 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Protest Statement - Arrests of Trade Unionists in Iran
Trade unionists and human rights activists around the world are once again appalled to learn that Ebrahim Madadi was arrested in Tehran today . According to his union, Vahed Syndicate, he was visiting the North Tehran Branch of the Employment Office when plain-clothes security personnel detained him with a court order and took into police custody. He is believed to be in one of the police branches tonight and is due to appear before the judge tomorrow morning . At the same time, two Executive Board members of the union are verbally summoned by the secret police .
Madadi, the Vice President of the union, was already arrested on the International Action Day, 9 August 2007, when worldwide protest action was taking place against Mansour Osanloo’s abduction on the previous month after his return from his European visit. And although Madadi was given a three and a half year sentence in October, he was released from prison two months later . Furthermore, the court ordered the Tehran Bus Company to reinstate him in June 2008.
This is not the first time that the Iranian authorities have taken unjustified actions against genuine trade unions during the Christmas holidays . Less than a week ago, the trade unions condemned the arrest of Mohsen Hakimi, a member of the ’Iranian Writers Association’ and the ’Coordinating Committee to Form Workers Organisations,’ who was detained by the secret police for unknown charges. He is now being held in Section 209 in Evin Prison. On the previous week, an auto worker, Bijan Amiri, at Pars Khodro factory was also arrested for unknown charges .
In 2005, the entire leadership of Vahed Syndicate was arrested en masse during the last week of December. Undoubtedly, the Iranian government is well-aware of the persistent international pressure against their breach of the ILO Conventions on freedom of association and the right to negotiate collectively which is why they choose this time of the year to oppress the independent workers’ movement .
The ITF, together with the ITUC and the entire global trade union movement requests the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Ebrahim Madadi, Mohsen Hakimi, Bijan Amiri as well as Mansour Osanloo and Farzad Kamangar immediately and unconditionally. There is reason to have concern about Osanloo’s health as we have received reports that he has not been given adequate medical treatment during the past two months .
David Cockroft General Secretary International Transport Workers Federation (ITF
Last update: 28 December 2008
........................................................................................
50000 websites and blogs filtered in Iran
Tehran – Iran: the Iranian Islamic regime has decided to block more websites and crack down on internet bloggers ever increasing, Tehran prosecutor Saeid Mortazavi said Wednesday. "We will harshly confront those who run anti-religious, immoral and decadent sites," Mortazavi told Fars news agency without further clarifying.
He said computer experts and two officials from the prosecutor's office have formed a team to identify and block those websites. Local internet providers in Iran have also been ordered to filter political Farsi-language sites, especially by local bloggers critical of the Islamic system.
Besides the "immoral sites," numerous other sites are blocked by Iranian authorities, including popular ones such as You Tube, Facebook and Orkut, as well Farsi-language news sites of VOA and BBC. The number of internet users, especially among the youth, has dramatically increased and reportedly reached more than 20 million in Iran.
Most users have also found ways to evade the state censors and get access to all sites via proxy tunnels. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Orkut are very popular among young people, as they can date there without being bothered and or arrested by local vice enforcement.
The Iranian authorities have officially announced that 50000 websites and blogs have been filtered only in one year.
Last update: 9 Dcemebr 2008
..........................................................................................................
The family confirm´s blogger´s arrest
Blogger and Cif contributor Hossein Derakhshan disappeared in Iran on November 1. His family say he was arrested
The controversial blogger and occasional Cif contributor, Hossein Derakhshan, is under arrest in Iran, according to members of his family. This is the first information since November 17 when an Iranian website, Jahan News (summary in English here) said he had been arrested and had "admitted" to spying for Israel.Derakhshan, who was previously an active blogger, has not posted anything on the internet since November 1.
Initially, his family refused to talk about his disappearance but now they have confirmed that the was arrested on November 1. According to the Globe and Mail report, the family have spoken to him four times since then – "each time in a phone call lasting less than one minute" – but they have heard nothing since November 13 and are becoming worried.
Iranian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the reports of his arrest. In a statement issued today, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called on the authorities to release Derakhshan immediately or to charge him with a recognisable offence under the law and provide for due process and a fair trial.
"We are extremely concerned for Derakhshan's health and safety. His family should have immediate access to him," said Hadi Ghaemi, the campaign's spokesperson.
Last update: 9 Dcecember 2008
.....................................................................................................
