Evin Political Prisoners: “Judges Act As Representatives of Security Organizations”

On April 19, 2010, a group of political prisoners at Evin Prison wrote an open letter addressed to religious leaders, describing their difficult conditions including physical, sexual, and psychological torture, asking the clerics to state their positions vis a vis violations of fair trial procedures in Iranian courts and the inhumane and illegal treatment by interrogators and judges. The letter was first published on JARAS web site.

Family Unfairly Sentenced to Death

(20 April 2010) Death sentences issued to three family members and two of their close associates after a politicized, unfair trial, at which only weak evidence was presented, reveal a continuing program of punishing post-election protestors and intimidating the population, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

These five cases, together with that of Abdolreza Ghanbari, also sentenced to death, are based on allegations that the defendants sent videos and pictures to the opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq (MKO).

“These sentences would be grossly disproportionate even if evidence linked the defendants to the charges, and they demonstrate complete disregard for justice and due process in perversely sending innocent citizens to the gallows,” said the Campaign’s spokesperson, Aaron Rhodes.

Threats Against Maziar Bahari Extend Repression to Diaspora

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(19 April 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today strongly condemned government threats against Maziar Bahari and warned against possible government sponsored violence targeting dissidents and activists abroad.

In an interview with the Campaign, Bahari said that an unidentified caller contacted his family in Iran and threatened to harm him.

Purge of Independent-Minded Professors Underway

(19 April 2010) The Iranian government continues to dismiss prominent university professors on political grounds, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

After the dismissal of Dr. Morteza Mardiha from his faculty post at Allameh Tabatabaee University on 5 April 2010, two Elm-va-San’at University professors were also fired, part of an ongoing process to dismiss faculty members who have different viewpoints from the government, or who have supported students during student protests.

Sayed Ali Asghar Beheshti and Mohammad Shahri of Elm-va-San’at University received written dismissal notices from their faculty positions following a call by Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology for ideological conformity on the part of professors.

Mohammad Mostafaee: Judge Moghiseh Has Violated Many Suspects’ Rights

In a widely published recent letter to Sadegh Larijani, Head of Iranian Judiciary, Mohammad Mostafaee, lawyer to a group of civil and political activists has objected to “numerous violations by Head of Branch 28 of Revolutionary Courts,” demanding closer oversight of court officers related to this branch. In an interview with International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, addressing the inappropriate conduct of the Judge and other authorities of Branch 28, he explained his reasons for writing the open letter. “Several times, when I went to Revolutionary Courts and Branch 28, I was not treated appropriately as a lawyer, unfortunately. I noticed instances which were against the law and even when I submitted requests or raised the issues with the branch judge, the judge would not accept them and I was forced to go visit the Courts Supervisor; at any rate, I couldn’t find any answers [to my objections].”

Fighting Censorship: US Senate Testimony on Internet Freedom

Iranian journalist Omid Memarian testifying before Congress regarding internet freedom in Iran on 2 March 2010

Former President’s Travel Ban Part of Systematic Effort to Contain Criticism

(15 April 2010) The Iranian government’s refusal to allow former president Mohammad Khatami to attend a conference in Hiroshima, Japan, is a violation of his freedom of movement and part of a broad but futile effort to contain critical voices and prevent them from having contact with the international community, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“Numerous human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, and others with independent views have had their passports confiscated, in effect making them prisoners in their own country,” said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the Campaign.

Ali Sepandar and Behzad Parvin, Two Imprisoned Birjand University Students Released

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, a student activist reported the release of Ali Sepandar and Behzad Parvin, two members of the Central Council of the Islamic Association at Birjand University. The two students were being held in Birjand Central Prison. Sepandar, Parvin, and Milad Garajian, also a member of the Islamic Association at Birjand University, were arrested in March and transferred to Birjand and Neyshabour Prisons. The students were arrested and tried for their student activism and their participation in Mehdi Karroubi’s election campaign last year.

Mashad Student Activist Mohammad Reza Lotfi Yazdi Released

A student activist told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Mohammad Reza Lotfi Yazdi, a Mashad student activist was released from Evin Prison today. He was released into the custody of a guardian (in lieu of bail). Mr. Lotfi Yazdi was arrested during a nighttime raid on his father’s home in Mashad on March 2, 2010. He was transferred to Security Ward 2-A at Evin Prison which is under the oversight of IRGC the next day. Previously, this student activist spent 15 days in solitary confinement at Mashad Intelligence Office’s detention center.

Human Rights Group Demands Closure of Evin Prison Court

(14 April 2010) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately halt the operation of a recently-established “special court” at Evin prison, which confines judges and magistrates to the prison complex and denies lawyers and families any access to judicial proceedings, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“The newly-formed Evin Court has increased the influence of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence over judicial matters by blocking lawyers’ access to clients and case files,” said Hadi Ghaemi, a Campaign spokesperson.