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World Affairs Council Interviews Hadi Ghaemi

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Abbasgholizadeh: Suppression Has Changed Iranian Women’s Priorities

In an interview with International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, women’s rights activist, researcher, and documentary filmmaker Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, analyzes the condition of the Iranian women’s movement and civil society activists in Iran after the 12 June 2009 elections. Abbasgholizadeh who formerly headed the nonprofit Center for Training in Iran, at one point was the editor of Farzaneh, a women’s periodical.

No Information about Student at Mashad Azad, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Arrested 10 Days Ago

The location and reasons for the arrest of Mashad Azad University student activist, Mohammad Reza Lotfi Yazdi, who was arrested by security forces at his father’s home more than 10 days ago, are still unknown. A close relative of Lotfi who is familiar with the case told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the family’s efforts to find him over the past few days have been futile, and no organization in the city of Mashad has taken any responsibility for his arrest. They have been told only that Mohammad Reza has been transferred to Tehran.

Stop Anti-Sharia and Inhumane Execution Sentences!

In their second letter to Sadegh Larijani, Head of the Iranian Judiciary, the Defenders of Human Rights Center has objected strongly to the issuance and execution of death sentences, especially in the cases of those arrested during post-elections protests. The group has demanded emphatically that the Head of the Judiciary stop the executions and prevent death sentence verdicts for post-elections protesters. The Center asked the Head of the Judiciary to examine the disproportionate charges and sentences of the suspects, and to respond regarding whether the Judiciary’s conduct is politically motivated.

Bail Posted for Three Imprisoned Journalists, Hope for Pre-Nowruz Release

A source close to families of three Iranian journalists, Vahid Pourostad, Akbar Montajebi, and Ehsan Mehrabi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that despite an announcement from the Iranian Judiciary about their release, they are yet to be released. As more political prisoners are being released from prison, the three journalists’ families continue to hope that they would be released in time for the Iranian New Year Nowruz, (March 21, 2010).

Heavy Bails: Releasing Prisoners or Hostage Taking by the Judiciary?

(Analysis) – News of Abdollah Momeni’s release on the heavy bail of approximately $800,000 makes it appear that the Judiciary is setting ransoms and not bails. In fact most of the political prisoners released on bail over the past few months appear to be hostages of the judicial system due to the unreasonably high bail amounts they have had to post. Some of the bail amounts set are higher than the prisoner’s estimated earnings in 100 years. Presently hundreds of political, student, and civil society activists and journalists who have been released on heavy bails are either waiting for their sentences to be carried out or are facing new problems caused by their bail amount.

Hassan Assadi: Daneshjoo’s Remarks Nothing New, Iranian Academia has Already Been Attacked

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi, Head of the Human Rights Committee of Tahkim-e Vahdat Alumni Association, a large student organization in Iran, reviewed the new statements of Iran’s Minister of Science pertaining to the dismissal of students and faculty members who have differing viewpoints than that of the ruling group. According to this student activist, “The ideological selection process in the Islamic Republic is a process of violation of human rights and it must be viewed as a set of definitive and mandatory rules which systematically prevents citizens from their rights to have public appointments through unfair selection and discrimination.”

Morteza Semyari Released on $600,000 Bail

Morteza Semyari, Secretary of Social Affairs of Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat, was released on a 600 million Tooman (equivalent to US $600,000) bail and custodianship.

Semyari’s release orders from Ward 209 of Evin prison were issued after his bail of $500,000 and his custodianship of $100,000 were posted. “The Semyari family had said earlier that they could never be able to post such a heavy and unreasonable bail,” a student activist told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Semyari’s uncles posted bail by bringing deeds to three homes which added up to 500 million Tomans, paying most of the heavy bail. “

City of Barcelona’s Support of Human Rights in Iran

The Barcelona city council has approved an institutional statement in favor and support of human rights in Iran. The text of the statement is below (translated from Spanish):

The municipal council agrees:

1- To declare its concern about the persistent and recurrent violation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the A/C.3/64/L.37 resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

2- To express its preoccupation with the response of the Islamic Republic of Iran government, after the June 12, 2009 elections and the parallel increase of violation of human rights.

Interview: Details of Bahai Students’ Deprivation of Education and Imprisonment of Right to Education Committee Members

In an interview with International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Hessam Mishaghi, spokesperson for the Right to Education Committee, most of whose members are in prison right now, spoke of barriers for education for Bahais and students who are active in civil and political activities at universities. He explained in this interview that contrary to Mohammad Javad Larijani’s statements in Geneva in which he said no Bahai has been arrested or deprived from education or social rights on grounds of his Bahai faith, he and one of his friends have discovered a letter in which Ministry of Science’s Security Department and Ministry of Information have deprived them of education on the same grounds. Hessam Mishaghi also talked about the arrests of his friends and colleagues and how what Larijani said in Geneva were lies. The Campaign’s interview with this civil and student activist who has been deprived from education follows: