jeudi 26 septembre 2013

Violation of Human Rights in Iran during a Week 01 September 2013

At a Glance

UN Special Rapporteur


Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2013
NCRI - The Iranian regime's Foreign Ministry rejected the fresh request by Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, to access the country.
"We do not consider Ahmed Shaheed to be an impartial rapporteur," Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said during his weekly briefing with reporters in Tehran, State-run media reported.
Araqchi said Tehran had received two official letters from Shaheed requesting access to assess the human rights situation in the country.
In March, the UN body monitoring human rights in Iran sounded the alarm after Shaheed's latest report touched on restriction of freedom of speech and a slew of other abuses, including torture, forced confessions, secret executions and the jailing of members of the political opposition.
The number of those executed following the regime’s sham presidential election has reached at least 130 counts, of which many were under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crime, and a number of others were women.
Many of the victims have been hanged in public. On the morning of Sunday, August 18, in an unprecedented measure, three prisoners were hanged in public in three different locations in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran. State-run media outlets published scenes of these vicious crimes on a widespread scale.

  

Iran: Renewed attacks on the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur

Last Update 31 August 2013

FIDH and its member organization, the League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI), express their disappointment at recent statements by Iranian high-level officials regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s persistent rejection of the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

FIDH and LDDHI believe that a country visit by the mandate holder, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, would be a very positive step forward for Iran to engage in a constructive dialogue on human rights with the international community.

Several representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran declared, over the past few days, that Dr Ahmed Shaheed shall not be allowed to visit Iran. Mr Abbas Araghchi, spokesperson of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, announced on 27 August 2013 that Iran does not consider Ahmed Shaheed to be “a fair rapporteur”. On the same day, Mr Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary-General of the Iranian Judiciary’s High Council for Human Rights, declared that Dr Shaheed’s request shall “not be taken seriously”. These statements followed two letters sent by the Special Rapporteur to the office of President Hassan Rohani, requesting an invitation for a country visit.

There is nothing new in these recent remarks by Iranian officials. They clearly show that the new government of the Islamic Republic of Iran does not intend to cooperate with the UN more than the previous one. This policy, which has already led to the increasing isolation of Iran, can only further deepen the exasperation of the Iranian people, who are the first to bear the brunt of such a situation, FIDH President Karim Lahidji said.

The UN General Assembly will commence its 68th session in a few weeks. In this context, Dr Shaheed is due to present his report on the human rights situation in Iran In the past, the refusal of Iranian authorities to let him visit the country have left him with no other alternative than to report back their lack of cooperation and denounce reports of serious human rights violations, including the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and members of the opposition, torture, public executions, etc.


Execution

 

Iran still seeks to erase the ‘1988 prison massacre’ from memories, 25 years on

29 August 2013
Thousands of prisoners where killed in Iran in 1988
“My brother was killed on 28 August. In late November the authorities called us…and when my father went to the Revolutionary Committee office they said that both my brothers had been executed but they didn't give any documents. They didn’t say why they killed them, where they had been buried, why there had been a re-trial, their last words, nothing.”
Jafar Behkish

“These summary trials bore hardly any resemblance to judicial proceedings. Committees decided on a whim whether thousands of prisoners would live or die, based on their political or religious beliefs. ”

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International.
The last time Jafar Behkish saw his brothers, Mahmud and Mohammad Ali, both political activists imprisoned in Iran, they only had 10 minutes to talk through a glass window.
None of them imagined that it would be their last interaction or the horror that would unfold over the following months.
A few weeks after that meeting in August 1988, without any warning, Iran’s prison authorities suspended all family visits. Televisions and radios were removed from the wards, delivery of newspapers was cancelled and prisoners were suddenly not allowed to exercise or visit the prison’s clinic.
Shortly afterwards, hundreds of political prisoners were taken, one by one, to a special room, where they were interrogated in special summary “re-trials”.
Many thought they were going to be pardoned and released – as most were about to complete their sentences. Instead, they were executed.
Human rights organizations estimate that between 4,500 and 5,000 men, women and children were killed in the summer of 1988 in prisons across Iran. The pattern of political executions changed dramatically from piecemeal reports of executions to a massive wave of killings that took place over several months.
The true number of dead, however, is still unknown as the executions were carried out in secret. In fact, many relatives were never told about the killings or where their loved ones had been buried.
A quarter of a century after the mass killing, the Iranian authorities do not want to talk about what happened. In fact, they seek to erase any trace of the “prison massacre”. The mass killing was never investigated and none of those in charge at the time has faced trial – in fact, some senior officials of the time are still in high-ranking positions today.
The authorities have also persecuted and harassed the families of the victims, including by dispersing gatherings and arresting them on the commemoration day held annually on the last Friday before 1 September in Khavaran Cemetery in southern Tehran.
On the 25th anniversary of the “prison massacre”, Amnesty International is once again calling on the Iranian authorities to bring to justice those responsible for these gross human rights violations – regardless of their former or current official position.
Premeditated killings
The killings took place as the bloody Iran/Iraq war was in its final stages. The UN Security Council was pressing for a ceasefire and, in July 1988, the National Liberation Army, a military force formed by the Iraq-based opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) staged an armed incursion into western Iran that was repulsed by the Iranian army.

Shortly after, Iran’s political prisoners were executed in two waves.
In the “re-trials” they faced, the first group was asked about their political affiliation – those who answered “Mojahedin” were sent to their death. Some were asked if they were willing to clear the minefields for the army of the Islamic Republic. The second group was questioned about their religious faith – again, a wrong answer resulted in a death sentence.
In 1990, Amnesty International published a report concluding that “the massacre of political prisoners was a premeditated and coordinated policy which must have been authorized at the highest level of government”.
“These summary trials bore hardly any resemblance to judicial proceedings. Committees decided on a whim whether thousands of prisoners would live or die, based on their political or religious beliefs,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Programme.
After the killings, authorities would take months to inform relatives of what had happened.
“My brother was killed on 28 August. In late November the authorities called us…and when my father went to the Revolutionary Committee office they said that both my brothers had been executed but they didn't give any documents. They didn’t say why they killed them, where they had been buried, why there had been a re-trial, their last words, nothing,” Jafar told Amnesty International.
Fighting for justice
Between 1981 and 1988, seven of Jafar’s siblings were killed in prison.

After they discovered what had happened to their loved ones, Jafar’s family and many others started a campaign to demand answers from the authorities.
“People in Iran were shocked. I was in Tehran and went to the houses of several people who had been executed. We knew the families, we were like a big family,” he said.
As time passed, without answers or justice, many relatives began visiting the Khavaran Cemetery, where unmarked mass graves believed to hold many of those killed were found. Mourning mothers started to visit the site regularly.
But the Iranian authorities have done everything in their power to block such commemorations.
“The harassment against the families has been continuous these past 25 years. My sister [Mansoureh Behkish] was one of the targets. Over this summer [like many previous summers] the intelligence services asked her to stop going to Khavaran or to talk to media, to write articles or letters. She has been arrested several times to stop her from going to the commemorations. I worry for her safety,” Jafar said.
Mansoureh Behkish was arrested in Tehran on 12 June 2011 and held in Evin Prison until she was released on bail on 9 July 2011. On 25 December that year she was tried by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of “spreading propaganda against the system” and “gathering and colluding with intent to harm national security”.
She is currently facing a six-month prison sentence after the appeal court suspended part of her original sentence. Although she is at liberty, she could be summoned to serve her sentence at any time.
Jafar, who now lives in Canada, is worried about what might happen to Mansoureh with the 25th anniversary of the massacre approaching.
“I’m very worried about my sister and other families. I don't really know what will happen. They paid a very high price to make this day a historical day. It’s a very important day in the history of human rights work in Iran,” he said.
Amnesty International urges the Iranian authorities to uphold the right to truth, justice and reparation of the families of those killed in what will remain known to Iranians as the “Prison Massacre”.

 

Five executions in Qom / 39 executions in less than one week
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/five-executions-in-qom-39-executions-in-less-than-one-week
HRANA News Agency – Five prisoners who had been charged with drug trafficking were hanged in Qom central prison yesterday morning.
Ganj, the prosecutor of Qom said: “These prisoner have been hanged because of: trafficking 354 kg Opium, 15 kg Krack and 3 kg Heroin and marketing 2 kg Krack.”
Counting the 5 recent ones, there have been 39 prisoners executed since August 21 in Iran.
Persian Source: http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/292834/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-5-%D9%82%D8%A7%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%82%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%85

 

A prisoner has been executed in Isfahan
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
HRANA News Agency – A prisoner has been hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Isfahan on Sunday August 25.
According to a report by IRIB, the commander of Khomeini Shahr police published the news of the execution of a prisoner who was charged with having industrial drugs and Heroin.
Colonel Khosro Ahmadi said: “This person had been arrested on charge of having 2 kg and 450 gr Heroin and 1 kg and 770 gr Krack in 2009 and after the legal procedure and the confermation of the verdict by the prosecutor he was hanged in the prison of Khomeini Shahr.”
Persian Source: http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/292716/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%8A%D9%83-%D9%82%D8%A7%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%82%DA%86%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86

 

A prisoner has been hanged in Ardebil
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
HRANA News Agency – A prisoner has been hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Ardebil prison yesterday morning.
According to a report by Ardebil justice department quoting from IRIB, the 56 years old man was charged with trafficking 911 gr. Heroin.
This report says nothing about the place of execution, date of arrest and the name of the prisoner.





Persian Source:http://www.dadgostari-ard.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=3219&articleType=ArticleView&articleId=76780

 

Two more executions in Ahwaz prison
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
HRANA News Agency – Two prisoners have been hanged in Karoun prison of Ahwaz on charge of murder on Wednesday August 19 and Tuesday August 18.
According to a report by Khouzestan justice department, “Reza – R” who had been charged with a murder in 2006 and sentenced to death by Khouzestan penal court was hanged last Wednesday in Karoun prison.
Also “Ali – SH” who had been charged with murder in 2004 and sentenced to death by Khouzestan penal court, was hanged last Tuesday.
According to this report the Supreme Court has confirmed the death verdicts.
Persian Source: http://ostanban.com/node/628

 

A prisoner has been hanged in Ahwaz

Posted on: 27th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/a-prisoner-has-been-hanged-in-ahwaz
HRANA News Agency – A man who was charged with drug trafficking, has been hanged in Ahwaz prison on August 24, 2013.
According to a report by Mehr, Said Gashtil, had been charged with trafficking 11 kg Heroin and was hanged after his request of forgiveness was denied twice.
On Thursday August 22 also, 28 prisoners were hanged in different prisons in Iran.
Persian Source: http://www.mehrnews.com/TextVersionDetail/2122493

 

At least two more executions in Kermanshah and Kashan

Posted on: 28th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/at-least-two-more-executions-in-kermanshah-and-kashan
HRANA News Agency – At least 2 prisoners have been hanged on charges of murder and drug trafficking in Kermanshah Dizel Abad prison and Kashan.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), “Gharib Moradi” the son of Mohammad Ali from Balei village of Paveh who was under arrest on charge of killing “Adnan Farzad” from Hajij village of Paveh since 2008 has been executed today morning in Dizel Abad prison of Kermanshah.
Also at least one prisoner from Kerman has been executed on charge of having 3 kg Shishe in Kashan prison yesterday morning.
At least 40 prisoners have been executed during last week. The new execution flood was expected after Ramadan however according to the reports of HRANA reporters the Iranian judiciary has been executing prisoners during Ramadan, too. As an example there have been a prisoner hanged in Urmiye prison during Ramadan.
Iran is the second country of the world in executing prisoners after China. Comparing the population of 2 countries Iran has the highest percentage of execution in the world.

 

Published on Wednesday, 28 August 2013
NCRI - The Iranian regime hanged a group of five prisoners on August 26 in the city of Qom. Additionally, 26 more prisoners were hanged in six groups between August 19 - 22 in the cities of Arak, Urumiyeh, Karaj and Mashhad. Also, the regime's henchmen hanged one prisoner in Isfahan and three others in Ahwaz during the same period.
Moreover, there a recent report has revealed the execution of three prisoners on August 15 in the newly built prison, The Greater Tehran Prison, situated on Hassan-abad road to Qum where a number of elements of mullahs' judiciary are stationed in the prison to try prisoners in the prison itself.
So far, the number of executions since sham presidential elections in June has reached to at least 143 with 40 taking place after Hassan Rouhani has assumed office.
On Tuesday, Hassan Rouhani’s government turned down a request by Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, to visit the country.
"We do not consider Ahmed Shaheed to be an impartial rapporteur," Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said during his weekly briefing with reporters in Tehran, State-run media reported.
Since two years that Ahmed Shaheed has been designated as the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, the ruling mullahs have not allowed him to visit the country and have described his reports as “baseless allegations” and his resources as “terrorists and anti-revolutionaries”.


