Student’s Death Sentence for Throwing Rocks Reversed

(17 May 2010) Following strong condemnations of the secret execution of five political prisoners on 9 May, Tehran’s Prosecutor General, Abbas Jaafari Dowlatabadi, continued to defend these executions as terrorism related while failing to provide any convincing new evidence to support the official claims.

On 16 May, Dowlatabadi, in an interview published by Fars News Agency, also confirmed the names and the latest situation of eleven post-election protesters prosecuted on charges of Moharebeh [enmity towards God], which is punishable by death under Iranian law.

Silva Harotonian, Alamhooli’s Cellmate: I Learned About Life from Shirin

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran interviewed Silva Harotonian who shared a cell with Shirin Alamhooli for several months at Evin Prison’s General Ward and Ward 209. She told the Campaign that she learned about life from Shirin and is shocked by news of her execution. “After my father’s death, this is the worst news I have ever had to hear.”

Arrested: Jalal Aghvami, Spokesperson for the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan

Kurdane website reported the arrest of Jalal Aghvami, Spokesperson for the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan. His family said that they did not know his whereabouts for several hours on Thursday until it finally turned out that he had been arrested. They were informed of his arrest at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday. His family will follow up his arrest with official authorities today.

Security Forces Harass Shirin Alam Hooli’s Family Even After Execution

Security forces have been putting immense pressure on the family of executed prisoner, Shirin Alam Hooli, several sources report. The Change for Equality website reports that security forces have set up a post near Alam Hooli’s home, preventing people who show up to pay their condolences from entering the house. The officers enter the Alam Hooli residence once every few hours to search the premises. They also force the mourning women out of the house and won’t let visitors enter. The only individuals they say can remain in the house are Shirin Alam Hooli’s parents.

A chance to stand tall against Iran on human rights

Shortly after Iran announced that it had executed five Kurdish political activists on Sunday, I received an e-mail from a human rights campaigner in Tehran who knew one of them, asking me to spread the word about the hangings.

“We are truly helpless,” she wrote, “and we feel lost.”

Iran labeled the five “terrorists,” but human rights advocates have said the prisoners denied the charges against them, were subjected to torture and convicted in unfair trials. One of the five, Farzad Kamangar, was sentenced to death after a trial that his lawyer said lasted seven minutes. Another, Shirin Alam-houli, wrote in several letters from jail that she had made false confessions on camera after being tortured. The prisoners’ families reportedly were not informed of the executions beforehand.

One View of Five Executions–”Nobody Believes They Were Terrorists”

A Tehran University student activist told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that there is a lot of sadness about the executions among many students. The students believe that the executions happened under very unfair and questionnable conditions.

Farzad Kamangar’s Lawyer: There Was No Cause for Execution

Farzad Kamangar was one of the five people executed at Tehran’s Evin Prison last Sunday. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, his lawyer, Khalil Bahramian emphasized that his client was innocent. “The gentlemen do not have a shred of evidence. If they claim they do, they should bring it forward,” he said. “We can go to a group of impartial and honest Iranian judges who have had experience judging cases in courts. If they can present the smallest reasoning against Farzad, I would be willing to give up law forever and to endure whatever punishment,” he added.

Political Executions Indication of Government’s Insecurity

(9 May 2010) The sudden execution of five Iranian political prisoners today appears to signal a government policy of relying on politically-motivated executions to strengthen its position vis-à-vis its opposition through terror and intimidation, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said. The Campaign condemned the execution of five political prisoners, including Farzad Kamangar, a 34-year-old teacher and social worker, who was charged with Moharebeh (taking up arms against God), convicted and sentenced to death in February 2008, after a seven-minute long trial in which “zero evidence” was presented. Four others also executed included Shirin Alam Holi, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian.

Pressure on Mohammad Davari for Confessions Continues Despite Hunger Strikes

Today a human rights activist told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Mohammad Davari has twice gone on temporary hunger strikes in prison. Yet, this source said, Mohammad Davari is still being subjected to mistreatment, and physical and psychological abuse with the aim of extracting fake confessions from him. It is feared that continuation of these conditions would put the journalist in danger.

“AIDS Danger at Prison Infirmary” Says Zeidabadi’s Wife

Prominent Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi has been in prison since the Iranian elections. His wife, Mahdieh Mohammadi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she is concerned about her husband’s health. Mr. Zeidabadi is serving time under very difficult conditions among dangerous common criminals at Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, which lacks prisoner classification; plus Mr. Zeidabadi remains imprisoned despite the fact that his $500,000 bail has been posted, and the bail amount is also in custody of the Judiciary, Ms. Mohammadi said.