Hold Ahmadinejad Accountable for Iran’s Human Rights Crisis During UN Visit

(14 September 2011) Member states of the United Nations as well as the international media should focus on the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in New York to attend the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The Campaign specifically called on Ban Ki-Moon, the U.N. General Secretary, and all diplomatic representatives of member states who will meet Ahmadinejad during his visit, to express serious concerns about the grave human rights situation in Iran and to demand an immediate end to widespread violations …

Reformist Weekly Banned for Publishing Image of Ahmadinejad

A source close to Shahrvand-e Emrooz Weekly told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the publication has been banned. According to a letter the publication’s management has received, the reason for the ban is cited as Article 6 of the Iranian Press Law.

The source told the Campaign that “apparently publishing an image on the cover of the weekly was the reason for its ban.” According to the source, in the referenced issue, there is a collage containing a picture of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the cover. According to one of the items in Article 6 of the Press Law, “publishing libel against officials, institutions, organizations and individuals in the country or insulting legal or real persons who are lawfully respected, even by means of pictures or caricatures” is not permitted.

Stand Up to Ahmadinejad’s Falsehoods

(20 September 2010) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lied outright about the stoning sentence of Sakineh Ashtiani during an interview with ABC’s Christiane Amanpour on 19 September, by denying a stoning sentence was ever issued, despite well-documented evidence to the contrary the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said.

The international community, world leaders, and members of the media present in New York for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly, should strongly register their protests against Ahmadinejad’s lies about the critical situation of human rights in Iran, the group said.

Mass Arrests and Detentions Signal Increasing Repression

(17 June 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today that several dozen notable figures including Saeed Hajjarian, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, Behzad Nabavi, and Abdolfattah Soltani were arrested on 16 June 2009. Hajjarian was an advisor to former president Mohammad Khatami and Abtahi was director of Khatami’s office during his presidency and is now a senior adviser to Mehdi Karroubi. Nabavi is a former member of parliament and Minister of Industry and Mining. Soltani is a leading human rights lawyer and member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.

The detainees include numerous political figures, intellectuals, civil leaders, human rights activists, and journalists, as well as a large but unknown number of ordinary citizens.

An Appeal to Iranian Authorities to End Restrictions on Civil Liberties and Violence against Demonstrators

(14 June 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today appealed to Iranian authorities to withdraw security and Special Guards from public places, allow peaceful demonstrations, halt violence against citizens, and to release without charge numerous opposition leaders, journalists, and demonstrators who have been detained in the wake of the disputed presidential election on 12 June.

Withhold Recognition of Iranian Presidential Election Results

(13 June 2009) The international community should not recognize the results of Iran’s 12 June 2009 presidential election, which gives all signs of having been manipulated by government authorities to produce a massive victory for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The Campaign further recommended that the existing results be voided and new elections held in order to establish legitimacy.

As the Campaign reported earlier, the leading challenger to Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Moussavi, was informed by Iran’s Interior Ministry at 23:00 on 12 June that tabulated results showed him to be victor, and he was asked to wait on celebrations until Sunday.

Iran Election Update: Concerns for Violence Against Moussavi Supporters Grow

(13 June 2009) [As of 1:30 PM Tehran Time] The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed its serious concerns for the growing crisis in Tehran and the possibility of a violent crackdown against the opposition candidate, Mir Hossein Moussavi, and his supporters.

According to eyewitness reports from individuals present in front of Moussavi’s headquarters, several of his supporters were attacked by security forces and suffered serious injuries earlier today. They have been transferred to Sajjad Hospital for treatment.

Iran Election Update: Reformist Candidate’s Headquarters Seized and Locked

(13 June 2009) [As of 7 am Tehran time] After a disputed election, the offices of two reformist candidates, Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi were seized and locked by intelligence and security forces. As the government controlled Interior Ministry is declaring Ahmadinejad as the victor, the security apparatus loyal to him have taken to the streets in an overwhelming show of force.

According to unconfirmed reports, Mir Hossein Moussavi may have been detained by intelligence agents as he traveled to the Supreme Leader’s residence to meet with him.