Post-Election Protester’s Death Sentence Upheld; Re-Trial Denied By Supreme Court

A post-election protester’s death sentence has been upheld in an appeals court in Tehran, according to his lawyer. Jafar Kazemi’s lawyer, Nasim Ghanavi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her client’s sentence has been upheld and that Branch 31 of the Supreme Court has also turned down a re-trial request. Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Appeals Courts, presided by Judge Zargar, has issued the ruling.

July 29 – August 4 2010 (Podcast)

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: the family of human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaee is taken hostage by security forces in an attempt to force Mostafaee out of hiding; Parvin Tajik, sister of imprisoned journalist Abdolreza Tajik, tells the Campaign of her brother being “violated” while in prison; activist Hoda Saber disappears while authorities neither confirm nor deny his arrest; and Bahareh Hedayat’s nine-year prison sentence is upheld in a Tehran Appeals Court.

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Fifteen Evin Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Cells After Hunger Strike

A family member of a political prisoner at Evin prison told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that 15 political prisoners have been moved from the prison’s General Ward to solitary confinement. Among those transferred is journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, who is currently on a hunger strike. According to the same source, six [...]

Shadi Sadr to Iran’s Bar Association: Do Not Keep Silent on State Kidnap and Revenge

Shadi Sadr, Iranian human rights lawyer and activist, published the following open letter regarding the case of persecuted lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaee:

Honourable Chair of Iran Bar Association, Honourable members of the management committee,

You are aware that on Saturday 2nd Mordad 1389 (24th July 2010) the security forces invaded the offices of Mr Mohammad Mostafaee, one of the most active human rights lawyers in Iran, but could not find him. A few hours later they arrested his wife and brother-in-law in front of his office and took them to the Evin Prison. The investigator at Revolutionary Court in Evin prison has told them that they will stay in prison until Mr Mostafaee gives himself up.

“Bahareh Hedayat’s Defense Went Unnoticed – She Received the Maximum Sentence,” Says Lawyer

The nine year prison sentence for student activist Bahareh Hedayat was recently upheld by an appeals court in Tehran. Hedayat is a member of the Central Council and spokesperson of the Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat student organization. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, her lawyer, Mehdi Hojjati, shared some information about her sentence.

Halt Arrest of Lawyer in Stoning Case

(27 July 2010) Iranian authorities should end their efforts to arrest Mohammad Mostafaee, a human rights lawyer whose work came into international focus with his defense of Sakineh Ashtiani, a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

In what is being interpreted as a pressure tactic to force Mostafaee to turn himself in, his wife, Fereshteh Halimi, and brother-in-law, Farhad Halimi, neither of whom is involved in human rights work, were detained at the same time shortly after Mostafaee was last summoned on Saturday, 24 July. Mostafaee was first summoned to a security court for interrogation on 21 July. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Kefayat Malek Mohammadi’s Lawyer Objects to Her Five Year Prison Sentence

Nasim Ghanavi, lawyer for Kefayat Malek Mohammadi, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about the latest situation in the case of her client, who was arrested with her husband during last year’s Ashura protests (27 December 2009). “My client was found guilty of illegal assembly and conspiracy to take action against national security in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Courts. She was sentenced to five years in prison. Considering Ms. Mohammadi age, about sixty years old, I objected to the ruling and the case was sent to Branch 54 of the Appeals Court,” said Ghanavi.

Activist’s Wife: “My Husband Was Under Pressure From Security Authorities”

Following the disappearance of political activist Hoda Saber, his wife, Fahimeh Jamshidi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her husband’s disappearance cannot be without reason. Jamshidi added that her husband, who is a distinguished political figure, has been under pressure from security officials. She said that she and her children have searched hospitals and other public locations in search of Saber and have been unsuccessful in finding him. Expressing concern about Saber’s condition, the family has requested authorities reveal his detention location.

Mohammad Mostafaee’s Family Members — The Judiciary’s Hostages

Fereshteh Halimi, the wife of Mohammad Mostafaee, an Iranian human rights lawyer, was arrested yesterday near his office according to a colleague of Mostafaee’s. She had gone to pick up her husband’s car which was parked near his office. The Committee for Human Rights Reporters’ website also reported the arrest of Farhad Halimi, Mostafaee’s brother-in-law, who was with his wife at the time. Last week, Mostafaee told the Campaign that he had been summoned to the Security Branch of Evin Prison Court, and that he would report to the Prosecutor on Saturday. At this time, it is still unclear whether he was arrested or not. The Committee for Human Rights Reporters’ website also reported that Mostafaee appeared before the prosecutor and was interrogated for four hours. Forces went to his office to arrest him later that day, according to the same report.

The “violation” of Abdolreza Tajik In Prison and the Judiciary’s Silence

Several weeks after the arrest of journalist Abdolreza Tajik and his family’s inability to find any information about him, Tajik’s sister said she met with him on Thursday, 15 July 2010. Parvin Tajik told the BBC that during the visit with her brother he said on the first night of his detention he was “violated” in the presence of a Deputy Prosecutor and judge.