At a
Glance
International
Condemnation of Violation of Human Rights in Iran
UN expert to investigate
alleged rights violations in Iran
through diaspora in the US
and Canada
GENEVA (10 July 2013) – The United Nations
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, will undertake a fact-finding mission to the United States
of America and Canada from 14 to 28 July 2013, to gather information about
alleged human rights violations in Iran.
During his 14-day mission, the independent expert will meet
with members of the Iranian diaspora, particularly victims and witnesses of
alleged human rights violations and as well as with civil society organizations
to gather information about the numerous allegations of human rights violations
in Mr. Shaheed reiterated his commitment to a constructive dialogue and cooperation as a means of addressing and resolving human rights concerns in the country, and encouraged Iranian authorities to cooperate with his mandate and the UN human rights machinery.
The Special Rapporteur expressed hope that there will be new opportunities for dialogue with the new administration of President-elect Hasan Rohani, and reiterated his continued interest to visit
Since his appointment in August 2011, the human rights expert has made several official requests to the Government of Iran for a country visit without obtaining an affirmative response.
At the end of his visit, on Friday 26 July, the UN Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference in
Ahmed Shaheed (the Maldives ) is a Visiting Lecturer at the Maldives National
University , a member of the
presidential Commission Investigating Corruption and a former foreign policy
advisor to the President of the Maldives Maldives Iran
Ambassador Bennett Condemns Detention of Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi
in Iran
July 24, 2013 - Andrew
Bennett, “
“We call for the provision of immediate medical treatment to Ayatollah Boroujerdi and his subsequent release from prison.
“The continued detention of critics of the regressive clerical, military dictatorship, such as Ayatollah Boroujerdi, demonstrates the Khamenei regime’s wanton disregard for religious freedom and human rights.
“
Refugee’s Rights
Iranian regime
orders Qods Force affiliated Iraqi groups to attack Camp Liberty
Published on Saturday,
27 July 2013
NCRI - According to reports received from inside Iran,
Danaifar, clerical regime’s ambassador to Baghdad, has ordered Iraqi groups
affiliated with the terrorist Qods Force to once again attack Camp Liberty with
missiles before the end of Ramadan (August 8).Last week, Danaifar who is also a Qods Force commander, summoned leaders of Asaib al-Haq and Iraqi Hezbollah, as well as high-ranking Iraqi security officials and elements of the Iraqi committee in the Iraqi prime ministry tasked with suppression of residents of camps Ashraf and Liberty to regime’s embassy. In the meeting regime’s ambassador told Asaib al-Haq and Hezbollah to target
In coordination with Iraqi authorities, regime’s embassy wants to time the attack such as to correlate it to the security crisis in
At the same time, in the meeting, regime’s ambassador told elements of the Iraqi committee to escalate pressures on
About six months after the February 9 attack, Government of Iraq (GoI) obstructs provision of minimum security imperatives to
On 5 April 2013, the National Council of Resistance disclosed: “Moslehi (Minister of Intelligence) in a report (about his trip to Iraq) to Khamenei’s Office reiterated: Maliki and Faleh al-Fayaz have given assurances that the return of protective T-walls, increasing the area or construction in Camp Liberty, and bringing of sandbags to camp that PMOI has requested to increase the security factor in Liberty will be prohibited.”
In camp’s management meeting on July 23, Iraqi government’s representative informed residents that GoI is opposed to returning of the T-walls, as well as transferring of protective vests and helmets and medical equipment from Ashraf to
On February 11, the U.S. Embassy in
Emphasizing on the responsibility of United States and United Nations for protection of Liberty residents, and given that they have been transferred to Camp Liberty with guarantees from U.S. and UN, the Iranian Resistance calls for immediate action to prevent a new massacre and for providing the minimum security imperatives to Camp Liberty. Preventing these provisions is considered a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Execution
JOINT PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI Index: MDE 13/031/2013 26 July 2013
Four Ahwazi Arabs
Sentenced to Hang After Unfair Trials
(London Iran ’s
judiciary should stop the executions of four members of Iran
According to information gathered by the
rights groups, authorities kept the defendants, including three others who have
received unfair prison sentences, in incommunicado pretrial detention for
months. The authorities denied them access to a lawyer and harassed and
detained their family members. The trial suffered from procedural
irregularities and the convictions were based on “confessions” that defendants
said had been obtained by torture. There is no record the trial court
investigated their torture allegations.
