’s report states that, according to Iranian sources, “85 people have been executed in January 2011. At least 3 of those executed in January 2011 were arrested in connection with the 2009 post election protests.”

In the interview, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam draws attention to the serious matter of secret executions in Iran and the role of the United Nations in dealing with Iran’s illegal actions. He also provides tips on what can be done by international communities and human rights activists to highlight the urgency of the situation on a global scale, both in the civil and political society.

The International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran (ICADPI) – In your organization’s annual report, it said that the number of executions in 2010 in Iran is probably the highest since the mass executions of political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Are there any similarities between the executions then and now?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – A similarity is that many of the executions are carried out in secret. In terms of the political situation in the country, I believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran feels threatened, the same way it did in the 1980′s. Additionally, some of the people who held key positions in 1988 are playing an important role in today’s executions. For example, the General Prosecutor, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i was a main figure in the mass executions of 1988. Nonetheless, there is a big question mark around why so many executions are kept a secret. According to our report, many of the executions, especially in Mashhad, were linked to drug related offences.

Iranian authorities seem to be more than proud to say that they are fighting against drug trafficking, so why are they keeping the executions a secret?

ICADPI - What is your personal opinion on why they are keeping the executions a secret?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – I really do not know. The pattern of executions began in 2009, but did not reach its peak until summer 2010. According to our report, in the month of August, approximately 200 people may have been executed in one prison. These prisoners are executed in large numbers and then the act is kept a secret. This means that Iranian authorities are hiding something.

I have been asked by journalists about why the executions are kept a secret. One journalist asked whether the reason has anything to do with the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in drug trafficking. Some documents released by Wikileaks indicates that the IRGC may have been involved in drug trafficking with Azerbaijan. I don’t want to speculate, but there are many unanswered questions. It seems that the government of Iran is trying to hide something. It seems that the regime is in a big hurry to execute 60-70 people in a singe day. It seems strange.

ICADPI – Who is responsible for these executions?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam - It is very important that the UN launches a process to see who is responsible. In Iran, it is not difficult to see who is responsible. We know that Sadegh Larijani, the head of the Judiciary and the Prosecutor General, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i play extremely important roles. I’m not sure exactly what happens in the process, but we do know that the orders have to be signed by the head of the Judiciary. And the head of the Judiciary position is assigned by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. I believe that everyone, from the Supreme Leader to those who put the noose around the prisoners’ necks are all responsible. The head of the Judiciary, the Prosecutor General, and the Supreme Leader have the highest level of responsibility. They have to be accountable for what has happened. Unfortunately, the UN and world communities do not have a proud history of defending people. The UN usually enters the picture after a genocide has occurred, like the one in Rwanda, Sudan, and the former Yugoslavia. When it comes to mass executions, it has been more difficult [to get the UN to take action] because there has not been a strong enough will by member countries. I think it is time to make clear that the human rights conventions are not just formalities, but breaking them has consequences.

ICADPI - Has the United Nations been responsive enough? The UN wrote a statement expressing deep concern on the recent wave of executions in Iran.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – The UN can do much more than what it is doing. It released that statement late in January, after Iranian authorities had already executed an average of three people a day in over a month. The fact that the UN released a statement is good, but I am surprised it did not take any actions before that. In November 2010, for the third time, the UN voted on a moratorium to stop the death penalty worldwide. This shows that the issue of the death penalty is on the UN’s agenda. So why has the UN not shown a stronger reaction to the executions in Iran? This is a question that the UN has to answer. I believe Iranian human rights organizations have asked the UN to send a special rapporteur to Iran. I know that officials from other countries have also asked for the same thing. Last year, the UN signalized that Iran has allowed special rapporteurs to visit Iran. So, why has the UN not pushed for a special rapporteur to go yet? I think perhaps that the issue of human rights and the death penalty are not considered high priorities at the UN.

