At a
Glance
Massacre in the refugee Camp of Ashraf in Iraq
Archbishop Tutu calls for the immediate release of seven Iranian dissidents taken hostage in Camp Ashraf
Published on Wednesday,
18 September 2013
I strongly condemn the mass executions of innocent residents of Camp Ashraf on September 1, 2013. It is particularly disheartening to hear that many of them were handcuffed or injured when they were killed. The world community must hold the Iraqi government accountable for these heinous crimes, as these were refugees designated as such by the UN and therefore deserving the protection of the Iraqi government.
Surely the extrajudicial killings of 52 civilians and the taking seven as hostage is a crime against humanity.
I express my deep condolences to the families of the victims. I also join those who have voiced concerns over the fate of the seven hostages (six women and one man), taken from Ashraf. The Government of
They are all protected persons and asylum seekers and thus enjoy protection under international law. The international community must take the steps necessary to ensure their release.
I call on those who promised the people of Ashraf their protection, namely the UN, UNHCR and the US Government to take full responsibility for the safety of the residents in
Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus Cape Town. September 16, 2013
An American delegation has met and talked with the seven Camp Ashraf hostages held in Iraqi prison
Published on Saturday,
21 September 2013
Subsequently, when a UN delegation planned to meet with the hostages in this place, Iraqi police under the new order of Maliki denied presence of hostages at the Airport prison.
Since the Iraqi government in violation of non-refoulement principle intends to extradite asylum seekers and persons of concern under Fourth Geneva Convention to the Iranian regime, the
The
According to the above report, Khamenei has reiterated to the regime’s Supreme Security Council that the massacre of PMOI members in Ashraf and
Execution
Press releases
Halt the execution of four Kurds on death row in Iran
AI
Index: PRE01/486/2013 20
September 2013
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/halt-execution-four-kurds-death-row-iran-2013-09-20
The Iranian authorities must urgently halt the execution of
four Sunni Muslim men from “The death penalty is a cruel and inhuman punishment and represents a flagrant violation of human rights. The death sentences of these men must be immediately revoked and a re-trial in line with international standards must be ordered,” said Hassiba Hadj Saharoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and
Jamshid Dehgani, his younger brother, Jahangir Dehgani, Hamed Ahmadi and Kamal Molayee were arrested in 2009. They were accused along with six others of involvement in the assassination of a senior Sunni cleric with ties to the Iranian authorities. They have denied any involvement, saying that their arrest and detention preceded the assassination by several months. They were sentenced to death after being convicted of the vaguely-worded offences including “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth”. Their death sentences have recently been upheld by the Supreme Court and a prison official at Ghezel Hesar Prison, near
The trials of the men were marred by allegations of flaws in the judicial process. The four men were denied access to a lawyer before and during their trial and were allegedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention. The men also said that they received threats that their family members would be arrested and were forced to sign papers without being allowed to read them.
“Four men risk being executed at any time when they say that their arrest and detention took place before the crime they have been convicted for and that they have been tortured. The Iranian authorities continue to rely extensively on the death penalty with little regard for judicial guarantees and certainly not as a measure of last resort,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said.
“The idea that men could be executed when so many doubts surround the case and the legal proceedings is deeply disturbing.”
There are at least another 26 Sunni Muslim men, mostly from
Amnesty International urges the Iranian authorities to immediately commute all death sentences, including those imposed for drugs offences and on juvenile offenders in contravention of international law, and to impose a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.
The news of the imminent execution comes shortly after the Iranian authorities released 11 political prisoners, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human-rights lawyer, on 18 September. This move could be seen as a calculated measure ahead of the United Nations General Assembly unless it is followed by concrete steps to improve the country’s human rights situation.
“There are countless serious human rights violations still ongoing in
“The Iranian authorities cannot continue to rely so heavily on the death penalty to deal with dissent or social ills such as drug trafficking. They must overhaul their penal code.”
So far there are no indications that the election of President Rouhani in June has led to changes in
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception.