Three hanged in the Iranian prison
Iran- December 7: Three people have been hanged in the prison of Shahre-Kord (Western Iranian province of Chaharmahal- Bakhtiari) in the past weeks reported Iranian media today. The state run Iranian news agency Fars, reported quoting prosecutor of the city of Shahre-Kord, Bahrami, that three men have been hanged in the prison of this city in the past weeks. These men are identified as "A.D." (father’s name Lotfollah) hanged on November 10., Shahab Shahabi hanged on November 17. and Hassan Baba-ahmadi son of Lotfali, hanged on November 24, said Bahrami to the reporters. Theye were all convicted of murder, according to the report.
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA Bahrami also told the reporters that four others who are sentenced to death are in the phase of implementation of the verdict.
Last update: 6 December
...................................................................................................................
Iranian-Candian blogger in prison in Iran
Iran Human Rights, December 9: In recent weeks there have been several unofficial reports about arrestation of the Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein derakhshan in Iran. Hossein derakhshan who has Canadian citizenship was allegedly visiting Iran when he was arrested in his residence and has been kept in custody since then, reported the Canadian news site "Globe and mail". However, Iranian authorities haven’t yet confirmed the arrestation.
"The embassy of Canada is pressing the Iranian authorities to confirm whether or not this Canadian is, in fact, being detained," Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) spokesman Rodney Moore told The Globe and Mail. "[DFAIT is] actively seeking confirmation of the reported arrest of a Canadian citizen in Iran."
...................................................................................................................................
Student harrased in prison
AIPP: Hood Yazerlou, student of Industrial management of Massoomein University of the religious city of Quom, who was arbitrarily arrested on 24 May 2008, for no clarified reason, has been transferred to solitary confinement since 7 December in 209 section of Evin prison. Hood had informed his family during a visit about the transfer of Kamyar and Arash Alaei (two Aids specialists also arrested on various charges including “ being in contact with the US-government”.
The two brothers are founders of the triangular system of clinics established to curb Aids and are members of the Asian society, and have been in prison since June this year. In this regard, Hassan Haddad, deputy prosecutor general for security was quoted to have stated "The US is infiltrating Iran, and apart from using tough measures they use methods to attract people to their cause".
Mr.Yazerloo (nearly 21 years old) is spending day and night under freezing conditions in solitary confinement. He is left in unbearable conditions as a weak light is always on so as to prevent his sleep (if any).
Hood Yazerloo has been under these horrendous situations for the past 6 months. During the first thirty seven days of his solitary confinement, his prison conditions and sanitary was extremely poor as the result of which his lungs were infected and eventually he was coughing blood, but any medical assistance for him was prevented by prison officials. Mr.Yazerloo, 21, was arbitrarily taken in to detention, after he came back from visiting his Aunt who is a member of the PMOI stationed in Iraq.
Last update: 2 Novemebr 2008
.......................................................................................................................
Amnesty International
Public statement
IRAN Mahmoud Matin (m), aged 52, civil engineer
Arash Basirat (m), aged 44 Christian converts
Mahmoud Matin and Arash Basirat have been formally charged with apostasy, which on conviction can carry the death sentence. Their lawyer was initially informed of their charge in early August. They are prisoners of conscience, held solely for their religious beliefs.
Mahmoud Matin and Arash Basirat were arrested on 15 May 2008 by Ministry of Intelligence officials in Shiraz, south-west Iran, where they were having a meeting with 13 other people, who were also interrogated but released. They are both being held in a detention centre in Shiraz that is controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. They were in solitary confinement for two months before being placed in a cell together around 15 July.
Both Mahmoud Matin’s and Arash Basirat’s families have tried to secure their release on bail before their trial takes place but this was refused by the authorities. Mahmoud Matin has been able to see his wife on short visits. Arash Basirat is diabetic and has become very weak and his medical condition has deteriorated.
Mahmoud Matin and Arash Basirat were charged with apostasy under Article 214 of the Code of Criminal Procedures. This states that where there is no existing law on a matter, courts are obliged to resort to fiqh resources (religious jurisprudence/interpretative works of Islamic jurists) or credible fatwas (religious edicts) to issue verdicts and sentences. The late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s treatise on legal affairs, the Tahrir ol Vassileh, provides a fatwa on apostasy and states that male apostates who were born as Muslims should be put to death; it is feared that this may be used when they come before the court to convict them and sentence them to death. Other charges which were initially brought against them, including “propaganda against the state”, “disturbing public opinion” and “distributing false information” have since been dropped.