“The absence of lawyers at key stages in
the proceedings and the credible allegations of coerced “confessions” cast
strong doubts on the legitimacy of the Ahwazi Arabs’ trial, let alone the death
sentences,” said Tamara Alrifai, Middle East
advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The fact that the government has an
appalling rights record against Iran
The court sentenced Ghazi Abbasi,
Abdul-Reza Amir-Khanafereh, Abdul-Amir Mojaddami, and Jasim Moghaddam Payam to
death for the vaguely-defined “crimes” of moharebeh (“enmity against
God”) and ifsad fil-arz (“corruption on earth”). These charges related
to a series of shootings that allegedly led to the death of a police officer
and a soldier. The court sentenced three other defendants --Shahab Abbasi, Sami
Jadmavinejad, and Hadi Albokhanfarnejad -- to three years in prison in the
northwestern city of Ardebil
Security and intelligence forces have
targeted Arab activists since April 2005 after reports that Iran
The Iranian authorities have executed
dozens of people since the disputed 2009 presidential election, many of them
from ethnic minorities, for alleged ties to armed or “terrorist” groups.
Following unrest in Khuzestan in April 2011, the human rights groups received
unconfirmed reports of up to nine executions of members of the Arab minority.
In June 2012, a further four were executed and reports suggest that five were
executed in April 2013.
Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, the capital
of Khuzestan province, issued the sentences on August 15, 2012. Branch 32 of
The revolutionary court’s judgment, a copy
of which the human rights groups reviewed, said the court convicted the seven
men for the vaguely-defined “crimes” of moharebeh (“enmity against God”)
and ifsad fil-arz (“corruption on earth”). The court found that the
defendants had established a “separatist ethnic” group that “used weapons and
engaged in shooting in order to create fear and panic and disrupt public
security.”
None of the defendants had a prior criminal
record, the judgment says. All seven are residents of Shadegan (also known as
Fallahiya in Arabic), approximately 100 kilometers south of Ahvaz
In several of the letters, the writers said
that security and intelligence forces had held the seven men in incommunicado
detention for months, subjected them and their family members to detention and
ill-treatment to secure “confessions”, and tried them simultaneously in one
session that lasted less than two hours. The letters said that none of the six
lawyers present had an opportunity to present an adequate defense of their
clients.
In one letter, the defendant alleges that
despite the lack of evidence, intelligence agents pressed the revolutionary
court to convict the men of moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz and to
sentence them to death. In another letter, the defendants allege that none were
questioned during pretrial interrogations about the supposed armed group –
Kita’eb Al-Ahrar to which authorities say they belong, even though their
alleged membership was used by the judiciary as the basis for their death
sentences.
In a defense pleading criticizing the lower
court’s ruling, a copy of which the rights groups reviewed, one of the lawyers
criticizes the lower court’s ruling on several grounds, including the court’s
failure to look into the defendants’ allegations that their “confessions” were
extracted under torture.
The rights groups could not independently
verify the authenticity of the letters or the defense pleading.
A former detainee who spoke to the
human rights groups on condition of anonymity said that for about two weeks in
2011 he was in the same ward of Karun prison
as the four men sentenced to death. He said that both Amir-Khanafereh and Ghazi
Abbasi told him that during their time at the Intelligence Ministry detention
facility in Ahvaz
The source also said that he observed
black marks around the legs and ankles of Amir-Khanafereh and Abbasi, and that
the two said the marks were caused by an electric shock device used at the
Intelligence Ministry detention facility. The source said he had seen similar
black marks on the legs of other Arab activists during his time in Karun prison. The former detainee said that
Amir-Khanafereh and Abbasi told him that they were not allowed any visits and
were held incommunicado by Intelligence Ministry officials for months.
The judgment, which primarily relied on the
alleged “confessions” of the defendants and circumstantial evidence, stated
that the members of this group were involved, among other things, in several
shootings at police officers and their property, and that the shootings led to
the deaths of at least two officers.
The Supreme Court judgment, a copy of which
the rights groups reviewed, affirmed the lower court’s ruling and identified
the victims as a police officer, Behrouz Taghavi, shot and killed in front of a
bank on February 26, 2009, and Habib Jadhani, a conscripted soldier, who was
shot and killed in spring 2008. Both the lower court and Supreme Court
judgements acknowledge that some of the defendants retracted their confessions
at trial saying they were extracted under physical and psychological torture,
but refused to acknowledge the validity of those retractions. There is no
record of any investigation by either court into the allegations of torture.