Torture

 

Two activists are under torture for TV confession
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/two-activists-are-under-torture-for-tv-confession
HRANA News Agency – Pezhman Zafarmand and Akbar Amini are under pressure to give TV confession.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Pezhman’s father has said that his son contacted them and is still in confinement cell in ward 240 under severe mental tortures for confession. 
His father emphasized that the family was not allowed to visit Pezhman since he is under arrest but he contacted by phone twice.
A source who wanted to remain anonymous said to HRANA reporter that Akbar Amini is in the same situation of Zafarmand.
Pezhman Zafarmand was one of active members of Dr. Aref presidential election campaign in East of Tehran and then in Rouhani’s campaign. Pezhman was arrested earlier as a member of writers union and after one month of being under arrest, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment by judge Salevati in branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary court.
As well Akbar Amini was sentenced to five years imprisonment on charge of attending in writers union meetings in the same court.

 

Published on Saturday, 31 August 2013
The Iranian regime's henchmen lashed two men in public in southeastern city of Borazjan in May 2013.
NCRI - A man was whipped 70 lashes in public on Thursday, August 29 outside his home in the city of Saveh.
According to the report by state-run news network the man had been arrested on drug related charges. His house also was confiscated by the authorities, the report said.
Degrading punishments are systematically used in Iran by the State Security Forces in order to embarrass and humiliate the youth in their neighborhood. The lashing in public in Saveh is first such degrading punishment being carried out in public since June election.
However, since the sham presidential elections at least 143 have been executed in Iran, many hanged in public. The victims included women and minors. At least 40 have been executed since Hassan Rouhani has assumed office.
On Tuesday, Hassan Rouhani’s government turned down a request by Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, to visit the country.
"We do not consider Ahmed Shaheed to be an impartial rapporteur," Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said during his weekly briefing with reporters in Tehran, State-run media reported.
Persian Source: http://www.ghatreh.com/news/nn15434449/%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%B4%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%82%D8%A7%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%82%DA%86%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85


Prisoners of Conscience

 

Iran: Women prisoners denied visits from children, activists arrested

Published on Monday, 26 August 2013
NCRI - Female political prisoners in Tehran's Evin Prison have been denied visits from their children for more than a month, according to reports from Iran.
Among the women refused permission to see their children are Faran Hessami, the mother of a four-year-old girl, Maryam Akbari Monfared, a mother of three girls aged 7, 13 and 14 year-old girls, Sediqeh Moradi, mother of a girl aged 14 and Fariba Kamal Abadi, mother of a 16-year-old girl.
The denial of access to children is one of the tactics used by the regime to increase mental pressure on political prisoners.
Meanwhile, the family of student activist Maryam Shafi-pour have received no information about her condition since her arrest three weeks ago, and been threatened by security forces.
Regime agents in the city of Marivan also arrested female activist Sa’adat Iranpour on August 7 and transferred her to an unknown location, according to reports.

URGENT ACTION
Prisoner of conscience denied health care
UA: 236/13 Index: MDE 13/035/2013 Iran                         Date: 29 August 2013
Iranian prisoner of conscience Hossein Ronaghi Maleki is on hunger strike to protest against the conditions of political prisoners. His health is deteriorating rapidly and he needs urgent medical care. He was taken to hospital on 28 August but transferred back to prison the same day. His mother has also gone on hunger strike against his detention.
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a 28-year-old blogger, is on hunger strike in protest at the authorities’ refusal to grant him medical leave and their harsh and unfair treatment of political prisoners and disregard for prisoners’ welfare. He has been on several hunger strikes since his initial arrest in 2009. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki suffers from severe kidney, gastro-intestinal, bladder and heart problems, as a result of the torture he says he suffered in detention, and has undergone at least four operations, including one to remove his left kidney in June 2012. Prisoners in Evin Prison are held in poor conditions and inadequate medical facilities for.those suffering serious health problems.
He was taken to Tehran’s Shahid Modarres hospital on 28 August 2013 but later transferred back to Evin Prison without receiving medical treatment, despite medical experts insisting that he had renal and gastrointestinal bleeding and needs to be hospitalized. His parents have appealed several times to Tehran's Prosecutor General to grant their son medical leave so that he can receive the treatment he needs outside prison. Medical leave has been denied as the authorities argued that he remained active during a previous medical leave.Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s mother, Zoleikha Mousavi, launched her own hunger strike on 20 August in protest at the authorities’ refusal to release her son, saying, “If Hossein is to die, I prefer to die, too”.
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was arrested on 13 December 2009 after the unrest that followed the disputed June 2009 presidential election and is serving a 15-year prison sentence for charges that appear to be connected to his writing on his blog.
Please write immediately in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:
Calling on the Iranian authorities to release Hossein Ronaghi Maleki immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and association;
Calling on them to ensure that he receives any medical care he may require, including by granting him medical leave, and is treated humanely at all times and not punished in any way for his hunger strike;
Calling on them to investigate allegations of torture immediately and impartially and bring to justice anyone found responsible in accordance with international fair trial standards. ……