Christianity is a recognized religion in Iran, but evangelical Christians, some of whom have converted from Islam, often face harassment by the authorities. In recent months, since May, there has been an increase in the number of Christians arrested. Most of the arrests have taken place in Bandar Abbas, in Hormozgan province, Esfahan in central Iran, Sanandaj in north-west Iran and Kermanshah in western Iran.
Conversion from Islam (apostasy) is forbidden under Islamic law, which requires apostates to be put to death if they refuse to go back to Islam. There is currently no specific provision in the Iranian Penal Code for apostasy, but judges are required to use their knowledge of Islamic law to rule on cases where no specific legislation exists in the Penal Code.
A new version of the Iranian Penal Code has recently been passed by the majles (parliament). In the original draft it prescribed the death penalty for those considered to be apostates and it is believed that this provision remains in the version approved. The law must be vetted by the Council of Guardians for conformity to Islamic Law and the Constitution before it can be signed and come into effect.
Article 23 of the Iranian Constitution states: "The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief." Under Article 18 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party, "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching." An individual's right to adopt a religion (including by converting from his/her original religion to another faith) is absolute and cannot be subject to limitations.
Last update: 18 September 2008
............................................................................................................................................
Two arrested on the 20th universary of 1988 Massacre
Iran- Tehran, 1 September: The Iranian security forces prevented families of political prisoners who were killed during the 1988 Massacre, to gather in Khavaran cemetery in southern part of Tehran. Security forces as well as police in a large number blocked the roads to the cemetery and any one who tried other ways to enter the cemetery was beaten and arrested. It is estimated that as many as 35 people were arrested. All except a journalist (Shirin Partoo)and a women rights activist(Hoshmand Tehrani)'were released on bails later.
Bakground
In summer 1998, the Iranian Islamic regime killed thousands of political prisoners who were serving their sentences. They all had survived the mass executions of the early years of 1980s. At the beginning of the 80s (1981-1987), the Iranian Islamic regime arrested thousands of its opposition and executed them after torturing them. It is estimated that 20000 were either shot by a firing squad or were hung in early years of 80s.
Every year on August 31st(This year 29th August), the Memorial Day of massacre of political prisoners, family members gather in Khavaran Cemetery to commemorate their loved ones.
The bodies were buried in mass graves, many of which are not yet known to the families. Today, many families do not know where their loved ones are buried. The Islamic Republic of Iran refuses to name the graves. A number of the graves have been discovered by the families. The most well-known graves are found in Khavaran cemetery in southwest suburbs of the capital of Iran, Tehran.Khavaran is an abandoned cemetery belonging to Bahais.
Last update: 1 Septemebr 2008
.........................................................................................................................................
Silver Rose Award for bus drivers in Tehran
An announcement by ITF
15 September 2008
The ITF is proud to congratulate both Mansour Osanloo and the Vahed Syndicate – the Tehran bus drivers’ union of which he is the President – on the announcement that they are to receive the Solidar Silver Rose Award.
The Silver Rose Award recognises individuals and organisations whose struggle contributes greatly to social justice and equality throughout the world. Solidar (www.solidar.org) is a European network of labour and social organisations and is recognised by the ILO.
The ITF and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) nominated Mansour Osanloo and the Vahed Syndicate for the award and both organisations describe themselves as delighted at the decision.
Mac Urata, Secretary of the ITF's Inland Transport Section, commented: “We and everyone else who supports the campaign for justice for workers in Iran can be justifiably pleased at the news of this well-deserved award.”
“Sadly,” he continued, “Mansour is unlikely to be able to receive it in person when it is presented at the European Parliament in Brussels in October, because he is still being unjustly held in jail. In fact, the latest bad news is that instead of being moved to hospital to receive treatment for his eye problems he has instead been transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City. This is a reminder of how far we have to go in our efforts on his and his colleagues’ behalf – but for one day at least we can take pleasure in the good news of the award and what it says about the worldwide recognition of what is being done to good men and women inside Iran.”
http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/257
Association of Iranian Political Prisoners in Exile (AIPP) 2008 Conference
Stockholm, 22nd & 23rd August
Twenty years ago in the summer of 1988 thousands of Iranian political prisoners were taken from their cells and executed. All over Iran men and women were blindfolded and shot or hung in exercise yards or prayer halls. None of them were taken to trial, instead they were asked a few questions by what became known as the ‘death commission’ and sentenced to die according to their responses. The ‘crimes’ committed by many of these prisoners consisted of expressing their non-violent political beliefs, perhaps by selling newspapers or attending meetings and demonstrations.
