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.

Human Rights Violations Report | Part 2: Week of November 29, 2010

Tehran University Student Mojtaba Hashemi Sentenced Lashes and Prison!

Tehran University student Mojtaba Hashemi has been sentenced to prison and 74 lashes for “acting against national security”, “disturbing the public order”, “insulting the Supreme Leader and the President”. As the Student Day is approaching and following the increasing pressure on the student activists, the court has issued a verdict for Mojtaba Hashemi, a member of the central branch of the Islamic Association of Tehran University School of Law, who was arrested on December 8, 2009 at the University after being beaten. According to JARAS, he has been sentenced to a total of 6 months in prison for “acting against national security”; 91 days for “insulting the Supreme Leader”, 91 days of imprisonment and 74 lashes for “disturbing the public order”, and a $100 fine for “insulting the President”. Currently, over 80 students and student activists are imprisoned.

صدور حکم حبس و شلاق برای مجتبی هاشمی، دانشجوی دانشگاه تهران

Kurdish Human Rights Activist in Critical Condition in Prison is Denied Treatment!

Jailed human rights activist Mohammad Sadegh Kaboudvand passed out for the second time in the past two months because of brain pressures and problems in his nervous system. He fainted at 3 am on Friday, November 19th, after he stopped breathing. After regaining his conscious, he had temporary blindness and a part of his brain stopped working. He was also suffering from severe pain, cold sweat, and numbness and paralysis in parts of his body. He regained subnormal conditions after 30 minutes. Prisoners in his cellblock informed the guards about his condition and that he might have suffered a brain stroke and he was transferred to the prison infirmary with an ambulance. But he did not receive the necessary treatment in the infirmary and was treated unsuitably and insulted by the guards and the non-medical staff of the infirmary. After he was checked in standing position, he was returned to his cell. Notably, people such as A.Q. have passed away in prison in the past under similar circumstances and lack of attention by the heads of the infirmary.

وضعیت وخیم جسمی محمدصدیق کبودوند

Political Prisoner Kept in Isolation for 8 Months in Solitary Cell and Under Torture

According to reports, political prisoner Reza Joshan has been confined to a solitary cell for 8 months in complete isolation and under medieval conditions. This 25 year old political prisoner was transferred to solitary cell by the orders of intelligence agency interrogators in mid April 2010 in the Sepah Cellblock in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison. He was interrogated and physically and mentally tortured by a head interrogator identified as Mohebi for one month. Mohebi subsequently ordered that he be transferred to Section 17, Cellblock 6, in Gohardasht prison and he was kept in complete isolation in this cell until mid November.

زندانی سیاسی رضا جوشن 8 ماه در ایزوله کامل، سلول انفرادی و تحت شکنجه های قرون وسطایی

Student Activists Esmaeil Salmanpour and Farzad Eslami Detained

Ahead of Student Day in Iran, there have been reports that Esmaeil Salmanpour, former member of Amir Kabir Islamic Student Association, and Farzad Eslami, a law student at Azad University and the former secretary of the University’s Muslim Student Committee, have been arrested. According to Bamdad-Khabar, Esmaeil Salmanpour, a student activist at Amir Kabir University of Technology, had previously been arrested on February 6, 2008 at a 14^th anniversary memorial service for former Prime Minister Bazargan held in Hosseiniyeh Ershad. He had been suspended from the university for 3 semesters.

اسماعیل سلمان‌پور و فرزاد اسلامی بازداشت شدند

Death Row Political Detainee Habibollah Golparipour Transferred to Oroumiyeh Prison

Habibollah Golparipour, a Sanandaj resident and human rights activist who was confined in Mahabad Prison, has been transferred to Central Oroumiyeh Prison. According to the Mokrian News Agency, he had been held in Sanandaj and Mahabad detention centers for a long time. The Mahabad Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to death for ‘committing’ “Moharebeh” (waging war against God) by membership in anti-regime groups based on Article 186 and 190 of the Constitution. His sentence was recently upheld by the Supreme Court.

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انتقال حبیب‌الله گلپری‌پور، زندانی محکوم به اعدام به زندان ارومیه

Two Year Prison Sentence for Eye Witness Leila Tavassoli

Leila Tavassoli, an eye witness to last year’s Ashoura upheavals who testified in regards to the Security Forces running over people with their vehicles in Valiasr, was sentenced to two years in prison and has been transferred to Evin to begin her sentence today. According to Mizan News, Leila who is the daughter of Dr. Tavassoli a senior member of the Freedom Movement Party, was arrested last Ashoura and held in ward 209 of Evin prison for two months. She was sentenced to two years in prison by the Lower Court and the Appeals Court later upheld the sentence. She was summoned via a letter last week to begin serving her sentence. Leila Tavassoli who was married less than a month ago, reported to Evin accompanied by her husband as well as her attorney this afternoon and was transferred to a quarantine ward that has recently been transformed to a political prisoners women’s ward. At this time, her uncle Ebrahim Yazdi, Secretary General of the Freedom Movement Party who is the oldest political prisoner is being held in ward 209 of Evin prison. Her brother in law Farid Taheri is also currently incarcerated in ward 350 of Evin.

اجرای محکومیت دو سال زندان لیلا توسلی

Isa Saharkhiz Undergoes Surgery in Rajai Shahr Prison Clinic

Journalist Isa Saharkhiz was transferred to the prison clinic yesterday and since no leave permission was issued, a medical team was brought into the prison clinic to operate on him in the Rajai Shahr prison. According to JARAS, this imprisoned member of the Central Council of Defense of the Freedom of Press, who has been incarcerated for over a year in Evin and Gohardasht, is being kept under very harsh conditions, he has been in severe pain in the last few days and remains in Rajai Shahr prison without medical leave despite having had lost mobility of his right leg.

