Sixteen More Prisoners Executed Secretly in Mashad on 23 & 24 May

Reliable sources have told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that another round of unannounced group executions took place in Vakilabad Prison in Mashad on 23 and 24 May.

Twelve prisoners were hanged during secret group executions on 23 May. All 12 prisoners were charged with drug trafficking. Four other prisoners were executed on 24 May; among them three sister. The three sisters are said to have been convicted of drug trafficking charges. The fourth executed prisoner was charged with rape.

Authorities Responsible for Death of Imprisoned Dissident on Hunger Strike

(13 June 2011) The Iranian Judiciary and prison officials are responsible for the death of Hoda Saber, a prominent dissident who died of a heart attack on 10 June, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. Saber had been on a hunger strike.

According to public statements by Firuzeh Saber, Hoda Saber’s sister, Hoda suffered a heart attack at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, but prison officials failed to transfer him to a hospital until 10:30 a.m.

“Iranian authorities have demonstrated once again their disregard for UN standards mandating proper care of prisoners, and they bear responsibility for this death,” said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

Journalist Transferred from Solitary Cell Only After Retracting Complaints of Abuse

A source with knowledge of journalist Massoud Bastani’s situation in Rajaee Shahr Prison, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said that after retracting a complaint against the soldier who abused him, Bastani was transferred from his solitary cell to the General Ward.

Weekly Rights Podcast 28

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Rape and Torture: Legacy of the Post-Election Crackdown

Video Testimony from a Young Woman Raped in Detention, Most Detailed Account to Date

(10 June 2011) On the second anniversary of the disputed June 2009 election and the ensuing repression, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today released video testimony from a young female detainee describing in detail her severe torture and repeated rape after her arbitrary arrest.

Her forceful testimony challenges the Iranian authorities’ official narrative, which denies widespread use of torture and rape by security forces against ordinary protestors.

“Rape is one of the worst forms of torture and allegation after allegation of sadistic torture and sexual abuse continue to emerge,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

Mansour Osanloo’s Prison Furlough Extended to One Month

Mansour Osanloo, President of the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), who was released on a four-day prison furlough on Thursday, 2 June, has been given an extension for a month, according to his wife, and he is now at home with his family. Parvaneh Osanloo, wife of the labor activist and prisoner of conscience, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “[Prison] authorities told us verbally that Mr. Osanloo has one month of furlough. Now we’re also trying to get a written letter of this furlough so we’d be at ease.”

Mashad’s Prison Is Hell, Says Political Prisoner’s Wife

Hashem Khastar, leader of Mashad Teachers Union and prisoner at Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison, was transferred to the ward for murder and drug trafficking convicts after publishing a letter exposing the inhumane conditions and secret executions at Vakilabad. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Sedigheh Maleki, Khastar’s wife, expressed concern about his conditions. “Two days after Mr. Khastar was transferred from the ward of prisoners of conscience to Ward 5 which is where murderers and other hardened criminals are kept, I went to the Revolutionary Court to find out the reason for his transfer. One of the officials told me that because he wrote letters about the conditions at Vakilabad Prison, he was transferred to another ward so that he can closely touch the other things that happen in this prison. He told me to leave and that they would transfer Mr. Khastar back to the ward of prisoners of conscience, which has not happened so far.”

“Furloughed, Not Released,” Says Osanloo’s Sister

Despite earlier statements by prison authorities about his release, Mansour Osanloo, President of the Syndicate of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), was released only on a short prison furlough. Union leader Mansour Osanloo came for a prison leave on Thursday night while prison authorities had previously talked about his release. “So we thought [...]

Held in Solitary Confinement, Imprisoned Teacher Unaware of Mother’s Death

Rassoul Badaghi, an imprisoned teacher, has been on a dry hunger strike for the past two weeks in protest of his prison conditions at Rajaee Shahr Prison. As he remains in solitary confinement, he is unaware of his mother’s death and her funeral yesterday. Despite Badaghi’s lawyer’s earlier requests, he was not granted a prison leave to visit his mother in the hospital. Foroozan Alizadeh, Badaghi’s wife and mother of three young children, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “I visited my husband two weeks ago. At the time, he was on dry hunger strike and said that he would continue until his prison conditions changed. But a few days ago, I heard that he was transferred to solitary confinement. Then I heard that his health had deteriorated and he was transferred to the prison infirmary and then returned to his solitary cell while still connected to IV tubes. I have read all of these through the media; I have not seen him since two weeks ago. I do not know why these things happen. Today was also a visitation day, but I thought because he is in solitary they would not grant me visitation and I did not go.”

The New International Focus on Human Rights in Iran (Commentary)

By Dokhi Fassihian U.N. Appointment of Special Rapporteur a Major Step [ comment ]On March 25, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to single out Iran as a nation deserving of a special rapporteur on human rights to monitor its suspected abuses. The appointment of the rapporteur is expected this month. He or she [...]