Iranian State TV Acts as an Arm of the Intelligence Apparatus

(11 August 2010) The Iranian state-controlled radio and television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), has acted as an arm of intelligence and security agencies implicated in gross human rights violations since the disputed presidential election of June 2009, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign’s research and investigations into the content of programs produced and broadcast by the IRIB reveal a close working relationship between intelligence and judiciary officials in charge of prosecuting post-election detainees, such as in the case of Maziar Bahari, a Newsweek journalist who was detained last year.

The IRIB has also aired defamatory programs against well–known political personalities and civil society activists, such as Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a former member of parliament, in the guise of documentaries.

Appeals Court Should Overturn Unjust Sentencing of Baha’i Leaders

(10 August 2010) Seven leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community, each of whom has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on security, espionage and other crimes, should be freed by an appeals court, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“We consider the arrest, detention, trial, and sentencing of these individuals to be politically motivated, discriminatory, unjust, and illegal under Iranian and international law,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

“My Daughter’s Year Long Solitary Confinement is Extremely Inhumane,” says Hiker Mom

Nora Shourd, mother of American hiker Sarah Shourd, announced to the media yesterday that in a surprise telephone call her daughter said her health has deteriorated and that she needs immediate medical attention which is denied to her. Families of the American Prisoners in Iran are trying to pursue the issue with the United Nations.

Sarah Shourd’s mother told a local television station that her daughter is still kept in solitary confinement. “This is extremely inhumane,” she said. Sarah Shourd, Josh Fattal, and Shane Bauer have been in prison for more than a year for illegally crossing the border into Iran, something the three hikers say was accidental.

“My Father is in Great Spirits, But His Heart Condition Might Cost Him His Life,” says Mehdi Saharkhiz

Mehdi Saharkhiz, son of distinguished journalist and prisoner of conscience Issa Saharkhiz, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that despite his poor health, his father’s spirits are high.

About a letter written by several journalists in Rajaee Shahr Prison proposing a live debate with Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Saharkhiz said, “After Ahmadinejad’s latest request to debate with Mr. Obama, and as his request was rejected again, [the imprisoned journalists] suggested in order to prevent dishonor and embarrassment of the Iranian people, at least allow the willing and able journalists to have a live debate with him in a free place. They’ve said, ‘if you want to manage the world, come and have a live and uncensored debate with us.’”

“The Cabinet had No Role in the 1988 Executions,” Says Moussavi

Blog/Note: Will the secret of the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners be revealed soon? Will thousands of families who lost their loved ones in the span of just a few months know who ordered the executions and who carried them out? Will those responsible for this travesty ever come to justice? And will the [...]

“My Son is Under Pressure to Participate in Televised Confessions,” says Activist’s Mother

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Zoleikha Moussavi, mother of blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, discussed her son’s poor prison conditions. She told the Campaign that her son has been under immense pressure in prison to participate in televised confessions. Moussavi said that her son has stated he is a [...]

August 5 – 11 2010 (Podcast)

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: 17 prisoners of conscience go on hunger strike to protest poor treatment, lack of health facilities, and suspension of family visits; marking the one year anniversary of their arrest, hundreds attended rallies around the world in support of the three American hikers Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Josh Fattal; lawyer Mohammad Mostafaee is arrested in Turkey on immigration charges while his wife remains in prison; journalist Issa Saharkhiz is sentenced to 15 months in prison according to his son; and another prisoner, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaee is sentenced to death for moharebeh, or enmity against God.

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Exiling Political Prisoners – A New Way to Put Pressure on Families

Majid Dorri, a student activist, has been sentenced to exile at Izeh Prison. His brother, Mojtaba Dorri, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about his brother’s exile sentence: “They never gave us his written verdict, but his sentence was initially two to five years in prison. The charges they brought against [...]

Release Prisoners of Conscience on Hunger Strike

(4 August 2010) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately release seventeen prisoners of conscience who have been on hunger strike for the past ten days and whose health is deteriorating daily, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The seventeen prisoners include prominent student leaders, journalists, and human rights activists.

“These prisoners have committed no crimes and are in prison solely because of their opinions and beliefs. Iran should release them immediately,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

Lawyer Says Client Should Have Been Sentenced to One Year In Prison, Not Death

Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaee’s death sentence on the charge of moharebeh (enmity with God) has been upheld by an appeals court in Tehran. His lawyer, Mehdi Hojjati, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “He was accused of cooperating with the Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization (MEK). In accordance with Islamic Penal Code, the Revolutionary [...]