LIST OF PROMINENT ACTIVISTS, RIGHTS DEFENDERS, AND JOURNALISTS DETAINED SINCE 12 JUNE

Latest News - 25th June 2009 2 Comments »

Threats Against Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi Must Be Condemned

(25 June 2009) Official Iranian news agencies have published a letter claiming to be from lawyers, university professors, and families of veterans and martyrs, which requests the Justice minister, Gholam-Hussein Elham, to prosecute Iranian Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi for allegedly violating Islamic and constitutional law through her human rights advocacy, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today. Elham is also the spokesman for Ahmadinejad’s government.

The letter, published by Fars News, an outlet close to the Revolutionary Guards, claims that Ms. Ebadi’s advocacy with international authorities in the wake of massive police brutality against peaceful demonstrators violates her obligations as a lawyer.

Human Rights Organization Provides the Names of Prominent Detainees, Calls for Their Release

(23 June 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today published lists of Iranian citizens it has confirmed killed and detained since the disputed 12 June presidential elections. The lists are not comprehensive and show the names of only some of the well-known detained citizens and only four of the dead.

The lists name a total of 240 detained persons, including 29 who were detained and then released, as well as 102 political figures, 23 journalists, 79 university students, and 7 university faculty who are still in detention.

Injured Demonstrators Arrested at Hospitals

(20 June 2009) Numerous Iranians beaten and injured by security forces as they tried to stage peaceful demonstrations have been arrested and detained when they sought medical treatment in hospitals, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today.

Heavily armed Iranian police and military units, as well as paramilitaries, confronted thousands of citizens as they tried to assemble. According to information received by the Campaign, police wielding batons and using water cannons and tear gas injured hundreds. There have been unconfirmed reports of several deaths. One witness told the Campaign she saw a female demonstrator get shot in the neck.

Abide by International Law regarding Peaceful Demonstrations, Rein in Vigilante Groups

(19 June 2009) The Iranian government is bound by Iranian and international law to protect the right to peaceful assembly, despite threats against citizens seeking to express their views on the disputed presidential elections, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. The Campaign is deeply concerned by the possibility of more police and vigilante violence against peaceful demonstrators and the further arbitrary detention of Iranian citizens, and calls on authorities to abide by Iran’s international legal obligations and the Iranian Constitution in dealing with mass unrest about the 12 June presidential election results.

UPDATE: Arbitrary Detentions in Iran Expand

(17 June 2009) Ebrahim Yazdi, General Secretary of Nehzat e Azadi, was arrested today at 15:00 Tehran time, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said, while he was in Pars Hospital in Tehran in the Intensive Care Unit. It was reported that his home was searched.

Saeed Laylaz, the prominent economist who challenges existing economic policy, was arrested on 17 June in his home.

Mohammadreza Jalaieepour, an active member of a leading reformist political front, was arrested on 17 June in Tehran Airport, as he was about to leave Iran.

Recent Press Releases

Mass Arrests and Detentions Signal Increasing Repression
17th June 2009 - 8 Comments »
End Violence against Peaceful Protests
16th June 2009
An Appeal to Iranian Authorities to End Restrictions on Civil Liberties and Violence against Demonstrators
14th June 2009
Withhold Recognition of Iranian Presidential Election Results
13th June 2009 - 32 Comments »
Iran Election Update: Concerns for Violence Against Moussavi Supporters Grow
13th June 2009 - 2 Comments »

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Dr. Kamiar Alaei

(UPDATED) Dr. Kamiar Alaei is a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health in Albany, New York and was expected to resume his studies there in the fall of 2008.

Dr. Arash Alaei

(UPDATED) Dr. Arash Alaei is the former director of the International Education and Research Cooperation of the Iranian National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

Baha’is Currently Imprisoned in Iran

Baha’is throughout Iran are routinely arrested and interrogated by government officials. This list is only the published and known names of those arrested.

Silva Harotonian

Silva Harotonian has been in detention since 26 June 2008. She is a former employee of the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and was on her fourth brief trip to support a US-Iran exchange program for maternal and child health professionals when arrested.

Mehdi Mashayekhi

Mehdi Mashayekhi, a student activist at Amir Kabir University, was detained on 24 February by security agents at his home. He is reportedly being held in Evin Prison and is under interrogation.

Abbas Hakimzadeh

Abbas Hakimzadeh, a student activist at Amir Kabir University, was detained on 24 February by security agents at his home. He is reportedly being held in Evin Prison and is under interrogation.

Alieh Eghdamdoust

Alieh Eghdamdoust is a women’s rights activist involved in the One Million Signatures Campaign. She was arrested on 31 January 2009 in her hometown of Foman, Iran to begin serving her three-year prison sentence.

Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand

Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand was arrested in June 2007 and held in solitary confinement. He is the founder of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan. He has been denied family visiting rights.

Mansour Osanloo

Mansour Osanloo, arrested on July 10, 2007, is a leading trade-union activist who has been imprisoned several times during the past three years. His health has deteriorated while in prison and his life is in danger.

Interview with mother of Yaghoub Barvayeh shot by Basij forces before his death Barvayeh died in Loghman-e Hakim Hospital on 25 June 2009

Eyewitness Accounts of Recent Events A detailed eyewitness account from Tehran regarding the protests of 20 June and the extreme violence visited upon protesters.

End Juvenile Executions Send an appeal to Iranian leaders to end the repugnant practice of executing juvenile offenders.

UN Secretary General’s Iran Report The report of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the human rights situation in Iran.

Emad Baghi's "Right to Life" This book presents groundbreaking research in Islamic jurisprudence and Sharia supporting the suspension and abolition of capital punishment in countries following Islamic law.

Women's Rights

The Iranian women’s rights movement is the most vibrant social movement in Iran today. Having built an extensive grassroots base, Iranian women are campaigning to fight legal gender discrimination. The government routinely persecutes and prosecutes women’s rights activists.

Report on the Status of Women Human Rights Defenders — April 2009
The Systematic Repression of Women — May 2008

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Academic Freedom

Detained Students Tortured and Beaten to “Fabricate Evidence”

During the past few years, Iranian universities have been experiencing a new phase of government intervention in academic affairs, which is considered a second Cultural Revolution. The present government policy is demonstrated on several fronts and is resulting in severe infringements on academic freedoms.

Report on the Situation of Academic Freedom on University Campuses — December 2008
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Workers' Rights

Mother and Wife of Ailing, Imprisoned Labor Leader Plead for His Release

Iranian workers and teachers are denied many protections of basic workers rights, as defined and articulated under longstanding international labor standards. Iranian workers are deprived of such fundamental rights both under Iranian labor law and in practice.

Background Information on the Rights of Workers in Iran — March 2008
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