Prominent Lawyer Faces New Charges While Clients Ail in Prison

Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, a prominent lawyer who was arrested after the 2009 presidential election on charges of “firearms and drug possession” in his legal offices and released later on bail, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he has been informed of new charges against him, and summoned to Evin Prison Court.

“I have been charged with “being a co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center,” “acting against national security,” and “propagating against the regime,” and issued bail orders of $70,000, but I don’t have any court dates for either of my cases,” Dadkhah said about his new charges.

Dadkhah represents many clients who were arrested in the aftermath of the 2009 elections. He represents Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a university student who has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and is currently inside Evin Prison’s Ward 350, suffering from severe kidney complications.  “His kidneys have developed an acute condition, and he must be transferred outside the prison for immediate treatment. The Prison Infirmary’s limited resources are sufficient for his treatment. The prisoner’s family have also said that they would pay his entire treatment expenses. Right now they are trying to seek the authorities’ agreement for outside treatment for Ronaghi Maleki,” he said.

Dadkhah also expressed concern about the physical condition of another one of his clients, Ebrahim Yazdi, Secretary-General of the Iran Freedom Movement. “He is not well and his next trial date is 3 March. I hope the court would consider his physical condition and age and agree to a furlough, so that he may seek medical attention outside,” added Dadkhah.