Under articles 183
and 190-91
of Iran’s penal code, anyone found to have used “weapons to cause terror and
fear or breach public security and freedom” may be convicted of moharebeh
or ifsad fil-arz. Punishment for these charges includes execution by
hanging.
“Considering putting to death the four
Ahwazis after a fundamentally flawed trial during which basic safeguards such
as rights of defense were blatantly disregarded and allegations of torture and
ill-treatment dismissed is abhorrent, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director
of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program. “At the very
least, the defendants should be granted a new trial and the ability to properly
defend themselves in court. Anything less would risk that these men be executed
for a crime they may very well have not committed.”
Article 38 of the Iranian Constitution prohibits all forms
of torture “for the purpose of obtaining confessions.” The Penal Code also
provides for the punishment of officials who torture citizens to obtain
confessions. Despite these legal and constitutional guarantees regarding
confessions under duress, “confessions” are sometimes broadcast on television
even before a trial has concluded and are generally accepted as evidence in
Iranian courts. Such broadcasts violate The ICCPR fair trial provisions also require
Since June 14, the date of the recent presidential and local elections, unofficial and official sources have reported at least 71 executions. In 2012
“Four men are facing the gallows after a judge brushed aside their statement that their confessions were coerced,” said Gissou Nia, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. “At the very least, they deserve a fair trial and an impartial investigation of the abuse they say was used to force them to confess.”
Death sentence for a prisoner
on charge of murder
Posted on: 23rd July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – A young man who had killed one
defending his cousin in a street fight has been sentenced to death.According to a report by Khorasan newspaper, Rahman (31) is charged with killing a person identified as Mojtaba in a street fight in Ghale Hassan Khan on October 7, 2005.
Although Rahman had confessed to the crime in the interrogations he denied everything in the trial in the branch 71 of
However the judges recognized him guilty and sentenced him to death through being hanged.
Ahmad Nasiri received the
death sentence once more
Posted on: 24th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Ahmadi Nasiri, the Sunni citizen who is
in Rajai Shahr prison received the death verdict once more.According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ahmad Nasiri has received the death sentence once more on July 22.
This political prisoner of ward 10 of Rajai Shahr prison has complained to this sentence and his case must be sent to the Supreme Court.
He had received the same sentence about 6 months ago and complained to it.
He has been charged with acting against the national security and membership in Salafi groups.
One of his relatives told to HRANA: “He belongs to Shafeis and he had no weapons when he got arrested and there is no confession in his case conforming these charges.”
Supreme Court confirms a man’s
death sentence
Posted on: 26th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – The death sentence of a man who is
charged with killing his temporary wife has been confirmed by the Supreme
Court.According to a report by Khorasan newspaper, Mehdi is charged with killing his temporary wife, Zohre, on July 25, 2009.
He accepted the charges during the Interrogations and said he has killed his wife with the collaboration of his cosine, Parvane, because she had relationship with another man.
Mehdi and Parvane have been tried in the branch 113 of
Although Mehdi claims to kill his wife with the collaboration of Parvane she has some proofs which show she wasn’t involved in the murder.
She says: “Same days after killin Zohre, Mehid came to me and said she has killed his wife and needs to rent a news house.”
“Because of this we went to some estate agents and I introduced myself as his wife. I wasn’t involved in the murder.”
Then Mehdi said: “I was always suspicious of Zohre. So we got divorced but after a while we decided to marry again. She became my temporary wife but I was still suspicious of her. That was the time when I got arrested on charge of drug trafficking, thinking of her betrayal every moment in the prison. When I was in the prison I realized that she has reported me to the police to get rid of me. After a while I got a furlough, brought her to my cosine’s house and killed her while I was very angry. I cut her nose and gouged her eyes.”
The judges exonerated Parvane but sentenced Mehdi to death through being hanged.
The case was sent to the Supreme Court which was confirmed by the judges of branch 13.
According to this report if Zohre’s family does not forgive Mehdi he will be hanged soon.
Arbitrary Arrests
25 July 2013
Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Ahmad
Asgari, journalist, poet, and student activist remains incommunicado with no
precise information about his whereabouts one month after his arrest.
