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Archive for July, 2011

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“The verdict will be announced in 7 days. No espionage evidence in indictment,” says lawyer to Americans

Massoud Shafiee, lawyer to the three Americans on trial in Tehran today, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were present in court today and submitted their defense on the two charges of “illegal entry,” and “espionage;” the lawyer presented his defense for his clients; and the [...]

31st July 2011

Sign the Petition to Free Iranian HIV/AIDS Doctor

Dr. Arash Alaei (left) is serving a six year prison term in Evin Prison in Tehran. Dr. Kamiar Alae (right) was released in the fall of 2010.

Dr. Arash Alaei and his brother Dr. Kamiar Alaei are HIV/AIDS doctors who were arrested in Iran in 2008 while researching. In January 2009 they were convicted of “communicating with an enemy government” for attending conferences and working with international health organizations to find solutions to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Kamiar Alaei was released in the fall of 2010 after serving 870 days in prison. Dr. Arash Alaei was sentenced to six years in prison and is currently being held in Evin Prison in Tehran.

28th July 2011 - 8 Comments »

Shirin Ebadi Criticizes Violations of Prisoners’ Rights

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, lawyer, head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi harshly criticized the limitations imposed on Iranian political prisoners. She emphasized the lack of allowing prisoners furlough or in-person visits with their families, and stated that according to Iranian law, the Prosecutor, Head Warden, or any other judicial official is not authorized to arbitrarily deprive a prisoner of their legal rights. “Those who are in prison because of their conscience or beliefs lack even those rights extended to smugglers,” said Ebadi.

28th July 2011

Upon Completion of 2-Year Sentence, Unionist Faces New Trial

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the wife of prisoner of conscience Hashem Khastar said that her husband, whose two-year prison term ended, was expected to be released on 26 July; but instead was taken to court and tried on the new charge of “creating public anxiety.”

28th July 2011

“I Fear for His Safety,” Says Father of Imprisoned Student Zia Nabavi

Ali Akbar Nabavi, father of imprisoned student Zia Nabavi (above), fears for his son's safety if rumors of prison transfers are true. Nabavi is rumored to be among a group of political prisoners being transferred back to Karoon Prison in Ahvaz.

َIn an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Ali Akbar Nabavi, father of imprisoned student activist Zia Nabavi, expressed concern about rumors that political prisoners in Ahvaz will soon be transferred back to Karoon Prison. “I talked with Zia on the phone two days ago. He said that, ‘there are rumors in prison that they want to return us to Karoon Prison again.’ It will be a tragedy if they transfer him back there again; my son will get into hardship again. I am very concerned. If they return him there, I fear for his safety,” Nabavi told the Campaign.

27th July 2011

Activist Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Refusing to Make False Confessions

Saeed Matinpour, a human rights and ethnic minority rights activits, was sentenced to 8 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

Atieh Taheri, wife of Azerbaijani journalist and civil activist Saeed Matinpour, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in an interview about her husband’s health condition and situation in Evin Prison. Matinpour, 36, studied philosophy at Tehran University and wrote for Zanjan Weekly. He was active in human rights and ethnic minority rights causes and was arrested on 25 May 2007 for participating in a seminar in defense of Turkish-speaking citizens in Turkey. He was sentenced to eight years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, on charges of “contact with foreigners,” and “propagating against the regime.”

27th July 2011

Journalist Mohammad Davari’s Health Deteriorates in Prison and Family Remains Unable to Visit Him

Journalist Mohammad Davari languishes in Evin Prison under severe depression and recently had another year added to his prison sentence.

Mohammad Davari, journalist and editor-in-chief of Saham News’ website, has been sentenced to an additional year in prison all while suffering for months with severe depression in Evin Prison. The journalist’s nephew, Hossein Davari, spoke to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about Davari’s dire psychological state. “The last time his mother was able to see him she said that he wasn’t in good psychological or physical shape. When relatives went to prison to see him several times, prison officials told them that he is not able to take visitors. His lawyer also told us that he doesn’t have a good psychological and mental state. He said that we should make an appointment with a doctor of our choice so that they can take him for treatment from prison. He said that we should do something for him ourselves. In addition to his psychological state, he has had problems with his teeth for a long time,” said Hossein Davari.

26th July 2011

Supreme Court Says No Apostasy Execution if Pastor was Never Muslim and Repents

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

The Supreme Court of Qom Province issued an official verdict in the apostasy case of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, ruling that the lower criminal court and the appeals courts did not provide adequate background information as to whether or not Nadarkhani was ever actually a declared and practicing Muslim. In turn, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the Eleventh Branch of the Criminal Court of Gilan Province for a more rigorous factual investigation.

26th July 2011 - 5 Comments »

Statement by Women’s Rights Activists in Protest of the Escalation of Violence Against Women in Iran

Five hundred women’s movement activists and supporters have issued a statement demanding an end to violence on women in Iranian society. The statement, signed by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, protests to the “systematic violence against women,” “constant insults and humiliation,” and “the blaming of victims for acts of sexual violence against them” by government authorities, and defends a woman’s right to choose their clothing. The signatories also ask Iranian judicial and security authorities to be accountable for sexual violence and rape against male and female prisoners inside Iranian prisons.

26th July 2011

Arrests of Women in Iran’s Film Industry Escalate

The pressure, threats, and arrests of members of Iran’s film industry that began immediately following the 2009 presidential election has been focused on Iranian women in cinema over the past several weeks. Several sources in Iran told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the arrest of documentary filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi, followed by the arrest of actresses Pegah Ahangarani and Marzieh Vafamehr, have created anxiety in the Iranian film industry. The sources told the Campaign that Iranian authorities wish to severe all relations between Iran’s film community and the outside world. Distinguished Iranian film director Nasser Taghvai told the Campaign that he was told the issue of arrests of film artists has been discussed at a meeting between officials from the Intelligence and Culture Ministries. At a meeting convened for this purpose, the Intelligence Minister and the Deputy Minister of Culture for Cinema and a high ranking official from the Intelligence Ministry were present, where subject of the recent arrests was discussed.

26th July 2011 - 1 Comment »
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