Eftekhar Barzegarian’s Trial on May 2nd

Student sources told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the trial of Eftekhar Barzegarian, a student activist at Mashad’s Ferdowsi University will be held on 2 May 2010, with Judge Kavoosi presiding.  According to a source close to Barzegarian, he will be tried on charges of “participation in illegal congregations,” while he has not participated in any of the post-election protest gatherings.  The source added that Barzegarian’s interrogators and judicial authorities have not produced any evidence in support of his participation in the gatherings, and that he was illegally imprisoned at Mashad’s Vakil Abad Prison for eight months.

Eftekhar Barzegarian is a former student at Mashad’s Ferdowsi University who was deprived from continuing his education.  After eight months, he was released from Vakil Abad Prison a few days ago on guardianship orders (in lieu of bail).

Barzegarian was arrested on 26 August 2009, and was detained in solitary confinement for 28 days.  Despite the fact that a guardianship order had been issued for his release and a guardian had stepped forward, his case investigator refused his release.  After a month in detention, he was transferred to Ward 5 of Vakil Abad Prison, where dangerous criminals are kept.  During his imprisonment Barzegarian suffered major illnesses, but prison authorities refused his access to medication.