Women’s Rights

Sotoudeh’s Husband Says Wife is in Solitary Confinement

Reza Khandan, husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, the imprisoned human rights lawyer, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his wife is in solitary confinement and in isolation, even though her lawyer has been told that her case’s investigations are complete. Khandan told the Campaign that in the absence of any news about Sotoudeh’s condition, he cannot confirm nor deny the rumors about her torture.

Fruitless Efforts to Reduce Shahidi’s $600,000 Bail

A source close to journalist and prisoner of conscience Hengameh Shahidi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that despite her family’s efforts to reduce her $600,000 bail, authorities at the Prosecutor’s Office have not agreed to the family’s request. According to the source, Shahidi’s health is unfavorable and pursuing her medical needs requires treatment outside of the prison. Prosecuting authorities have said that Shahidi’s family’s appeal for bail reduction is being considered but no decision has been made yet.

“I Think They Have Demands Of Her Which She Does Not Wish To Grant,” Says Sotoudeh’s Husband

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer, has not contacted her family in the past seventeen days. Her husband, Reza Khandan, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he is worried that his wife might be under pressure in prison to give in to the demands of her interrogators. He also said that he believes his wife might be on a hunger strike. Close relatives of Ms. Sotoudeh told the Campaign that she’s been asked to drop legal representation of the Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, but so far she has not succumbed to these demands.

Mourning Mothers Request Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Release to Attend Father’s Funeral

Only a few days after her arrest, Nasrin Sotoudeh’s father passed away in the intensive care unit of a hospital. Summoned for some “explanations” to Evin prison’s court on 4 September 2010, Sotoudeh was subsequently arrested and imprisoned. Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, is now a fellow-prisoner to several political prisoners whom she represents.

Shiva Nazar Ahari Freed on Bail

The Campaign has learned that the prominent human rights defender, Shiva Nazar Ahari, was freed on bail, in the amount of $500,000, on 12 September 2010. She is awaiting sentencing following her trial held on 4 September.

Worldwide Support for the Release of Shiva Nazar Ahari

With the announcement by Iranian officials that the court trial of human rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari will be held in the coming days, Iranians abroad held rallies in a few cities worldwide, demanding her release. Shiva Nazar Ahari has been in prison for the past seven months. She has been denied her fundamental rights of regular contact with her family, furlough leave, or even bail bond till her court date.

No Information About Detained Women’s Rights Activist

(21 January 2010) Iranian judicial and prison authorities have refused to release any information about charges against women’s rights activist Somayeh Rashidi (24), who was arrested on 19 December 2009, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today.

During the past two months, over a thousand people have been detained through the use of a blanket detention order, which is effectively a license for security and intelligence agents to arrest anyone at will. Hundreds of these detainees, similar to Somayeh Rashidi, have disappeared into Iranian prisons without any information available to their families or lawyers.

Update: Detained Mothers Shuffled Between Emergency Rooms and Detention Center

(10 January 2010) Authorities transferred nine of the 33 detained members of the Mourning Mothers to emergency rooms following their detention yesterday, and later took them to Vozara Detention Center in Tehran, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The nine mothers suffer from various illnesses and were taken back to Vozara Detention Center from Sajjad and Firuzgar hospitals in Tehran.

30 Members of Mourning Mothers Detained

(9 January 2010) Security forces attacked and detained 30 members of Mourning Mothers in Laleh Park and surrounding streets in Tehran today at around 4 p.m. local time, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported. Mourning Mothers is a group of mothers whose children have been killed in recent events. More than a hundred police and plain clothes agents attacked today’s gathering and transferred the detainees to the Vozara Detention Center in Tehran.

“No culture permits such violence to be unleashed against mothers. How can this government, which claims to have moral and religious authority, treat mothers who have lost their children in such a way?,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

Widespread Arrests of Women’s Rights Activists, Female Journalists and Relatives

(5 January 2010) Numerous women’s rights campaigners, female journalists and relatives are being arrested and persecuted as authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran attempt to repress masses of Iranians from advocating for their civil rights in recent weeks, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

“It is evident that the authorities are singling out women’s rights activists and arbitrarily arresting them, as well as female journalists, in the context of recent public demonstrations,” stated Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.