Governments Should Blacklist Human Rights Violators

(30 September 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran urged governments from around the world to blacklist officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran implicated in grave human rights violations, thus recognizing their role as perpetrators in Iran’s grave human rights crisis and making it impossible for them to travel and keep assets abroad.

The Campaign is urging the governments of Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and members of the European Union in particular, countries in which known Iranian human rights offenders are most likely to hold assets or travel, to institute asset freezes and travel bans against them.

Weekly Rights Podcast 12

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan is sentenced to over 19 years in prison; Nahid Kermanshahi, mother of detained journalist Hengameh Shahidi, describes the dire health condition and high bail set for her daughter; Parvin Tajik, sister of of journalist and human rights activist Abolreza Tajik, speaks out on his behalf; human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh remains in Evin prison after being summoned there on 4 September; religious scholar Ahmad Ghabel was arrested on 8 September after revealing mass executions in Mashad, his wife, Marzieh Pasdar, now speaks out in concern for his health; and the fate of Sakineh Mohammadi Asthiani remains unclear after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly.

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Blogger’s Conviction Not Supported by Evidence

(29 September 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today that the conviction and sentencing of Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan to 19.5 years in prison included academic connections as a basis for his charges, and should be overturned by an appeals court.

The Campaign further demanded the immediate suspension of Judge Abolghassem Salavati, who issued Derakhshan’s verdict, on grounds of deviation from judicial standards and procedures in this and numerous other cases. An informed source told the Campaign that Derakhshan’s lawyer did not have full access to his file in order to review its details.

Astronomical Bail Keeps Journalist In Prison

Journalist Hengameh Shahidi’s mother, Nahid Kermanshahi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the $600,000 bail set for her daughter’s furlough is impossible for her family to raise leaving her daughter unable to make use of prison leave despite her critical health condition.

President Obama Places 8 Iranian Officials On Human Rights Black List

US President Barack Obama ordered specific sanctions against certain Iranian authorities he identified as instrumental in human rights violations in Iran. In an executive order signed today, Obama listed eight individuals who have shared responsibility during post-election violence as violators of human rights.

Iranian Blogger Hossein Derakhshan Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Prison

After months of anticipation and almost two years after his arrest and imprisonment, blogger Hossein Derakhshan was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts today. News of the stiff sentence was first published by Mashreq website. A source close to the family of Hossein Derakhshan confirmed the news for [...]

Source: “Death Penalty Requested For Derakhshan”

On 19 September 2010, it was reported that prosecutors at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts, presided by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, had requested the death penalty for Hossein Derakhshan. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, a source close to Derakhshan’s family confirmed the news. “Accusations such as ‘propagating against the regime,’ ‘collaboration with hostile governments,’ and ‘implementing obscene websites,’ are some of the charges that have been brought against Hossein,” the source said. During the past few months, Derakhshan’s family refrained from talking to the media so that his lawyers could do their work in a calm environment, but according to this source, Derakhshan has now asked that the media report on his condition.

Can Ahmadinejad Help Our Imprisoned Children Like He Helped Sarah Shourd?

The mother of journalist and prisoner of conscience, Hengameh Shahidi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her daughter was healthy when she first went into prison but is now suffering from various illnesses and a continuation of the present situation will have grave consequences for her. She also complained about the $600,000 bail set for her daughter, a higher bail amount than that of American prisoner, Sarah Shourd.

Mourning Mothers Request Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Release to Attend Father’s Funeral

Only a few days after her arrest, Nasrin Sotoudeh’s father passed away in the intensive care unit of a hospital. Summoned for some “explanations” to Evin prison’s court on 4 September 2010, Sotoudeh was subsequently arrested and imprisoned. Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, is now a fellow-prisoner to several political prisoners whom she represents.

Ahmad Ghabel Arrested For Revealing Vakilabad Mass Executions, Says Wife

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Marzieh Pasdar, wife of imprisoned religious scholar Ahmad Ghabel, said her husband suffers from heart disease and was under treatment until his most recent arrest last week. Ghabel was a student of the late Ayatollah Montazeri and is currently being held inside ward 6/1 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashad. Pasdar was allowed to have an in-person meeting with him a few days ago. “Mr. Ghabel was well, thank God. But when I talked to him on the telephone today, I sensed that he is under the weather. You know that Mr. Ghabel suffers from heart disease and is currently under treatment. Today he told me that he has been to see the prison physician. He shares a cell with political and ordinary prisoners,” said Pasdar.