Blog/Latest News

Supreme Court Says “Do-over” in Death Sentence Case

55-year-old prisoner Javad Lari’s death sentence has been overturned and sent back to the lower court. Mr. Lari’s lawyer, Manijeh Mohammadi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that there is no evidence of moharabeh (enmity with God), her client’s charge that led to execution, and that he is innocent.
Mohammadi explained the Campaign that the charge of moharebeh was based on unrelated accusations. Under Iran’s penal code, moharebeh is meant to criminalize acts of armed action against the government.”His charges are illegally exiting the country and going to Camp Ashraf, actions against national security and propaganda against the regime by participating in assemblies after the 2009 presidential elections. But the charge of moharebeh for which he is sentenced to death is related to his membership and activities in Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK). The collection of the his charges were reviewed in such a way that led to moharebeh and we expect that the Supreme Court will hopefully change his punishment according to the petition that we submitted.”

Rally Against Censorship and Satellite Jamming at World Radiocommunication Conference

Today, Iranian protestors gathered in Geneva, demanding the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency, to take action on the Iranian government’s illegal internet and communications censorship. Coinciding with the start of the regulatory meeting of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in Geneva, and organized by ITU. Iranians gathered to protest against their government’s illegal telecommunications practices.

Widespread Targeting of Journalists Continues with Three Arrests

With only six weeks until the Iranian parliamentary election, security officials have cast a wider net in the capital with the arrest of three journalists. Journalists Parastoo Dokouhaki, Marzieh Rassouli and Sahamoddin Bouraghani are the latest in a series of arrests, following the other recent arrests of journalists Fatemeh Kheradmand and Ehsan Houshmandzadeh, who were detained on 7 January 2012.

Angels Of Iran: Education Under Fire Releases Video Series

The Education Under Fire initiative, in coordination with a coalition of human rights organizations focusing on Iran, has announced the release of seven new “Angels of Iran” videos. These short films are personal stories of courage and resilience in the face of torture, imprisonment, and execution under the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Human Rights Lawyer Seifzadeh Refused to Participate in Own Trial Due To Revolutionary Court’s Incompetence

Mohammad Seifzadeh, prominent lawyer and one of the founding members of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, did not participate in his court trial on 11 January 2012, his wife and lawyer Fatemeh Golzar told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
“Today (11 January), Mr. Seifzadeh’s trial was held in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court for the third case raised against him, related to statements and letters that he signed in prison. He did not want to participate in the trial, and he asked me as his lawyer to take only his defense bill to the court,” Golzar told the Campaign.

Podcast 45: “Campaign 99″ in an interview with Ali Abdi

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard of the Occupy Wall Street movement, brought together under the banner of ‘the 99%’. Today, we talk to Ali Abdi, Iranian student rights and LGBT activist, about “Campaign 99.” Campaign 99 is a global solidarity movement that listens to the stories of Occupy Wall Street supporters, and in exchange, shares the stories of Iranian prisoners. Ali talks to us about the Campaign started, and how it’s grown since then. Don’t miss this unique and informative podcast!

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Political Prisoner Issa Saharkhiz Hospitalized in Tehran

Journalist and political activist Issa Saharkhiz has been at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran since 14 December 2011, a source close to his family told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The source added that the political prisoner’s family is under immense pressure not to give interviews to foreign media.

Malaysian Security Officers Threaten to Deport Iranian Refugee and Activist

Jamshidi is a coordinator of and contributor to several online pro-Green Movement news outlets and a host on the satellite station Rasa TV. Jamshidi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that, in response to a summons order, he reported for questioning to what he believed was the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs, but could have been another government security organ.

Former Foreign Minister Ebrahim Yazdi Sentenced to Eight Years In Prison

Following an eight-year prison sentence for political activist and head of the Iran Freedom Movement Ebrahim Yazdi, his son-in-law Mehdi Nourbakhsh called the ruling cruel in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Iranian-American Prisoner’s Family: TV Confessions Fake And Under Duress

Family of Amir Hekmati, an Iranian-American man whom Iranian officials allege worked for the CIA, and whose court session and confessions were broadcasted on Iranian state TV on 27 December 2011, have released a statement, a copy of which was shared with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, stating that Amir Hekmati’s television confessions were fake and made under duress. They also added that they have been forced into silence by Iranian officials who had promised them their son would be released soon. The statement further expresses grave concern about Hekmati’s lack of a fair trial and their inability to recruit an independent defense lawyer for him.