Four Sunni prisoners in danger of imminent execution
Posted on: 17th September, 2013
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), six of the Sunni prisoners who have been sentenced to death are imprisoned currently in unit 3 of ward 4 in Ghezel Hesar prison.
Sediq Mohammadi the son of Hossein, 27, and Seyyed Hadi Hosseini the son of Moheyeddin, 30, are two of the prisoners sentenced to death. Their dossiers have been sent to the court in Sanandaj for reconsideration because of contraventions found by bureau. Sediq Mohammadi and Seyyed Hadi Hosseini were arrested involved in other story and both of them have mental disorders.
Evidently one of the Ghezel Hesar prison authorities informed Hamed Ahmadi the son of Habibollah, 32, Kamal Molaie the son of Ahmad, 29, Jamshid Dehghani the son of Khodaraham, 28 and Jahangir Dehghani the son of Khodaraham, 27, that their execution verdict will be enforced on September 22 due to the judicial warrant.
One of the sentenced to death prisoners who asked to remain anonymous told HRANA reporter “One of the prison authorities told us if everything will go normally your execution verdict will be enforced on September 22 and it could be postponed to first two weeks of October. He asked us in a friendly way to do whatever possible action we could do from now.”
“Our trial session was held in branch 28 of
“The terrors we have been accused to, were took place on September 9, 2009 while the date we were been arrested is clear. Jamshid and Jahangir Dehghani who are brothers were arrested on June 17, 2009, Kamal Molaie was arrested on July 14, 2009 and Hamed Mohammadi on July 30, 2009. When the terrors took place we were under arrest in Intelligence office, then howcome we have done the terrors? We were arrested with Bahram Ahmadi, Asghar Rahimi, Behnam Rahimi, Mohammad Zaher Bahmani, Kaivan Zand Karimi and Hoshiar Mohammadi; Six of them were hanged on December 27 of 2012 in Ghezel Hesar prison.
“The ten of us were under arrest in solitary confinement and under the most severe mental and physical tortures. We were in solitary confinements of Sanandaj Intelligence for nine months, six months in Zanjan Intelligence and five months in solitary confinements of intelligence in Evin. No one knew what we are going through then they treated us in any way they liked.”
He mentioned that they have not the right to get in touch with any normal prisoner and anyone who get in touch with them, will be transferred and in trouble.
His last words were “We are in danger of imminent execution and we will be hanged in a month eventually. We ask solidarity and support from all the human rights organizations and the free medias to achieve a fair trial with presence of lawyer and medias for us.”
Three Prisoners Hanged in Western Iran
http://iranhr.net/spip.php?article2884
The executions were carried out in the prison of Ezna yesterday Saturday September 14, said the report.
Persian Source: http://www.dadgostari-lorestan.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=1388&articleType=ArticleView&articleId=77315
At Least Four Prisoners Hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison Today
The sources told Iran Human Rights that one of the four prisoners was identified as Fardin Mohammadi born in 1989, from the section 6 of the prison and had been in prison for 5 years. The other prisoners, who are not identified yet, were from the sections 3, 4 and 7.
All the prisoners who were executed at Rajaishahr today were convicted of murder.
Iran: A prisoner hanged in public in Roodbar
Published on Wednesday,
18 September 2013
The prisoner identified as Shahab Ma’afi, spent 17 years in prison.
The clerical regime ruling in
Two Prisoners Hanged in Northern Iran-
One Hanged Publicly
http://www.iranhr.net/spip.php?article2891
According to the Iranian state broadcasting one of the prisoners was hanged in the Shiroudi Square of Tonekabon while the other prisoner was hanged in the prison of Tonekabon located in Noshtaroud.
Both prisoners were convicted of murder and none of them were identified by name.