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عمل جراحی عیسی سحرخیز در بهداری زندان رجایی‌شهر

Yet Another Hand Amputation Sentence in Kermanshah

The amputation sentence of an individual convicted of robbery was carried out in Kermanshah Central prison in full view of a group of prisoners referred to by the prosecutor as “Thugs and Riff Raffs with priors”. According to ISNA, the head of Kermanshah Branch 107 of the Criminal Court said: “An individual who had been convicted of robbery and sentenced to six years in prison had been on leave last Ramadan and had gone AWOL not returning to prison after his leave permit expired. This individual was arrested a year later committing another robbery and subsequently “confessed” to 57 charges of robbery.

اجرای حکم قطع دست یک نفر دیگر در کرمانشاه

Journalist and Human Rights Activist Emaddedin Baghi Returned to Prison

On Tuesday, December 2^nd, Baghi was told over the phone to return to prison on Saturday or Sunday to begin serving his sentence. According to RAHANA, Baghi who had to undergo an oral surgery on Saturday and told the official that he would return to prison on Sunday. As the anniversary of Ayatollah Montazeri’s death is approaching, Baghi had to return to prison on Sunday for the 4^th time.

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عمادالدین باقی بار دیگر به زندان رفت

Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Detention Extended

Reza Khandan, Nasrin Sotoudeh’s husband, said today that the judge presiding over her case has extended his wife’s detention. He added that no sentence has been disclosed to her lawyer as of yet. Reza Khandan told the Feminist School that during a visit on Thursday with his wife, she told him that despite the fact that days have passed since her last court hearing she is still being held in solitary confinement and has not been transferred to the general prison ward. Nasrin Sotoodeh, a lawyer and a women’s rights activist who was arrested on September 4th, has been incarcerated in solitary confinement ever since. During her detention she has repeatedly gone on hunger strikes in protest to the illegal manner of her arrest, interrogations and handling of her case, at one time was on hunger strike for nine days.

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قرار بازداشت نسرین ستوده تمدید شد

Sunni Missionaries Sentenced to Over 40 Total Years in Prison

The 28^th branch of the Revolutionary Court has sentenced 7 Boukan residents who have been imprisoned in solitary confinement since June of 2009 and have been under intense pressure to make false confessions by the Intelligence and security forces in prison. According to Sunni News, Mamousta Mohammad Berati has received an 11 year prison term, and Hossein Heydari, Sobhan Ahmadzadeh and Abdollah Khosrozadeh have been sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. Moreover, Himan Mahmoud Takhti and Hesam Mohammadi have been sentenced to 5 years in prison while Sadigh Ahmadi has received a 2 year prison sentence. They have been convicted of propaganda, organizing religious ceremonies and crossing the border. They have been transferred to Ward 350 of Evin Prison.

صدور بیش از چهل سال زندان برای مبلغان مذهبی سنی

Majid Dori Writes Statement from Prison for National Student Day in Iran

Majid Dori Writes Statement from Prison for National Student Day in Iran

Majid Dori

Majid Dori is a university student who has been denied education and expelled from Tehran’s Allameh Tabatabai University. He has been in prison since July 9, 2009 without a period of time off. On the occasion of Iran’s National Student Day (December 7th), Majid Dori has issued a statement from prison. Due to eye problems and limitations imposed on him every day, the statement was released late.

It is noteworthy that Majid Dori recently refused to be placed in shackles while visiting an eye doctor outside the prison. This refusal has cost him dearly since prison officials have placed new restrictions on him. The following is the full text of Majid Dori’s statement:

Men and women, ablaze
Their most painful song, still not sung.
Silence fills the air, the impatient silence
How it is bursting with anticipation
- – Ahmad Shamloo

How long do you intend to sacrifice Quran and flee from reality by oppressing others? How long do you intend in the name of law and religion to repress the dissidents and delay what is inevitable? Till when do you intend to ignore the Green movement, mar it by blood and entrap it in the darkness?

Once more, 16 of Azar (December 7) has arrived, the Student Day, the day belonging to our universities, the day spearheaded by scholars, the day that served your purpose well before but now places your security forces on alert. Your fear and anxiety is sufficient enough to prove that our universities are alive with Greens, not dead from darkness. Although our numbers may have decreased, our perseverance has increased. Iran’s universities are bidding their time to strike at your peaceful slumber.

What do you think our universities are? Do you think you’re the commanders and students your obedient soldiers? Wishful thinking! Iranian students don’t follow orders blindly and stand up to tyranny regardless of your military might. Our universities don’t bow to ignorant individuals disguised as statesmen who plot our destruction. We will make a stand boldly and take our chances in this battle.

Of course, we deserve a government whose path has been blocked by a man whose words are based on falsehoods, a man who doesn’t fear lying. Student activists welcome expulsion from school since becoming a star is still fashionable. Those in charge of our universities have no other thought but destruction and no other way but that of the iron fist.

My professor from the University of Allameh was in prison with me while a few feet from us, Mahdieh Golroo was in the women’s ward. Glowing with pride, they arrested all, students and professors, men and women. In other universities, they did no less. Countless students were arrested, and their accumulative prison sentences proved that our universities continue to stay by our people and don’t abandon the battlefield.

We were beaten, but our universities still endured; we were slaughtered, but our universities persevered. They attacked our dormitories, but we made a stand. We were killed but our universities continued the fight; we were imprisoned but our universities didn’t surrender. This is how Iran became a university and the entire population transformed into students fighting for freedom and democracy. University, hearts embraced thee; minds preoccupied with thee; lips shouted thy name.

So greetings to student activists, the heroes, the expelled. Greetings to all college students since being a student has become a crime. Greetings to all professors although… Greetings to the destitute who rejected oppression and shouted in the name of freedom. Greetings and salutations to a movement that was Green, is staying Green, and will remain Green.

Freedom is approaching from the bloody trail
Nonetheless imminent as I tremble
What is concealed in your hand?
What shackles your feet?
Freedom, do you come in chains?

Humbly,
Majid Dori
Behbahan Prison
Azar 1389 (December 2010)

Four men were hanged in Isfahan (central Iran)

Four men were hanged in Isfahan (central Iran) Today

Iran Human Rights, December 4: Four people were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early Saturday December 4.