According to CHRR, Ahmad Asgari was detained by
Security agents at Tehran ’s Fadak Park
Despite the fact that the journalist is
inflicted with neurological ailments and is epileptic, his needed medication
has not been provided to him. During the past weeks Asgari has been put under
intense harassment by interrogators in their attempt to build a case against
the journalist. He has been pressured to accept charges of having relations
with foreign organizations, and possibly Moharebeh (enmity with God).
Ahmad Asgari’s articles have been published in
Karoon, Mardom Salari and Etemad newspapers, along with several websites
focused on political and economic issues. Asgari is a university student at Azad University
27 July 2013
Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Maryam
Shafipour, student activist banned from continuing her education has been
transferred to Evin prison.
According to CHRR, today July 27th, Maryam
Shafipour was detained after she appeared at Branch 2 of Shahid Moghaddas Court
per order of a summons, and was transferred behind bars at Evin prison.
Maryam Shafipour is a women’s rights campaigner
and student activist who in the past served as a member of the Central Council of
the Critics Association of Qazvin University, and was staff at Female Students
for Karoubi Presidential Campaign. She was previously detained in 2010 due to
her work as an activist and was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence by
the Qazvin Revolutionary Court
Prisoners of Conscience
Suspicious death and shortage
of bread in Rajai-Shahr Prison
Officials claim a prisoner hanged
himself in solitary confinment
Posted on: 21st July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – A 25-year-old prisoner, Payam Islami,
was found dead while locked up in solitary confinement equipped with
closed-circuit cameras. He was beaten and transferred to solitary
confinement after brawling with another prisoner over a piece of bread.
There has been a severe shortage of bread in Rajai-Shar Prison in recent months.Prison officials claim that Islami hanged himself on Wednesday, July 17, in prison. He was serving time on assault charges.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), two inmates in Rajai-Shar Prison fought over a piece of bread on Tuesday, July 16. Following the brawl, Islami was first taken to the guards’ unit where he was beaten by the prison’s internal manager, Amirian, and the warden, Mardani. Prison officials used batons and polypropylene pipes to hit him.
Islami was then transferred to solitary confinement without being allowed to appear in front of a disciplinary board. A few hours later, he was found dead in his cell.
Four Dervishes are sentenced
to 8 years of prison and exile
Posted on: 22nd July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Four Gonabadi Dervishes have been
sentenced to 8 years of prison and 12 years of exile by the revolutionary court
of Shiraz.According to a report by Majzoubane Nour, these 4 Dervishes are charged with membership in the opposing groups (Majzoubane Nour group) with the aim of acting against the national security and propaganda against the regime. Saleheddin Moradi Sarvestani has been sentenced to 3 years of prison and exile to Hormozgan province, Farzaneh Nouri has been sentenced to 2 years of prison and 3 years of exile to Khuzestan province, Behzad Nouri has been sentenced to 2 years of prison and 3 years of exile to Bushehr province and Farzad Dervish has been sentenced to 1 year of prison and 3 years of exile to Sistan and Baluchestan province.
The lawyers of these Dervishes say the verdicts are not just and they will complain to an appeal court.
Saleheddin Moradi Sarvestani had been sentenced before to 1 year of prison and exile in the general court of Kowar on charge of disturbing public order. Mr. Moradi was under arrest for more than 20 months in Adel Abad prison of
Kasra Nouri and he had been on a hunger strike for 90 days in ward 209 of Evin prison and ended the hunger strike successfully.
Kasra Nouri, the other Gonabadi Dervish has been sentenced to 4 years and 4 months of prison and his case is now in the appeal court.
23 July 2013
Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Rajai
Shahr prison, which consists of cells formed in aisles across each other in
hallways, has always faced issues with its cooling system. Each ward has only 2
cooling units on each end of the hallway, which is not close to being capable of
cooling the whole area in a sufficient manner.
According to CHRR, due to the difficult
situation, which is ignored by prison officials, a group of political prisoners
decided to use their own private funds towards buying additional
air-conditioning units for the wards, but their solution has been ignored.
The tiny 2-meter cells in the prison have small
hatches and no windows, therefore blocking the possibility of any airflow into
the units. Despite not getting any air all day, the prisoners are allowed only
2 hours of fresh air a day with the times changing every other week; 3pm – 5pm
and 12pm – 2pm (during the hottest time of the day).