Persian Source: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13920628000168
Public executions continue in Iran under 'moderate' Rouhani
Published on Saturday,
21 September 2013
On September 19, two prisoners were hanged, one in public and one in private, in the city of
Five more, including two young men aged 18 and 23, were hanged in public in Ghaemshahr, Ilam and Dehdasht, and another five were hanged in the cities of Karaj and Qazvin.
Another four were hanged on September 18, in Rajai Shahr Prison,
In fear of the rising protests and its definite overthrow, the befalling clerical regime of
Arbitrary Arrests
Two Sunni ex-convicts are arrested again
Posted on: 20th September, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Foad Rezazadeh and Hossein Javadi were
imprisoned in Rajaie Shahr prison but these two Sunni citizens have been
arrested right after they got released.According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Foad Rezazadeh who had spent 18 months imprisonment in Rajaie Shahr prison of
One of prisoners in Rajaie Shahr told HRANA reporter “Foad Rezazadeh was summoned and threatened many times by Intelligence ministry, then he reached to the point to leave the country. Foad sold his house and had the money with him when the plainclothes arrested him, then his money has been confiscated by the agents and not mentioned in the dossier.”
“Hossein Javadi is the other Sunni citizen who was exonerated by supreme court after spending three years imprisonment and was released. Hossein was arrested once more by Bookan Intelligence office on August 27, 2013 on charge of the same accusations that he was been exonerated of. Currently he is in Rajaie Shahr prison because Intelligence office say he has to spend all of his imprisonment verdict which was 5 years.”
Hossein Javadi is one of the Sunni religious activists and was arrested on August 16, 2009 by Intelligence agents in Bookan and was under interrogation and torture for 16 months in solitary confinements of Urmia and Tehran Intelligence.
After the 16 months of being in solitary confinement he was transferred to Rajaie Shahr prison of
Prisoners of Conscience
Iran: Political prisoners are in critical condition
Published on Wednesday,
18 September 2013
NCRI - Security and intelligence forces in a prison in the
city of The prison wards then transferred one of the prisoners, identified as Farzad Samadi to solitary confinement and deprived two other political and religious activists, Othman and Aram Mikael from having visitors and phone calls.
A political activist, who was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison on December 27, 2009, during the uprising in
Another conscience prisoner, from the Arab minority, who has been sentenced to death, is transferred to an unknown location.
Hadi Rashedi, a Chemistry professor is one of the 5 Arab minorities from
Mehdi Tarokh is transferred to ward 350 of Evin
Posted on: 18th September, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Tarokh who was arrested in August
by Intelligence agents has been transferred to the public ward after being in
solitary confinement for a month in ward 209 of Evin prison.According to the report of the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mehdi Tarokh was arrested in August in Bojnoord and transferred to ward 209 of Intelligence ministry in Evin prison. Finally he has been transferred to ward 350 of Evin after one month of torture and interrogations.
The investigators of his dossier accused him to “Contacting the foreigners”.
A Kurdish political prisoner is in critical health condition
Posted on: 18th September, 2013
According to the report of the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Rahim -Shahram- Eliasi the Kurdish political prisoner in Rajaie Shahr prison who has been sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment, recently suffers from the high risk liver disease.
One of the political prisoners of Rajaie Shahr prison of Karaj told HRANA reporter “The doctors of the prison did prescript tests and liver biopsy in a better hospital out of prison for this Kurdish political prisoner but the warden -Mardani- prevented his transferring to the hospital by giving this excuse that the medical treatment expenses is under one million Tomans then the prison could not cover it.”
“Shahram is in a dangerous condition and if he will not be under the proper medical supervision then he will be in danger of liver cancer.”
Rahim Eliasi who was arrested in 2007 in Bokan by security forces, sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment by Bokan revolutionary court on charge of supporting Komala party, acting against national security and keeping weapons and ammunition at home. As well his verdict was confirmed by the appealed without any change.
A Sunni prisoner is transferred to solitary
Posted on: 18th September, 2013
One of the Sunni prisoners in Saqqez prison told HRANA reporter “Farzad Samadi has been transferred to solitary confinement due to an argument which was begun by the stimulation of the officers.”