According to the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, four men convicted of drug trafficking were hanged in the central prison of Isfahan today. The men were identified as: "Abdollah N." convicted of keeping and selling 495 grams of crack; "Zarif D." for keeping nine kilos and 450 grams of crack; "Masoud Gh." (born in 1972) for trafficking of 261 (grams?) of crack and finally "Bakhtiar S." (born in 1966) for keeping 74 kilos and 800 grams of crack and 603 grams of opium, 94 grams of another opium product and drug addiction. Besides death penalty "Bakhtiar S" was also sentenced to 2 years in prison, 70 lashes and a fine of 18200000 rials ( 1820 USD).

Iran Human Rights strongly condemns crackdown of the human rights lawyers by the Iranian authorities

Iran Human Rights strongly condemns crackdown of the human rights lawyers by the Iranian authorities

Iran Human Rights, November 17: Iranian state television has once again broadcast a purported statement by Sakineh Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in which she calls herself a "sinner."

The report also broadcast purported statements by two men whose faces were blurred that state TV identified as Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Qaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, both of whom were arrested last month. It also aired comments from two Germans who were detained allegedly while trying to interview Ashtiani’s family in October.

In the state TV report, Qaderzadeh retracted his previous allegations that his mother was tortured, and criticized Kian and Ashtiani’s previous lawyerMohammad Mostafaei for publicizing the case.

Ahtiani’s lawyer, Houtan Kian (picture) “confessed” that he advised Qaderzadeh to lie to Western journalists.

On the other hand, Tehran’s chief prosecuter, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi confirmed yesterday in an interview with the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, the arrest of five lawyers during the past week.

According to various reports three female lawyers Sara Sabbaghian, Maryam Kian Arasi and Maryam Karbasi were arrested in Khomeini airport, on their arrival from Turkey earlier this week. All the three have been involved in human rights cases and defending their imprisoned colleagues, human rights activists, bloggers and women sentenced to death by stoning.

The two other lawyers who were arrested in Tehran last week are Roza Gharachorlou and Mohammad Hossein Nayeri, both involved in human rights cases.

Iranian authorities have previously arrested the human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh (picture), the defender of several minors on the death rowand Mohammad Oliaei-fard defender of several political prisoners. Both of them are being held in the notorious Evin prison.

Several other human rights lawyers such as Khalil Bahramian, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah and AbdolfattahSoltani (all defenders of several political prisoners) are waiting for their trials, while the human rights lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh has been sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Iran Human Rights strongly condemns the televised "confessions" and arrest of the human rights lawyers by the Iranian authorities. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights, expressed his concern about the situation of the human rights in Iran and said: “This is continuation of the regime’s general crackdown of the Iranian civil society. In the past months we have been witnessing a broad campaign by the Iranian authorities against the human rights lawyers and the situation will probably get even worse”. He added “Iran is probably one of the few countries where defense lawyers are persecuted for doing their job”. “We ask the world community to play a more active role in defending the Iranian human rights lawyers and to ask for immediate release of all the detained lawyers and end persecuting them” he said.

Political Prisoner Rahim Rash Tortured, Remains on Hunger Strike after 26 Days

Rooz Online reporter Saman Rasoulpour conducted an interview with Soran Rash, the son of political prisoner Rahim Rash. He talked of his father’s physical condition. Rahim Rash’s hunger strike, that he launched to protest against torture and his detention, has reached its 26th day. Rahim Rash is in critical condition. Soran Rash stated, ”My father was tortured in Orumiyeh detention centre [in northwestern Iran] and will continue his strike despite the fact that he has lost a lot of weight and cannot walk on his own.”

English translation of the interview provided by Siavosh Jalili for Persian2English

Rooz Online: Mr. Rash, what is the lastest news on your father’s condition? Is he still on hunger strike?

Soran Rashi (SR): On Sunday, our family visited my father. He said that he is continuing his hunger strike. It has now been 26 days.

Rooz: Where did the visit take place? How was your father’s physical state?

SR: A few days prior to our visit, my father was transferred from the IRGC Orumiyeh prison to the Mahabad General prison. The transfer took place following the deterioration of my father’s health. Our family visited my father after the transfer. He has lost a lot of weight and is in critical condition. He was taken to the prison clinic several times and he was connected to serums. My father cannot stand on his feet and he walks with the help of others.

Rooz: Mr. Rash, what did your father say about his charges against him and the treatment he received from security officials?

SR: They have only orally stated the charges against my father which are ”acting againt national security” and “enmity against god”. My dad said that he was tortured and abused in the Orumiyeh detention centre.

Rooz: Your father was tortured while on hunger strike?

SR: Yes! My father went on hunger strike a day after he was arrested and he continues to be on strike to this day. My father was subjected to torture in the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh. My father says that one of the reasons he continues his hunger strike is because of the tortures and abuses inflicted on him. We, however, do not know the details of the acts of torture.

Rooz: Has a trial date been set? Is it possible that he will be freed before the trial?

SR: My father did not accept any of the charges against him. Three others were arrested from our village at the same time as my father. These three people are currently detained in the security and intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh. My father stated that there is a high chance that he his trial will not take place until the other three are transferred to the Mahabad detention centre as well.

Rooz: Do they all face the same charges?

SR: My father and the three others were arrested on the same night and they were transferred to the Mahabad detention centre. That is why we think that my dad will probably be tried when the other three are also transferred to Mahabad. The reason my father was transferred is because he launched a hunger strike. Of course, we do not see any connection between my father’s condition and them.

Rooz: Given the dire state Mr. Rash is in, has your family asked him to end his strike?

SR: Prison officials as well as my mother and brother have asked him to end his strike. Initially, my father went on strike to protest his detention, however, after he was mistreated in the detention centre, he is more determined to continue with his strike.

Rooz: Even though his physical condition has deteriorated gravely?