The substandard living conditions and lack of
access to basic facilities has caused prisoners, their families, and activists
to publicly voice their grievances during the past years,
CHRR interview with
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s father regarding his son’s health dangerously
worsening in prison
23 July 2013
Committee of Human Rights Reporters –
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, political prisoner behind bars in Evin prison, and
inflicted with kidney and prostate disease is in very poor health.
Seyed Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki, father of this
political prisoner said in an interview with CHRR, “They are holding Hossein
behind bars so they can break him. Anything that happens to Hossein is planned;
judicial and prison authorities are directly responsible.”
CHRR asked Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki the reasons for
Hossein’s internal bleeding. “When Hossein was on furlough, due to his health
issues we prepared 10 to 15 small healthy meals according to the necessary diet
for taking his medicines. But since his return to prison, the food provided is
against physicians’ orders; last time they said they did not know but this time
they certainly know.”
Seyed Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki said, “They kept my
son in solitary confinement for 13 months and tortured him, which is against
the laws of the Islamic Republic. I ask, would their children be able to
tolerate even 10 days in solitary cells? They are keeping Hossein in prison to
kill him. Everyone knows Hossein does not belong in prison.”
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s father said, “His last
lawyer was Mr. Dadkhah and I am very thankful to him. Mr. Dadkhah was sentenced
to prison stemming from his work on Hossein’s case along with other cases he
was working on and unfortunately I have not been able to find another lawyer
for Hossein. The sentences that I saw in Hossein’s files are unjust and
illegal. Judge Pir Abassi’s office manager didn’t want to write anything
himself; he demanded that Hossein sign even though Hossein had a broken hand at
the time. Hossein’s court case was originally under the jurisdiction of Branch
16 but later without explanation it was moved to Branch 26 presided by Judge
Pir Abassi. Right there in front of my eyes they punched my son in the stomach
where he had undergone several operations and my son suffered form internal
bleeding again. No matter how much we pleaded that they take him to a hospital
they refused. In my opinion they want to kill him and they are obligated to
give us an answer.”
He said, "I ask the Head of the Judiciary,
commanders of the IRGC, Human Rights Commission and experts to not keep these
people in prisons. Our religion is one of forgiveness. Hossein never harmed a
soul and only wanted to serve his country. If we would have known this would be
his fate, we wouldn’t have let him stay here, but Hossein’s wish was to stay
and serve his country.”
The father of Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, political
prisoner incarcerated in Evin prison said to CHRR, “According to what is
stipulated in the country’s laws, a person who is this sick should not be kept
in prison. This is the law of the Islamic Republic which should be followed in
the entire world. They should not be able to kill people in this way without
being held accountable for their actions. Neither the prison organization nor
do any of the other departments of the ruling apparatus take any
responsibility. The judiciary and those in charge have to be liable and act
according to what is dictated in the law instead of holding a twenty something
youth who could have been of service to his country in prison.”
In ending Seyed Ronaghi Maleki said to CHRR,
“Keeping Hossein in prison is a deliberate act and they want to kill him. I ask
the president of the Islamic Republic, Mr. Rouhani to do more than give a
pledge and follow-up on his words. Imprisoning these youth will not resolve any
problems. Those who could be an asset to the prosperity and progress of the
country should not be held in prison under these dire conditions.”
Said Madani returned to prison
Posted on: 24th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Said Madani, the Melli
– Mazhabi activist, has returned to the Evin prison after the surgical
operation he had.
According to a report by Melli – Mazhabi website, Said
Madani has returned to the prison after the surgical operation through which
his gallbladder was taken out.He is told to be suffering from gallbladder pain in the one recent year however the authorities did not allow him to be hospitalized since last week.
Lots of political and social activists visited him while he was in the hospital. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami was one of them.
No telephone contact for
political prisoners in Karoun prison
Posted on: 25th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – The political prisoners of Karoun
prison of According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the telephones of the political prisoners of Karoun prison have been banned since Sunday July 21. These prisoners were allowed to talk with telephone 3 minutes each 2 days.
A source which had visited these prisoners said to HRANA: “Although the weather is as hot as 50 ° C these days in Ahwaz the cooler of the political prisoners’ ward is not working since 2 months ago and the authorities are refusing to repair it. In the end the prisoners decided to pay for it themselves, the repairman was arrested as soon as entering the prison and telephones are banned since that day.”
