Protestants Acquitted of Political Charges, Recognized Under Iran’s Constitution

On 14 May 2011 the Revolutionary Court of the northern city of Bandar Anzali acquitted twelve Protestant Christians of the specific charge of “forming a society with the intent of disrupting national security.”

Prisoners of Conscience Will Not Be Transferred to Gharchak Prison, Says Sotoudeh’s Husband

While all female political prisoners at Evin Prison were transferred to the prison’s Methadone Ward and told they would soon be moved to Gharchak Prison in Varamin, in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Reza Khandan, Nasrin Sotoudeh’s husband, said that it appears the prison authorities may have changed their minds about the transfer. “During my meeting with her [Sotoudeh] last Tuesday, she said that a few days ago she heard in prison that they will remain at Evin and that plans for transferring them to Gharchak, Varamin, have been canceled for now,” Khandan told the Campaign.

Imprisoned Student Activist’s Mother: “I Don’t Know Why They Are Keeping Him”

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Roghieh Jafarian, mother of imprisoned student activist Ashkan Zahabian, spoke about her son who has been in detention for the past 16 days inside Sari’s Intelligence Office. Ashkan Zahabian, a member of Tahkim-e Vahdat student organization, was banned from continuing his education. Jafarian told the Campaign that though the officials are polite, they don’t allow her to see her son. She expressed concern about her son’s health and the reasons for his detention considering he was previously sentenced to six months in prison.

Sun News Network Interview with Hadi Ghaemi

Watch Sun News’ interview with Hadi Ghaemi of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran regarding the case of Dorothy Parvaz (click image to redirect to sunnewsnetwork.ca)

Transfer of Prisoners Is Against The Law, Says Lawyer

Following the transfer of several female prisoners to Gharchak Prison in Varamin, Iranian lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that according to Iranian law, each prisoner must be transferred to the prison closest to his or her residence.

Despite Complaints About Torture, Forced Confessions, and Lack of Due Process, Brothers Fathi Hanged in Isfahan

Two brothers, Mohammad Fathi, 28, and Abdollah Fathi, 27, were hanged today inside Isfahan’s Dastjerd Prison. Earlier today, the family of the two executed prisoners told the Campaign that the case lacked due process and that the authorities had not paid attention to the irregularities of the case in reaching a verdict and issuing the sentence. The Iranian police claim that the two men were involved in an armed robbery incident in the northern province of Mazandaran. Their father, however, told the Campaign that their confessions to this crime had been extracted under torture. The Iranian officials have not commented on such allegations.

Prominent Female Journalist in Evin Prison’s Methadone Ward

A source close to imprisoned journalist Hengameh Shahidi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the prisoner of conscience spent her 36th birthday inside Evin Prison’s Methadone Ward. After several female political prisoners were transferred to Varamin Prison, Shahidi was transferred from the General Ward to the Methadone Ward along with several other female political prisoners.

Investigate Torture and Mass Due Process Violations Detailed by Prominent Prisoners of Conscience

(16 May 2011) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran endorsed the call, by prominent prisoners of conscience, for an investigation into torture and mass due process violations and infringements on protections in Iran’s Citizen’s Bill of Rights following the 2009 presidential election. The Campaign called on the Central Committee charged with implementing the Citizen’s Bill of Rights to conduct a full and independent investigation into all allegations of abuse, and overturn convictions of political prisoners based on tainted evidence.

Only One Month to Find, Sentence and Execute Suspects, Says Ahwazi Activist

Yousef Azizi Banitorof, Secretary of the Center for Combating Racism and Discrimination Against Arabs in Iran, who currently resides in London, spoke with International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran following news from the Al Arabiya website quoting Ahwaz News about recent executions in Ahwaz. “According to news we were able to receive from our contacts in Ahwaz, three people were hanged in public at Hamidieh Junction. They were three brothers by the names of Ali Heydari (25), Jassem Heydari (23), and Nasser Heydari (21). The hangings were viewed by eyewitnesses and there is no doubt that they took place. But another six were hanged inside Karoon Prison in Ahwaz, and nobody knows anything about it. Their families have not yet seen the bodies, nor were they informed at all in order to appear at the prison on the execution date. They, too, have only just heard this news,” said Azizi Banitorof.

Weekly Rights Podcast 26

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