Additional Information

After his arrest, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was held in solitary confinement for over a year and was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. During an unfair trial in 2010, he was denied access to his defence lawyer and has said he told the judge he had been tortured but the judge answered that he “deserved it”. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after the Revolutionary Court convicted him on charges that included “membership of the [illegal] internet group ‘Iran Proxy’”, “spreading propaganda against the system” and “insulting the Leader and the President”, apparently in connection with his peaceful activities including writing his blog. He went on hunger strike on May 2012 because the authorities refused to allow him leave from prison to receive medical treatment for a kidney ailment. On 26 May 2012, he wrote an open letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, outlining the reasons for his hunger strike. He wrote, “I hope that you at least pay attention to my dire situation, the status of political prisoners, our families, the illegal detention centres, and their conduct.”
He was released on bail on 2 July 2012 and resumed his blog three days later, writing, “After 32 months of not writing on my blog, I have come today . . . pen in hand and write to say that I am feeling well because my mother’s face is fresh [with happiness] and she does not cry”. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was rearrested on 22 August 2012 while still on leave from prison, together with human rights activists who were assisting people at a relief camp for earthquake victims in East Azerbaijan province. He was taken first to Section 1 of Tabriz Prison, then to Evin Prison in Tehran and charged with “distributing unclean and non-hygienic goods” but again allowed medical leave on 6 November after payment of bail. He has had several kidney operations and needs to take regular medication. After his transfer to Evin Prison, he was not allowed to take his prescribed medicine.
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki writes a lot in prison, often either to the Iranian authorities or to other political prisoners. In October 2012, he wrote a letter to prominent lawyer and prisoner of conscience Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was on hunger strike protesting against the authorities' illegal travel ban on her 12-year-old daughter. In August 2013, he was among 55 Iranian political prisoners who wrote to US President Barack Obama about the crippling effect of the economic sanctions on Iranian people and called on him and the Iranian government to build trust and diplomacy, which prompted a similar letter by 127 Iranian political and human rights activists, academics and students inside and outside the country.
On 27 August, 395 Iranian journalists, academics and civil, political and human rights activists wrote an open letter asking the Iranian government to release Hossein Ronaghi Maleki unconditionally, and reminding the authorities that they are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of all political prisoners. Earlier, 41 political prisoners from Evin Prison had written to Tehran’s Prosecutor General alerting him that Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s condition is critical and urging him to grant medical leave to the blogger.
Torture and other ill-treatment are common in Iran, particularly during interrogation when detainees are routinely denied access to a lawyer and are often held incommunicado. In his report to the 67th session of the General Assembly in February 2013, the Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, expressed concern about reports of the widespread use of torture in the country’s prisons. He reported that 78% of people who reported violations of their due process rights also reported that they were beaten during interrogation, that their reports of torture and ill-treatment were ignored by the judicial authorities, and that their "confessions" were used against them despite these complaints.

 

Seriously ill Iranian blogger must be released from prison immediately

30 August 2013
Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki is serving a 15-year jail sentence for his peaceful political activities.

“Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s worsening health is extremely worrying and despite repeated requests by his parents, the Iranian authorities are refusing to release him or even grant him temporary leave. ”
Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International.
An Iranian prisoner of conscience and blogger on hunger strike to protest his unfair detention must be released immediately and unconditionally to receive treatment as his health deteriorates, Amnesty International said.
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, 28, is serving a 15-year prison sentence for “membership of the [illegal] internet group ‘Iran Proxy’”, “spreading propaganda against the system” and “insulting the Leader and the President”, among other charges.
“Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s worsening health is extremely worrying and despite repeated requests by his parents, the Iranian authorities are refusing to release him or even grant him temporary leave,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International.
“Not only have the authorities unfairly put him behind bars simply for expressing his views on his blog but they are now also jeopardizing his health and ultimately his life by not allowing him to receive the medical care he urgently needs.”
Hossein was originally detained on 13 December 2009 after the unrest that followed the disputed presidential election in Iran the previous June.
He was then held in solitary confinement for over a year and says he was tortured, which has apparently resulted in him now suffering from severe kidney, gastro-intestinal, bladder and heart problems.
The blogger has been on several hunger strikes, including in May 2012, when the authorities refused to grant him permission to leave the prison to receive medical treatment for his kidney ailment.
He was released on bail on 2 July 2012 and resumed writing his blog shortly after. On 22 August, Hossein was re-arrested together with a number of activists who were assisting earthquake victims at a relief camp in East Azerbaijan province. They were all charged with “distributing unclean and non-hygienic goods.”
On 28 August 2013 he was taken to hospital due to his deteriorating heath but was returned to prison the same day without receiving medical treatment. This contradicted medical advice that he needed hospitalization for renal and gastrointestinal bleeding.
His mother, Zoleikha Mousavi, has also gone on hunger strike in protest at the authorities’ refusal to release her son, saying: “If Hossein is to die, I prefer to die, too.”
Writing from inside Evin Prison on the occasion of his birthday on 5 July this year, Hossein said: “say your [birthday] greetings to my mother and do not allow the absence of her son to cause her pain. And let us not forget that prison days have no birthdays.”
“That a mother would go to the extreme of a hunger strike to get the authorities’ attention underscores the serious shortcomings in the administration of justice in Iran,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