On this sad anniversary AIPP’s conference had two themes, commemoration and justice. Several hundred people came together to remember the victims of ’88 and the never ending pain of their friends and family. But they also met to campaign for justice for these victims and an end to a culture of impunity in Iran which rewards rather than punishes those responsible for killing and torture.
The conference was held over two days at Stockholm University and Husby Traff )Community Hall ( . Presentations were made in Swedish and English at the University and Farsi at Husby Traff. Both days were well attended and there was standing room only for much of the time at the University. It was particularly encouraging to see many young people, proving that disgust at human rights abuses and a desire for justice endures from one generation to the next.
We were honoured by an array of inspiring and distinguished speakers, including lawyers and academics, several of them ex-political prisoners. We were also delighted to welcome Hans Linde, a Swedish MP who reminded everyone just how much even a small country like Sweden can do on the international scene to promote respect for human rights.
Proceedings at Stockholm University were started by a speech from Ahmad Mossavi which really set the tone for the whole conference and reminded everyone just why they were there. Ahmad survived severe torture and ten years in Iranian jails; he was in Rasht prison when ninety of his colleagues were murdered in the summer ’88 massacres. Ahmad gave us a glimpse of the horror of those days – the sound of shooting and doors banging , followed by a silence that seemed to become deeper and more absolute as more and more lives were snuffed out. Yet if Ahmad’s speech showed us the prisoner’s despair it also brought us a survivor’s hope and a call to action.
The need for action was emphasised by the following two speakers, Kaveh Shahrooz and Payam Akhavan. Both gave clear, incisive summaries of the sort of action they believe is necessary if the perpetrators of the ’88 killings are ever to be held to account.
Kaveh Shahrooz is a young lawyer based in New York who has written about the ’88 massacres in the Harvard Human Rights Journal. Kaveh reminded us the Iranian government is responsible for two crimes, the mass killings and then a determined campaign to cover them up and pretend they never happened. We cannot turn the clock back and prevent the executions but we can make sure the victims are not forgotten and that the Islamic regime will be held to account for killing thousands of political prisoners.
Payam Akhavan is Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal. He served as a UN war crimes prosecutor at The Hague and kindly stopped off in Stockholm to share his expertise with us before flying on to the current conflict in Georgia. Payam made an impassioned speech and called on the international community to stop excusing or ignoring the Iranian government’s crimes in the name of cultural difference. As he said, “These are not crimes of medieval Islam; they are the crimes of the modern, authoritarian state. It’s all about maintaining power.”
Kaveh and Payam acknowledged there are many difficulties involved in defending the victims of ’88, not least the fact that a significant number were members of the People’s Mujahidin, a group that is often viewed with suspicion by human rights activists. It has been classified as a terrorist organisation by some governments. The presence of ‘unpopular’ victims is compounded by the international community’s approach to Iran which focuses almost exclusively on the nuclear issue and regional security, that is the Iranian government’s ambitions in the Gulf and their support for Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. There is no serious, sustained interest in the Iranian people’s human rights.
Faced with these hard political realities Kaveh and Payam emphasised the need for research and co-operation. There are still too many gaps in our knowledge of what happened in 1988 and these must be filled if there is to be any chance of tracking down perpetrators and bringing them to trial. To this end Payam has helped to found the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre in New Haven. This centre is compiling a report on the 1988 massacres, using available documentation and analysing it in the light of international law.
The slow, painstaking accumulation of evidence has a double purpose – to obtain justice for the victims of ’88 and to stop international support for the Iranian government. Kaveh and Payam showed how convenient the world’s obsession with the nuclear question is for the Iranian regime, enabling them to repress the population and keep it as a weak, ‘third world’ nation.
More stress on human rights would support civil society in Iran itself, encouraging those Labour and student activists, women’s groups and lawyer’s associations who battle against repression every day. Iran’s extraordinarily diverse civil society is a gift that has been ignored by the outside world for too long.
Kaveh and Payam’s inspired speeches clearly showed us that a successful prosecution of those responsible for the ’88 massacres will have many important consequences. It will overturn the pernicious concept of ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ victims, proving that human rights are everyone’s right. It will undermine the whole rationale of the Iranian regime, built on the idea that violence pays.
The importance of protecting writers and journalists who criticise governments and their policies was the theme of the next speech by Maria Modig. Maria is a prominent Swedish writer who was President of Swedish PEN Writers in Prison Committee for several years. PEN stands for poets, essayists, novelists and Maria spoke about the vital role writers can play in creating an open society where independent thought is valued, not feared.
