Ayatollah Khalaji’s son: ‘My father was arrested for expressing his opinions’

Mehdi Khalaji, son of Ayatollah Khalaji, a prominent Qum cleric who was arrested on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at his home in Qum, told International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he believes that the only reason for this theological teacher’s arrest is expressing his views and opinions. He said in the interview: “My [...]

Mohsen Safaee Farahani and Behzad Nabavi Each Receive Six-Year Prison Sentences

Mohsen Safaee Farahani and Behzad Nabavi, two prominent reformist political figures arrested after the 12 June 2009 presidential elections, have been sentenced to six-year prison terms. The court reviewing Safaee Farahani’s charges issued its final verdict 37 days after the last court session and 200 days after his arrest and imprisonment. Former Deputy Parliament Speaker Behzad Nabavi received his sentence from Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.

Deprivation of Dezful Students, Threats Against Tehran Students

While the Iranian Constitution allows for peaceful congregations which are not disruptive to Islamic principles, in recent actions against students participating in protests, 18 Dezful Azad University students were handed heavy punishments of deprivation of education for half a year, deprivation of education for a full year, exile to another university in the region, or exile to another university outside the region.

Death Sentence for Shirin Alam Holi, Kurdish political prisoner

The Kurdistan Human Rights News Agency has reported that Shirin Alam Holi, a Kurdish political prisoner who is in Tehran’s Evin prison has been sentenced to death. This sentence has been issued on charges of “moharebeh” or warring against God. The Revolutionary Court’s sentence has come as a result of Alam Holi’s cooperation with an opposition group in Kurdistan. She was informed of the sentence last week. Shirin Alam Holi is 28 years old and was born in Makoo in West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. She was arrested last June and transferred to Evin prison. Earlier, there was news that she had been sentenced to life in prison, but her lawyer confirmed the death sentence. The sentence is open to appeal.

Attorney for Three Detained Americans: “I am trying to meet my clients”

Massoud Shafiee, attorney for three Americans who entered Iran by mistake five months ago and were subsequently arrested and imprisoned, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he is trying to meet with his clients.

Shirin Ebadi’s Sister Released After 17 Days

Shirin Ebadi’s sister has been released after 17 days in detention. Dr. Nooshin Ebadi, sister of Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, who was arrested by security authorities on 28 December without being charged, was released on Wednesday night.

Update: Mourning Mothers Released

(13 January 2010) All members of the Mourning Mothers who were detained in Laleh Park in Tehran on Saturday, 9 January, have been gradually released, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today.

The Campaign strongly condemns the harassment and detention of the Mourning Mothers and to address their legitimate grievances. Mourning Mothers is a group of mothers and relatives of those killed by government forces during recent events and was formed following the death of Neda Agha-Soltan. The group has grown to include the mothers and relatives of political prisoners who were executed in the past.

Another Suspicious Assassination and the Need for an Independent Fact-Finding Commission

The Iranian media’s method of disseminating information about the assassination of a Tehran University physics professor has created serious concerns about the nature of this murder and the police’s investigation of the case. From the very first hours that news of this incident was announced, state media outlets including Fars News Agency, IRNA, IRIB, ISNA, and Kayhan Newspaper have announced it as a crime committed by foreign countries and Iranian opposition groups, without the proper investigation necessary for a case of this magnitude. In the beginning, official media announced that an Iranian nuclear scientist had been assassinated, accusing the governments of the US and UK of the crime.

Ebadi on Baha’is

Shirin Ebadi, head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today that if the Iranian judiciary were to issue a verdict based on evidence in the case and not the Prosecutor’s claims, the trial of the seven Baha’i leaders in Tehran should end with an acquittal of her clients, as there is no evidence to her clients’ criminal behavior.

Five Prison Terms Confirmed: One to Six Years for Participating in Protests, Running a Website

On Tuesday, ILNA News Agency announced that verdicts for five individuals convicted after the post-election protests have been forwarded for implementation. From descriptions of the sentences, it appears that most charges are “participation in public gatherings after the elections,” and “publishing material on the internet.”