Nobel Laureate to Stage Sit-in in Defense of Detained Colleague

(17 December 2010) Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi announced a sit-in in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today to demand the release of her embattled colleague in Iran, Nasrin Sotoudeh. The sit-in will start on 20 December.

Sotoudeh, 47, is a prominent human rights lawyer who has been held in solitary confinement for the past 103 days and is reportedly on hunger strike. She has been bravely outspoken in defense of her clients, particularly since the disputed June 2009 presidential election.

Joint Letter Announcing Protest in Support of Nasrin Sotoudeh

The life of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights lawyer and women rights activist, is in danger. Nasrin was arrested by Iranian authorities on 4th September 2010 for her activity in defending human rights in Iran and has been held in prison for more than 103 days. The prosecutor has charged her with propaganda against the state and also for actions against national security. Under Iranian law the accused can only be held in custody for a maximum of seven days without charge after the preliminary investigation has taken place.

Political Prisoners’ Families Detained, Interrogated, and Verbally Abused

A few hours after Fatemeh Maleki, wife of imprisoned Iranian filmmaker and blogger Mohammad Nourizad, was transferred to Tehran’s Modarres Hospital, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reached a source who told us about Maleki’s arrest and hospitalization. “Her psychological state was so poor after the interrogations, she was unable to stand up and as soon as the interrogations were completed, she was transferred to a hospital by her family. Mrs. Nourizad has a history of high blood pressure and her family are seriously concerned for her and the stress she has endured recently,” the source said.

Weekly Rights Podcast 20

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: Nasrin Sotoudeh is charged with not wearing a hejad for not wearing a headscarf in a 2008 YouTube video and Mohammad Javad Larijani comments on her charges; Christian pastors Youcef Nadarkhani and Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani are being charged with apostasy; labor activist Reza Shahabi remains on hunger strike after being arrested for his labor activities; blogger Hossein Derakhshan is released on two-day furlough after being in prison for two years and being sentenced to 19.5 years in prison; student activist Ashkan Zahabian was arrested in his home in Babol without a warrant.

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Ebrahim Yazdi’s Deteriorating Health in Evin Prison

A reliable source recently spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran regarding the case of Ebrahim Yazdi. In the interview, the source alleged that security officers have demanded that in return for Yazdi’s release from prison, he promise not to have meetings with ambassadors from Islamic countries after his release. “Dr. Yazdi told them that these individuals have been my friends for many years and I cannot cut off relations with them. The interrogators have set one of the conditions for Mr. Yazdi’s release as his retirement from political activities, asking him to resign from all political activities. This is an issue Dr. Yazdi has not accepted to oblige in no uncertain terms,” the source said.

Update on Foreign Prisoners in Vakilabad Prison

On 17 November 2010, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that a citizen of the Philippines, Ernie Tamonde, is being held in Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison on drug charges. The Campaign had received a letter from Tamonde in which he stated being held inside a prison in Mashad and professed his innocence.

Terrorist Attack Targeting Civilians Aims to Stoke Ethnic and Religious Tensions

(15 December 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran condemned a suicide bombing that reportedly killed at least 39 people at the Imam Hossein Mosque in the southeastern city of Chabahar, Iran. The attack targeted mourners during the holy Shiite ceremonies leading up to Ashura.

“This deplorable murder of innocent people cannot be justified, and violates the beliefs and values of all who seek peace and justice in Iran,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the spokesperson for the Campaign.

Mohammad Davari’s Mother: “I Wish The Prison Phones Were Working”

Zolaikha Biyabani, the mother of imprisoned teacher and journalist Mohammad Davari, has been unable to travel to Tehran to visit her son due to poor health, old age, and distance. “I haven’t seen him in a long time,” she told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “The phones are cut off. I have no news of him. I am a lonely woman and I have no one to take me to Tehran. It used to cost me 50,000 Toman [about $50] each time I went there, and I can’t afford it anymore. They cut off Mohammad’s salary after he was arrested. He used to help me. I haven’t seen him in a long time. I wonder what I should do,” Biyabani said.

Sotoudeh’s Husband Reacts to Javad Larijani’s New Charges Against Her

Nasrin Sotoudeh’s husband, Reza Khandan, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about the new charges raised against Sotoudeh after she began her third hunger strike since her arrest. “Mrs. Sotoudeh called home on Monday and talked to me and the children for a few minutes. She remains on hunger strike and said that she was taken to the court yesterday and informed of new charges against her,” Khandan said. He also reacted to recent allegations made by the chief of the Iranian judiciary’s human rights council, Mohammad Javad Larijani.

Unionist Reza Shahabi on Wet Hunger Strike

Reza Shahabi, an imprisoned board member of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), ended his dry hunger strike but remains on wet hunger strike. The information was confirmed by Hassan Shahabi, Reza Shahabi’s brother, who spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran yesterday. “I talked to my brother by phone yesterday afternoon at 4:30. He said by requests from a number of labor and political activists, as well as from his family who were concerned about his condition, he has ended his dry hunger strike as of today, but he will remain on wet hunger strike,” Shahabi said.