Iranian Delegation’s Lack of Credibility at the Human Rights Council

Geneva, Switzerland–The Sixteenth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is underway with the aim of reviewing a resolution about the appointment of a special rapporteur for Iran. The Iranian delegation has lobbied hard among representatives of different countries to make sure the resolution will not pass, but it is anticipated that the resolution will pass. The Iranian team, for example, spent hours in meetings with Non-Alligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of Islamic Conference. Some sources told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the Iranian delegation had serious problems recruiting serious support from those states that are usually supportive of Iran’s position. It seems some of the countries that may have abstained from voting, will vote for the resolution this time.

Russia Must Address Human Rights Violations in Iran to be a Credible Global Power (Commentary)

Russian authorities need to do much more to protect the human rights of Russian citizens, but the Russian government should also think about its international human rights responsibilities. Russia needs to join other democratic states in doing what is possible to stop the world’s worst human rights violators from terrorizing their citizens. On the world scene today, there is hardly another country that threatens human rights more than our neighbors to the south in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Daughter Visits Imprisoned Parents After Months Long Visitation Ban

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Arefeh Tajzadeh, daughter of prisoner of conscience Mostafa Tajzadeh, said that after a months long ban on visitation rights, her sister was allowed to see their father on Tuesday, 22 March. “My father has asked that we do not request visitations with him or furlough for him. He said that since he doesn’t consider the process and rulings in his case legal, and he has never requested anything from authorities, he does not wish for us to make any requests, either,” she said.

So-Called NGOs that Support Torture and Child Executions

Geneva, Switzerland — Of all the countries whose human rights conditions are currently on the agenda of the Human Rights Council (HRC) or about whom there is criticism in various sections of the four-week long HRC session, Iran and China are two of the few who have mobilized their pro-government NGOs during the session and are actively trying to deflect attention from themselves by attacking their critics.

Supreme Leader is Accountable for Crimes Taking Place, Says Abdolali Bazargan

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Abdolali Bazargan, son of Mehdi Bazargan, a founder of the Iran Freedom Movement and the first Prime Minister of Iran during the transitional government formed after the 1979 revolution, talked about the invalid charge of “establishing the Iran Freedom Movement” against Ebrahim Yazdi. Bazargan told the Campaign that some time ago the Ministry of Intelligence summoned the leaders of the Iran Freedom Movement, intimidated and threatened them, and asked them to announce the dissolution of the organization or face arrest. Bazargan said that whatever is happening to Ebrahim Yazdi is done with the approval of Iran’s Supreme Leader. “Any claim about lack of knowledge about these atrocities is an excuse which is worse than the crime itself. Basically, in a system where the Vali-e Faghih* holds absolute power, all the country’s affairs end up in one spot. It is impossible for such decisions to be made without his general agreement and green light. Mr. Khamenei wishes to deceive the masses and to present himself as Imam Ali,” he said.

Journalist and Human Rights Activist Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi, a journalist and human rights activist, was sentenced by the Fourth Branch Appeals Court in Kermanshah, presided by Mohammad Ali Roshani, to four years in prison. The verdict was reduced from a five-year lower court sentence and was delivered to his lawyer on Wednesday, 16 March. Kermanshahi will serve his prison time in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah.

‘My Client’s Year Long ‘Temporary Detention’ is Considered Pre-Trial Punishment,’ Says Lawyer

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran recently interviewed Mahmoud Taravatrouy, lawyer for Mohammad Saber Abbasian, a prisoner of conscience and student activist, who said that Abbasian’s case is one of the most critical cases of a student in the past two years. “He has remained in ‘temporary detention’ since 26 February 2010, which is more than a year, and so far there have been about 10 court sessions at Branch 2 of Shiraz’s Revolutionary Court to review his charges. He has a thick case file which is comprised of several volumes and about 1,050 pages. The eleventh session of his trial court has been postponed until 4 April. Unfortunately, about a week ago, his ‘temporary detention’ orders were extended,” Taravatrouy told the Campaign.

“None of the female prisoners at Rajaee Shahr Prison are well,” Says Activist’s Father

The father of imprisoned student activist Shabnam Madadzadeh, expressed concern about her condition in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Shabnam and other political prisoners, none of them are well; they are not well physically or psychologically. They do not have [access to] water, or their water is cold. hey only have one bath. They are among all kinds of women, hooligans, addicts and murderers. This is the situation of my daughter and the rest of the political prisoners,” Abdolali Madadzadeh said. Shabnam Madazadeh is being held in the Women’s Ward of Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj.

EU to Sanction Those Responsible for Grave Human Rights Violations

The European Union announced that it would “swiftly [introduce] restrictive measures targeted against those responsible for grave human rights violations” in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Following its meeting in Brussels on 21 March 2011, the Union’s Council of Ministers noted its “deep concern” about the “dramatic increase” in executions and the “systematic repression” of Iranian citizens, and condemned the continuing use of “torture and other cruel and degrading treatment.”

Post-Election Torture Victim Attacked By Knife In Paris

Ebrahim Mehtari, a young political activist who was arrested and physically abused in prison during the post-election events of 2009, sustained several knife wounds last night in Paris when he was attacked by two men, one of whom was Iranian. An hour ago, Mehtari told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that as his assailants put a rope around his neck and used a knife to attack him, he could have faced a much more serious fate had the sound of a police car siren not suddenly scared them away.