SR: Yes. My father was also arrested in 1997 when he was taken to Saqez prison. That time, rarely anyone believed that he would be able to last a 36-day hunger strike. Eventually my father was brought home on a stretcher. The doctor [on the case] said that if my father had continued his hunger strike, he would have only survived a few more days. The news did not receive media coverage back then because unlike today, the Internet and other forms of media were not pervasive. Despite all this, my father was exonerated and freed. This time as well, my father insists to continue his hunger strike until he is released.

Political Prisoner Reza Joushan Losing Eye Sight, Denied Medical Care

According to Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, 25 year old political prisoner Reza Joushan suffers from acute eye disease since a week ago. Despite this, Mohebbi, the chief interrogator of the Ministry of intelligence, has denied him medical treatment. Reza Joushan’s eyes are red and watery. He suffers from severe pain and the deterioration of vision.

According to reports, Reza Joushan asked one of the guards why he was not permitted to visit the prison clinic. The guard replied that he must await his turn because prisoners can only visit the clinic once every two months.

Reza Joushan protested against the lack of medical treatment, and as a result, Gerami, the manager of the prison, paid him a visit on August 10th. Reza Joushan described his eye problems to Gerami, but nothing has been done yet to remedy the situation.

Reza Joushan is detained in ward 6 subsection 17 of Rajai Shahr prison since four months ago. He is kept in isolation and is denied visitation or contact with his family.

Mohebbi, a Ministry of Intelligence officer and also the chief interrogator who serves as the director for the IRGC division at Rajai Shahr prison, has ordered the arrest of students, labour and women activists, and participants in the uprising in Karaj. Mohebbi often leads the raids of arresting activists. He is personally in charge of the interrogation and torture of detainees in the IRGC section of the prison.

Reza Joushan was arrested on December 1, 2009 when Ministry of Intelligence agents raided his home. He was taken to solitary confinement in the IRGC division of the prison, and after two months, he was transferred to ward 4.

On December 7, 2009, Ministry of Intelligence agents raided his home and arrested his mother Zahra Assadpour. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in the IRGC division of the prison. After weeks of interrogations and physical and psychological torture, she was moved to the women’s ward of Rajai Shahr prison. Zahra Assadpour was previously arrested along with her daughter Fatemeh Joushan for visiting family in Iraq’s Camp Ashraf (the camp is run by Iranian opposition group the People’s Mujahedin of Iran). Zahra Assadpour and Fatemeh Joushan were imprisoned for 14 months in Rajai Shahr prison.

Zahra Assadpour and her son Reza Joushan were brought to the Revolutionary Court on February 8, 2010. They were issued a sentence of one year imprisonment in Zanjan and four years exile in the Ghaylar village close to Zanjan (a province in north western Iran).

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran condemns the inhumane treatment of political prisoners in Iran and considers the denial of medical care for prisoners and the visitation bans as crimes.

We call on the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international authorities to take action to end the crimes committed by Ali Khamenei’s regime in Iran.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran

Majid Tavakoli Transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison

Student political prisoner Majid Tavakoli was transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr prison (I.e. Gohardasht prison). Majid’s brother Ali Tavakoli told HRANA that he has not been able to communicate with his brother. A prisoner in Rajai Shahr prison has reportedly witnessed the transfer. In recent years, exile to Rajai Shahr prison is an action taken on political prisoners to punish them.

Tavakoli is one of the 17 political prisoners who launched a hunger strike around July 26th (almost all the prisoners ended their hunger strike after two weeks. Imprisoned journalist Keyvan Samimi remains on hunger strike). Tavakoli was last arrested on December 7, 2009 after delivering a speech for Student Day at Amirkabir University.

On January 19, 2010, branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Majid Tavakoli to eight years and six months in prison. Additionally, Tavakoli was banned for five years from both leaving the country and engaging in any political activities.

TAKE ACTION | 12 ‘Hunger Strike’ Prisoners Transferred Back to General Ward, 3 Remain in Solitary

After 22 days in solitary confinement, 12 of the political prisoners formerly on hunger strike were transferred back to ward 350 (the general ward) in Evin prison. Abdollah Momeni, Bahman Ahmadi Amouie, and Keyvan Samimi remain in solitary confinement. Samimi is still on hunger strike after 23 days.

The Kaleme website reports that the 12 prisoners have lost weight and are physically weak. They have also not been able to meet with their families.

The transferred prisoners expressed grave concern over the physical well being of Keyvan Samimi. They stated that Samimi will break his hunger strike once Abdollah Momeni and Bahman Ahmadi Amouie are also transferred to the general ward.

Student activist Majid Tavakoli who was one of the prisoners on hunger strike was recently transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr prison. Long time political prisoner Reza Malek remains in a solitary confinement cell in ward 350.

Abdollah Momeni, Keyvan Samimi and Bahman Ahmadi Amouie Return to Evin Prison’s General Ward

HRANA reports that Daftar-e Tahkim Vahdat spokesperson Abdollah Momeni was returned to ward 350 (general ward) in Evin prison. Momeni endured 22 days of solitary confinement in ward 240 and he was on hunger strike for 18 of those days. Advar News reports that two other political prisoners, journalists Bahman Ahmadi Amouie and Keyvan Samimi, who were detained in solitary confinement in ward 240, were also transferred back to general ward 350.

Yesterday 12 other political prisoners were transferred back to the general ward as well. Imprisoned journalist Keyvan Samimi, who was on hunger strike until yesterday, maintained his strike until all the prisoners who were transferred to solitary confinement returned to ward 350.

Rajai Shahr Prison: New Murder Under Torture

35 year old prisoner Hassan Ghashghaei died under torture in a solitary confinement cell in ward 1 of Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj (I.e. Gohardasht prison).

On August 11, 2010, after returning to prison from court, Hassan Ghashghaei was transferred to solitary confinement. He was blindfolded and his hands and feet were cuffed. The guards then brutally tortured him. He fell into a coma and died a few hours later.

