They Keep My Father In Prison For His Criticism of Khamenei, Says Son of Imprisoned Journalist

Mehdi Saharkhiz, son of journalist Issa Saharkhiz, who is currently serving his three-year prison term, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his father has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison. “The new ruling against him is like the other ones. It displays the personal animosity of Mr. Khamenei against my father for his criticisms of Khamenei. Now they are trying to abuse him in whatever way they can and keep him in prison longer,” said Saharkhiz.

Weekly Rights Podcast 33

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast: the court reviewing the case of the three Americans arrested more than two years ago has not yet issued its ruling; UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran requests entry into the country; imprisoned actress Marzieh Vafamehr’s husband Nasser Taghvai appeals on behalf of his wife; US Assistant Secretary of State says Iran and Syria share records of abuse; imprisoned student activist Abdollah Momeni faces a new summons to court; theological researcher Ahmad Ghabel to start serving his prison sentence; and Mehrangiz Kar gives legal analysis of political prisoners’ rights in Iran.

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Despite Delayed Ruling, Lawyer Optimistic about Release of Americans

The appeals court reviewing the case of the three Americans arrested more than two years ago on charges of “illegal entry into Iran” and “espionage,” has not yet issued its ruling, despitethe fact that more than a week has passed since the last court session. The lawyer of the three Americans, Massoud Shafiee, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who remain inside Evin Prison, are impatiently awaiting their ruling.

On Sunday, 31 July, the fourth and last trial session of the three Americans was held at Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. The two Americans still imprisoned were transferred to court from Evin Prison to attend the trial. Mr. Shafiee told the Campaign that according to Article 212 of the Iranian Criminal Code Procedures, the court must issue its ruling either at the last session or within a maximum of one week after it. “Unfortunately, yesterday they told us to leave and that they would contact us. Now we are waiting to see what happens. Even so, all indications are positive and I am very hopeful for their release, unless something unexpected happens,” Shafiee told the Campaign.

Sajjad Jahanfar, Another Kurdish Author and Scholar, Arrested

A local source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Sajjad Jahanfar, a young author and researcher from Gilan-e-Gharb, was arrested on 12 August in Kermanshah. Jahanfar has authored several books, such as the seven-volume book, “Stories of The Medea Land,” in Persian and the Kurdish language.

Sajjad Jahanfar’s arrest took place when security forces showed up to the homes of several literary and cultural activists in Gilan-e-Gharb in the Kermanshah Province during the past two weeks, arresting at least three activists.

UN Special Rapporteur Should Visit Iranian Prisons, Says Husband of Imprisoned Actress

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, celebrated Iranian filmmaker Nasser Taghvai said that despite statements made by the Prosecutor General last week, his wife, actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who was arrested more than a month ago for acting a role in the documentary “My Tehran For Sale,” has not yet been released. During a 26 July press conference, Prosecutor General Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said that actresses Pegah Ahangarani and Marzieh Vafamehr were going to be released soon, but Vafamehr remains in prison. Taghvai also asked the United Nations to dispatch Iran’s Special Rapporteur to Tehran as soon as possible to observe the conditions of prisoners up close and to somehow defend them.

Banned Student Rejects Charges For Interviewing and Showing the ‘V’ Sign

Amir Sheibanizadeh, a Mashad student who was banned from continuing his university education, talked to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about his trial session, held on Monday, 1 August. “A few days ago, they called me to let me know that the upcoming trial session would be regarding the 14 July 2008 protest case against me, for which I was sentenced to eight years in prison. Though I could see the case folder before the Judge, fortunately this case was not brought up at all, and they only questioned me about my other case, which has to do with my participation in a 14 February gathering,” Sheibanizadeh told the Campaign.

Sheibanizadeh, 23, is a banned student who has been arrested repeatedly in the past few years. He was first arrested during a 14 July 2008 protest in Mashad’s Mellat Park. After spending two weeks in a solitary cell, he was transferred to Vakilabad’s Security Ward and was released later on an $80,000 bail. Regarding the 14 July 2008 case, he was recently sentenced to eight years in prison by Branch 4 of Mashad Revolutionary Court.

New UN Special Rapporteur on Iran calls on the Government for full co-operation with his mandate

GENEVA – The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, appealed to the Iranian government to extend its full co-operation with his mandate as required by the UN Human Rights Council.

Dissident Religious Scholar in Prison Once Again

Marzieh Pasdar, wife of religious scholar Ahmad Ghabel, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Ghabel was taken to Mashad’s Vakilabad Prison on Sunday, 31 July to start serving his sentence. “Mr. Ghabel went to Mashad Revolutionary Court on Sunday, following receiving a summons. We thought he only had to appear, considering his lawyer had requested a postponement of his prison term to after the holy month of Ramadan. But it turned out there that they wanted to take him to prison that same day. I went and brought his clothes from the car and waited until they took him. Thank God when he was going he was in a very good, cheerful mood and had a smile on his lips, though he was fasting,” said Pasdar.

Three Kurdish Literary and Cultural Figures Arrested

A human rights activist in the Kurdistan Province told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that last week three literary and cultural figures of Gilanegharb were arrested by security forces and transferred to the Kermanshah Intelligence office. The three detained individuals are Jamal Khani, poet, Farhad Vakilinia, teacher, and Naeem Najafi, a student, [...]

Public Letter to Supreme Leader about Torture in Prison Brings Abdollah Momeni New Trial Instead of Justice

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Fatemeh Adinehvand, wife of student activist and political prisoner Abdollah Momeni, expressed surprise for his new summons to court. “The last time I visited Abdollah on Monday, 25 July, he told me that he had been summoned to court the previous week because of his letter to the Supreme Leader, and that his charges include ‘propagating lies’ and ‘creating public anxiety.’”

A year after he wrote a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader in which he spoke of the torture he suffered during his interrogations, asking him to investigate the performance of prison and security authorities, Momeni was summoned on Tuesday, 19 July to Branch 4 of Evin Prison Court, facing serious charges for this letter.