Sadly, many writers pay a high price for expressing their ideas and PEN works to protect those who face censorship, threats and imprisonment. Iran currently imprisons the highest number of journalists in the Middle East. Maria pointed out that by finding and listening to the stories of the persecuted we can spread their ideas and prevent their voices being drowned out.
Susan Bahar then spoke about the execution of children in Iran during the 1980s. Susan is Editor-in Chief of Darvag Magazine for children and young people and head of the Stop Child Labour Association. Many young people below 18 years of age were executed in Iran. Again it is important to remember that these children were not killed because they were carrying guns or drugs, or because they were dishonest or violent. They died simply because they had political beliefs and aspirations. They were shot or hung because they dared to write a slogan – ‘ Bread, Housing and Freedom’ - on a wall .
Mitra Lager, the next speaker, is also a survivor of the 1980s massacres. She told a sad history about her co-prisoner. Fershteh was a university student who met the love of her life, Shahram, whilst she was in hiding. Shahram and Fereshteh married but a few months later they were hunted down and imprisoned.
Shahram was sentenced to death, Fereshteh to ten years imprisonment. Fereshteh could not believe her husband would be killed and as the time of his execution drew near she became more and more distressed. She began to scream and insist that if Shahram was to be killed she wanted to die alongside him. She could not imagine living without her beloved husband. Eventually the prison authorities tired of Fereshteh’s shouting – they had executed thousands of innocent people, so what difference would one more make? Fereshteh Shabani was executed together with her husband.
Two invited speakers were unable to attend but Ahmad Eskandari, conference chairman and mediator, read messages of support from Drewery Dyke, Head of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa programme in London, and Professor Shahla Talebi of Arizona State University. Professor Talebi referred to a series of prison letters, exchanged between husband and wife. An extract from one of the wife’s letters brought home the sense of isolation and longing felt by so many prisoners – ‘In the absence of any news about you, for hours last night, I sat in solitude with you and with the sky of our memories…I am fine and as always spend my days with sweet memories and treasured beliefs and more than ever am eager to see you.’ The prisoners’ loneliness must not be compounded by our forgetting the crimes committed against them.
A film, The Tree That Remembers, by Iranian-Canadian director Masoud Rauf was then shown. Masoud was driven to make his film by the suicide of an Iranian ex-political prisoner, also exiled in Canada. The film inter-twines the stories of several prisoners and their families, perfectly illustrating Payam Akhavan’s words: “Behind every victim there is a name, behind every victim there is a universe of emotions and relations.”
Finally, it is very important to say that on both days of the conference we were entertained by a number of talented singers and musicians. Before the speeches at Stockholm University Gisso Shakeri, an Iranian singer, and Peatriz Pine´da, who is originally from Chile, performed several moving songs. Both women are blessed with voices able to express sadness and joy, hope and despair in every syllable. We all thank them very much for their unique contribution to the conference.
We hope that everyone who attended AIPP’s 2008 conference found it a valuable experience. We look forward to seeing you at future events and urge you to support in every way possible our campaign for justice for all those who were executed during the 1980s, Iran’s ‘dark decade’.
“Difficulties should propel us to act, not despair.” Kaveh Shahrooz
A short history of the mass execution in 1980s (in English)
En kort sammanfattning av vad som hände 1988(in Swedish)
Love and Death in Prison Letters
messages of support from Drewery Dyke
20 Years of Silence: A Legal and Political Analysis of the Demand for Accountabilit
Tystnaden kring massmordet 1988 måste brytas
Vad hände oss under sommaren 1988?
What happened to us in the summer of 1988?
The death convicts and we the others
Iran-seminarium 22 august 2008
Note: The English and Swedish versions of the remaining speeches as well as the film of the seminar will be published on this websida soon.
Last update: 31 August 31
......................................................................................................
Iran- A seminar
On the 20th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of Iranian political prisoners
Friday 22 August 2008, 14:00 – 17:00
Stockholm University, Universitsvägen 10B, Plan 3, hörsal B5, Sweden
Chair: Association of Iranian Political Prisoners (in Exile)
Are you interested in questions related to human rights, human failures and capability, society and politics?How we can make changes and improve the situation in Iran? You have the opportunity to listen to and learn from experts in this field. Take part and express your views!
This seminar concentrates on the massacre of political prisoners and execution of children.
The seminar will be held in English and Swedish.
Lecturers
Payam Akhvan
Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Chairman of the Global Conference on the Prevention of Genocide. First UN war crimes prosecutor at the Hague. He has also served as counsel and advocate in several high-profile cases before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights.
