An Eyewitness: “The Security Forces Were Out In Significant Numbers”

Today, 20 February 2011, an eyewitness student activist told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that tens-of-thousands of protestors in Tehran marching in the rain and security forces where out in significantly large numbers. On occasion, they used tear gas and arrested demonstrators. The student activist witnessed three arrests. He said:

New Round of Pressure On Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh

Reza Khandan, husband of imprisoned Iranian lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, today told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran of disturbing developments in the human rights lawyer’s case. “Unfortunately, when we went to visit Ms. Sotoudeh in prison last week, even though we were never told that she had been barred from having visitors, she did not come [to the visitation hall] until the last minute, and they never told us the reason for it. Her telephone contact has also been suspended. She contacted home every Monday for a month, but now her telephone calls are suspended, too, and we have no information about her conditions,” Khandan told the Campaign.

Police Forces Include Club Carrying, Uniformed Minors In Tehran

An eye witness told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the number of police and plainclothes forces present at public protests in Tehran today was considerably larger than on 14 February. He said that in some city squares large groups of police forces appeared on alert. “They had equipped 15-16 year-old boys with clubs and vests and lined them up on the side of the streets, so that they would beat people if they came,” he said. Presence of under-18 individuals among the police forces, some of whom were visibly small-built, was confirmed by two other independent eye witnesses. News agencies close to the government confirmed the arrest of Faezeh Hashemi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s daughter. She was released after a few hours.

Breaking News: Swelling Protests Confronting Violence by Security Forces

(20 February 2011, 18h00 Tehran Time) An eyewitness told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that large scale protests are unfolding on major streets of Tehran and the security forces have resorted to the use of live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Despite large presence of security and police in major intersections, crowds have been gathering since early afternoon and continue to swell.

The eyewitness reported gatherings throughout Tehran and described his observations from Valiasr Street, Tehran’s main thoroughfare. “There are large crowds on the streets and although it is raining, their numbers are expected to increase as the evening approaches. The protestors are very determined to resist attempts by security forces to disperse them. The chants are primarily ‘Death to the Dictator,’” he said.

More Than 200 Arrested In Mashad; Fate Of Five Student Activists Unknown

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that in addition to arrests of hundreds of people during the 14 February demonstrations in Tehran, more than 200 people were arrested at Mashad public protests, many of whom have been released since. The local source told the Campaign that 2-300 people were arrested in two locations in Mashad. According to the source, the arrests were accompanied with unprecedented violence, to the point where several detainees were bleeding at the time of arrest.

Unprecedented Pressure On Slain Protester’s Family–Brother Arrested

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on condition of anonymity that news about the arrest of Ghane Jaleh, brother of slain Iranian protester, Sane Jaleh, is accurate. The informed source told the Campaign that following Ghane Jaleh’s interview with VOA in which he vehemently denied claims about his brother’s association with the Basij Organization, he was arrested by security forces. Sane Jaleh was shot and killed during the 14 February demonstrations in Tehran.

Arts University Students Will Hold Vigil And Protest On Saturday

A Tehran Arts University and a friend of slain protester Sane Jaleh told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on condition of anonymity that last night four Arts University students who had been arrested earlier yesterday were released, but that there is no news yet about all the other students arrested.

Government Websites’ Calls To Violence And Executions Unleash Attacks From Hackers

Attacks of an anonymous group of hackers on Iranian government websites at the Foreign Ministry, the Atomic Energy Organization, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization have caused many of these websites to become inaccessible by their visitors for more than a day. “Members of this group say that this is a long-term operation and [...]

Members of the Basij Organization and Security Forces Suppressed Funeral for Art Student Killed in Protests

On 16 February 2011, members of the Basij Organization and Iranian security forces thwarted a funeral procession and memorial service university students in Tehran had planned to commemorate Sane Jaleh. Jaleh, a 26-year-old student of dramatic literature at Tehran Arts University, died from a bullet wound on 14 February after attending demonstrations. Pro-government forces have asserted that Jaleh was a government supporter and member of the Basij Organization, a claim that his friends vehemently deny.

Officials Should Stop Incitement to Violence, Arbitrary Prosecutions and Executions

(16 February 2011) A demand by over 200 members of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) that opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi be tried and executed for “corruption on earth” disgraces both Iran’s legislative and judicial branches of government, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran stated today. The Campaign called on Iranian government and elected officials to stop incitement to violence and politicized prosecutions.

“For members of the Majlis to demand that anyone be executed for calling for a peaceful demonstration reveals a lynch mob mentality on the part of individuals elected to guard the rights of citizens,” stated Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the Campaign.