Another Human Rights Lawyer Sentenced

Conviction of Khalil Bahramian the Latest in a “Purge” of Human Rights Lawyers

(6 February 2011) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately halt the ongoing prosecution of prominent human rights lawyers, which appears to be in retaliation for their work defending prisoners of conscience, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign called for an appeals court to overturn the conviction of Iranian human rights lawyer Khalil Bahramian, 71, who was sentenced by a lower court to 18 months in prison and banned from the practice of law for 10 years.

Ebadi: Dutch Lawyers Could Have Shed Light on Bahrami’s Case Facts

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate and Head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center questioned the review process in the case of Zahra Bahrami, a prisoner who was executed last week. Ebadi told the Campaign that if, according to normal diplomatic protocols, the Dutch Ambassador had been allowed to visit with Ms. Bahrami, a Dutch citizen, and if the attorneys selected by the Dutch government had been allowed to review her case, many facts would have become clear for sure. But the Iranian government was not interested in clarifying these facts. Ebadi told the Campaign that Zahra Bahrami’s execution was carried out even in direct violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s own laws. Ebadi also said that this execution was a message from the regime to its opposition.

Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Court Session Postponed Due to Her Absence In Protest

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Nasrin Sotoudeh’s trial, on charges of “lack of Islamic hejab,” was not held today. Sotoudeh, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist, was arrested in September 2010 and sentenced by a lower court to 11 years in prison, a 20 year ban on practicing law, and a 20 year ban on traveling abroad. The source told the Campaign that Sotoudeh was notified by prison officers in the morning that she must get ready to go to her trial in a few minutes. Protesting her treatment and lack of knowledge about her trial session, Sotoudeh refused to attend the session.

Iran Uses Media Stunts in Lieu of Fair Trials

(3 February 2011) Iranian officials should base convictions on reliable evidence and due process instead of televised confessions and dramatic re-enactments, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign added that coerced confessions are being used to convict criminal and political defendants alike, while the state media is used to sell dubious death sentences and verdicts to the Iranian and international public.

The Campaign also expressed its grave concern about the execution sentence of Saeed Malekpour, an Iranian-Canadian dual national and web developer, accused of establishing “pornographic websites.” He has been reportedly tortured to confess to these charges.

UN experts call for a moratorium on death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran

GENEVA (2 February 2011) – Two UN independent experts warned Tuesday that there has been a dramatic surge in death sentences in the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out in the absence of internationally recognized safeguards, despite numerous calls by the UN to immediately halt executions.

“We call on the Iranian Government to immediately declare a moratorium on the death penalty in view of the gravity of the situation and the regular disregard of due process guarantees,” urged the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul.

UN Human Rights Chief Concerned about Recent Spate of Executions

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay today strongly objected to the rising wave of executions in Iran. Below is a statement released by her office: GENEVA (2 February 2011) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday expressed alarm at the dramatic increase in executions in Iran since the beginning [...]

Death Row Prisoner’s Father: Confessions After 17 Months of torture

Father of Loghman Moradi, a Kurdish prisoner who was found guilty of “moharebeh (enmity with God), and corruption-on-earth,” and sentenced to public hanging on 22 December 2010, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about his son’s charges that, “he was accused of murder, and this accusation is a lie.”

Weekly Rights Podcast 21

On January 29th, Iran executed a Dutch-Iranian prisoner Zahra Bahrami. Bahrami was arrested during last year’s demonstrations and originally charged with security-related violations for sending pictures and videos of the demonstrations abroad. But later into her detention, prosecutors introduced new charges, and she was sentenced to the death penalty for drug trafficking. Her lawyer, Sharif Razi, told the Campaign that she had not been notified of the execution and says that her investigation had not yet been completed.

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