Before his arrest, Hassan Ghashghaei clashed with security forces when he resisted against their oppressive behaviour. He was later arrested in Varamin (city in the south part of the Tehran province). He was imprisoned for five years. He was detained in ward 4 of Rajai Shahr prison but was later moved to ward 1, known as “the last verse of the song of death.” When Hassan Ghasghaei protested against the brutality of the guards, he was transferred to solitary confinement known as the “dog house”. He was murdered under torture.

Prison authorities usually report the death of prisoners under torture as death due to drug overdose or suicide. A number of prisoners have lost their lives in the torture chambers of this medieval-like prison. Prisoners are subjected to the most brutal tortures such as rape and breaking of the hands, feet, spine, and shoulders.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran condemn the crimes against humanity committed in the form of systematic and organized deadly tortures against political and ordinary prisoners. We ask the U.N. Secretary General and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other international authorities to take action to bring crimes committed by Ali Khamenei’s regime to the security council.

Human Rights and Democracy in Iran

Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban arrested in Tabriz for Facebook Activities

Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban arrested in Tabriz for Facebook Activities

28 year old Hanieh “Sharareh” Farshi Shotorban was arrested on July 18, 2010 in Tabriz. There is no news on her condition and she is not permitted to contact her family.

Security forces in Tabriz entered Sharareh’s home and, after searching the area and confiscating her personal items like her computer and phone, they arrested her at 6:00am on July 18, 2010.

She was taken to a detention centre run by the Tabriz Ministry of Intelligence. Later, she was transferred to Evin prison.

Her charges include “insulting what is sacred” and “having contacts with a foreign entity”. It is believed that her charges are related to her Facebook membership and activities.

Sharareh Farshi Shotorban has no history of political activism.

Mohammad Mostafaei in Turkey + A Letter to His Wife and Daughter on their Birthdays

A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced on Wednesday that Mohammad Mostafaei, who refused to turn himself in to Iran’s judicial system, is in Turkey and has the option to seek asylum. Mostafaei was detained by Turkish authorities and taken to an unknown location when problems were detected with his passport. Turkey Radikal newspaper who reported the news did not provide any additional information on the passport problems. Citizens of Iran do not require a Visa to enter Turkey.

Metin Corabatir, a UNHCR spokesperson in Turkey, announced, “We are monitoring developments concerning the case…The channels are open for him to apply for asylum.”

The Associated Press

A European diplomat in Ankara said Turkish authorities had contacted several Western embassies to see if they were willing to offer the lawyer asylum. The diplomat asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the case.

Turkey’s Interior Ministry, in charge of police and asylum cases, declined to comment.

Amnesty International last month accused Iran of harassing Mostafaei and said his wife and her brother had been detained. The lawyer maintained a blog that helped generate a wave of international outrage over death by stoning. Britain and the United States called for the practice to be scraped.

Iran said last month it would not carry out the stoning against Mostafaei’s client, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, for the time being, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging for adultery and other offenses.

Mohammad Mostafaei Writes a Letter to His Wife and Daughter: Happy Birthday

On August 1, 2010, the day of his daughter’s birthday, Mohammad Mostafaei wrote a letter to his wife Fereshteh Halimi and their daughter Parmida. Fereshteh Halimi’s birthday is on August 4, 2010.

Persian published by the Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners

Letter by MOHAMMAD MOSTAFAEI | August 1, 2010

Translation AZITA ERAANI for PERSIAN2ENGLISH

Dear Fereshteh and my darling Parmida,

Happy Birthday to both of you.

Seven years ago today (August 1st), my dear Parmida was born to a sweet mother who is now imprisoned while committing no crime. Parmida is very lonely today, because her mom and dad are not there to wish her a happy birthday. We had planned a birthday party for her and all her friends were invited. We wanted to tell her how much we love her. But what happened instead? Her mother was unjustly and illegally arrested and taken hostage. And worse yet, her uncle and grandfather were arrested as well. My Parmida is so lonely today. What has she done to deserve the sorrow of missing both her parents? She has not seen her mother now for one week; a mother who has focused her time and energy on the care of her child. Today Parmida cannot hear her mother call out her name or her father wish her a happy birthday.

Is the justice from a country that claims to be a pillar of Islam the separation of a family? Does justice mean to take a mother away from her child and illegally send her to prison? I wonder, if the same happened to you, would you find it acceptable? I wish you would at least consider her release for a day so she would be able to wish her only child a happy birthday. It has been one week and Fereshteh has only been allowed to speak with her mother once. She did not provide any information on her condition or her surroundings. Is this what you call humanity? Who would accept this kind of treatment for a mother?

Get over yourselves and call forth your conscience. Do not let the curse of a mother follow you. Do not torment a young child by keeping her away from her mother. Please do not let my little girl suffer like this, [living] in the void left by the absence of her mother and father. You are depriving Parmida of her mother’s nurture that she needs and depends on. Please allow this mother to take her child in her arms. I swear, in the seven years of Parmida’s life, her mother has never taken her eyes off of her once. She has dedicated herself entirely to her child’s best possible upbringing. She has never for a moment neglected or hesitated from loving her child, but today, you are depriving this child from that love, by keeping her innocent mother in jail. I swear to God, unjustly separating a mother from her child to trap another person is an unforgivable sin. If you are not afraid of justice in this world, be very afraid of Judgment Day! Free Parmida’s mother now!

I have said it before and will say it again: she is innocent. I emphasize that Fereshteh Halimi and her brother have no information on my whereabouts. It is only too clear that they are taken as hostages.

My darling Parmida,

Every time I look at the beautiful drawing that you made for me, I cry. I cannot wait to see you. I want to see you soon and take you to the playground in the park. Happy birthday and I wish you all the best. I promise that you will have every opportunity in this world and the brightest future. I send you and your dear mom kisses. May God be with you both. Your mom’s birthday is in three days (August 4th). I wish her a happy birthday as well. Your mother has tolerated my absence for the last ten years so that I could help the innocent, the needy, and all those unjustly sentenced to death by execution, hanging, or stoning. I ask you to tolerate our absence today.