 

Blogger and mother on hunger strike, both could die
Published on Wednesday 28 August 2013
http://en.rsf.org/iran-blogger-and-mother-on-hunger-28-08-2013,45112.html
Reporters Without Borders condemns the deadly indifference of Iran’s most senior judicial authorities for refusing to release Hossein Ronaghi Malki, a jailed blogger who is gravely ill and who today began his 20th day on hunger strike in protest against his detention and his prison conditions.
Malki’s mother, Zolikha Mosavi, has also been on hunger strike for the past eight days to protest against the inhuman way her son is being treated.
“This human rights defender has been unjustly detained for the past four years and, in view of his determination to continue the hunger strike, the Iranian authorities must make a humanitarian gesture and release him,” Reporters Without Borders said.
“We hold judicial authority chief Sadegh Amoli Larijani, Tehran prosecutor Abas Jafari Dolatabadi and justice minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi responsible for the lives of Malki and his mother.”
Malki, who began his hunger strike on 9 August, now weighs only 52 kilos and is reportedly unconscious for much of the time. Arrested on 13 December 2010, he continues to serve a 17-year jail sentence although he has undergone several kidney operations and is in very poor health.
After being granted parole in order to seek treatment, he was returned to Tehran’s Evin prison on 22 May.
His family is very worried but is powerless in the face of the authorities’ refusal to relent. His father demanded Malki’s right to adequate medical treatment in an open letter to the judicial authorities on 1 August.
His mother, who has heart problems, told the BBC’s Persian language service: “I have begun this hunger strike to make my plea heard. I want my son to be granted medical parole. If they want to kill him, let them execute him. But it is inhuman to leave him in agony and pain.”
In an open letter to the Tehran prosecutor today, 41 detainees in Evin prison’s Section 305 voiced deep concern about Malki’s “critical condition” and condemned the “irresponsibility of the judicial and prison authorities.”
Reporters Without Borders is publishing the results of an examination of Malki’s kidneys nearly a year ago that shows how alarming his condition is. This human rights defender is in urgent need of adequate medical care.

 




Canadian permanent resident Saeed Malekpour facing life sentence in Iran
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Mostafa Pourmohammadi
Minister of Justice for the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran, Valiasr St., No. 1816
Iran
1415855139

Dear Minister,
I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.
CJFE condemns the recent life sentence given to Canadian permanent resident Saeed Malekpour. While visiting family in Iran in 2008, Malekpour was arrested and charged with desecrating Islam, after photo uploading software that he designed was used to produce internet pornography. In 2012 CJFE expressed concern when Malekpour was sentenced to death sentence for these charges, as he has repeatedly denied any participation in or knowledge of these activities. Malekpour’s confession was also allegedly extracted following prolonged torture in prison.
Although the reduction of Saeed Malekpour’s sentence is an improvement, CJFE is still troubled by this punishment, as well as the intimidating effect it will have on others working online in Iran. Additionally, reports of forced confessions in Iran remain of concern.
CJFE calls on the Iranian government to repeal the life sentence of Saeed Malekpour and to undertake reforms of its Computer Crimes Law, which harshly criminalizes online activities that offend public morality and chastity, thus threatening freedom of expression.
We thank you for your attention and I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Arnold Amber, CJFE President
Cc: Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran
The Honourable John Baird, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

