Concurrent With Admission of Group Executions, 26 More Hanged Secretly in Mashad

Local sources in Mashad told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that 26 more inmates were hanged at Vakilabad Prison on 15 June 2011. At the same time, the Prosecutor of Mashad Mahmoud Zoghi admitted to secret group executions and without mentioning the number of executions over the past two and half years, [...]

Prisoners Declare End of Hunger Strike

On 26 June 2011, twelve prisoners of conscience declared an end to their nine-day long hunger strike. The prisoners started a hunger strike on 18 June to protest rampant impunity and lack of accountability following the deaths of two prominent activists, Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber. Saber died in captivity from a heart attack on [...]

“I Saw Prison Abuse,” Says Mohammad Nourizad

In an interview with the International Campaign with Human Rights in Iran, Mohammad Nourizad, a filmmaker, journalist and prisoner of conscience currently on furlough, provided details about his own case as well as the abuse of other prisoners. “I saw a young man who had been beaten, his lips were torn, and he had been slapped in the face numerous times. I believe what Hamzeh Karami and Abdollah Momeni said [about prison abuse] was accurate. They were badly tortured.” In separate letters from prison, political prisoners Hamzeh Karami and Abdollah Momeni reported being abused and tortured.

Death in Prison: No One Held Accountable

Since 2003, 17 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience have died while in custody in Iranian prisons allegedly due to torture, medical neglect, and misconduct of prison authorities. Six of the prisoners were detained and died after the 2009 election and the ensuing crackdown on government critics and political opponents. For most of these deaths, no one has yet been held accountable, despite the fact that in all these instances, family members or lawyers of the prisoners have alleged that authorities were responsible for the deaths due to their physical abuse of the inmate or inadequate medical attention.

Lives of Hunger Strikers in Peril

(24 June 2011) Iran’s pattern of prison abuse and neglect demonstrates that the lives of prisoners of conscience are at risk, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today, with the publication of a new report, Death in Prison: No One Held Accountable. The Campaign holds Iranian authorities at the highest levels accountable for the health and well-being of eighteen prisoners of conscience now on their sixth day of a hunger strike.

“Iranian prisons are a death trap for prisoners of conscience,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

“No,” Says Head of Iran’s Judiciary to Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

Only a few weeks after the United Nation’s Human Rights Council appointed Maldivian Ahmed Shaheed as UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights for Iran, the Head of Iran’s Judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, made public statements denying access to the Special Rapporteur. “Our policy is not to accept the Rapporteur. We believe that we are among the first countries to claim observing human rights,” Larijani said. So far, Iranian Members of Parliament and other political figures close to the government have admonished and criticized the appointment of a Special Rapporteur, but the Iranian Judiciary had so far maintained silence about it. Given the current climate, it seems unlikely the Special Rapporteur will be traveling to Iran anytime soon.

Missing Iranian Photojournalist Maryam Majd Arrested

Photojournalist Maryam Majd, who had been reported “missing,” has been arrested, a source close to Majd family told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on condition of anonymity. According to the source, Majd called home yesterday to inform her family of her whereabouts, but the family is under pressure not to talk to the media. The source told the Campaign that on the evening of 16 June, four men likely from the Intelligence Ministry, went to Majd’s home and after searching the premises and her room, arrested the sports photographer. The agents also took some of Majd’s personal items with them.

Authorities Responsible for the Lives of Prisoners on Hunger Strike

(20 June 2011) Iranian officials should take all steps necessary to safeguard the lives of prisoners of conscience on hunger strike the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. The Campaign expressed serious concern for the lives of the prisoners on hunger strike.

Authorities should immediately investigate the recent deaths of political prisoners Hoda Saber and Haleh Sahabi and hold the responsible persons accountable, the Campaign added.

Since 18 June 2011, twelve prominent prisoners of conscience have joined a hunger strike protesting the recent deaths of Saber and Sahabi.

Prisoners of Conscience Who Died in Custody

1. Zahra Kazemi – 10 July 2003 2. Akbar Mohammadi – 30 July 2003 3. Mohammad Rajabi Sani – October 2004 4. Valiollah Feiz Mahdavi – 6 September 2006 5. Zahra Baniyaghoub – 14 October, 2007 6. Ebrahim Lotfollahi – 15 January 2008 7. Hossein Heshmat Saran – 6 March 2008 8. Kaveh Azizpour – [...]

Charlie Rose on Iranian Reform

(click image to watch video) Watch Charlie Rose’s interview with Hadi Ghaemi of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, & Ervand Abrahamian of Baruch College on the current climate of reform in Iran.