My dearest Fereshteh and Parmida, I wish you a happy birthday and I kiss you both.

- Mohammad Mostafaei

Bazaar Merchant Sentenced to Death, Another Sentenced to Ten-Year Imprisonment

Imprisoned bazaar merchants Mohsen Dogmechi (right) and Javad Lari (right).

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran reports that on August 1, 2010, two well known merchants of the Tehran Bazaar, Javad Lari and Mohsen Dogmechi, received heavy and inhumane sentences by Salavati, the presiding judge of branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Lari was sentenced to death and Dogmechi received ten years imprisonment in Gohardasht prison (Karaj, Iran). Both prisoners are currently detained in ward 350 of Evin prison.

Mrs. Mohammadi, the lawyer for 51 year old Javad Lari, informed her client of the execution sentence. Lari was arrested on September 15, 2008 when Ministry of Intelligence agents invaded his workplace. He was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in ward 209 of Evin prison. The head of interrogations at the Ministry of Intelligence, Alavi and Saeed Shabkhan, were in charge when Lari was under physical and psychological torture to agree to a mock television interview. After Lari refused, the heads of interrogation created false allegations against him and his file was sent to branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.

Judge Salavati issued his verdict based on the allegations of the Ministry of Intelligence that charged Lari with Moharebeh (waging war against God), acting against national security, propaganda against the regime, arranging holidays (the arranged holidays to various Iranian cities were for his family), and establishing a financial fund to support the Mujahedin organization.

The Revolutionary Court is reported to hold secret meetings that aim to find ways to cover up false allegations and the mistreatment of political prisoners and their lawyers.

Mohsen Dogmechi is a 50 year old merchant well known in the Tehran Bazaar. He was summoned to the Revolutionary Court on August 1st where he received a sentence of ten years imprisonment in Rajai Shahr prison (I.e. Gohardasht prison). His charges are: providing financial aid to families of political prisoners, and visiting his son in Camp Ashraf.

Political prisoners and their family members report that inhumane death sentences for political prisoners are issued by Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader. The sentences are then announced by the presiding judge. Families of political prisoners say that they are only permitted to request mercy or an appeal from Khamenei. Dogmechi and Lari were also both political prisoners in the 1980s where they were subjected to torture.

Another imprisoned bazaar merchant is Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhabzi who is detained in ward 209 of Evin prison since December 2009. His current situation is uncertain.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI) condemn the heavy and inhumane death sentences issued by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. HRDAI considers this act a crime against humanity. We ask the UN Secretary General, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other international authorities to halt the systematic and organized crimes committed by the Iranian regime. We demand for the violations of human rights in Iran to be presented to the security council so appropriate measures are taken.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran

Tehran Prosecutor Confirms: Jafar Kazemi Will Definitely Be Executed

Behrouz Kazemi (left), the son of Jafar Kazemi (right)

Based on reports received from Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, Tehran’s Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said to the family of Jafar Kazemi that the execution order will be carried out for certain.

Jafar Kazemi is 47 years old, married and with two children. He is a lithographer for academic books and illustrations at Amirkabir University. Kazemi was also imprisoned from 1981 to 1990 where he was witness to the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners.

On July 31, 2010, Jafar Kazemi’s family paid an expected visit to the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office in hopes to see Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi (Tehran Prosecutor). An assistant by the name of Alizadeh informed the family that Dolatabadi would not be speaking to them, but he did deliver a message: Jafar Kazemi will definitely be executed.

Jafar Kazemi’s file was sent to branch 31 of the High Council. An individual by the name of Salimi stated, “A verdict against inhumane and criminal executions must be sent to higher authority for confirmation. Recently, the leader from the Council of Experts refrained from reviewing the file, and the verdict of the court was confirmed and remained valid as it was. It was then sent to the Revolutionary Court for the sentence to be processed.”

Send a Letter to the UN/Media to Save the Life of Jafar Kazemi

Jafar Kazemi’s family also met with Bakhtiari, the Minister of Justice. Bakhtiari stated that he was unable to do anything because a pardon must first be attained from Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader.

On September 18, 2009, Kazemi was arrested by officials from the Ministry of Intelligence. He was taken to ward 209 of Evin prison and spent 74 days in solitary confinement where he was subjected to interrogation and extremely painful psychological and physical torture.

The head interrogator at the Ministry of Intelligence, who goes by the alias Alavi, and others present subjected Kazemi to torture to get him to do a televised interview. Alavi told Kazemi, “We need a few sacrifices for the sake of maintaining order and your name was selected.” Kazemi was then transferred to ward 350.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran considers death sentences issued to political prisoners by Ali Khamenei tantamount to a crime against humanity, and requests from the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions to submit the file for Iran’s crimes against humanity to the UN Security Council to decide on the necessary actions that need to be taken.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran

MUST READ & WATCH | VOA Interviews Son of Death Row Prisoner Jafar Kazemi

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CNN interviews with Shohreh Aghdashloo Iranian-American Actress

Save Sakineh

Dear Friends,

Yesterday an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was saved by global protests from being stoned to death.

But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their heads.

The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know -- let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl

Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.

Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.

Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.

Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this brutality.Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl

In hope and determination,

Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team


SOURCES:

Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery

Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A


Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate here.

The Farsi blog of Nedaye Azadi suspended by Islamic republic

Unfortunately the Farsi blog is suspended and I can't update it anymore.When I try to login this message appears and says access to admin control panel is inactivated.

How police in Iran arrest people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6DJ00nAquM

Torture in Rajaee Shahr Perison in Karaj

This is a report inside prison of a victim of torture .




Another victim

UN Urged to Take Action for Jafar Kazemi, Political Prisoner on Death Row

In a letter, Jafar Kazemi’s wife has urged the United Nation’s Secretary General and the UNHCR Commissioner to help save her husband who is at imminent risk of execution.