“Osman Ahsani and Aram Mikaili are the other two Sunni prisoners in Saqqez prison who have been banned of visitation and phone calls due to the same story.”
“In saqqez prison there are only three political Sunni prisoners.”
“Farzad Samadi has been sentenced to five years of imprisonment and Aram Mikaili to 9 years on the only charge of promoting Sunni Islam in the mosques. By the way when they were transferred to Saqqez prison the authorities kept them for 15 days and banned of visitation in quarantine to force them to shave their beards.”
Dire Physical Condition of Jailed Gonabadi Dervish in Adel-Abad Prison
Tuesday, Sep 17 2013
According to Majzooban Noor, Mohammad-Ali Dehghan, a resident of Kavar town in Fars province who is being held in Adel-Abad prison since 10th Ordibehesht 1392 (April 30, 2013) suffers from severe kidney pain
and needs to be taken to hospital immediately. But prison authorities do not pay attention to his request for transfer to hospital.
Since the last weak the physical condition of prisoner of conscience, Mohammad-Ali Dehghan has deteriorated due to lack of medical care in prison and also excessive beating during prison intelligence unit officers raid in Ebrat Ward.
According to previous report by Majzooban Noor, Kasra Nouri, Gonabadi Dervish rights activist along with Mohsen Esmaeeli, Seyed Ebrahim Bahrami, Mohammad-Ali Sadeghi and Mohammad-Ali Dehghan, Gonabadi Dervishes residents of Kavar town have been severely beaten by prison intelligence unit officers on their face and stomach and their beards and mustache forcibly shaved.
With regards to this fact that the Dervishes have no records of such diseases before detention, the Prison officials are responsible for any incident or adverse that may happen to prisoners of conscience.
Imprisoned Gonabadi Dervishes wrote a letter to Attorney General
Wednesday, Sep 18 2013
According to Majzooban Noor, nine jailed Gonabadi Dervishes in ward 350 at Evin prison in their letter expressed concern over the critical condition of sick prisoners, cessation of their medical treatment, and other pressures which are all in order to intensify pressures on prisoners of conscience and to humiliate them.
The letter referred to hostility to Sufism, chains and offenders clothes that is not befitting for a peaceful Darvish , discrimination in prison against transfer of political prisoners and also prisoners of conscience to medical centers.
In a part of this letter is quoted: "So far we have shown an amazing patience and had to bear such injustices patiently and we have just to recall the law, asked respect for laws and talked softly to officers ... But it seems that this method does not work."
In this letter Dervishes have announced their intention to go on hunger strike and explained: " We jailed Dervishes, have taken the decision to begin a hunger strike and as Anti-Sufis do not care about our lives and health therefore we also do not care for material world, because:
The power of Gabriel was not from the kitchen; it was from beholding the Creator of existence.
But we have presently dispensed to start a hunger strike on the recommendation from friends and will wait to see what is God's will and what will do."
In another part of the letter they referred to the responsibility for the unfortunate consequences of this issue and have stated: "We will avoid going to hospital unless the order is canceled. The organizers and all the concerned authorities are responsible for any incidents or physical harm and suffering the its unfortunate consequence. If we are weak, our shelter is strong. We have a supporter who has the whole world in His hands. And always watching over us. According the holy verse from Surah Yusuf:
إنما أشكو بثي وحزني إلى الله
I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.
I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.
And for just notice and exhort
we say:
A deep sigh from
heart of a dervish is just like a sharp rasp
If it doesn't cut by itself, but will sharpen the main cutter
Now we would wait to see its unfortunate
consequences."If it doesn't cut by itself, but will sharpen the main cutter
Gonabadi Dervish Lawyers and managers of Majzooban Noor website, Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani, Reza Entesari, Mostafa Daneshjou, Farshid Yadollahi, Amir Eslami, Omid Behroozi and Afshin Karampour were arrested by security forces on Shahrivar 1390 (September 2011) in the cities of Tehran and Shiraz and are sentenced to a sum of 60 years imprisonment .
