Labor Activists Remain in Prison for May Day Gathering
Two leading workers’ rights activists, arrested by security forces in Tehran at an International Labor Day gathering on May 1, 2014, remain in prison. ...
Prisoners / Arrests
Mousavi Medical Condition Called “Alarming” by Daughter
“The family is in complete darkness about my father’s physical conditions and not even allowed a telephone call with him…My father’s health conditions are alarming,” wrote Narges Mousavi, daughter of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader who was abruptly hospitalized for emergency heart surgery on April 29, 2014, in her Facebook page. ...
Cartoon 82: Cocktail Party at Evin
Justifying the April 17 raid on political prisoners at Evin Prison’s Ward 350, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the Spokesperson for the Iranian Judiciary and the country’s Prosecutor General claimed on April 28 that the reason for the raid was that, “some individuals tried to make alcoholic drinks with their fruit rations.” ...
Detained Opposition Leader Mousavi Undergoes Emergency Heart Procedure
On Tuesday, April 29, 2014, an emergency heart procedure was carried out on Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader who has been held under house arrest for three years, without the prior knowledge and consent of his family. ...
Detained Opposition Leader Mousavi Rushed to Hospital
Former presidential candidate and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been held extra-judicially under house arrest for more than three years, was taken to hospital today for urgent heart complications, according to reports from Iran that the Campaign has independently confirmed. ...
Cartoon 81: Ebtekar Newspaper Banned for Reporting Prison Chief’s Ousting
Ebtekar Newspaper was banned after it published news pertaining to removal of Head of Iran's Prisons Organization from office after an April 17, 2014 brutal raid on prisoners. Following a violent raid on political prisoners inside ...
Despite Investigation Pledge, Rouhani Administration Maintains Silence on Prisoner Assault
The families of political prisoners who were assaulted by security guards in the brutal attack in Evin Prison’s Ward 350 on April 17 have yet to receive any response from a government panel appointed to investigate the incident. The attack on the inmates has prompted widespread condemnation inside and outside the country. ...
421 Activists Call on Rouhani to Investigate Prison Assault
In a public letter to President Hassan Rouhani, 421 civil and political activists in Iran called on him to investigate the assault on political prisoners in Evin Prison’s Ward 350, which has now been called “Black Thursday.” ...
Cartoon 80: Raid on Political Prisoners at Evin
On April 17, 2014, more than one hundred guards and intelligence agents raided Evin Prison's Ward 350, where political prisoners are held, according to a Kaleme website report. Political prisoners were brutally beaten and more than 30 of them sustained serious injuries. Kaleme ...
Rouhani’s Silence on Brutal Prison Attack Unacceptable
A week after a violent raid by prison officials at Iran’s notorious Evin Prison led to the beating, injury, and solitary confinement of many political prisoners, Iranian Judiciary officials continue to deny any use of violence while vivid testimonies from the families of the prisoners indicate otherwise. ...
Imprisoned Student Maryam Shafipour Refused Medical Treatment
Maryam Shafipour A source close to the family of imprisoned student activist Maryam Shafipour told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that judicial authorities have refused the family’s repeated requests for her transfer to a hospital ...
Authorities Prevent Hospitalization of Imprisoned Rights Lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani
Abdolfattah Soltani is serving a 13 year term in Evin Prison and his health is in critical condition. Imprisoned human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani is in critical condition ...
No Political Prisoners Among the 920 Pardoned
No political prisoners known to be among the 920 just pardoned. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has pardoned 920 Iranian prisoners on the anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran on March 31, 2014. According to ...
Hundreds of Lawyers Advocate on Behalf of Imprisoned Dervish Lawyers
In two separate letters addressed to Head of the Iranian Judiciary Sadegh Larijani, Iranian lawyers have asked him for his immediate review of the judicial violations in the cases of the imprisoned Dervish lawyers. In two separate ...
Brazil Should Support the Struggle of Iranian Trade Unionists (By Mansour Osanlou)
As an Iranian labor activist, I have always looked for models that my country can follow to improve. Striking a balance between worker rights, economic developments, international trade, and vital social-programs is indeed no easy task, especially for countries with troubled pasts. ...
Judiciary Cancels New Year Furloughs of Political Prisoners
Against customary practice, the Iranian Judiciary prohibited New Year furloughs for political prisoners this year. According to Kaleme website, despite earlier promises by the Tehran Prosecutor, Head of the Iranian Judiciary Sadegh Larijani issued an internal memorandum ordering the denial of furlough for political prisoners. ...
Former Political Prisoner Tells the UN of the Iranian Judiciary’s Lack of Independence
“I have come here because as an Iranian citizen I, my family, and especially my brother, were treated unjustly. We were innocent from the very beginning. There are many like us in Iran’s prisons who are innocent. I came here to be the voice of other innocent people,” former political prisoner Hamid Ghassemi-Shaal said to ...
Cartoon 79: Nowruz 1393
Last week Iranians around the world began their celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. In this cartoon, along with the traditional Haft Sin table, Touka Neyestani has drawn the figure of Gohar Eshghi, ...
Despite Officials’ Claims, 136 Baha’is Held in Prison, Says Representative
Dian Alaei, the Baha’i community representative at the UN Human Rights Council's 25th session in GenevaDian Alaei, Baha’i community representative, reacted to the March 17 statements ...
UN Members Strongly Criticize Executions and Lack of Basic Freedoms in Iran
At Monday’s meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed presented his report on the situation of human rights in Iran. Following his presentation, representatives of member countries, NGOs, and the Iranian delegation offered their responses. ...
Imprisoned Pastor Chained to Hospital Bed, Wife Says
Saeed Abedini's wife told the Campaign that the the pastor was taken to Dey Hospital in Tehran on March 3, 2014, while his hands and feet were chained and then he was tied to the ...
Shaheed Tells the UN Rights Council Deep Reforms Needed
“In order to progress, we must admit that despite existing laws or policies, violations are occurring. And while I can appreciate the possibility that death sentences may not be the first choice of punishment ...
“Personal attacks on UN Officials Show Iranians Not Free to Express Opinions,” Says Ahmed Shaheed
Ahmed Shaheed asked the Iranian Government to allow him to visit the country so that he can have discussions with the government and the civil society in ...
Abdollah Momeni Released After Completing Five Year Term Without Furlough
Photo from Mr. Momeni's Facebook page shows him among friends and family immediately after release on March 13, 2014. Abdollah Momeni, former Spokesperson for the nationwide Iranian alumni association, Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat, was released from prison ...
Human Rights Activist Rejects Criticism of her Meeting with Ashton
"I and a number of women's rights activists were formally invited," to meet Ashton, Mohammadi said. "I saw nothing wrong with the invitation and therefore I accepted it. But what I don't understand is all the criticism accusing me of ...