Two Post-Election Protestors Hanged

(24 January 2011) Following the execution of two post-election protestors today, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reiterated its call on the Iranian Judiciary and Parliament to immediately institute a moratorium on all death penalty cases and put a stop to the growing wave of executions.

Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haji Aghaee, two post-election protestors charged with Moharebeh, or “enmity against God,” were hung today inside Tehran’s Evin prison without their family or lawyers being notified. Four other prisoners allegedly charged with criminal activity were also hung in Iran today, according to official reports.

Two Political Prisoners Arrested After Elections Executed

The Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA) reported on the execution of two political prisoners, Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haji Aghaee. One of the pieces of evidence introduced by the Iranian Judiciary about the two individuals’ death sentences is their having sent photographs and videos of post-election protests to recipients abroad and to the Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization (MEK).

Executed Political Prisoner’s Wife: They Didn’t Inform Me or His Lawyer

In a telephone interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Jafar Kazemi’s wife said that when she went to visit her husband at Evin Prison a few hours ago, she was informed that he had been executed earlier this morning. “They executed him without informing us or his lawyer. They took my [...]

97 Executions in 30 Days–The Iranian Judiciary Steps Up Executions

The 19 January executions of 10 drug trafficking suspects brings  total number of executions to an alarming 97 in one month (19 December to 19 January), a trend that continues despite the questions and skepticism surrounding several of the political and drug-related executions.  The Iranian Judiciary has reported of the upcoming executions of several drug-crimes [...]

Irresponsible Statements And Threats–Can The Judiciary Head Act Above The Law?

The Head of the Iranian Judiciary criticized lawyers’ interviews with the media again and said that some lawyers “undermine the Islamic regime with their interviews.” This is the second time the Head of the Iranian Judiciary has criticized lawyers for talking to the press.

Yazdi Trial Delayed Further; Doctor Says He Won’t Last In Prison

As Ebrahim Yazdi’s trial session was delayed for a second time, his son-in-law, Dr. Mehdi Nourbakhsh, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that keeping Yazdi in a state of limbo is a psychological game authorities are playing with the veteran political prisoner and his family. Nourbakhsh said that a physician attending Yazdi said that he won’t last long in prison because he suffers from prostate cancer and without specific medical treatment, he could face infections. According to Nourbakhsh, during a visit with her husband, agents blindfolded the Yazdi’s wife so that she could not identify the house in which he is detained.

After 80 Days in Prison, The Prosecutor Allows Khosravani To Call Home

A source close to the case of prisoner of conscience Nazanin Khosravani told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that after more than 80 days since her arrest, the Tehran Prosecutor has finally granted permission to Khosravani to have weekly telephone contact with her family.

Children Of Student Activist Deprived Of In-Person Visits For Eight Months

Fatemeh Adinehvand, wife of Abdollah Momeni, a prisoner of conscience and former Spokesperson for Tahkim-e Vahdat Student Organization, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her children have now been deprived from visiting their father in person for eight months, and they are only allowed to see him through the glass. She added that she expects nothing of the authorities now.

Pressure on Families of Prisoners of Conscience to Keep Quiet

Reza Khandan, husband of imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, was arrested after appearing at Evin Prison Courts today. An informed source close to Sotoudeh’s family told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the prominent lawyer’s husband had been summoned to Court Four of Evin Prison for “providing some explanations.” After appearing at the court and several hours’ interrogation, Khandan was arrested and his release was announced conditional on “custodianship” [when a court-approved individual takes responsibility for a suspect, in lieu of bail].

Iran on “Execution Binge;” Immediate Moratorium Urged

(16 January 2011) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called on the Iranian Parliament and the Judiciary to immediately institute a moratorium on executions and to move swiftly to abolish the death penalty, in the face of skyrocketing executions following unfair trials and opaque judicial proceedings.

Since the beginning of the New Year, Iran has hanged 47 prisoners, or an average of about one person every eight hours. Iran executes more people per capita than any other country, and in absolute numbers, is second only to China.

On Saturday, 15 January 2011, Iran hanged a Kurdish prisoner some Iranian websites have identified as Hossein Khazri, a Kurdish political prisoner on the death row.