Prominent Lawyer Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison & Ten Year Ban on Legal Practice

Lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, co-founder and spokesperson for the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court on 3 July, to nine years in prison, a ten year ban from teaching in universities, a ten year ban from practicing as an attorney, $300 in fines, and five lashes. Dadkhah’s charges were, “cooperation in the soft overthrow of the regime,” “propaganda against the regime,” “interviews with some media outlets,” “distortion of members of the regime,” “dark portrayal of the state of cultural heritage,” and “compiling the book ‘Writing and Reporting’”, which was published by the DHRC.

Roxana Saberi’s Appeal Process Should be Transparent

(6 May 2009) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed serious concerns regarding the secrecy and continued lack of transparency surrounding the prosecution of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, and asked the Iranian Judiciary to adhere to international standards of due process and allow independent observers in the courtroom at her appeals trial.

The Campaign called upon the Judiciary to allow representatives of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), a group led by Nobel Peace Laureate and human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi to observe the trial, which will take place next week.

Jinous Sobhani

is a former secretary at the DHRC and the ODMV and was arrested on 14 January 2009. She is being held incommunicado at Evin Prison.

Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission Response to ANNI Letter

Response of the Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission to a letter written by ANNI expressing concern over the shutting down of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.

ANNI Letter to the Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission

Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) Letter to the Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Regarding the Closing of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC)