Former President Khatami’s Website Blocked

Only a few weeks after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Iran a “completely free” country in his trip to New York, a government committee blocked access to the official website of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. The committee that aims to “determine criminal content on the Internet,” routinely blocks access to websites on the internet in Iran. Over the past several years, the committee has blocked almost all critical websites and blogs belonging to individuals, parties, political groups, and even civil society groups.

Tehran Conference on “Human Rights in the US”

Iran’s semi-official Student News Agency, ISNA, announced the commencement of an international conference on “Human Rights Status in the United States” at Tehran University’s College of Law and Political Science. The one-day conference will concentrate on “reviewing the growth of real international support for human rights and its challenges as a result of the United States’ actions.” Member of Parliament Mohammad Hossein Aboutorabi Fard will deliver the opening address.

Detained Journalist Sues Nokia For Aiding Iranian Crackdown

On 10 October 2010, detained Iranian dissident journalist Issa Saharkhiz and his son Mehdi filed suit against Finnish telecommunication company Nokia Siemens for damages they suffered as a result of Saharkhiz’s June 2009 arrest in Iran. Saharkhiz’s complaint, filed in federal court in Virginia, argues that he was arrested and detained after Iranian authorities tracked him on his Nokia cell phone using technology a Nokia subsidiary sold the state-owned Telecommunications Company of Iran. Saharkhiz has been in prison for the past 14 months and alleges authorities tortured him, breaking his ribs and wrists.

More Than 900 Express Concern About Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Life in Prison

More than 200 social activists and clients of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer imprisoned since 4 September, have expressed their concern for her continued detention while on hunger strike, holding the Iranian Judiciary responsible for her health, and demanding her unconditional release. The statement first appeared on the Change for Equality Website.

Sotoudeh’s Husband Says Wife is in Solitary Confinement

Reza Khandan, husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, the imprisoned human rights lawyer, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his wife is in solitary confinement and in isolation, even though her lawyer has been told that her case’s investigations are complete. Khandan told the Campaign that in the absence of any news about Sotoudeh’s condition, he cannot confirm nor deny the rumors about her torture.

“They Want to Kill My Son or Give Him Back Disabled” Says Father of Prisoner of Conscience

Mohammad Reza Rouhinejad, father of a prisoner of conscience who is serving a ten year prison term at Zanjan prison, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his son is in extremely poor medical condition and intelligence authorities do not allow his family to visit him. Any attempts for a reconsideration of the situation have been fruitless. Rouhinejad told the Campaign that his son, Hamed Rouhinejad, suffers from multiple sclerosis, is kept under extreme psychological and physical pressure, and the mental stress caused by prison conditions have led to an intensification of his illness. Hamed Rouhinejad told his father “they are doing the worst things to me,” reporting that he plans on going on a hunger strike soon.

Contradictory Statements By Intelligence Minister Regarding Detained Americans

Contrary to earlier statements by Massoud Shafiee, lawyer for the two American hikers who remain imprisoned, insisting that his clients’ case does not include any espionage evidence, Iran’s Minister of Intelligence said on Thursday that “as far as our Ministry is concerned, the two detained Americans are espionage suspects, and they must wait for their trial and ruling by the Iranian Judiciary.”

Weekly Rights Podcast 14

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaee addresses the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty; amputations and floggings are on the rise in Iran, an admitted policy in some regions; a former member of Parliament, Ali Shakouri Rad, was arrested on 12 October; lawyers of the Defenders of Human Rights Center continue to face pressure; the Campaign calls for the release of five imprisoned student leaders from the Advar Tahkim Vahdat group; and the ‘Pick of the Week’ is Reporters Without Borders for chastising the Iranian government for expelling a Spanish journalist.

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“Sara Shourd Should Return to Iran If Necessary”, says Iran’s Minister of Intelligence

Despite earlier statements from the lawyer of the three imprisoned Americans, insisting that his clients’ case does not include any espionage evidence, Iran’s Minister of Intelligence said on Thursday that “as far as our Ministry is concerned, the two detained Americans are espionage suspects, and they must wait for their trial and ruling by the Iranian Judiciary.”

Report of the Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran – 2010

The situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran – Report of the Secretary-General

I. Introduction
II. Thematic issues
III. Cooperation with international human rights mechanisms and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
IV. Conclusions and recommendations