Yeni GAMOH members have been
transferred to Rajai Shahr prison
Posted on: 26th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Mahmoud Fazli, Ayat
Mehr Ali Beyglu, Latif Hassani, Behboud Gholizade and Shahram Radmehr who have
started hunger strike since July 13 in Tabriz prison and been exiled to Evin
prison afterwards were transferred to Rajai Shahr prison yesterday.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
(HRANA), after some days of not having any information about them, they have
called their families this evening.An informed source said to HRANA quoting from Zahra Farajzade, Ayat Mehr Ali Beyglu’s wife: “They have talked about the horrible condition of Rajai Shahr prison and being transferred to
“Ayat Mehr Ali Beyglu said the Rajai Shahr prison is garbage. He used the word garbage describing that prison.” He said.
A musician has been sentenced
to 6 months in prison
Posted on: 25th July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Maestro Hassan Damirchi
(Mohammad Hassan Har Goli) has been sentenced to 6 months in prison by the
revolutionary court of Tabriz.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
(HRANA), the third branch of the revolutionary court of Tabriz has sentenced
maestro Hassan Damirchi (Mohammad Hassan Har Goli) to 6 months in prison.Naghi Mahmoudi, the human rights activists said to HRANA: “Judge Hamid Bagherpour has issued this verdict on the basis of proofs like participating in ethnic gatherings in and outside
“None of the evidences the judge mentions in the verdict is a reason for the charge of propaganda against the regime which is stated in article 500 of Islamic punishment laws.” He said.
Hassan Damirchi had been arrested on the same charges several times before.
He had been sentenced to 1 year in prison during the demonstrations in
Freedom of
Expression
Arbitrary arrests, harassment of exile journalists’ families
Published
on Tuesday 23 July 2013
Reporters Without Borders is very worried about
the health of Fariba Pajoh, a journalist with various
reformist newspapers and former contributor to Radio France Internationale.
Arrested on 9 July, she is now in solitary confinement in Evin prison’s Section
209, which is controlled by the intelligence ministry.
Pajoh had been in poor health ever since
spending 120 days held incommunicado following her first arrest in 2009. After
she was released, she received medical treatment for more than a year.
“Fariba Pajoh was arrested again arbitrarily,
probably on the orders of one of her former jailers in the intelligence
ministry and clearly without any legal grounds,” Reporters Without Borders was
told by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
“Unfortunately, Iran Iran
Journalists, dissidents and their families are
often the victims of arbitrary arrest or other forms of reprisal. Since the
start of the year, Reporters Without Borders has registered more than 70 cases
of threats targeting netizens and journalists in exile who work for news media
based abroad.
The relatives of citizens regarded as
“subversive” are routinely summoned for questioning by intelligence ministry
officials or are subjected to harassment and intimidation by means of SMS
messages or phone calls.
Farzaneh Nouri, the mother of Farhad
Nouri, a journalist with the Sufi news website Majzooban Nor,
has been sentenced to two years in prison by a court in the southwestern city
of Shiraz
Arrested in Shiraz
“We urge the international community and the
European Union in particular to react and to take whatever measures are
necessary to protect threatened or imprisoned journalists, many of whom work
for state-owned media in EU member countries,” Reporters Without Borders said.
“Above all, we appeal to Catherine Ashton, as
the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to take a
firm stand against such premeditated violations of international law by the
Iranian government.”
Reporters Without Borders has also learned that
documentary filmmaker Mohammad Cherghi – a former journalist
with the national radio and TV broadcaster and contributor to various
news websites – was arrested on 20 July after being summoned to the
intelligence ministry.
He had already been summoned and questioned
several times about his activities during the presidential election in June. It
is not known where he is being held.