Hamid-Reza Moradi suffers from cardiovascular disease and clogged arteries disease which is worrisome (70% Artery Blockage) and his doctor has also warned him further damage could see the leg amputated. Mostafa Daneshjou
is suffering from severe respiratory disease and asthma and according to the coroner's certificate he has lost a considerable (at about 40%) of his lung capacity, so they should be immediately transferred to specialized treatment centers.
Since, under order from the judicial-security authorities, Dervishes are forced to wear the prison uniform, handcuffs and ankle-cuffs during their transfer to medical care centers and they refused to do so, they were prevented from the necessary treatments for their condition and have been refused access to medical treatment.
Press releases
Iran
AI
Index: PRE01/478/2013 18
September 2013
Amnesty International welcomes the release of prominent
Iranian human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, and at least 11 political
activists. “While the releases are a positive development, they must be a first step that paves the way for the release of all prisoners of conscience held solely because they peacefully exercised their rights,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International.
Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced, in September 2010, to six years in prison on charges of “spreading propaganda against the system” and “acting against national security”, including membership of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD).
Amnesty International adopted her as a prisoner of conscience and has campaigned for her immediate and unconditional release.
“To be more than a mere symbolic measure, the Iranian authorities should now overturn her prison sentence, revoke the travel ban and the ban against her practising law. They must also end their routine harassment and imprisonment of anyone working to defend human rights,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui
The Iranian authorities have given no reason for her release and no indication of whether it is unconditional.
“The release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and others must mark a fundamental shift in
Nasrin Sotoudeh’s experience in detention is emblematic of the treatment of political detainees in
The authorities also placed an illegal travel ban on her 13-year-old daughter in 2012. Nasrin Sotoudeh staged a 49-day hunger strike in prison, which she ended when the authorities lifted the travel ban against her daughter.
Nasrin Sotoudeh thanked all Amnesty International members who have taken action for her release. “I have been aware of all your efforts on my behalf and I want thank-you and all your colleagues for your work,” she said.
Prominent Iranian human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh freed
The early release from prison on 18
September 2013 of Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, recipient of the 2011
American PEN Centre's Barbara Goldsmith award and the 2012 Sakharov prize for
Freedom of Thought is a welcome first step that the Iranian authorities may be
addressing the dire state of freedom of expression in the country, PEN
International said.
The grounds on which she was released from her six-year prison term remain unclear, according to her husband, Reza Khandan, in reports carried by news agencies.
As news spread of the unexpected release, Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee said, "A fearless defender of the human rights of people in Iran is freed."
"In prison, she remained fiercely committed to human rights; she suffered solitary confinement for her hunger strike to protest the travel ban on her daughter; and the conditions of her incarceration were abysmal.
We welcome this wonderful news, about a woman who has been an inspiration to so many.
"I have just returned from PEN International's 79th World Congress inIceland , where delegates discussed the very
serious restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran
"We are calling on the Iranian authorities to match the steps they have taken today by releasing all other writers currently imprisoned in Iran solely for exercising their right to legitimate freedom of expression".
It is also unclear whether Sotoudeh continues to remain subject to a 10-year ban on travel abroad and practising as a lawyer.
PEN International has long been concerned at the situation of freedom of expression in Iran and currently is aware of over 20 other writers, journalists and bloggers detained solely on account of their peaceful expression of their opinions or advocacy of others' rights.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is an honorary member of the Canadian, Scottish, Finnish and Swedish PEN centres.
The grounds on which she was released from her six-year prison term remain unclear, according to her husband, Reza Khandan, in reports carried by news agencies.
As news spread of the unexpected release, Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee said, "A fearless defender of the human rights of people in Iran is freed."
"In prison, she remained fiercely committed to human rights; she suffered solitary confinement for her hunger strike to protest the travel ban on her daughter; and the conditions of her incarceration were abysmal.