Although, at the same time, I think it is difficult for the UN to take action, because member countries are not pushing enough. The UN is made up of many member countries. The role of the civil society is very important to make the issue of the death penalty a priority among the public opinion. We can urge individual countries to take more action against executions so a higher priority is given to the issue of the death penalty.

For example, 20 or 30 years ago it was unthinkable that leaders of big nations would gather and discuss environmental issues. But, due to the power of the public opinion, every political party in the western world has to now have a program on how it plans to counter environmental issues like pollution. We can do the same with the death penalty. Civil societies and NGO’s are needed to change the public opinion and give higher priority to the issue of the death penalty.

ICADPI – What can world communities do exactly?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – I think symbolic actions are sometimes very important. If you look at 2010, we had the biggest mobilization, as far as I can remember, against one single death penalty case: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It was not only human rights organizations and civil societies that got involved. Governments and state leaders, including their spouses, also got involved. I think that is the reason why Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is still alive today. When people around the world have the ability to show such a strong reaction to one single death penalty case, I think they can also do the same [for the issue of the death penalty as a whole]. However, if people show a strong reaction to one case and keep quiet about so many others, this act may be misinterpreted by the Iranian authorities.

Thanks to the Internet, we live in a world where everyone is witness to the crimes committed in Iran. So, not reacting appropriately could serve as a green light for the Iranian authorities [to continue committing execution crimes]. Symbolic reactions and statements are very important to show that we do not accept [the crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran].

We are aware that Iranian authorities spend a lot of money and resources to buy votes from different countries for when the UN has to vote on human rights violations. Thus, we know that statements issued by the UN are important to the Iranian authorities, even if they pretend that this is not the case.

ICADPI - What can be done beyond issuing statements?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – Beyond statements, the world can do a lot. The world can push the UN to send a special rapporteur to, visit Iran, the prisons, and speak to the families of those who have been executed. In Mashhhad and other parts of Iran, death row prisoners have not been given fair trials, especially those convicted of drug trafficking and Moharebeh (enmity against God). Additionally, many death row prisoners have not had the chance to see their lawyers. In Iran, the government even breaks its own laws and the conventions it has ratified. This means that the UN is able to begin a legal process [against the] Iranian government and key individuals involved in the unlawful executions. Politically it may not be pragmatic, but this is the price we have to pay for our values.

It is a question of priority and how important these issues are to the UN and member countries. Of course, it is difficult to put those responsible on trial, but we can send a strong statement to the world about what is acceptable and what is not. As long as the world is silent, government authorities who violate human rights are setting the standards on what is wrong or right. If we really believe that killing people is a crime, then we have to pay the price to defend it.

ICADPI - How?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam - We should report on every single execution. If we show reaction to every execution, then we can expect authorities to do the same. We should show reaction at every level of civil society. For example, Iranians should hold lectures in universities and contact the media. We should not miss a single opportunity to talk about it. Since the concept of citizen journalism was born, every person is able to be a source of media and help spread the message. Through the Internet we can create much awareness that was not possible years ago when we relied solely on classic media.

ICADPI – What can human rights activists do to improve their work?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – It is good to be more critical in what we are doing. I believe that Iranian human rights activists are able to act in a more coordinated manner. We are all aware that the Iranian civil society, especially those outside Iran, are not very coordinated. But, since recently, I see very positive signs. I think the Iranian civil society has made a lot of progress. In this process that has lasted 30 years, we have moved away from the point where we support political organizations, ideologies, and leaders. Now, a significant part of civil society is fighting for fundamental values, like the struggle against the death penalty.

ICADPI - How can Iranians outside the country help?

