Investigate Two Tragic Suicides of Close Friends of Detained Activist

(30 September 2011) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called for an immediate investigation into the recent suicides of two former detainees and close associates of Kouhyar Goudarzi, an activist who has been held incommunicado since his detention by intelligence forces on 31 July 2011 in Tehran’s Evin prison.
Security forces detained Goudarzi, along with several of his friends, including Behnam Ganji, 22, 31 July 2011.

Weekly Rights Podcast 36

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast: protesters clash with security forces in the Azerbaijan region of Iran; jailed student activist Ashkan Zahabian embarks on a hunger strike to protest his conditions in prison; four literary and cultural figures are released on bail from prisons in Kermanshah; Behnam Ganji Khaibari, student and friend of human rights activist Kouhyar Goudarzi, commits suicide after his release from prison; authorities ban reformist magazine Shahrvand-e Emrooz and publication Roozegar Daily; Internet security experts warn of possible security threats to Google sites; and over 60 members of Majzooban-e Noor, a website reporting on news of Gonabadi Ddervishes, are detained by security forces.

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Political Prisoner’s Friend Commits Suicide After Release

Confirming news of Behnam Ganji Khaibari’s suicide, a friend of his spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about the 22-year-old student who was arrested on 31 July, along with human rights activist Kouhyar Goudarzi, and was later released on 8 August. He told the Campaign that “Behnam Ganji did not have any political or student activities in his the past and was merely arrested for his friendship with Kouhyar Goudarzi.”

Weekly Rights Podcast 34

In this week’s Weekly Rights Podcast: the final verdict on the three imprisoned American hikers, Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal has not been announced; National Press Club president Mark Hamrick condemns journalist Kouhyar Goudarzi’s disappearance and his mother’s arrest; Reza Khandan, husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, talks about his and his family’s mistreatment when visiting his wife in prison; imprisoned journalist Issa Saharkhiz is sentenced to an additional two years in prison; university professor, lawyer and former MP Ghassem Sholeh Sadi’s physical condition worsens in prison; Shirin Ebadi has written a new book, The Golden Cage, about three brothers in pre-revolutionary Iran.

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The Continued Arbitrary Detention of Kouhyar Goudarzi And His Mother

A relative of human rights activist and banned student Kouhyar Goudarzi, who was arrested and transferred to an unknown location on 31 July by unidentified forces, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about Goudarzi’s arrest. “Kouhyar was a guest at a friend’s home when he, his host, and another guest were arrested. Unofficial sources told us that Kouhyar and the other two individuals with him were arrested by Intelligence Ministry forces. However, judicial and security authorities have so far maintained silence about this and we remain in a complete information blackout. We do not know which individuals carried out the arrests and with what intentions. Some of the neighbors of the home in which Kouhyar was arrested have said that plainclothes individuals entered the home by force and without showing a warrant, taking the three with them after a while.”

“The Imprisonment of Kouhyar Goudarzi a Slap in the Face,” says National Press Club President

Following the announcement of the arrests of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother, Parvin Mokhtare, a source close to the case and one of Goudarzi’s friends provided the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran with information about the case. “Kouhyar’s friends have information about him up until Sunday, 31 July. In fact the last news about him is from Sunday morning [31 July]. He had a meeting with one of his friends that afternoon, but he didn’t show up…He has disappeared. The next morning, on Monday, 1 August, his mother was arrested in her home in Kerman. She is currently at the Central Prison of Kerman,” said the source.

Kouhyar Goudarzi’s Mother Calls Award Encouragement to All Mothers of Political Prisoners

Kouhyar Goudarzi was recently honored with the John Auchobon Award for press freedom at the National Press Club. In a message read at the ceremony his mother, Parvin Mokhtare, said that bestowing the award on her son is a “great honor” for her and “an encouragement for all mothers of Iranian political prisoners.” In her message, the complete text of which is below, Mokhtare dedicated the award to the “green and great nation of Iran, to Argentinian mothers, Palestinian mothers, patient mothers of Iran, especially the mothers of Neda Agha Soltan, Sohrab Arabi, Mohsen Rooholamini, Kianoush Asa, and all mothers of imprisoned, but free-spirited, political prisoners of Iran.” Related links, including a video of the award ceremony follow the letter.

Mother of Political Prisoner On Hunger Strike Talks About “Those Two Weeks”

Just before the 16-day hunger strike of prisoners at Evin Prison ended, the mother of one of the prisoners on hunger strike spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Parvin Mokhtare, whose human rights activist son, Kouhyar Goudarzi was among the prisoners on hunger strike, talked about the prisoner families’ concerns and their treatement by prison authorities “The last meeting I had with my son was two Saturdays ago…the next day Kouhyar and 16 others started their hunger strike. Three days later, the families of protesting prisoners on hunger strike and other prisoners’ families got together in front of Evin Prison. The next day we went to the courts. Last Monday, we stood in front of Evin Prison from 2 p.m. until 8:30 at night,” sad Parvin Mokhtare.

Prisoners End Hunger Strike — “We Insist On Our Demands”

Fifteen political prisoners have ended their 16-day hunger strike. They published a statement saying that they ended their hunger strike in response to messages from political and civil activists who expressed concern for their health.

In recent days, some families of prisoners told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that they had been threatened by security forces who contacted them, saying that they would be arrested if they talked to the media. During the hunger strike, a family member of a prisoner was briefly arrested.

Kaleme Website has published the letter, which according to the site, was written by prisoners on hunger strike and sent out from Evin Prison. “We continue to insist on our rightful demands which are the basic human rights of a prisoner. We promise we will continue our fight for the complete realization of the legal rights of all prisoners, which represent a part of our nation’s rights. We end our hunger strike now out of respect for the great supporter of the Green Movement, Mir Hossein Moussavi, and other prominent individuals…,” the letter states.

Release Prisoners of Conscience on Hunger Strike

(4 August 2010) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately release seventeen prisoners of conscience who have been on hunger strike for the past ten days and whose health is deteriorating daily, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The seventeen prisoners include prominent student leaders, journalists, and human rights activists.

“These prisoners have committed no crimes and are in prison solely because of their opinions and beliefs. Iran should release them immediately,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.