The source also told the Campaign that in order to insult Ayatollah Boroujerdi in prison, his beard has been shaved and his visits have been limited to five minutes.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s sister, Sa’adat Boroujerdi, was also attacked by plainclothes forces, who broke her leg. His brother, Seyed Mohsen Boroujerdi, has been under house arrest and visits by his close kin are prevented. The paternal home of the Boroujerdi family has been sealed since March as well.

A Boroujerdi follower, Asghar Eskandari, was recently transferred to the Intelligence Office in Isfahan where he was brutally beaten and threatened. Another follower in the city of Ghoochan, Akram Aghaei, has been repeatedly threatened and summoned by the city’s IRGC forces.

Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi

An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that in the past weeks, supporters of Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment by security authorities in Mashad, and some have been arrested and detained inside Mashad’s Intelligence Office Detention Center. “Starting in mid-March, with the attack of security forces on the residence of the Khodadai family and the arrest of their son, Iman Khodadai, the abuse and mistreatment of the followers of Ayatollah Boroujerdi entered a new phase. After Iman Khodadai’s release, purple bruises were quite visible on his body,” a human rights activist who requested anonymity told the Campaign.

The source also told the Campaign about repeated threats on the families of Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi’s followers and the arrest of another follower. “Security forces contacted Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s followers and unleashed verbal abuse and threats on them, and in an unusual move, they have their homes under surveillance from inside vans parked in front of their homes. Another woman related to this religious group, referred to as “Bibi” by other Ayatollah Boroujerdi followers, has been arrested,” the source said.

Previously, several news items pertaining to the arrests of those close to, or followers of, Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi in Tehran were published.  Only in November, six supporters of this cleric were arrested. Also, followers of Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi who were arrested in October 2006 were tortured and threatened inside Ward 209 of Evin Prison during their interrogations. About 11 months later, all of them were temporarily released on bails of $50,000 to $100,000.

Boroujerdi Held in Solitary Confinement

(12 February 2009) Iranian authorities should immediately release Maryam Ghasemi and Zahra Abdollahvand, two followers of Ayatollah Boroujerdi who were arrested by order of the Special Court for Clergy in Tehran on 28 January 2009, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

Relatives of the detainees informed the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Ghasemi (32), Abdollahvand (31), each of whom is a mother of two, and Zahra Sharifi went to the Special Court for Clergy in Tehran along with other followers of Ayatollah Boroujerdi on 28 January 2009. The group inquired about Boroujerdi’s condition in Yazd Prison, and protested about his solitary confinement. They were subsequently interrogated by the Court. Ghasemi and Abdollahvand were transferred to Section 209 of Evin Prison for further interrogation, while Sharifi was released at 8 pm the same day. The detainees’ families have received no news from Ghasemi or Abdollahvand since their transfer.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi has formally requested Giti Pourfazel, an independent lawyer, to represent him. But the Special Court for Clergy has denied his request, and Boroujerdi has no independent legal representation.

Regarding the detention of Ghasemi and Abdollahvand by the order of the Special Court for Clergy, Pourfazel told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “Any order by the Special Court for Clergy applying to ordinary citizens is not legal. It is an extrajudicial action.”

Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi was arrested on 8 October 2006, prosecuted by the Special Court for Clergy behind closed doors, and sentenced to 11 years in prison, 10 of which must be served in exile in the city of Yazd. Boroujerdi was moved to solitary confinement in Yazd Prison on 27 January 2009, despite the fact that he suffers from serious health problems.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran considers Ayatollah Boroujerdi a prisoner of conscience as his detention is based solely on his beliefs about the freedom of religion and expression as well as his criticisms of the state’s execution and stoning orders. According to Giti Pourfazel, Boroujerdi was transferred to solitary confinement because he became friends with Baha’i detainees held in the same prison, an action not tolerated by authorities.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran calls on the judicial authorities in Iran to abolish the prosecution of clergies in a Special Court and order a review based on national and international fair trial standards of all cases in which clergy have been sentenced by these courts.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi

(5 September 2008)  Iranian authorities should immediately release Ayatollah Kazemini Boroujerdi to receive urgently needed medical care, theInternational Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. According to Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s physician, his condition has considerably deteriorated in prison and requires specialist care.

On 2 September 2008, Human Rights Activists in Iran released a letter by Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s physician, Dr. Hesam Firoozi, addressed to the head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi. Dr. Firoozi reports that Ayatollah Boroujerdi is suffering from multiple health complications, including: heart and respiratory problems, kidney stone complications, as well as loss of 80 percent of his vision due to cataracts. Dr. Firoozi also reports that Ayatollah Boroujerdi has lost as much as 80 pounds during his imprisonment.“As an independent physician, with no political leanings and agenda, and as my sacred duties as a physician devoted to the goal of saving the lives of humans, I urge your Excellency to order his transfer to a specialist medical facility outside the prison, to save his life,” Dr. Firoozi wrote to the head of the Judiciary.

The Campaign holds the Iranian Judiciary fully responsible for the health and well-being of Ayatollah Boroujerdi. Ayatollah Boroujerdi is prosecuted by the Special Court for the Clergy because of his advocacy for separation of religion and politics.

Security forces raided Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s house in Tehran on 8 October 2006. In June 2007, the Special Court for the Clergy prosecuted him behind closed doors. The authorities have not provided any official accounting regarding his prosecution and sentencing. According to his associates, he was initially sentenced to death, but upon appeals his sentence was reduced to 11 years in prison, 10 of which must be served in exile in the city of Yazd.

He has been deprived of access to an independent attorney throughout his prosecution and imprisonment. TheCampaign considers him a prisoner of conscience and urges the Iranian Judiciary to immediately release him and end his persecution and prosecution.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi in need of urgent medical care

(1 June 2008) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately release Ayatollah Boroujerdi, an imprisoned cleric, so he may receive urgently needed specialist medical care, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. Boroujerdi has been in prison since 2006, yet judicial authorities have released no information concerning his prosecution.

According to Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s associates, his health has deteriorated precipitously in prison. The Campaign said the Iranian officials are fully responsible for health and safety of Ayatollah Boroujerdi under Iranian and international law.“Boroujerdi’s death for lack of medical care would amount to an extra-judicial execution,” the Campaign said.

Associates of Ayatollah Boroujerdi told the Campaign that his heart and kidney conditions are grave but he has had no access to specialist care. “He only receives painkillers for his diseases inside prison. In addition to his physical health, his psychological well-being has also deteriorated due to ill-treatment and lengthy solitary confinement episodes. He has lost 30 kilograms in prison,” his associates said.

The Campaign expressed its grave concern for the health and safety of all prisoners of conscience in Iran. During the past few weeks, two human rights defenders, Emad Baghi and Sadiq Kaboudvand, suffered heart attacks inside Evin prison.

A political prisoner, Kaveh Azizpour, 25, died in a coma on 16 May, 20 days after he suffered a brain stroke in prison in Orumieh. His family alleged that he was severely tortured. A student detainee, Ebrahim Lotfollahi, detained on 6 January 2008 by security agents in Sanandaj, died in detention under suspicious circumstances. The authorities buried him without allowing his family access to his body.

Security forces raided Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s house in Tehran on 8 October 2006. In addition to arresting Boroujerdi, the authorities also detained several hundred of his followers, including 172 women and 225 men, who had gathered to prevent his arrest.

All of the detainees have been released on bail, except for Ayatollah Boroujerdi. In June 2007, the Special Court for the Clergy prosecuted him behind closed doors. The authorities have not provided any official accounting regarding his prosecution and sentencing. According to his associates, he was initially sentenced to death, but upon appeals his sentence was reduced to 11 years in prison, ten of which must be served in exile in city of Yazd. He has been deprived of access to an independent attorney throughout his prosecution and imprisonment.

Security forces raided Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s house in Tehran on October 8, 2006. In addition to arresting Boroujerdi, the authorities also detained several hundred of his followers, including 172 women and 225 men, who had gathered to prevent his arrest.All of the detainees have been released on bail, except for Ayatollah Boroujerdi. In June 2007, the Special Court for the Clergy prosecuted him behind closed doors. The charges against him are not known. According to his associates, Ayatollah Boroujerdi has been subjected to torture and severe ill-treatment during his detention. As a result, his health has deteriorated considerably and he is in need of urgent medical care.