We welcome this wonderful news, about a woman who has been an inspiration to so many.
"I have just returned from PEN International's 79th World Congress in
"We are calling on the Iranian authorities to match the steps they have taken today by releasing all other writers currently imprisoned in Iran solely for exercising their right to legitimate freedom of expression".
It is also unclear whether Sotoudeh continues to remain subject to a 10-year ban on travel abroad and practising as a lawyer.
PEN International has long been concerned at the situation of freedom of expression in Iran and currently is aware of over 20 other writers, journalists and bloggers detained solely on account of their peaceful expression of their opinions or advocacy of others' rights.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is an honorary member of the Canadian, Scottish, Finnish and Swedish PEN centres.
Akbar Amini is in ward 350 after 100 days solitary
Posted on: 20th September, 2013
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Akbar Amini who was arrested on June 7, 2013, has been transferred to ward 350 after being in solitary confinement in ward 209 for more than 100 days.
It is worth noting Akbar Amini was arrested once more on February 14, 2011, a few hours after waving protestation symbols on top of a crane in Vali Asr square in
Afterwards he was in prison for one year as he sentenced to. Since the time he has been released from prison, he got arrested and summoned many time.
Recently according to a subpoena from revolutionary court, Akbar Amini’s five years imprisonment verdict has been confirmed in the provincial appealed, which means his one year suspended imprisonment will be enforced too.
Bahareh Hedayat returned to prison
Posted on: 20th September, 2013
According to Kalameh website, Bahareh Hedayat, is back to prison, due to refusal of extending her furlough, just after a week.
She is one of the prisoners who were arrested after 2009 presidential elections incidents, and sentenced to long-term prison. Court of appeal announced nine years and half in jail, as her mandate after her appeal. That is the longest sentence for a member of Islamic Association of Students, since the establishment of such communities.
Bahareh Hedayad (born 1981), is a student activist, women right activist, board member and spokesperson of OCU (Office for Consolidating Unity), and ex-student of Tehran University of Economic Science. She is also one of the “one million signature campaign” activist against anti-women`s law, and had multiple arrests on her record. She had been spent many times in prison on June 12th 2006, July 9th 2007, July 13th 2008 and March 21th 2009, for her activities.
Abuses against political prisoners rife in Iran
Published on Saturday,
21 September 2013
Political prisoners are being subjected to ongoing abusive
and humiliating treatment under the rule of new 'moderate' president Hassan
Rouhani, according to reports from inside the regime.Reports indicate that political prisoner Dr Hani Yazarlou needs urgent medical treatment following two heart surgeries, but has refused to be taken to hospital after being forced to wear prison clothes,
Dr Yazarlou, a political prisoner both before and after the 1979 revolution, has also seen his wife Nazila Dashti and two sons Hood and Hamed all jailed between 2007 to 2012.
Political prisoner Mehdi Sajedi-far, who suffers serious digestive problems, was arrested on February 2012 by the intelligence ministry and spent two months in solitary confinement before being sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Judge Salavati or having connection with foreign governments.
This is despite his needing to remain in contact with people abroad due to his work as a researcher and member of the biotechnology and genetic association, and attending international genetics congressional meetings in countries including
He has now refused to be transferred to prison on condition that he is forced to wear prison clothes, handcuffs and chains.
Political prisoner Mohsen Negahban has sewn up his own lips and eyes and gone on hunger strike in protest at unbearable conditions in solitary confinement in Zahedan Prison.