IRAN
Last Update 22 July 2013
http://www.fidh.org/iran-arbitrary-detention-and-judicial-harassment-of-human-rights-defenders-13709
Paris-Geneva, July 22, 2013. The
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of
the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation
Against Torture (OMCT), condemns the continuing repression of human rights
defenders in Iran
According to information received on July
21, 2013, Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolution Court of Shiraz sentenced four
dervishes’ rights activists for “establishing the Majzooban Noor illegal group
with intent to undermine the national security, and spreading propaganda
against the system”. Mr. Saleheddin Moradi Sarvestani was thus sentenced
to three years’ in prison and four years’ internal banishment to Hormuzgan
province. He had already been sentenced to one year in prison and one year
internal banishment by the Kavar
General Court Shiraz
Furthermore, according to information received on July 13, 2013, seven other dervishes’ rights activists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court of Tehran for “establishment of the Majzooban Noor illegal group with intent to undermine the national security, spreading propaganda against the system, insulting the Leader, and complicity in disrupting the public order”. All seven, who have been in pre-trial detention since September 2011, refused to attend the trial sessions in protest to being deprived of due process, and refused to submit any bill of defence.
At the end of the proceedings, Mr. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani, the administrator of the Majzooban Noor website and dervishes’ rights activist, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison; Mr. Reza Entessari, photojournalist, website administrator and dervishes’ rights activist, to eight years and six months, and Messrs. Mostafa Daneshju, Farshid Yadollahi Farsi, Amir Eslami and Omid Behroozi, lawyers and website administrators, as well as Mr. Afshin Karampour, jurist and website administrator, to seven years and six months each. Although they consider the sentences as unfair, on July 17, 2013 the defendants declared that they would not appeal as they “have lost almost all hope for enjoying fair and legal investigation” after being denied their right to a fair trial on a number of occasions. Three of them are presently in need of medical treatment: Mr. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani has heart problems and suffers from artery blockage; Mr. Mostafa Daneshju has lung problems, while Mr. Amir Eslami also suffers from a heart condition. Despite the recommendation of Evin prison’s doctors to send them to outside hospitals for treatment, Mr. Salavati, the judge of Branch 15, reportedly said “they can be transferred only upon the consent of the Ministry of Intelligence” and that he “cannot order it if they do not consent it”.
The Observatory is extremely concerned over this new series of harsh sentences against dervishes’ rights activists, as well as with the health status of Messrs. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani, Mostafa Daneshju, and Amir Eslami. The Observatory recalls that dervishes’ rights activists had already been sentenced in the past in relation to their activities[1]. Some other persecuted dervishes’ rights defenders include Mr. Kasra Noori, who was arrested on March 15, 2012 inShiraz
The Observatory urges the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defenders mentioned above, and more generally all human rights defenders presently detained in the country, to put an end to any kind of harassment against them and to guarantee in all circumstances their physical and psychological integrity, in line with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights instruments ratified by Iran.
Furthermore, according to information received on July 13, 2013, seven other dervishes’ rights activists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court of Tehran for “establishment of the Majzooban Noor illegal group with intent to undermine the national security, spreading propaganda against the system, insulting the Leader, and complicity in disrupting the public order”. All seven, who have been in pre-trial detention since September 2011, refused to attend the trial sessions in protest to being deprived of due process, and refused to submit any bill of defence.
At the end of the proceedings, Mr. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani, the administrator of the Majzooban Noor website and dervishes’ rights activist, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison; Mr. Reza Entessari, photojournalist, website administrator and dervishes’ rights activist, to eight years and six months, and Messrs. Mostafa Daneshju, Farshid Yadollahi Farsi, Amir Eslami and Omid Behroozi, lawyers and website administrators, as well as Mr. Afshin Karampour, jurist and website administrator, to seven years and six months each. Although they consider the sentences as unfair, on July 17, 2013 the defendants declared that they would not appeal as they “have lost almost all hope for enjoying fair and legal investigation” after being denied their right to a fair trial on a number of occasions. Three of them are presently in need of medical treatment: Mr. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani has heart problems and suffers from artery blockage; Mr. Mostafa Daneshju has lung problems, while Mr. Amir Eslami also suffers from a heart condition. Despite the recommendation of Evin prison’s doctors to send them to outside hospitals for treatment, Mr. Salavati, the judge of Branch 15, reportedly said “they can be transferred only upon the consent of the Ministry of Intelligence” and that he “cannot order it if they do not consent it”.
The Observatory is extremely concerned over this new series of harsh sentences against dervishes’ rights activists, as well as with the health status of Messrs. Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani, Mostafa Daneshju, and Amir Eslami. The Observatory recalls that dervishes’ rights activists had already been sentenced in the past in relation to their activities[1]. Some other persecuted dervishes’ rights defenders include Mr. Kasra Noori, who was arrested on March 15, 2012 in
The Observatory urges the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defenders mentioned above, and more generally all human rights defenders presently detained in the country, to put an end to any kind of harassment against them and to guarantee in all circumstances their physical and psychological integrity, in line with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights instruments ratified by Iran.