Kaveh Shahrooz
Lawyer based in New York. Graduate of Harvard Law School. Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Human Rights Journal.
Shahla Talebi
Graduate in Anthropology. Professor and Faculty member of Arizona State University. Former political prisoner and survivor of the mass executions of the early 80s and 1988 massacre.
Ahmad Mossavi
Former political prisoner and survivor of the mass executions of the early 80s and 1988 massacre. He has written his own memories in the book entitled “Good Night Comrades”.
Susan Bahar
Editor-in chief of Darvag Magazine for children and young people. Head of Association of “Stop Child Labour”.
Hans Linde
Swedish Member of Parliament who represents the Swedish Left Party in the Foreign Committee of Parliament.
Maria Modig
Prominent Swedish writer. Member of Swedish PEN Writers in Prison Committee, served as President of this Committee and Vice-President of Swedish PEN for several years.
Topics for discussion
Music:
Film:
Note: The same program will be held in persian on Saturday 23 August 2008,18:00 - 22:00.
For the Swedish version of the program, please click Swedish.
To see the poster of the 20th anniversary of 1988 masscare, please click Poster.
Latest update: 15 August 2008
...............................................................................................................................................
Public Statement
5 August 2008
Subject: Two Kurdish civil activists sentenced to death
Urgent action
A court in Kurdish capital of Sanandaj confirmed the death sentences of two Kurdish civil activists today 5th of August. Anvar Hosseinpanahai, a school teacher in Kurdish city of Dehgolan and Arslan Olyaei have been in prison since October 2007.
A lower court sentenced them to death in the beginning of July 2008. Both har denied allegation of cooperating with a Kurdish armed group opposing the Islamic regime of Iran.
The Assoiciation of Iranian Political Prisners(in Exile) strongly condemns death sentences issued upon the above-named civil activists. It is urgent that international public opinion is mobilized to halt the executions in Iran.
Association of Iranian Political prisoners(in Exile
www.kanoon-zendanian.org
......................................................................................................
The following statement has been issued by Hans Linde och Kalle Larson, members of Swedish Parliement who are representing Swedish Left Party in Foreign Committee of the swedish parliement.
Stockholm, 5 August 2008
We hereby express our strong condemnation of the execution of the journalist Yaghob Mirnahad by the Iranian regime. The widespreading usage of the death penalty in Iran is highly disturbing, not the least since it is being used as a tool to terrorize the population from
voicing criticism or participating in legitimate civil society activities. The killing of Mirnahad is unfortunately not the only such case in recent times, and several other prisoners of conscience face the threat of execution at the moment. It is urgent that international
public opinion is mobilized to halt the executions in Iran.
Hans Linde
Member of the Swedish Parliament
Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swedish Parliament
Kalle Larsson
Member of the Swedish Parliament
Alternate Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swedish
Parliament
Last update: 5 August 2008
..............................................................................................
Public Statement
Association of Iranian Political Prisoners(in Exile)
5 August 2008
Baluchi journalist executed in the city of zahedan
The Islamic regime of Iran executed a Baluchi journalist, Yaghob Mirnahad along with Abdulnasser Tahri Sader whose identification is still unknown. Yaghob Mirnahad was a well-known journalist in Iranian Baluchestan. A civil rights campaigner, aged 28, was sentenced to death on false charges including “cooperating with Jondullah” a Baluchi armed group opposing the Islamic regime of Iran, and “"membership of the proscribed group”. Yaghob Mirnahad was arrested in May 2008. No evidence has been offered to substantiate this allegation. On the contrary, all Mehrnehad's activities have been lawful and peaceful. Irans Baluchi minority live mainly in the south-east of the country.
Yaghub Mehrnehad was the head of a government-registered NGO, The Voice of Justice Young People´s Society, which specializes in organising events such as concerts and educational courses for young Baluchi people. This is not the first time the Iranian regime execute dissenters under the false allegations. There are more civil campaigner such as Farzad Kamanger, a school teacher, Farahad Vakili and Ali Heydarian who have been sentenced to death under the false allegations. These three are belonging to Irans Kurdish minority.
The Association of Iranian Political Prisoners(in Exile)is deeply concerned about the life of Farzad Kmanger, Farhad Vakili and Ali Heydarian while condemns strongly the execution of Yaghob Mirnahad.
International Section of Association of Iranian Political Prisoners(in Exile)
Last update:5 August 2008
........................................................................................................
