Torture at Evin Prison: Journalist’s Own Experiences and His Interviews with 19 Political Prisoners

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, journalist Saeed Pourheydar, who was arrested twice after the 2009 election and eventually sentenced to five years in prison, described his prison abuse, charges, his detention conditions inside Evin Prison, and the torture of other political prisoners.

Saeed Pourheydar is a journalist who formerly worked for several reformist newspapers. He told the Campaign that after the 2009 presidential election, he was arrested twice: once on 6 February 2010 at his home when he was arrested by Intelligence Ministry and served one month inside Ward 240 of Evin Prison, and another time on 10 October 2010, when he was detained after being summoned to Evin Prison Court and spent 52 days in prison until his appeals court issued a ruling. When the appeals court upheld his conviction, Pourheydar left Iran and currently resides abroad.

Weekly Rights Podcast 27

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast: Rudi Bakhtiar of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran testifies at the United States Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing; the mothers of imprisoned American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal speak out; the Campaign joins a group calling for an investigation into prisoner rights violations; clashes continue in Iran’s Ahwaz region; opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi is allowed to look for new residence; a political prisoner in Karoon Prison testifies to inhumane conditions; Hengameh Shahidi spends a second birthday behind bars; Jafar Panahi’s film makes its way to Cannes; and 12 Protestant Christians are acquitted of their charges.

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Sotoudeh’s Handcuffed Transfer To Bar Association Uncalled For, Says Husband

The first court session for disbarring prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was held at the Iranian Bar Association on 29 May, though she was not allowed to review the case against her prior to the trial. Based on this reason, the court agreed to Sotoudeh’s request to postpone the session. A handcuffed Sotoudeh was [...]

Daughter of Deceased Dissident Dies Following Attack During Father’s Burial

(1 June 2011) Interference by security and plainclothes agents in the funeral of prominent Iranian political activist Ezatollah Sahabi, including beatings of mourners, led to the death of Sahabi’s daughter Haleh, who suffered a fatal heart attack at the event today.

“The shameful actions of government thugs in this incident reveal a deep contempt for traditions that belong to all Iranians, and they have resulted in a tragedy,” said Hadi Ghaemi, spokesperson for the Campaign.