Activist’s Wife Hospitalized After His Arrest

Taghi Rahmani, a member of the Nationalist Religious Activists Council, was arrested on Wednesday, 9 February. His mother, Zahra Rahmani, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that after her son’s arrest, his wife Narges Mohammadi had to be hospitalized. “I came [to Tehran] from Qazvin this morning to look after my son’s children. Taghi’s wife’s health deteriorated and they took her to Iranmehr Hospital,” she told the Campaign.

Spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry Defends Executions

Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, announced that 80% of recent executions were drug related and emphasized that if Iran does not fight drugs, European countries will be harmed. The announcement came on the heels of objections and statements made by human rights organizations and two independent United Nations rapporteurs about Iran’s unrestrained executions. Mehmanparast did not deny the statistics or information published about the executions.

Ten More Secret Executions at Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison

Local sources told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that on Monday, 7 February 2011, only a few days after the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions expressed concern about the secret executions inside Vakilabad Prison, 10 more prisoners with drug-related offenses were secretly hanged at Vakilabad. Five of [...]

Despite Posted Bail, Intelligence Ministry Prevents Journalist’s Release

Five months after her arrest and imprisonment, journalist Nazanin Khosravani’s “temporary detention” orders were extended once again yesterday during her second trial session and she was not released on bail as promised. During Khosravani’s previous trial session, the presiding judge issued a bail ruling. An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that authorities from the Prosecutor’s Office promised Khosravani’s family to release her on bail after the court session. Family members were waiting outside Evin Prison for Khosravani to be released and despite promising to not interview with foreign media about the case, Khosravani’s temporary detention was extended.

Allow Egypt/Tunisia Solidarity Rally Planned for 14 February

(8 February 2011) The Iranian Interior Ministry is obligated to issue a permit for a planned rally in support of pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt and Tunisia, consistent with Iran’s international commitments to respect the freedom of assembly and Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign also expressed grave concern for detained Egyptian human rights defenders and called for their immediate release.

“If Iran’s leaders truly embrace calls for freedom and democracy in Egypt and Tunisia, they will allow Iranian citizens to express solidarity with their brothers and sisters in those countries,” stated Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

Death Row Prisoner’s Father: He is Innocent; His Sentence is Revenge Against Me

Zanyar Moradi is a Kurdish prisoner sentenced to public hanging on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) and “corruption on earth” whose father, Eqbal Moradi, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran from his home in Kurdistan, Iraq. “Unfortunately, Zanyar’s mother and I live in Kurdistan in Iraq, and except for my old parents, I have no other relatives in Mariwan. I heard from Zanyar’s friends that he has been moved from Karaj’s Rajaee Shahr Prison to another location and this has us very worried. I have no news from my son, except through the media. I can’t call my parents too often due to security reasons, and all I know is that they visited with my son twice while he was still at the Sanandaj Prison,” Moradi said.

Taxi Drivers Strike to Protest Low Fares in Babol

Hundreds taxi drivers in the Northern city of Babol went on strike yesterday, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran learned today. The strike began at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Babol Governor’s Office, and lasted four hours. Security and intelligence forces tried to disperse the crowd of striking cab drivers, but they were unable to prevent the strike. According to the Iranian Constitution, individuals can gather peacefully to demand their trade rights. Several drivers and members of the Taxi Drivers’ Union were summoned to the Police Intelligence Unit, and questioned by police security and intelligence officers, as well as authorities from the Babol Intelligence Office.

Prison Authorities Are Accountable For Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s Life

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, lawyer for Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a prisoner suffering from kidney cancer, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that prison authorities are responsible for the dire physical condition of Maleki. “According to the law, if authorities who control the prison do not take action to protect his health and remain indifferent they can be prosecuted in criminal court. They have to be accountable,” Dadkhah told the Campaign.

American Hikers’ Laywer Unable to See Them Before Trial: I’m disappointed; the case is extremely political!

Massoud Shafiee, lawyer representing the three American hikers talked to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about today’s trial session. “The main problem with the court was that the case review was not completed in this session. I had expected that this session would lead to a ruling, and that this would be the last trial session for the suspects; unfortunately, even though the session lasted 2-3 hours, the review was not completed. Anyhow, in answer to my objection, they promised that the next session would be in the near future,” he told the Campaign.

121 Executions In Six Weeks: Prosecutor General Confirms Secret Birjand Executions

According to the statistics compiled by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 121 individuals have been hanged between 20 December 2010 and 31 January 2011. Only one day before two United Nations Special Rapporteurs asked the Islamic Republic of Iran for a moratorium on executions and a visit by the Rapporteurs, Iran’s Prosecutor [...]