Ahmad Karimi has no furlough after three years of imprisonment
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/ahmad-karimi-has-no-furlough-after-three-years-of-imprisonment
HRANA News Agency – Ahmad Karimi Gele, the political prisoner in ward 350 of Evin prison, has been deprived of furlough since three years ago that he has been arrested.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ahmad Karimi, the ship technician, employed of national oil company was arrested in Khark Island in 2010 when he was returning from a work trip and transferred to Evin prison. 
He was in ward 209 of Evin for more than six month plus one month of absolute isolation in confinement cell.
Ahmad Karimi is accused of contacting Israel and he had to go on hunger strike that finally he was transferred to ward 350 in spring of 2012.
This prisoner was sentenced to five years imprisonment on April 24, 2012 in branch 28 of revolutionary court due to a few minutes trial session without presence of his lawyer in the session.
It is worth mentioning Ahmad Karimi’s verdict deducted to three years by the forgiveness commission in the Ramadan Eid of last year.

 

Sam Keshmiri is transferred to the ward 350 of Evin prison
Posted on: 27th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/sam-keshmiri-is-transferred-to-the-ward-350-of-evin-prison
HRANA News Agency – Sam Keshmiri, the artist and political activist has been transferred to the ward 350 of Evin prison to serve his 4 months imprisonment sentence.
According to a report by Kalame website, Sam Keshmiri had been arrested a few days before parliament election in 2011 by the IRGC intelligence and was under arrest in the solitaries of 2-A detention center of IRGC for a month.
He has been sentenced to 1 year of imprison 8 months of which is suspended in the branch 26 of the revolutionary court of Tehran on charge of gathering and colluding with the aim of disturbing national security.
Sam Keshmiri is a member of reformer youth and has been graduated from Art and Architecture faculty of Tehran Azad University in graphic.

 

Published on Friday, 30 August 2013
NCRI - The Head of the Iranian regime's Prisons Organization has announced the construction of a forced labour camp in Tehran in a bid to punish imprisoned drug addicts.
Gholamhosseini Esmaeili said "In case there is no shortages in funds, the construction will be finished in four months," he said, the IRNA News Agency reported. He said that the Iranian regime has already opened two forced labour camps in Isfahan and Khorasan Razavi provinces.
Esmaeili said that the construction of such camps has been longed planned but "unfortunately because of existence of certain impasses in the country we could not obtain the required financial credits."
"Construction of three labor camps in Tehran, Kerman and Sistan and Balouchestan provinces would cost 1.2 trillion rials ($35 million)," out of which 700 billion rials ($20 million) have been allocated during the previous administration.
The plan for construction of such camps was first announced on Monday, April 13, 2009 The chief of the Iranian regime’s State Security Forces (SSF), Brig. Gen. Esmaeil Ahmadi Moghaddam. He then said that the clerical regime had planned to set up 11 forced labor camps.
Ahmadi Moghaddam said that the regime’s "penal code has been ineffective with respect to petty drug dealers," which is why the mullahs’ "Judiciary and the Prisons Organization have put the establishment of forced labor camps on their agendas."
“These individuals will not be trained in any way at these camps. Rather, they will be punished by being subjected to hard and intensive labor,” he said.


No medical treatment for Ahmad Tamouie
Posted on: 29th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/no-medical-treatment-for-ahmad-tamouie
HRANA News Agency – Ahmad Tamouie, the political prisoner in Oroumiyeh prison who was beaten severely and transferred to confinement cell is deprived of medical treatment despite having serious injuries.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), this political prisoner on August 21 summoned by the security of the prison and because he denied to go there, he was beaten severely by the prison officers and has been transferred to confinement cell.
One of prisoners in the same ward who wants to remain anonymous told HRANA reporter “Ahmad Tamouie did not want to go to the security office of prison because they insult and threat the prisoners there, and because of this reason he was beaten severely by the officer by truncheon, his nose broken and his eye injured badly.”
“Ahmad Tamouie needs medical treatment urgently but the authorities kept him in handcuffs and shackles in confinement cell for 48 hours and till now nothing has been done in terms of medical treatment.”


Namegh Mahmoudi has been transferred to unknown location
Posted on: 29th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/namegh-mahmoudi-has-been-transferred-to-unknown-location
HRANA News Agency – Namegh Mahmoudi the Kurdish political prisoner who has been imprisoned in Rajaie Shahr prison, has been transferred to an unknown location since two weeks ago.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Namegh Mahmoudi, 62,  the political prisoner imprisoned in  hall No.12 of Rajaie Shahr prison of Karaj has been transferred to an unkown location since August 14 and there is no news about his condition. 
Meanwhile his family and relatives have no information of his condition.
One of political prisoners who wants to remain anonymous told HRANA reporter “Probably he has been transferred to the ward 209 of Evin but his family has no information of his condition neither and because of his critical health condition we all are concern.”
It is worth mentioning Namegh Mahmoudi is suffering from cataract since a while ago and he is in danger of blindness but the authorities did nothing for his medical treatment.
Namegh Mahmoudi, 62, was arrested on April 5, 2012 together with three of his children.  The Intelligence Agency originally kept him in a prison in the city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.  He was later taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison where he was interrogated.
Eventually, he was transferred to Rajai-Shahr Prison and his three sons were released after six months of being under arrest.
Namegh has been kept under arrest on charge of enmity against God through collaboration with one of the Kurdish parties.