A Kurdish political prisoner died in hospital
A Kurdish political prisoner, Kaveh Azizpour(m) died in a hospital in Iranian city of Oromiyeh , after being operated for the second time on 16 May 2008. He has been subjected to severe torture in detention and had lost a lot of weight that his family did not recognize him. According to his family members, he had heart attack two times during interrogation and as he was tortured. The prison authorities were forced to transfer him to the city hospital as he was unconscious. He died at the hospital after 20 days.
.
Kaveh was 25 years old and was arrested along with his brother Assad Azizpour in January 2006 following a mass protest in Kurdish city of Mahabad. He was sentenced to 15 years prison on various charges, including "acting against state security", "membership of a Kurdish Party" and other security provisions.
In January 2008, a law faculty student, Ebrahim Lotfollahi(m), was killed under torture in the prison of Sanandaj under torture. His body did not stand torture for more then 10 days.
Last update: 17 May 2008
............................................................................................................
Six Bahá'í leaders arrested in Iran
NEW YORK — Six Bahá’í leaders in Iran were arrested and taken to the notorious Evin prison yesterday in a sweep that is ominously similar to episodes in the 1980s when scores of Iranian Bahá’í leaders were summarily rounded up and killed. Cont..
Last update: 16 may 2008
........................................................................................................
A writer and regime critic arrested in Tehran
Ahmad Daneshpazir, a regime critic and writer, who was arrested on 11 February at his house, has been been transferred to solitary confinement of 209 of Evin prison. His charges are not yet clear, but it seems that they may be related to several articles written under a fictitious name "Alef Bigharar" and printed on his behalf.
Following the arrest of Daneshpazir's, his son Damoon Daneshpazir was arrested and transferred to solitary confinement of 209. Damoon was released on bail after 8 days. The Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran had charged him with propagating against the State.
Last update: 8 May 2008
............................................................................................................
Six worker activists arrested in May Day in Iran
According to labour sources in Iran, Security forces of the Islamic regime of Iran arrested at least seven worker activists in two different parts of Iran, Sanandaj and Oslavieh on International Labour Day. According to this report, 3 activists were arrested in Kurdish city of Sanandaj following a May day gathering in this city. They were accused of organising the May Day demonstration of the city. 4 other were arrested in industrial region of Oslavieh in the City of Busher in Sotuhern part of Iran for the same reason.
The names of the arrests are reported as : Salah Zamani(m), Shiva Khirabadi(f), Abdullah Najar(m), Ghaleb Hosseini(m),Ali Hosseini(m), Bah-odin Sadoghi(m) and Sussan Razani(f).
Last upade: 2 may 2008
..................................................................................................
Women´s rights activist sentenced to prison
An Iranian women´s rights activist, Parvin Ardalan, sentenced to 2 years prison by a Islamic court in Tehran on variuos charges, such as: taking part in an” illegal demosntartion” and “trying to confuse the security of the country”. This sentenced has been suspended for three years.She will have to serve this period of prison if she “commit a crime”. She was awarded a prize by Swedish Center of OlofPalme few motnhs ago but she was not allowed to leave the county. She was stopped at the Tehran airport and her passport was taken by security police.
Ardalan was arrested along with 32 other women´s rights activists following a demonstration held in favour of the women´s righs in Hafte Tir Squre in Tehran on 12 June 2006. She was released on bail after few weeks.
Last update: 29 April 2008
...........................................................................................................................................
Women´s rights activist arrested in Tehran
Security forces of intelligent service arrested Khadijeh Moghadam , women´s right activist and members of women’s One Million Signature Campaign against discrimination on 26th of April while she was called to “Revolutionary” Court in Tehran.
Khadijeh Moghadam was earlier sentenced to six months imprisonment by the same court. It has been said that she has been transffered to Vozara prison in northern part of Tehran.
Last update: 28 April 2008
.....................................................................................................................
Student activist sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment
Arman Sedaghati, member of the central council of Student Association of Polytechnic university sentenced to 2 years suspended imprisonment. He was called to Tehran Islamic “Revolutionary” Court on 17th of April.
His charges refers to attendance and speeches in a student’s demonstration at the faculty of Social Science of the Alame Tabatabaei University on 29 October 2007. He was arrested along with two other student activists, Maziar Samiei and Behnam Sepehrmand following the demonstration and spent 20 days in solitary confinement of the Evin prison.
It should be added that Pedram Rafaati, another student activist of Polytechnic university, was also called to revolutionary court.
Last update: 27 April 2008
...............................................................................................
