Mobile Human Rights Billboards Confront Ahmadinejad in New York

(22 September 2009) As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is circulating mobile billboards protesting recent violence and extensive human rights violations in Iran. The mobile billboards (see pictures below) are circulating in midtown Manhattan, near UN headquarters, to focus the attention of the diplomatic community on the human rights crisis in Iran. The Campaign, together with Human Rights Watch urged the General Assembly to take resolute action by appointing a special envoy.

Appoint Special UN Envoy to Investigate Rights Crisis

(21 September 2009) Member states of the United Nations should use President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s upcoming visit to the UN General Assembly to address Iran’s worsening human rights crisis, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Human Rights Watch said today.

The two organizations have documented extensive violations committed by state-sponsored forces since the 12 June presidential election, including unlawful use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, lengthy solitary confinement, and coerced confessions. There have also been numerous allegations of torture and rape of detainees.

Campaign Report on Human Rights in Iran since 12 June 2009 – Accelerating Slide into Dictatorship

Human rights in Iran have deteriorated precipitously for over four years, since the onset of the administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But since the disputed presidential election on 12 June 2009, Iran’s slide into dictatorship has sharply accelerated.

Campaign’s UPR Submission

This submission by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran provides information under sections C and D as stipulated in the General Guidelines for the Preparation of Information under the Universal Periodic Review:

Section C briefly enumerates some of the Campaign’s concerns about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s violations of its legal obligations as a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights (ICESR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)….

Human Rights Should be Issue Number One in Negotiations

(12 September 2009) The “P5+1” nations should put the need to respect human rights at the top of their list of issues to discuss with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

Iran’s “package of proposals” has suggested that areas for negotiation include “Protecting human dignity, respect for their culture and rights.” The general theme of the proposal was a broad and general range of issues including “security,” “stability,” and “peace,” and the proposal noted the need to for the international community to proceed on the basis of a “solid foundation of justice and law.”

Authorities Close Groups Investigating Arrests, Detentions, and Killings, Arrest Leaders

(9 September 2009) The International Campaign for Human Right in Iran reported that three Iranian groups investigating arrests, detentions and killings in the context of post-election protests—two of which are associated with opposition political campaigns– were closed by order of the General Prosecutor. The three groups include the Association to Defend Prisoners Rights, the Committee for Following the Situation of Detainees (a part of the campaign of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi), and the Committee for Following Detainees and Injured in the campaign of Mehdi Karoubi.

Information Withheld about Detainees Prevents Defense, Raises Fears

(8 September 2009) Iranian authorities have released little or no information about many of the approximately 400 persons who remain detained for expressing their objections to the contested 12 June presidential elections, violating international standards for due process and raising deep concerns about their health and safety, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

The Campaign particularly highlighted the cases of prisoners who have had little or no contact with their families and lawyers, including Abdollah Momeni, Ahmad Zeidabadi, Mohammad Maleki, Keyvan Samimi Behbahani, Kourush Zaim, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Mohammad Reza Jalaipour, Mohammad Ramazanzadeh, Shapour Kazemi, and Shiva Nazarahari.