Women’s Rights


University gender segregation stepped up in Iran

Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2013 12:48
NCRI - Iran's Allameh Tabatabai University will become fully gender-segregated for the new academic year as rulers step up their policy of single sex higher education across the regime.
The university's dean Shariati told the state-run Mehr news agency that all classes would now be segregated to prevent men and women being educated together.
The dean has also recently carried out several 'illegal activities' including selecting 100 Ph.D. students, directors and employees of the university as members of the Science delegation, and also scrapping the 'economic programming and development group' and replacing it with the 'Islamic economic group'.
He has ordered several professors to retire and replaced them with his own supporters.



Freedom of Expression

 

Negineh Kerman publication has been banned
Posted on: 29th August, 2013
http://hra-news.org/en/negineh-kerman-publication-has-been-banned
HRANA News Agency – Negineh Kerman publication was banned in accusation of insulting the sacraments, propagating against the Islamic Republic regime and disturbing the public.
According to Mehr report, Hamid Eshaghi the investigator in branch 3 of Kerman criminal and revolutionary court confirmed this news.
Eshaghi declared that “according to the note 7 of article 9 in publications law, the responsible person for articles and all the published pieces is the editor in chief but it does not mean that the writer of the article or the others involved in the crime will be exonerated and free of facing law.”
The investigator of branch three of both criminal and revolutionary court of Kerman said that “According to the article No.500 of punishment law issued in 1996, the ones who propagating against the Islamic Republic regime in any way, will get a verdict of imprisonment between three months to one year.”


Minorities’ Rights

Iran: A Baha’i shot dead in Bandar Abbas

Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2013
NCRI - A 52 years old Baha’i resident of Bandar Abbas was shot dead from behind on Saturday, August 24 in his car. Ataollah Rezvani, who was a water pump salesman in Bandar Abbas.
According to reports, on the night of the incident, he was returning from a party. His murderers who were waiting for him in his car took him to the Railroad Street where shot him in the head. Residents in cars passing by found Rezavini's body while nothing had been stolen from his car.
A number of Ataollah Rezvani’s family members have been arrested in recent years due to their beliefs, the reports said.
In early August, Ali Khamenei, the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader published a series of repressive instructions and directives - under the guise of publishing new fatwas.
Ali Khameinei's new fatwas forbids revealing the Iranian regime’s crimes, listening to music, dancing, wearing short sleeve shirts by men, going to monasteries and associating with Baha’is.

Reports of the killing of an Iranian Baha'i received

26 August 2013
http://news.bahai.org/story/965
Reports have been received that a well-known member of the Iranian Baha'i community, Mr. Ataollah Rezvani, has been killed in or around the port city of Bandar Abbas in Southern Iran. The event is believed to have taken place on Saturday 24 August 2013. Available information indicates that Mr. Rezvani's life had been threatened by fanatical elements within the city's authorities.
Further details of Mr. Rezvani's death are not yet available, but will be reported as soon as they are confirmed.

 




Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:09
NCRI - A Tehran appeals court upheld an eight-year prison sentence against the imprisoned Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini jailed for his role in for setting up a church in a house, state-run ISNA news agency reported.
Pastor Abedini, 36, was arrested on 24 September, 2012, and charged with 'acting against national security' and condemned to eight years imprisonment with hard labor.
According to state-run media, Pastor Saeed Abedini had 'prior to 2006, run a church at home and had been under house arrest for becoming a Christian'.
He then travelled abroad and upon returning back to Iran in September 2012, was arrested and subjected to physical and psychological torture by the Iranian regime’s henchmen.
In a letter to his wife, Saeed Abedini had written: "Sometimes they tell me that I shall be hanged because of my belief in Christ."

The Iranian Resistance on numerous occasions has called on all international bodies, human rights defenders, especially the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, to strongly condemn the arrest and torture of Christian leaders as well as followers of all religions.

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