Arash Saghar — Espionage Charges, Fake Confessions, and an Ambiguous Status

According to research done by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Arash Saghar was a senior member of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s campaign in last year’s presidential election. He worked in Sunni areas of the country, in the Gonbad Kavoos region. He was arrested last November and since then has been in solitary confinement. His condition in detention is unknown at this time.

According to those close to Saghar, he is being pressured because of his relationship with Mowlavi Abdul Hamid, a Sunni leader in Iran. His legal rights to counsel have also been denied. During his seven month incarceration, Saghar has been under severe emotional and psychological pressure, which caused him to confess on television that he had contacts with foreign operatives. He was also fired from his job after his arrest.

Saghar is currently being held in Ward 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. He is being charged with spying for Turkmenistan, a charge for which there is absolutely no evidence. Saghar is married and has a young child.

Background:

Five months’ imprisonment for Arash Saghr in Ward 209 (news link)