Tales of Torture, Violence Continue to be heard from Iran

(30 July 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran continues to verify reports from Iran chronicling systematic torture and brutal treatment. A Moussavi campaign staff in Mazandaran, Majid Sh., is one of the latest confirmed cases of torture committed by government forces or government-sponsored groups. The accumulation of these crimes and their widespread, planned, and systematic nature, are indications that government actions since the 12 June elections could be raising to the level of crimes against humanity under international law.

The Death of Amir Toufanpour

On 15 June 2009, Amir Hossein Toufanpour, born in 1978 and father of a 7-year-old daughter, was around Azadi square with his brother. Around 8:30 at night, noticing the noise and conflict in the street, he left his brother, who was on a motorcycle, to get closer to the scene and find out what was going on. His brother, who at first was waiting nearby, got farther from the scene as he saw some shooting taking place. He waited for his brother somewhere not far, but Amir never showed up. He went home and called Amir’s cell phone, but there was no answer. Close to the end of the night an anonymous person called his mother and tells her that Amir was shot in the arm and taken to the Rasoul Akram hospital. His mother and other family members look for him in that hospital and others that night and the following days, but to no avail. Feeling disappointed, they go to the Forensic Medicine department on Friday, 19 June and see his picture among those killed.

Neda’s Mother Holds Solitary Candle Vigil While Her Memorial Service is Violently Attacked

(30 July 2009) Thousands of people gathered to commemorate the fortieth day of Neda Agha Soltan’s killing and to mourn all other recent deaths at Behesht Zahra Cemetery today. The peaceful gathering was attacked violently by Special Guards and plain-clothes Basij agents, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said. Security forces also prevented Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karrubi from participating in the memorial services.

Neda’s Mother Hajer Rostami Motlagh

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Family of Twenty-Five Year Old Killed During Protest Given Contradictory Information

(29 July 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has published a report of the shooting of 25-year-old electrical technician Davoud Sadri. He was shot during a protest in Azadi Square on 21 June by Basij forces and was taken to Rasoule Akram hospital. His family immediately began searching for him and their treatment is characteristic of many relatives of those injured and detained in protests.

Sadri’s family was given contradicting information regarding his whereabouts, the nature of his injuries, and where he was being kept.

Death of Davoud Sadri

Davoud Sadri, a 25-year-old electrical technician, was shot during public protests of presidential election results. He was killed in Azadi square at the beginning of the Jenah highway amidst shooting by Basij forces from their Meghdad base.

His half-dead body, along with 17 others who were shot, was transferred to Rasoule Akram hospital. Hours later, he died as a result of severe injuries to his heart and spleen.

Torture of Saeed Hajarian Threatening His Life

(27 July 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran appealed to authorities in Iran to halt the torture of Saeed Hajarian, a prominent reformist journalist and former presidential advisor who has been detained in Tehran’s Evin prison since 15 June, and to release him immediately. The Campaign also advocated for urgent action by members of the international community to try to save Hajarian’s life as well as hundreds of other prisoners in incommunicado detention.

“Detainees in Iran are dying on account of torture and ill-treatment, and considering Hajarian’s brutal torture, fragile condition and lack of needed medical care, he may die unless the torture stops,” said Aaron Rhodes, spokesperson for the Campaign.

Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureates, Iranian Poets and Artists Support July 25th Global Day of Action

“We deplore the violence and crackdown on peaceful protesters, the increasing restrictions on civil liberties, and the imprisonment of a growing number of civil leaders in Iran. ” Archbishop Destmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1984

“If one country sincerely wants to support democracy in another country that is under dictatorial rule, the only thing to do is to support the freedom fighters who stand for the democratic institutions of that country. Done this way, the sapling of democracy will bear the flower of freedom.” Shirin Ebadi, Iranian human rights activist, Nobel Peace Laureate, 2003

Iran Update: Prominent Human Rights Lawyer and Many Demonstrators Beaten and Detained as Rafsanjani Calls upon Security Forces to Follow Law, and for the Release of Prisoners

(17 July 2009) Government agents tear gassed peaceful demonstrators ,beat and kidnapped a leading human rights lawyer today, while Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and leading cleric, called for the intelligence and security force to obey the law and for the release of detained reformists and protesters.

Death Toll Apparently Far Exceeds Government Claims

(15 July 2009) Information from Iranian hospitals and victims’ families indicates that the number of demonstrators killed by security officers and militia during demonstrations to protest Iran’s disputed 12 June presidential election far exceeds government reports, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran stated.

The Campaign has ascertained that on 20 June, when the government reported that 11 protesters had been killed, three Tehran hospitals placed a total of 34 corpses of demonstrators in their morgue.