RAHANA – Jafar Kazemi was arrested on September 18, 2009 and sentenced to death. In a letter written to the United Nation’s secretary general and published by HRDAI, Kazemi’s wife describes the family’s ordeal since her husband’s arrest.

The following is the English translation of Roudabeh Akbari’s letter:

My name is Roudabeh Akbari. I am a housewife, married to the political prisoner Jafar Kazemi, and a mother of two children.

My husband was arrested on September 18, 2009 at 6:00am on Haft-Hoz Street in Tehran. We did not hear from him for two weeks. He was tortured for three days and then placed in solitary confinement for 74 days under harsh conditions.

My husband was accused of supporting and propagandizing for the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), as well as visiting our son in Camp Ashraf (MKO camp in Iraq).

In prison, after being tortured and spending three months in solitary confinement, he was pressured to make televised confessions. Faced with his resistance, they then tortured him again, and three of his teeth were broken as a result of severe beatings. Presently, my husband remains in a worrisome physical and emotional state.

At the end of the initial trial, during which judge Moghiseh sentenced him to death, my husband’s lawyer verbally objected to the ruling, which he argued was excessive and unlawful for the existing charge of anti-state propaganda. The judge remarked that he was under pressure at that time by higher authorities to rule in this fashion.

According to my husband’s lawyer, during the second trial, the court did not even look at the defense statement, which contained three pages of arguments regarding the anti-state propaganda charge, and in a two-line ruling, upheld the initial court’s ruling (death sentence). Judge Zargar was the judge who presided over the appeals hearing.

The interrogator has told my husband that “we need to sacrifice a few in order to save the regime and your name has been drawn as one of them.” My husband was asked again to make an interview about the Ashura events on December 27, 2009, but he refused to comply as was arrested three months before Ashura. The interrogators threatened that if he refused to make the confession, they would torture his wife and his children before his eyes.

In spite of threats by the interrogators that they would cut his wife in pieces before his eyes, he continued to resist making any confessions in the interview. The interrogators reacted by telling my husband that his execution was final and would be enforced. After 74 days of solitary confinement in ward 209, he was held in a place they call the suite, before being moved one week later to ward 350.

For three weeks, despite repeated attempts by me and my younger child, they refused to let us visit him.

Which law, country, or ethics states that visiting one’s child is a crime? If the Islamic Republic considers visiting your children a crime punishable by death, then my husband is guilty.

Given the critical situation of the political prisoners, and considering the total lack of will to review the inhumane and illegal court rulings against innocent prisoners, I demand the immediate stay of execution for those have been sentenced to death.

What I described above does not only apply to my husband and our family. All the families of political prisoners are in the same excruciating psychological situation. All the families of political prisoners want immediate action from the United Nations and the UNHCR commissioner.

Yours truly,

Roudabeh Akbari, wife of political prisoner Jafar Kazemi

May 2010

Shadi Sadr Handed Sentence by the Revolutionary Court

RAHANA – According to Shadi Sadr’s lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, her trial was held on May 8, 2010.

In an interview with ILNA, Mostafaei announced that the trial was held in her absence since she is currently abroad. Sadr was charged with assembly and conspiring to disturb national security, disturbing public order, and resisting authorities. Her lawyer stated that she was sentenced to five years in prison for acting against national security, one year of imprisonment, and 74 lashes.

Mostafaei added that the verdict was given to him by branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. Sadr’s lawyer has twenty days to appeal the verdict. Since the sentence is heavy, he is “definite” that he will appeal it.

Shadi Sadr was tried for participating in a rally on March 4, 2007. A total of 33 women were detained at the rally. Many of the arrested women arrested were either acquitted or given light sentences. Sadr’s verdict has been the heaviest so far.

Amir Khosro Dalirsani Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

RAHANA – Amir Khosro Dalirsani, a national-religious (term used for supporters of the Iranian National Front), has been sentenced to four years in prison.

According to a RAHANA reporter, branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court found Dalirsani guilty of assembly and conspiracy to act against national security and sentenced him to four years in prison. The decision has been communicated to Dalirsani who is currently detained in ward 350 of Evin prison.

Dalirsani, who is a senior member of the Jonbesh Mosalmanan Mobarez and the Committee against Arbitrary Arrests, was arrested following the Ashura events in December 2009.

Mousavi’s Chief Bodyguard Arrested

According to reports from Tehran, Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s head bodyguard was arrested on Monday night and taken to an unknown location. The news was first reported on the Kaleme website.

Yazdafar has been accompanying and protecting Mousavi for the past seven years.

There is no information available on the reason for the arrest, however the [incident] occurs just days after comments made by Tehran’s Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi on confronting leaders of the Green Movement.

Following the arrest, Mousavi has asked staff members working at his office not to appear at work until further notice. According to reports, Mousavi believes that at the very least, authorities are planning to place him under house arrest.

Source: Iran Green Voice

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Hamed Omidi transferred to solitary confinement after prison protest against recent executions

Hamed Omidi, a student activist detained in ward 209 of Evin prison, has protested against last week’s execution of his Kurdish prison mates. Omidi’s disobedience of orders given by prison officials led to a physical altercation.

According to reports inside the prison received over the phone, security guards beat Omidi with batons and dragged him on the floor to a cell in solitary confinement. As of yet, he has not been transferred back to ward 209.

It is worth mentioning that Hamed Omidi, a student at Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran, was arrested in relation to protests at Tehran University that condemned the execution of Ehsan Fattahian. Officials have refused to release Omidi from prison, even if a bail bonds is secured.

Statement by Members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters on Recent Letter of Aversion

A statement by members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters

When a dignified and noble palace, after years of proud resistance against upheavals, is destroyed by its inhabitants, what can we do but to sigh out of grief and pity? When the will of evil prevails over the pure and divine self-sacrifice of the heralds of liberty, what is left but regret? And when the wind of lies blows in the sky, how can we take refuge in the message of the disillusioned emissary?

