Prisoners / Arrests
In Recurring Pattern, Labor Activist Denied Furlough and Medical Leave
Following a recent pattern of restrictions on political prisoner rights, authorities have forbidden imprisoned labor activist Reza Shahabi from furlough or medical leave. His brother Hassan, Shahabi, told the Campaign that his physical condition is rapidly deteriorating, and he is in need of urgent medical attention. ...
Widespread Detentions of Ahwazi Activists Mark Anniversary of 2005 Crackdown
Iranian authorities have detained at least 26 people in the city of Ahwaz and its surroundings in the southwestern province of Khuzestan during the weeks leading up to the April 15 anniversary of a 2005 protest and subsequent crackdown. ...
“None of Our Rights Have Been Observed,” Says Abdolfattah Soltani’s Wife
Massoumeh Dehghan, wife of prominent human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that neither her husband’s nor the family’s rights have been respected since his imprisonment almost eight months ago. Dehghan told the Campaign that authorities have denied Soltani his rightful release on bail, have not returned any ...
Imprisoned Blogger Will Get Medical Leave Only If He Confesses, Say Authorities
On 8 April, authorities transferred Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a blogger who has been suffering from kidney and bladder disease while in prison, to Hasheminejad Hospital. His mother, Zoleikha Mousavi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that judicial authorities have denied him medical leave. “They want Hossein to accept his charges and write a ...
Mourning Mothers Supporter Receives 4.5 Years in Prison for Visiting Graves
On 3 April, authorities sentenced Mansoureh Behkish, a supporter of the Mourning Mothers, to 4.5 years in prison for “propagating against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Speaking with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, she said that her only crime was visiting gravesites. ...
As Mohammad Davari’s Conditions Deteriorate in Prison, Furlough Continues to be Denied
Judicial authorities have imposed an exorbitant bail on Mohammad Davari, whose conditions continue to worsen in prison. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Bijan Davari, Mohammad Davari’s brother, said his physical and psychological condition is seriously deteriorating. ...
Revolutionary Court Unqualified to Review Case, Says Mohammad Seifzadeh
“Mr. Seifzadeh will not appear at this court session again for the same reason as before–he does not recognize the Revolutionary Court as qualified to review this case. He believes he should be tried in the Tehran Province Criminal Court, in the presence of a jury qualified to review press and political charges. As in ...
Nasrin Sotoudeh Denied Furlough, Telephone Contact
Prominent human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh was deprived of furlough and telephone contact with her family during the Persian New Year, her husband Reza Khandan told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in an interview. “Unfortunately, after two years of imprisonment, her leave was denied and she and the other women in her ...
Despite Posting Bail, Former Tehran Mayor Remains in Security Ward
74-year-old political prisoner and former mayor of Tehran Mohammad Tavassoli continues to be held in prison despite his deteriorating physical condition and posting bail, said Mehdi Nourbakhsh in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Dr. Mehdi Nourbakhsh, a close relative of the political prisoner, told the International Campaign for Human ...
Imprisoned Journalist Beaten During Interrogation
Imprisoned journalist Ehsan Houshmand, who suffers from serious ear pain as a result of beatings he received during his interrogation, is currently being threatened with his wife’s arrest if he publicizes information about his case and condition, his wife told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in an interview. “In his last contact ...
Journalist Massoud Lavasani Under Surveillance After Release
Following news of the disappearance of journalist Massoud Lavasani last week, his father told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “Something terrible happened to my son, but he doesn’t want to say anything out of fear for his family’s security. I am really sorry to live in Iran under these circumstances. I have ...
“I Am Not a Criminal. I Will Not Request Pardon,” Says Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi, the deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) who was sentenced to six years in prison on 5 March by an appeals court, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she did not request a pardon, as all DHRC activities were based on the laws of ...
Journalist’s Wife Speaks of His Physical Abuse and Need for Medical Treatment
In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Nahid Kouhshekaf, the wife of journalist Ehsan Houshmand who has been in prison for more than two months, said that she has not had any visits with her husband since his arrest and that he has been subjected to physical abuse in prison. ...
In Solitary Confinement for 65 Days, Political Activist Gets Only One Phone Call
Researcher and sociologist Saeed Madani, who was arrested by security forces on 7 January 2012, remains in solitary confinement and has only been allowed to contact his family once since his detention began, his wife Mansoureh Ettefagh told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. ...
Mohammad Davari’s Health Condition Deteriorates in Prison
Mohammad Davari, former editor-in-chief of Saham News website, has developed acute psychological illness in prison and is in critical condition, his brother Bijan Davari told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in an interview. “Mohammad is not well at all. Besides psychological problems, he has chest pains and his teeth have gone bad,” ...
Execution of Kurdish Political Prisoner Looms
A source close to Habibollah Golparipour, a Kurdish political prisoner on death row, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his family is concerned about his imminent execution. “Yesterday, 15 March [2012], the prison guards called him to take a phone call, but when he went to the guards, Intelligence Office forces ...
Special Rapporteur Receives Widespread Support in Human Rights Council
Iranian Delegate Responds Angrily Without Addressing Report's Content Head of Iran's Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani delivers his opening statements at today's Human Rights Council (Reporting ...
Malekpour’s Sister Fears Execution Imminent
Expressing grave concern about her brother’s conditions, Maryam Malekpour told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her family has had no news about her brother Saeed Malekpour, whose death sentence was forwarded to the Iranian Judiciary’s Sentence Enforcement Unit in February 2012. ...
Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand in Critical Condition, Denied Basic Prisoner Rights
Imprisoned Kurdish activist Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand is in critical condition after embarking on a hunger strike over two weeks ago, his wife told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. ...
Half Measures: Juvenile Execution Under Iran’s New Penal Code
Iran’s new penal code was finally approved by the Guardian Council, a body of clerics and lawyers in charge of approving legislation, in February 2012. Once the new penal code is signed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and published in the official gazette, it will officially replace the current penal code. The Iranian government purports that ...
Mehdi Khazali Remains in Temporary Detention, on Hunger Strike
In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the son of imprisoned blogger Mehdi Khazali expressed concern about his health 49 days after he began his hunger strike in protest of his “temporary detention” without charges. ...
Kurdish Student Given Suspended Sentence
Branch One of Sanandaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Shirzad Karimi, a Kurdish university student and a member of the Kurdish Students Democratic Union, to four years in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of “propagating against the state,” a local human rights source in Kurdistan told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. ...
Political Prisoner Hospitalized After Heart Condition
Prisoner of conscience Abdolfazl Ghadyani was transferred to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Ghadyani’s wife, Marzieh Rahimi, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that it took prison authorities six days to transfer him to a different hospital as per her request. ...
Imprisoned Blogger on Hunger Strike in Critical Condition
Imprisoned blogger Mehdi Khazali is in critical condition due to his hunger strike, his son Mohammad Saleh Khazali told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran in a February 10 interview. “Today is the 33rd day my father has been on a hunger strike. After he suffered stomach bleeding last week, they transferred him from ...