Journalist’s Family in Shock Over Harsh Sentence

On 17 April, reformist journalist Nazanin Khosravani was sentenced to six years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion for acting against national security,” and “propagating against the regime” by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court with Judge Pirabbasi presiding.

Weekly Rights Podcast 24

In this week’s ‘Weekly Rights Podcast’: the Pen American Center honors Nasrin Sotoudeh with their Freedom to Write award for her human rights work; Camp Ashraf in Iraq, home to roughly 3500 members of the People’s Mujahideen, came under attack by the Iraqi military on April 8; Seyed Hashem Khastar, a prisoner in Vakilabad Prison, wrote a letter to the Head of the Judiciary demanding an end to mass executions in Vakilabad while describing inhumane conditions and overcrowding; lawyer and professor at Allameh Tabatabaee University Mohammad Sharif has been unfairly dismissed from his position due to his human rights work; Maz Jobrani sends a birthday message to imprisoned student activist Bahareh Hedayat; Iranian authorities have blocked Narges Mohammadi from contacting her husband Taghi Rahmani in prison; and the editor of Saham News’ website, Mohammad Davari, is suffering serious medical issues in prison while being denied family visits in prison.

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EU Finalizes Sanctions for 32 Individuals in Iranian Government Who Violated Human Rights

The names of 32 individuals to be sanctioned by the European Union (EU) was announced today. Reports indicated that 80 Iranian officials had been reviewed by EU officials. After a review of that list, the names of these 32 individuals, some of whom are top-ranking Iranian officials, have also been added. The sanctions will be effective in all EU member states. Noteworthy is the inclusion of judicial authorities in some Iranian cities and provinces, as well as the Head Warden of Evin Prison’s Ward 350 on the list.

Rumors of Scheduled Execution for Kurdish Activist are False, Says Lawyer

False reports circulated in late March during Iranian New Year about the imminent execution of Shirkoo Moarefi, a 31-year-old Kurdish political and civil activist from Baneh who was arrested in November 2008 at the Iran-Iraq border. Moarefi was sentenced to death in a lower Revolutionary Court in the city of Saghez on charges of “membership in the Komalah Party,” “actions against national security,” and “enmity with God.” He is currently being held in Saghez Prison. Moarefi’s lawyer, Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the inaccurate news of Moarefi’s scheduled execution has caused serious concern for him and his family.

Nasrin Sotoudeh Withdraws Appeal Request After Being Told Prison Sentence Would Be Upheld

While lawyer and human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh was being awarded by the PEN American Center, her husband, Reza Khandan, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Sotoudeh withdrew her appeal request after her interrogators advised her that her 11-prison sentenced will be upheld by the Appeals Court.

Top PEN Prize to Honor Nasrin Sotoudeh, Jailed Iranian Lawyer, Writer, and Women’s Rights Advocate

New York City, April 13, 2011—PEN American Center today named Nasrin Sotoudeh, a writer, lawyer, and leader of the women’s and children’s rights movement in Iran, as the recipient of its 2011 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Sotoudeh was arrested on September 4, 2010, and is now serving an 11-year sentence for her outspoken advocacy in defense of her clients arrested after the June 2009 presidential elections and interviews she gave to human rights organizations and media about their cases.

Parliament ignores concerns of independent civil society organisations over draft bill

(11 April 2011) Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi and nine human and labour rights organizations today expressed dismay at parliamentary proceedings in Iran which look set to pass into law a bill which appears intended to wipe out independent civil society in the country, in violation of international standards on freedom of association and assembly, which Iran is obliged to uphold.

The nine – a mix of international and Iranian organizations – Amnesty International, Arseh Sevom, Education International (EI), Hivos, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of their joint programme…

Arrests and Abuse Ayatollah Kazemeini Boroujerdi’s Followers in Mashad

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that in the past weeks, supporters of Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment by security authorities in Mashad, and some have been arrested and detained inside Mashad’s Intelligence Office Detention Center. “Starting in mid-March, with the attack of security forces on the residence of the Khodadai family and the arrest of their son, Iman Khodadai, the abuse and mistreatment of the followers of Ayatollah Boroujerdi entered a new phase. After Iman Khodadai’s release, purple bruises were quite visible on his body,” a human rights activist who requested anonymity told the Campaign.

Deceased Political Prisoner’s Wife Will Not Pursue Cause of Death In Order to Avoid Threats

There has still been no official announcement made of political prisoner Hossein Domekhchi’s cause of death, twelve days after his body was transferred to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Domekhchi’s wife, Maryam Alangi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she has no plans for pursuing the matter further. “No authority or organization has officially replied about [the reasons for] my husband’s death,” said Alangi. “If something caused my husband’s death, he is buried now and nothing can be proven. I will not pursue the matter, either. What is it I am supposed to pursue, anyway? What else is left [to pursue]? My questions will only get myself and my only son into trouble, adding a problem to my existing problems. My new inquiry would mean a threat to my and my son’s life,” she continued.

Iraqi Forces Should End Attacks on Camp Ashraf

(9 April 2011) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today that armed attacks by Iraqi forces on Camp Ashraf should be immediately halted and an impartial investigation launched into the deadly attacks that took place on 8 April.

Nearly 3,500 members of the Iranian opposition group, the Mojahedin-E Khalq Organization (MEK), reside in Camp Ashraf, located in Diyala, 60 kilometers northeast of Baghdad.

“The job of the Iraqi government is to guarantee the safety of Camp Ashraf residents, and not to attack and kill them,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.