Citizens of Nigeria and Ghana Reportedly Put to Death in Secret Group Executions Inside Iran

(11 November 2010) The governments of Nigeria and Ghana should press Iranian authorities to provide a full and transparent account concerning the alleged execution of their citizens inside Iran, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign has sent letters to Nigerian Foreign Minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia and Ghanaian Foreign Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni informing them about credible reports of two executions of Africans carried out at Vakilabad prison in Mashad. On 26 October 2010, Paul Chindo, a citizen of Nigeria, was reportedly executed with nine other Iranian men, while on 18 August 2010, a Ghanaian citizen, Aquasi Aquwabe, was allegedly put to death in another group execution.

Nasrin Sotoudeh Still on Hunger Strike; Allows Herself Water

Feministschool.com, a website in Iran, reported that Iranian authorities continue to refuse jailed human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh’s demands for due process, forcing Sotoudeh to continue her hunger strike. Sotoudeh has agreed to friends’ requests to drink water after nine days of being on a dry hunger strike.

Executions of Nigerian and Ghanaian Citizens in Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison

Following the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran’s recent reports about the secret executions of death-row prisoners inside Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison, reliable sources told the Campaign that two of the inmates who were recently executed were citizens of Ghana and Nigeria.

Authorities Belittle Mother’s Request for Daughter’s Release

Imprisoned journalist Nazanin Khosravani was allowed to contact her family from Evin prison for the first time since being arrested. Khosravani contacted her mother, Aazam Afsharian, and asked her to look for a guardian for her release (in lieu of bail). Afsharian told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that when she went to Evin Prison Court this morning to introduce the guardian, she was told that a guardian wouldn’t be necessary and that she will be contacted by authorities when needed.

Four Student Activists Transferred To Evin: Student Union Crackdown Intensifies

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in an interview that four members of the Daftar Tahkim-e Vahdat student organization arrested in recent days, Ali Gholizadeh, Mohsen Barzegar, Alireza Kiani, and Mohammad Heydarzadeh, have been transferred to Evin prison. All four are students at university. The source told the Campaign that the prosecutor in Babol told Barzegar and Kiani’s families that they were arrested based on cases launched against them by judicial authorities in Tehran. Another source in Mashad quoted Ali Gholizadeh’s family saying that he was being transferred to Evin prison in Tehran.

Weekly Rights Podcast 17: Interview with Human Rights Experts

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: an interview with Dokhi Fassihian of the Democracy Coalition Project and Faraz Sanei of Human Rights Watch on the need for a human rights monitor or rapporteur in Iran.

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Hamshahri Newspaper Suspends and Dismisses Senior Journalists

A reliable source inside Hamshahri Newspaper told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that four of the senior journalists of the newspaper have been suspended from work and a reporter has been dismissed. Though there have been many dismissals at Hamshahri Newspaper in the past, the suddenness of the actions has surprised many of the people who work at the newspaper.

As Sotoudeh’s Hunger Strike Continues, “We Hope To Hear Good News”

“I have not received any news about Ms. Sotoudeh’s situation over the past few days. I hope to hear some fresh news tomorrow, when I go to the courts,” Reza Khandan, husband of prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been on a dry hunger strike since Sunday, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The lawyer and human rights activist’s husband expressed hope that by tomorrow things might change, and that Sotoudeh might end the hunger strike with changes made to her situation. During the last few days concerns have grown over Sotoudeh’s conditions. Nasrin Sotoudeh has represented many political prisoners who are currently at Evin or Rajaee Shahr Prisons.

Female Prisoners Transferred to Evin Prison’s ‘Methadone Ward’

Following news of the transfer of several prisoners of conscience from Evin prison’s Women’s Ward to the prison’s “Methadone Ward,” where drug addicts are kept, the sister of Mahdieh Golroo confirmed the transfer. Marzieh Golroo told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that after the telephone privileges of these prisoners were cut off, [...]

Journalist Arrested, No Information Despite Promises by Authorities

Azam Afsharian, mother of imprisoned journalist Nazanin Khosravani, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran of the plight of her daughter and family. Five days have passed since Khosravani’s arrest and no phone call has been made, despite promises by Tehran’s Prosecutor Jafari Dolatabadi that Khosravani would call her family. Authorities have provided no information as to her detention location. “I went to the Justice Department today and met Mr. Dolatabadi. He said that Nazanin would call today, but so far she has not called yet,” she told the Campaign.