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam – One thing we can do is coordinate our actions. There are millions of Iranians, mostly outside the country, who have the freedom to do what they want, however, unfortunately, only a small portion are involved in the struggle of human rights in Iran. We are not working coordinated enough and we are not trying hard enough to involve other Iranians as well. There is a lot of potential and energy not yet used. When I heard about the International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran, I knew it was a wonderful concept. I think this is the way to go. The campaign shows that Iranians can gather and unite on a single issue, no matter of their political differences. We cannot expect anything to happen over night. We have to just get started and make sure more people also join us.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Zahra Bahrami Executed, Another Victim of Iranian Regime’s Political Game


Report By Persian2English

Zahra Bahrami, the 45 year old Iranian-Dutch citizen and mother of two who was arrested during the 2009 Ashura protests (December 27, 2009), was hanged today.

Zahra Bahrami was executed even though her second case file with political charges was still opened and unresolved.

On August 16, 2010, branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court charged her with Moharebeh (enmity against God). She was detained since December 27, 2009 and spent a long duration of time in solitary confinement. Her other charges included “Acting against national security”, “Propaganda against the regime”, and “Membership in a royalist group”.

Fars News Agency, the media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Security Military force, announced her charges as “Membership in an international drug smuggling gang/group” and “Working with a Dutch ally.”

Last year she travelled to Iran to visit one of her children. Upon her arrest during post-election protests, Zahra Bahrami was held for months in the IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison and ward 209 of Evin prison for interrogations.

Zahra Bahrami’s death sentence was issued to her lawyer Jenus Sharif-Razi on January 2, 2011 by Judge Salavati, the head of branch 15. But, the final verdict on the death sentence was not announced to Zahra Bahrami’s family or lawyer.

In an interview with Rooz, Sharif-Razi said that all case files related to drug offences do not get sent to the Appeals Court. Instead, the cases are sent to Iran’s General Prosecutor and only he may make a decision on the verdict. Sharif-Razi explained that she was unable to appeal the sentence and the only chance of launching an investigation into the case was by receiving amnesty from the Clemency and Pardons commission.

Banafsheh Nayebpour, Zahra Bahrami’s daughter has stated in past interviews that the charges against her mother related to drug smuggling are completely baseless and all the confessions were extracted under torture. According to Banafesheh Nayebpour, her mother was guaranteed release if she made the false confessions. She also explained that the charges against her mother are politically motivated.

In the past year, the Islamic Republic of Iran has forced political prisoners to falsely confess by use of torture and empty promises. The executions that are carried out affect the overall political environment in Iran.

READ MORE: Daughter of Ashura Death Row Prisoner: Mom’s False Confessions Based on Promise of Release

Friday, December 10, 2010

Reza Shahabi on Hunger Strike, His Life in Danger!

Take URGENT ACTION with Amnesty for Reza Shahabi!

Persian report by Rowzane.com
Translation by Laleh Gillani, Persian2English

The Islamic Republic of Iran routinely arrests Iranian workers and teachers for demanding better wages, job security and improved working conditions. Scores of Iranian workers and their leaders are currently in jail for going on strike, building a union or celebrating May Day. The Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran has issued the following statement regarding Reza Shahabi, the jailed board member of Bus Workers’ Union in Tehran:

Announcement No. 63

In our Campaign’s Announcement No. 62, we reported that since December 4, 2010, Reza Shahabi, the board member of the Bus Workers’ Union in Tehran, has gone on hunger strike to protest against constant pressures and physical torture inflicted on him.

In an interview with Radio Farda, Hassan Shahabi, Reza Shahabi’s brother has confirmed the news of his brother’s dry hunger strike and poor physical condition. So far, Hassan Shahabi has inquired about the status of his brother’s case by referring to multiple revolutionary courts in Tehran. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Court at Evin prison has sent Hassan Shahabi to another court whose officials have denied receiving the case file.

On December 8, 2010, Robabeh Rezaei, Reza Shahabi’s wife visited the Special Interrogation Security Office in Evin prison to file a complaint about her husband’s ongoing incarceration and uncertain situation. The judicial officials stationed in Evin prison have refused to meet with Robabeh Rezaei or accept her formal complaint thus far.