Two others prisoners and members of the Sunni minority, Foad Reza-zadeh and Hossein Javadi, were recently released from Rajaii Shahr Prison but have now been rearrested
Mr Reza-zadeh had spent 18 months in Rajaii Shahr Prison and after his release, he tried to escape the country. But he was arrested by security forces in the city of
Mr Javadi had spent 3 years in prison prior to his release, and was then rearrested by the intelligence ministry on August 27 in the city of
Maryam Shafipour’s father says he has no information about daughter’s whereabouts or condition
Sunday, Sep 22 2013
Mr. Mahmoud Shafipour in a conversation on September17, 2013 with the International Campaign for Human Rights in response to the question of when he became aware of her daughter's transfer to the hospital said, "We were allowed to have a cabin visit in prison on Monday but when I went there, prison officials informed us that they had sent her to the hospital and we can visit Maryam tomorrow morning [the next day]. We waited in front of the prison until noon on Tuesday, but we were not allowed to even make a phone call. Officers did not give us any answers as to why she was taken to the hospital, if she is still in the hospital or returned to jail; we still have no idea."
Shafipour's father added that her 25-year old daughter has been in solitary confinement for 50 days in which she only called her parents twice and that they had only 2 cabin visits in front of the her case prosecutor and her investigator during this time. It was during their second visit that she told them that she was suffering with severe pain and numbness in her right arm and had a terrible toothache. Her father said she looked extremely weak at the time, explain that she is a delicate, sensitive 25-year old girl and does not handle stress well. "Our daughter's place is in a university following her dreams and aspirations – not in a dark, damp, scary prison cell."
According to her father, Maryam Shafipour is accused of "conspiracy against national security." Mr. Shafipour said, "I demand to be provided with evidence substantiating claims of my daughter's alleged conspiracy against national security. She has not been allowed to hire a lawyer because of being in solitary confinement. Every time I ask the authorities about the charges against Maryam they do not give me any convincing answers or any response at all."
Maryam's father who is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war in his early 60 's added, "I am over 60 years old and I've worked hard all these years and have never witnessed such a behavior until now. Prison guards and judicial authorities do not even respond to our basic concerns and questions as worried parents. I wrote numerous letters to authorities without any results. I urge President Rouhani and his new government to help us get to the bottom of this matter and send her case to court as soon as possible. If she has not committed any crime or wrongdoing, they must release her from solitary confinement and better yet, from prison altogether. I repeat I am only a concerned and worried father and I want my daughter to come back home."
More details of the case were shared by a source close to the family of Maryam Shafipour who requested anonymity. The source said that on Tuesday when the family visited
Maryam Shafipour's sick mother, a retired teacher with heart disease has not been spared from the harassment of agents either; on one occasion when she was home alone government agents arrived unannounced and without a warrant, made threats and warned her to be silent.
Maryam Shafipour is a former agricultural engineering student from
Maryam was handed a summons to appear at the Prosecutor's office in mid July of this year. She appeared at Branch 2 of Evin prison's
Kaleme http://kaleme.com/1392/06/28/klm-158739/
Minorities’ Rights
Three Azerbaijani civil activists have been tried
Posted on: 16th September, 2013
Naqi Mahmoudi the lawyer and human rights activist told HRANA reporter “In this trial all of three accused men were tried in branch 8 of Tabriz revolutionary court by judge Hassan Hashemzadeh and based on common charges of collaboration on establishing illegal group with intention of acting against national security, attending in propagating against the Islamic republic regime, collecting the illegal money and insulting on founder of the Islamic republic and the current leader of the regime.”
“As well the bail warrant issued for the three activists and they will be able to be free temporally in the next few days by providing 50 million Tomans bail.”
The three activists were arrested between June 11 to June 13, 2013 in their workplaces in
A Baha’i student is deprived
of studying in university
Posted on: 16th September, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Faraz Rouhani the Baha’i student has
been deprived of study continuation.According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Faraz Rouhani passed the university entrance exam successfully but on September 11 when he was filling out the form electronically, the website showed the Error of “Fault in the dossier”.
A reliable source who asked to remain anonymous told HRANA reporter “since 2006 this Error -Fault in the Dossier- has been used for the Baha’i students whom have been deprived of study, however Hassan Rohani promised to solve the issue of study deprivation in universities still there is a lot of Baha’i students deprived of study and faced the same Error recently.”