Unjust trail for three Kurdish students
Three Kurdish students; Sabah Nassiri, Hedayat Ghazali and Yasser Gholi, have been detained and are facing torture and interrogation.Two of these students: Sabah Nassir and Hedayat Ghazali have been held illegally for the past eleven months.They were transferred mysteriously from the 209 section of Evin prison to the so called court, in which they underwent a summary trial without the presence of a lawyer. They have apparently been held, interrogated and trialed in relation to activities of a student news bulletin called "Rozhameh", No detail of their trial is available.
Prior to the new developments, Sabah Nassiri, Hedayat Ghazali had both asked to be trialed officially in an open court with their attorney present. The two activists had been arrested eleven months prior to this and were charged with delivering a speech in a meeting held to support "Educating the mother tongue". They were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry and held in Sanandaj intelligence detention centre, west of Iran, and eventually, transferred to 209 section of Tehran.
Sabah Nassiri is the head director of "Rozhameh" in Tehran University, and Hedayat Ghazali is a member of the editorial board of the news bulletin.
At the same time another court in Sanandaj, has announced a destined trial of Yasser Goli to be held in the western city of Iran, on charges of threatening National security, and that Yassers' mother is to be tailed along her son.
Mrs.Goli has been, herself a civil right activist on women's' issues. She had been arrested on a different occasion by the Ministry, but had managed to bail out.
Source: AIPP
Last update: 25 April 2008
...................................................................................................
Political prisoner transffered to solitary conefinement
According to a report from Iran, Mr. Arjang Davoudi, a political prisoner detained in the public section 3 of Evin prison , has been transferred to solitary confinement of the section known as "2-ALef"(2-A) ,on 14 April , for no specific reason. Section "2-Alef" is supervised under the Security division of the RGC. Prison cells in this section are known to measure 1.5meters wide, and 2.5 meters long, and contradict International standards. Arjang, was called to the court a day before his transfer and was interrogated.
Mr.Davoudi was arrested in 2003 by the security agents. The 26th branch of the so called revolution Court, charged him for conspiracy against national security and propagating against the Islamic Republic. He was then transferred from his Home town Tehran to the southern city of Bandar Abass. Source:AIPP
Last update: 17 April 2008.............................................................................................
Detained Students May Face Torture
...........................................................................................................
Prison sentence of Amirkabir students confirmed
Prosecutor of the 44th Branch of the appeals court, Mr.Saedi, confirmed prison sentence of the Three disputed Amir Kabir Students; Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad Ghassaban, and Ehsan Mansouri.The 6th Branch of the so called revolution court sentenced the three students each, three, two and two years prison sentences respectively. The given verdict is non-appeal able.
It is reported that the Appeal court has disputed the charges under the pressure of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and the General Prosecutors office of Tehran.Prior to this, the Public court had violated the 6th branch courts' verdict, which had acquitted the three students and ordered their release on bail.
It is evident that the public court had been influence by the Intelligence ministry, specifically the personal persistence of deputy General prosecutor "Hadad",(Known by the prisoners as the butcher of political prisoners).The three students have been in prison since February 2007.They have been under constant torture and pressure of the Intelligence Ministry to provide fake interviews and accept their charges.
At the beginning they faced charges of insulting "sacred values" of the Islamic Republic, by printing leaflets with insulting images of the religious leader. They denied the charges categorically, saying the publications had been faked.
The public Court had acquitted the students of all charges, namely: Insulting sacred religious values, insulting kins to all Moslems (a term usually associated with relatives of the prophet , in this case, the country's appointed religious leader), insulting the people of Ghom city, Insulting hejabed women, young believers, insulting the Presidency of the state and other officials including the science and technology Minister, and officials of Amirkabir University.
Last update: 5 A pril 2008
........................................................................................................................................
A video report of a ceremony held to commemorate of mass killings of political prisoners in Iran. To see the film click...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Yaghob Mirnahad executed 4 August 2008 in city of Zahedan |
 |
Ebrahim Lotfullahi stutdent tortured to death |
 |
More photos of detained students |
 |
Photos of four left student arrested on 3 December 2007
|
 |
Photos of Student demonstration at Tehran University
|
 |
| Police beating youngs |
Click on the pictures to see more.....................................
|
Policewomen beating women in a demonestration in Tehran To see more pictures click on the above picture |
 |
Student protests |
 |
 |
 |
| Shahla Jahed sentenced to death by hanging |
 |
| Kobra Rahmanpoor sentenced to death |
 |
 |
| Children of earthquake |
 |
| Defend Malalai Joya |
| Seminar |
