Member of Iranian Parliament’s Judicial Commission Expresses Support Public Executions

In an interview published by Fars News Agency, an Iranian member of parliament (MP) supports the implementation of executions publicly. Nayereh Akhavan, an MP from Isfahan and a member of the Judicial Commission of Parliament, told Fars News: “It seems carrying out such sentences may be effective in preventing certain crimes.” Human rights activists continue to express concern about the negative effects of public hangings on Iranian society. Responding to such objections Akhavan said: “Those who oppose carrying out Qisas sentences in public on the excuse of its ‘harming public morale,’ are those who have been educated in the western system.”

Right to Education Council: Banning Students From Education Is A Crime

The Right to Education Council, a student run campaign, has released a statement objecting to the continued arrests of students and education bans placed on youth because of their beliefs. The statement comes two years after leading student activist Majid Dorri was imprisoned. The Council demanded respect for the constitution and to international commitments from Iranian authorities and called for an end to the deprivation of education to “starred” student activists. The Council further demanded the release of imprisoned students who were arrested for demanding their basic right of education, and to facilitate the return of starred and banned students to their education. The Council asserted that banning students from their higher education is a criminal act according to Iranian and international law, and demanded trials for those who ordered and implemented such bans. In its report, Punishing Stars: Systematic Discrimination and Exclusion in Iranian Higher Education, the Campaign interviewed and outlined the manner in which higher education bans are implemented by the Islamic Republic.

Seven Political Prisoners Given Short Furlough; Hundreds More Remain in Prison

Seven prisoners in Evin Prison’s Ward 350 were allowed short furlough on 16 July on for the observance of a religious holiday. The prisoners were: Bahareh Hedayat; Mahdieh Golroo; Behzad Nabavi; Mohsen Mirdamadi; Feizollah Arabsorkhi; Abdollah Ramezanzadeh; Javad Emam; and Massoud Lavasani. No other political prisoners were allowed furlough from Rajaee Shahr Prison or prisons in other cities, however. Presently hundreds of political prisoners are inside Evin Prison.

Weekly Rights Podcast 30

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast: more than 50 officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been put on visa restriction lists by the US and UK; the son of political prisoner Heshmatollah Tabarzadi tells the Campaign of concern for Tabarzadi’s health; Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s father is concerned for his son’s health in prison; 25 prisoners were hanged in Ghezel Hessar Prison in another secret execution; a popular Iranian actor is arrested by security officials before going to Germany to participate in TV programs about the World Cup; Maryam Majd is suffering from digestive problems while in prison; Evin Prison officials have once again denied Nasrin Sotoudeh the right to see her children; and Protestant Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s court decision has been sent for reevaluation by the Supreme Court, but his apostasy charge will not be dropped.

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Heshmatollah Tabarzadi’s Son: ‘My Father Says Furlough is Impossible’

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, political prisoner Heshmatollah Tabarzadi’s son, Hossein Tabarzadi, told the Campaign that his father is in poor condition and his family is concerned about his health. “Our family’s last visit with my father was last Thursday. He appeared well, because his spirits are high, he always maintains himself well and always faces us in a happy mood. But he said that his health had deteriorated during the week and he had to go to the prison infirmary. They did an EKG on him and said that he has a heart condition. My father did not have any heart problems before going to prison,” Tabarzadi said.

“Another Kidney Infection and My Son Will Die,” Says Imprisoned Blogger’s Father

Following a deterioration in the condition of Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s health in prison, his father, Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki, shared his concern with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “My son’s interrogators told us that they would kill Hossein and now they are delivering on that promise. When I reached Tehran from Malekan on 15 June, as I was getting off the bus to go pursue furlough for Hossein, my wife called to say that she was contacted from Evin Prison and told that Hossein is in poor condition and in Evin’s infirmary. I went to prison immediately and told them that I was his father and to let me see him but they did not agree. I said I hear Hossein has had seizures, let me take him to hospital and I will pay all his expenses like the last time, but they didn’t accept this. First, they said he is inside the ward, then they said he was in the shower. I waited a long time. Then I said to them that I didn’t want to see him or talk to him, and that they should only let him call his mother, so she could hear his voice and find peace. They said O.K., but nothing happened,” Maleki said.

Imprisoned Photojournalist Maryam Majd in Dire Physical Condition

A source close to the family of photojournalist Maryam Majd told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she is having digestive problems. Majd has spent more than 20 days in solitary confinement in Evin Prison. “Maryam is not in good physical condition and her family is extremely worried about her health. She has developed digestive and kidney problems, and for this reason, her mother wrote a letter to Tehran’s Prosecutor today, asking for care for her daughter. She is in a 2 square meter solitary cell inside Evin Prison and is not at all physically active — all of these are causes for her illness,” the source told the Campaign.

Kurdish Political Prisoner Denied Meeting with Judge

The sister of Kurdish political prisoner Kamal Sharifi, Mahnaz Sharifi, spoke with the Campaign about her brother’s situation in prison. Sharifi said that while her brother continues his hunger strike in prison and is denied visitation rights, the family has met with the representative of the Supreme Leader in the city of Sanandaj to try and meet him. She also testified that the family’s attempts to meet with Kamal Sharifi have been met with arrest threats for his younger brother by the case judge.

Christian Pastor’s Repentance Required for Death Sentence Overturn, Says Lawyer

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, lawyer for Youcef Nadarkhani, a Protestant Christian pastor charged with apostasy, refuted reports by some media outlets that his client’s death sentence has been upheld. “Fortunately, on Tuesday, 27 June, Youcef Nadarkhani’s death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in Qom and it is on hold until Mr. Nadarkhani repents [i.e. renounces his Christianity]. But still, in this ruling it has been stipulated that in case Nadarkhani does not repent, his case file would once again be sent back to the lower court in Rasht. In a way, a complete overturning of the apostasy verdict depends on Nadarkhani’s repentance,” he told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Pressure on Sotoudeh Continues: In-Person Visits With Children Prevented

Evin Prison authorities have once again prevented imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh from visiting her children in person in order to put pressure on her for forced confessions. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Sotoudeh’s husband, Reza Khandan, spoke of their children’s disappointment. “After our booth visit, we waited for the children to be allowed to have an in-person visit with her. First children of two other families went in. We waited outside for about 20 minutes, but in the end they didn’t let my children to enter, and we returned home without their visiting with their mother. This is such a devastating blow to the children,” he said.