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.

Farzad Kamangar

Farzad Kamangar (32), a Kurdish teacher and social worker in the city of Kamyaran, is sentenced to death based on “absolutely zero evidence,” according to his lawyer.

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.

Ronak Safazadeh

Ronak Safazadeh (21), arrested on October 9, 2007, is a women’s rights activist in Sanandaj. She has been sentenced to 9 months in prison and a $208 (2 million Rial) fine by the Public Court of Piranshar.

Raids and Arrests of Baha’is Reach Critical Levels

(22 January 2009) – The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed grave concern for the situation of Iran’s largest religious minority group today. Members of the Baha’i Faith have been targeted with alarming frequency in recent months with 36 Baha’is currently under arrest in Iranian prisons.

“The continued targeting of members of the Baha’i community is indicative of the larger goal of suppressing individual human rights by the Iranian government. All Baha’is detained and arrested, have committed no crime whatsoever,” said Hadi Ghaemi, Campaign spokesperson.

A Message to Obama Based on False Televised Confessions

(21 January 2009) The Iranian Intelligence Ministry’s purported uncovering of a CIA-backed “coup plot” is being used as a propaganda tool at the dawn of Obama’s presidency, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“Hard-line elements are using the alleged plot to seize the initiative in Iran-US relations in a period of tense maneuvering by both sides as Obama’s administration takes charge,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

Hadi Ghabel

Hadi Ghabel, an outspoken Iranian cleric, was imprisoned on April 7, beginning a 40 month term following prosecution and conviction by the Special Court for the Clergy, a body akin to modern inquisition court.

Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission Response to ANNI Letter

Response of the Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission to a letter written by ANNI expressing concern over the shutting down of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.

Crackdown on Human Rights Groups Continues with Arrest of Activist

(15 January 2009) Security agents arrested Jinous Sobhani, the former secretary of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) and the Organization for the Defense of Mine Victims, and confiscated her address book, telephone and other work materials on 14 January 2009. Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate, is a co-founder of both groups.

The DHRC, a leading independent Iranian group providing legal defense of human rights violations, has been closed since 22 December 2008, when agents forced their way into the Center.

Detentions of Shiraz University Students Continue

(15 January 2009) – The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that Hamdollah Namjou and Alma Ranjbar students at Shiraz University were arrested at the Intelligence Office in Shiraz on 14 and 15 January , respectively, after being summoned on 5 January. Another student, Younes Mirhosseini, received a summons to the Intelligence Office in Shiraz last week.

According to sources at the University, other students including Esmael Jalilvand and Younes Mirhosseini have repeatedly received phone calls from the Intelligence Office in Shiraz, and their families are being threatened in telephone calls.