We will emphasize as we have before that“the outlandish and preposterous claim that CHRR is linked to foreign governments or political groups has been repeated for a long time from various government tribunes- be it Tehran’s Prosecutor, the state and military news agencies, the Ministry of Intelligence interrogators, or the internet pirates who are floating in the swamp of their own lies.

Of course, no credible and trustworthy evidence is offered to back up this obvious lie. The Ministry of Intelligence, through its so-called experts, has launched a petty game to cover up the extent and depth of the systematic and organized human rights violations [in Iran]. Repeating these unfounded claims is, in fact, advertisement for and promotion of groups that have no [favourable] place in the Iranian public opinion.”**

We will state again that we confirm “there is no doubt that the Ministry of Intelligence, which spends large amounts of money out of the Iranian people’s pocket, is certainly aware of the independence of CHRR from all political parties and movements. That is why the absurd scheme of tying CHRR to the MKO (Mujahedin Khalq Organization), as it has been suggested by Ministry of Intelligence experts, cannot be considered anything but an attempt to pave the way for physical elimination of a reputable group of people whose activities are based on human rights since its conception.

For CHRR and all human rights activists, defending the human rights of every individual, regardless of their political orientation, religion, and ethnic background, is the most important principle. We candidly declare that in addition to the activities in the field of human rights including women, children, workers, religious, ethnic, and sexual minorities rights, we will be defending the rights of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscious.”**

We have said and we repeat once again that “The Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) is one of the organizations that has requested, with an emphasis on belief and commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the implementation of the Declaration in all aspects of the Iranian people’s lives. As it has been repeatedly stressed, the Committee is independent and does not belong to any political party or branch. The Committee has no political mandate.

The Committee’s activities, which started in 2005, involve presenting reports and providing information on all humans whose rights have been infringed or violated. These people involve women, children, prisoners, workers, etc. CHRR has also tried to prevent the systematic and perpetual violation of human rights by spreading public awareness, seeking assistance from domestic and international institutions to draw the government’s attention to the violation of basic rights for citizens.”**

The intention behind reiterating the above statement is a letter that has been written by a number of CHRR members, including some who were recently released from prison. The purpose is not to blame and badger our dear colleagues, but to remind our readers to disregard [the previously released controversial statements by CHRR that were written with the force of regime interrogators) and judge fairly the situations our friends [referring to the imprisoned members of CHRR] have had to endure.

On May 13, 2010, a statement titled, “Human rights are human rights” was published on the CHRR website. The statement that was full of spelling and grammatical mistakes and had other signs that it was written in a rush (these mistakes are visible to an aware reader) is in clear contrast to the Committee’s conduct in recent years. On May 15, 2010, after the publication of the “letter of aversion,” some websites who picked up the letter and posted it added in the last paragraph that some exiled members of CHRR are accused of “unfairness,” “violation of individual rights,” and “lack of respect for group and organizational efforts.” Thus it has been insinuated that those members of CHRR who have not signed the statement are the subject of outlandish claims made by Intelligence interrogators and state-military media regarding ties with the MKO.

The flagrant and absurd lies published by interrogators and their media has been repeatedly denied by CHRR. However, since we have insisted on our independence and our apolitical activities, we have been trying to report human rights violations from a purely human rights stance to avoid falling in the whirlwind of taking a political stance for or against any political group.

We have always believed that writing “letters of aversion from a certain political group” is not a human rights activity, but rather a political act. We have tried to keep CHRR clear of such effluence. Moreover, it is evident that stepping into this field by those members who are not in jail will only increase the pressure Intelligence interrogators exert not only on the members who are outside of prison but also for those who are detained and may go forward and give false confessions.”

It is not our intention to shed light on the internal issues of CHRR, but to point out a reality that will help the public uncover the truth. After the proposal to write a letter of aversion was put forward by some of the recently released members of CHRR, and not all of them, naturally many of the members opposed the publication of such a statement for the above-mentioned reasons. However, regretfully, and despite the will of the majority of the Committee, another statement which was still contrary to the conduct of CHRR was published on the website on May 7, 2010. The text was temporarily removed since internal negotiations [in prison] were not yet conclusive.

In the wake of these events, some members of CHRR, including a few who have left Iran after perceptible and active threats against their safety, have resigned from their activities in CHRR as they are against the publication of such letters of aversion and consider these letters in clear contrast to the purpose of CHRR. The resignations came after the publication of the May 13th letter titled, “Human Rights Are Human Rights.”

There is no doubt that the majority of the politically-conscious people are aware of the poison that the garden of CHRR has been exposed to. This awareness makes us hopeful that our readers understand the current circumstance. Certainly, the haste of writers and publishers of this non-human rights statement is completely understandable and does not require hair-splitting analyses. Even the year the organization was founded was typed incorrectly in the statement.

The most unfortunate part is the unethical conduct of the writers of the letter in their accusations against those members who opposed the publication of this letter.

Authors of the letter believe that taking sides will only harm human rights activities and will result in the satisfaction of those who violate human rights. Thus, we consider this painful discussion closed. We will strongly avoid engaging in it any further in hopes that the flag of pure and honest human rights reporting shall forever be up and flying.

We wish that our imprisoned friends Shiva Nazar Ahari and Koohyar Goodarzi will be released very soon. There is no doubt that the breeze of freedom shall blow, sooner or later, on this wounded land.

Farzad Kamangar’s Family Under House Arrest

Farzad Kamangar’s Family under House Arrest

HRA News Agency- It was reported on May 13, 2010 that intelligence and security forces, by using intimidation and threats, have put the Kamangar family under house arrest after they returned home to Kamyaran from Tehran.

The Kamangar family returned home after the judiciary system’s refusal to release the bodies of the five executed prisoners.

Security forces have cut off the phone to Kamangar’s house and threatened that any phone communication by the family will result in their arrest.

Yesterday, security forces attempted to arrest all members of the Kamangar family upon their arrival to Evin prison. People intervened to prevent the arrests.