Consequently, Robabeh Rezaei was left with no other option than to refer to the Attorney General’s office in Tehran. It has been reported that an official by the name of Amjad who is in charge of branch 2 of the Attorney General’s Interrogation Office, has denied Rezaei’s entrance into the building and has refused to acknowledge the receipt of her husband’s case.

In her complaint, Rezaei states that if any harm comes to her husband, she holds Iran’s judicial system directly responsible. She has also demanded immediate release of her husband who is being held in ward 209 of Evin prison.

As we have previously reported, the second branch of the Islamic Republic’s Security Interrogation Unit in Evin prison issued a letter on October 11, 2010, setting the bail for Reza Shahabi’s release to 60 million toman (approximately $60 thousand USD). Although his family has posted the bail, after three days of uncertainty and frustration, they were informed that his release from prison has not been approved.

To date, Reza Shahabi has spent six months in prison, and two months has passed after his release order was issued. Despite all this, the judicial authorities refuse to comment on his status and have kept his family in the dark regarding the details surrounding his case.

Since Reza Shahabi is currently in dire physical condition and his life is also in danger, there is an immediate and urgent need to take any action to save him. We urge everyone to unite in order to protest Reza Shahabi’s imprisonment and to demand his immediate release. We call upon everyone to act now so that Reza Shahabi does not have to continue his hunger strike. By filing petitions, protesting against the imprisonment of all Iranian workers, and demanding their release from prison, we can ask Reza Shahabi to end his hunger strike to prevent further damage to his health.

The Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran strives to be the voice of Reza Shahabi and all Iranian workers in captivity. We carry the voices of Iranian workers across the world. Please help this campaign in any shape or form possible and lend a helping hand to our cause.

We demand the immediate release of all members of the Bus Workers’ Union, Reza Shahabi, Mansour Ossanloo, Ebrahim Madadi, Gholamreza Gholam-Hosseini, and Morteza Kamsari. We also insist on freeing all political prisons including the labor activist and children’s rights advocate Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, without further delays or conditions.

The Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran
Shahla Daneshfar
Bahram Soroush
17 Azar, 1389 (December 8, 2010)

Human Rights Attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh Back on Hunger Strike


Persian Report by Kaleme
Translation by Banooye Sabz | Edited by Persian2English

Monday, December 6, 2010 - According to reports by Kaleme, human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh informed her family in a telephone conversation yesterday that she will once again begin a dry hunger strike (no food or water) starting today in protest against her continued detention and the unjust incarceration of other innocent prisoners.

According to her husband, Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh made the decision to go on a dry hunger strike for the following reasons:

- The continuation of her 95 day temporary detention with out bail despite the fact that her court hearing took place 9 days ago and she has two young children.

- False, unkept promises by judiciary and security officials to overturn her temporary detention.

- Biased positions and violations of the law by the presiding judge responsible for the court hearing in the presence of Sotoudeh’s lawyers and other members of the Central Bar Association of Iran. Lack of impartiality by the presiding judge in finding Sotoudeh guilty before the completion of her trial.

- Disappearance of 12 legal letters containing requests by Sotoudeh from her case file.

- Threats to her lawyers during the court hearings.

- Announcement by the court that Sotoudeh would be charged with heavier crimes for hiring lawyers that are not acceptable and trusted by the court.

- Incarceration of Sotoudeh in Evin’s ward 209 for a period of 95 days with the intent to increase pressure through exposure to unbearable conditions.

- Preventing Sotoudeh’s two young children who have no access to cabin visitations from visiting with their mother. One exception was made during these 95 days but was harmful to the children due to altercations by prison officials with family members.

- A variety of restrictions on Sotoudeh including refusal to provide her pen and paper.

- Lack of timely announcement of the passing of Sotoudeh’s father and refusal to allow her temporary leave from prison in order to attend her father’s funeral; a legal right of every prisoner under Islamic law.

Nasrin Sotoudeh is charged, amongst other things, with “acting against the national security of the country” and was arrested on December 6th, 2010 and has been on a hunger strike several times since her arrest protesting the manner in which her case file has been handled.