(March 5, 2008) Here are profiles of just a few people who are jailed because of their beliefs, opinions, and peaceful activities promoting international human rights standards in Iran. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is actively collecting information about other prisoners of conscience and will be updating these profiles on a regular basis. The Campaign’s goal is to provide a comprehensive and credible data-base on prisoners of conscience in the coming months. It is important to note that hundreds of other individuals, prosecuted for similar reasons, are currently out of prison only after posting bail, and are awaiting court hearings.
Farzad Kamangar (32), a Kurdish teacher and social worker in the city of Kamyaran, is sentenced to death based on “absolutely zero evidence,” according to his lawyer.
Ronak Safazadeh (21), arrested on October 9, 2007, is a women’s rights activist in Sanadaj, capital of the western province of Kurdistan. She is a member of the local women’s organization, Azarmehr Association of Kurdish Women.
Hana Abdi (21) is a student and women’s rights activist in Sanandaj, capital of the western province of Kurdistan. On November 4, 2007, intelligence agents arrested Hana in her grandfather’s house and transferred her to the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center.
Yaghoub Mehrnehad (28), sentenced to death following an unfair trial, is a well-known social activist in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan.
Hadi Ghabel, an outspoken Iranian cleric, was imprisoned on April 7, beginning a 40 month term following prosecution and conviction by the Special Court for the Clergy, a body akin to modern inquisition court.
Emad Baghi (45), a prominent human rights defender, is serving a one- year sentence for articles he wrote a decade before, and for which he already spent three years in prison on the same charges.
On May 3, 2007, plain-cloths security agents arrested Ahmad Ghasaban, editor of student publication, Sahar, as he was planning to file a complaint with judicial authorities.
Majid Tavakoli, arrested on May 9, 2007, is a student at Tehran’s Amir Kabir University and a member of the central council of the university’s Islamic Association.
Ehsan Mansouri, political secretary of the Islamic Association at Amir Kabir University, was arrested after security agents raided his parent’s house on May 29, 2007.
Abbas Lisani (39) is an Azerbaijani activist from the city of Ardebil. He is serving multiple prison sentences following prosecutions for his peaceful activities promoting respect for the cultural and linguistic rights of the Azerbaijani ethnic minority.
Hadi Hamidi Shafigh (23), an architecture student, is serving a 17-month prison term for “participating in an illegal gathering” and possession of material deemed “insulting to the Supreme Leader.”
Mehdi Noori (21), a student at Azad University of Naghadeh, is imprisoned in Tabriz Prison. He was convicted of “endangering national security” and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Mohsen Hosseinzadeh is an activist on behalf of the Azerbaijan National Movement, which promotes the cultural and linguistic rights of the Azerbaijani ethnic minority.
Tayeb Ebrahimzadeh is an activist associated with the Azerbaijan National Movement, which aims to promote respect for the cultural and linguistic rights of the Azerbaijani ethnic minority. Security forces temporarily detained Ebrahimzadeh on September 23, 2006, during a peaceful
Ayatollah Seyd Hossein Kazemini Boroujerdi (49), arrested on October 8, 2006, is a Shia cleric who advocates separation of religion and politics. He is reportedly suffering from several serious illnesses.
Peyman Piran, arrested in November 2007, is a political dissident and student activist. He is held in Evin prison and has reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment to make false confessions.
Behrouz Karimizadeh, arrested on November 3, 2008, is a student activist. He is held in Evin prison. Karimizade and more than 60 other students were arrested during a nationwide sweep between November 2007 and January 2008.
Ali Kantouri, arrested on November 3, 2008, is a student activist. He is held in Evin prison. Kantouri and more than 60 other students were arrested during a nationwide sweep between November 2007 and January 2008.
Hojat Naseri (26), an Azerbaijani activist, is serving a four- month prison term. He was arrested and prosecuted after public protests in June 2007. He is held in Oromiye prison.
Abbas Khorsandi, a political activist held in Evin Prison, is sentenced to eight years in prison solely for his political beliefs and internet writings.
Released on Bail
The following persons were detained for exercising their rights, and released on bail after the launch of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. They are still subject to prosecution, and the Campaign will monitor their situations.
Mahmoud Salehi, a bakery worker and trade-union activist from the city of Saqez, has been a target of official persecution and prosecution for his peaceful activities promoting workers rights.
Saeed Matinpour (32), arrested on May 25, 2007, is an Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender. He was released after posting bail in amount of 5 billion Rial ($550,000) in early March 2008.
Behrouz Safari, detained in late May 2007, is a political activist from the city of Zanjan. After several months of detention, the authorities released him on bail in the amount of 800 million Rials ($88,000) in March 2008.
Jalil Ghaniloo (30), arrested by intelligence agents on May 26, 2007 in Zanjan, is a freelance journalist and political activist. He was released on bail in the amount of 800 Million Rial ($88,000) in early March 2008.
Behzad Bagheri, arrested on December 14, 2007, is a student activist. Intelligence agents arrested Bagheri and more than 60 other students during a nationwide sweep last November to January.
Morteza Khedmatloo, arrested on January 14, 2008, is a student activist. He is held in Evin prison. Khedmatloo and more than 60 other students were arrested during a nationwide sweep between November 2007 and January 2008.
Soroosh Dashtestani, arrested on January 14, 2008, is a student activist. He is held in Evin prison. Dashtestani and more than 60 other students were arrested during a nationwide sweep between November 2007 and January 2008.
Leila Heidari, a political activist, was detained on August 28, 2007, after she went to Zanjan prison to visit her detained husband, Behrouz Safari. She was released in early March 2008 after posting bail in amount of 800 million Rials ($88,000).
Alireza Matinpour, brother of the Azerbaijani journalist, Saeed Matinpour, was detained on August 28, 2008. He was held for more than six months. The authorities released him on bail in amount of one billion Rials ($110,000).
Reza Daghestani (27), detained on February 21, 2008, is an Azerbaijani activist. Intelligence agents raided his house and confiscated his books and personal computer.