Iran: Cyber Police
close down 76 Tehran Internet cafes
Published on Saturday,
27 July 2013 19:03
NCRI - The Iranian regime's Cyber Police have shut down 67
Internet cafes in Tehran in a week as the regime tightens its control over
people's freedom online.He told the state-run news INSA agency: "According to a plan implemented during the past week, agents in charge of supervision of public places in
"Many internet cafes are trying to damage young people and families by offering illegal services and it is the responsibility of police to deal with the violators.
"Following repeated violations by various businesses and many cases prepared by the cyber-police in
Sajedinia did not elaborate that what those violations has been.
The plan to set up a Cyber Police division was announced in 2009 by country's Police Chief Brigadier General Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam to counter 'internet crimes', and the Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) was founded in January 2011.
Ahmadi-Moqaddam said at the time: "The Cyber Police will tackle anti-revolutionary and dissident groups who used Internet-based social networks in 2009 to trigger protests."
In January 2012, the Cyber Police issued new guidelines for Internet cafés, requiring users to provide personal information that would be kept by café owners for six months, as well as a record of the websites they visited.
The rules also require café owners to install closed-circuit television cameras and maintain the recordings for six months.
Meanwhile, the use of VPNs and other technology that allows users to circumvent internet blocking is also forbidden in internet cafés.
Afshin Karamian Nasab has been
banned
Posted on: 23rd July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Afshin Karamian Nasab, the former
student activist and a honored member of the human rights commission of bar
association of According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), he had been sentenced to 10 years of suspended prison by the revolutionary court.
Afshin Karamian Nasab had been arrested on November 19, 2009 in
He was summoned by the branch 16 of the revolutionary court of Tehran because of new charges on February 2013.
Last week when he was going to take to trip abroad he was informed of being banned.
Afshin Karamian Nasab is the master of political since and one of the activists of Zhiar NGO most of the members of which has been arrested.
He has been summoned to
23 July 2013
Committee of Human Rights Reporters – According
to reports, in the past weeks Babak Salimizadeh, a writer, poet and translator
has been twice summoned to appear at the offices of the Ministry of
Intelligence. After the recent presidential elections, Intelligence agents
placed several threatening phone calls to the writer and ordered him to appear
at their offices on July 7th and July 15th.
Salimizadeh was told during the phone contacts
that despite being ranked 22nd on the PhD national exam, he was barred from
attending university. His website, Mind Motor that publishes arts that are
considered radical and critical articles, has been subjected to several cyber
attacks.
Minorities’ Rights
Two religious activists began
serving their sentences in Evin prison
Posted on: 23rd July, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Maryam Naghash and Zhinus Rahimian, the
two religious monitories rights’ activists went to Evin prison to serve their
sentences after being summoned by the prosecutor.According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), these two activists have shown up in the Evin prison after being summoned by the prosecutor and were arrested and transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.
Maryam Naghash had been sentenced to 5 years of prison on charge of propagating Christianity and was transferred to the women’s ward on July 15, 2013.
Zhinus Rahimian, the Bahai citizen had been sentenced to 3 years of prison by the branch 28 of revolutionary court of Tehran headed by judge Mogheyse which was reduced to 1 year in the appeal court.
Offended by Irancell, Sunni
political prisoners go on hunger strike
Irancell is owned by the Revolutionary Guard in Iran
Posted on: 22nd July, 2013
Irancell broadcasts
a message: Who is the instrument of Satan?
HRANA News Agency – Following a message broadcast by
Irancell, the Sunni community in According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the message included a question that asked customers to identify the instrument of Satan who was a judge and the contemporary of Imam Ali. The name of Sunni leader, Umar, was one of the possible answers.
“This contest was planned and intentional,” one of the Sunni political prisoners said. “Irancell is owned by the Revolutionary Guard. We ask all Sunni leaders not to give up easily this time. A simple apology isn’t good enough anymore. We must protest until everyone who has planned and backed this contest is dismissed.”
Irancell was previously boycotted for a similar incident. The online campaign was then called off after the company formally apologized to the Sunni community.
The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Zahedan in south east
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire