Wife of political prisoner suffers stress-related miscarriage

GVF — The wife of political prisoner Bahman Sadeghi-Pour has suffered a miscarriage in the fifth month of her pregnancy.

According to opposition website Kaleme, Negar Shah-Pari, wife of jailed activist Bahman Sadeghi-Pour, has suffered a miscarriage. The website says the miscarriage was the outcome of “stress related to the imprisonment of her husband and her two brothers.”

Bahman Sadeghi-Pour is currently serving a four-year sentence for “propagating” against the regime, causing “public disorder” as well as “assembly and collusion.” He had reportedly requested furlough a number of times, but judicial officials denied his requests.

Negar’s brothers, Pourya and Daryoush, are also serving jail terms.

The activist is said to have plunged into a state of “depression” after learning of his wife’s miscarriage, the site added.

Dissident cleric Hasanali Mostafaei detained

GVF — Reports suggest that Iranian authorities have arrested a dissident cleric in the city of Najaf Abad.

According to Jaras, on Monday morning agents from the Ministry of Intelligence entered the home of dissident cleric Hasanali Mostafaei and took him to an unknown location. The cleric, who resides in the city of Najaf Abad, is reportedly a supporter of the opposition Green Movement.

“There’s still no information about the reason for Hasanali Mostafaei’s arrest and his fate,” the website adds.

'Iran top jailer of journalists' says CPJ report

created 12/08/2011 - 22:18

GVF — Iran is officially the worst jailer of journalist, according to a survey published by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York based organisation that promotes press freedom and journalist rights.

The report notes that the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide “shot up more than 20 percent to its highest level since the mid-1990s,” thanks largely to the clampdown on journalists in the Middle East and North Africa.

The CPJ study, which was made public on Thursday, listed “179 writers, editors, and photojournalists” behind bars, an increase of 34 compared to the group’s 2010 report.

“Iran was the world’s worst jailer, with 42 journalists behind bars, as authorities kept up a campaign of anti-press intimidation that began after the country’s disputed presidential election more than two years ago,” CPJ added.

Eritrea, China, Burma,Vietnam, Syria, and Turkey trailed behind Iran as the world’s worst imprisoners of journalists.

The review suggested that Iran had “maintained a revolving cell door” since its rigged 2009 presidential election, “freeing some detainees on furloughs even as they make new arrests.”

“Journalists freed on furloughs often post six-figure bonds and endure severe political pressure to keep silent or turn on their colleagues.”

According to the CPJ, more than half of Iran’s detained journalists “are being held on anti-state charges.”

“Antistate charges such as treason, subversion, or acting against national interests are the most common allegations brought against journalists worldwide. At least 79 journalists were being held on such charges,” the survey found.

Based on the report’s findings, most of the jailed journalists (86) who felt the wrath of their regimes were those whose work had appeared online. “Print journalists constituted the second largest professional group, with 51 jailed worldwide. The other detainees were from radio, television, and documentary filmmaking.”

The CPJ notes that for “the first time in more than a decade, China did not lead or jointly lead the list of countries jailing journalists.”

“That it was supplanted in 2011 was a reflection of the high numbers in Iran rather than a significant drop in China,” it continued.

Hearing Held for Lawyers Amin Eslami and Farshid Yadollahi

The 6 month prison sentence for libel and disturbing public opinion of the two was reviewed once again during the trial in the presence of their lawyers. The defendants were not in court.

In February, 388 attorneys wrote a letter to the head of the judiciary and objected to the imprisonment sentence and the revocation of the licenses of the attorneys for Gonabadi dervishes.

Recently 11 members of the dervish related website Majzoobaneh Nour and 5 of their lawyers have been arrested. Amin Eslami and Farshid Yadollahi, Hamid Moradi, Omid Behrouzi, Afshin Karampour, Reza Entezari and Mostafa Daneshjou are held in the security ward of Evin Prison.

Another incarcerated dervish Mehrdad Keshavarz is being held in the Intelligence Ministry Detention Center of Shiraz.

Blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki on hunger strike: “I am ready to pay any price.”

Blogger and human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, in a letter to the Tehran prosecutor, made a strong stance against the widespread disregard of basic human rights in Iran and the abuse of political prisoners and their families.

Human Rights House of Iran has obtained the letter written by this activist who is on hunger strike. Following is the text of the letter.

Your Excellency, Mr. Jafari Dolatabadi,

Tehran’s Public and Revolutionary Courts Prosecutor,

With regards and greetings,

I Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, son of Seyed Ahmad, born on July 5, 1985, have sent you numerous letters pointing to issues such as my kidney disease, the manner of warrants and interrogations, the failure to provide transcripts of court rulings, the dire condition of political prisoners and ailing prisoners, the uncertain state of many political prisoners and the pressures imposed on them and their families, the arrests, solitary confinements and failure to adhere to the laws of the country.

Today due to the fact that I have not received any acknowledgement of my previous letters, I will continue my protest in a different manner.

Mr. Jafari Dolatabadi,

On the eve of the second year of my arrest (Decamber 13, 2009), I have embarked on a hunger strike starting on Friday December 10, 2011, which coincides with International Human Rights Day.

I have staged this hunger strike to protest all of the following:

-My being barred from obtaining medical furlough to receive treatment for my kidneys,

-Other political prisoners being deprived medical care such as Dr. Masoum Ferdis,

-The continued arrests and abuse of human rights activists such as Rozhin Mohammadi,

-The miserable environment of harassment and pressures imposed on the families of political prisoners,

-In sympathy of labor activist Reza Shahabi’s strike protesting his unknown state behind bars and his dismal physical condition,

-The gross violations of human rights and the complete disregard of basic human rights for political prisoners.

Mr. Prosecutor,

With two years passing since my imprisonment and my heavy silence, today in consideration of not only my own dire physical condition, but also that of others such as Reza Shahabi and Masoum Ferdis among many more, I have to say that one must not stay mute about the atrocious conditions and lack of human rights of political prisoners, lest bitter events such as losing Hoda Saber and Mogsen Dogmechi be repeated.

In any case, my health has been dangerously affected due to my illness and the miserable prison environment. My only recourse at this juncture is the last resort that any political prisoner is faced with towards asking for basic human rights. I have gone on hunger strike to declare my strong objection to the aforementioned facts.

I would like to again inform you and others of the dismal situation of political prisoners and I am prepared to pay any price to do so, even if it means loosing my life.

With respect,

Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki

December 12, 2011

Evin Prison, Ward 350

Tehran

Limbs of 2 convicted robbers amputated at Adel Abad prison in Shiraz

Per a report by [the government affiliated] Isna News Agency, the judiciary public relations office of Fars province disclosed that the foot amputation of an accused bank robber has been carried out. The Revolutionary Court of this province handed down the amputation sentence which was carried out at Adel Abad prison per the orders of the Shiraz prosecutor.

This report also stated “the prosecutor of the central province ordered another amputation sentencing carried out on an individual who was convicted of committing several robberies.”

The Shiraz public prosecutor stressed the importance of the implementation of Sharia law for criminals by a decisive judiciary. He said, “When dealing with major crimes, the Fars judiciary will determine and impose God’s punishment.”

He emphasized the value of rapidly carrying out the sentences as a legal crime prevention strategy for deterring dangerous and serious crimes. He said the punishments would serve as a lesson for criminals.

Student Maziar Yazdanpanah begins his 6-month prison sentence

Maziar Yazdanpanah is a student at Mazandaran University who was arrested along with other students on June 16, 2009 after the disputed presidential elections. Security forces transferred Maziar to solitary confinement in the Sari Intelligence detention center where he was held for one month. He was also suspended from school for one term.

According to Human Rights House of Iran, Branch 101 of the Babolsar Revolutionary Court handed Maziar Yazdanpanah a 6-month suspended prison sentence and 14 lashes. But the appellate court has reversed the suspended verdict, requiring the student to serve the prison time.

Even though the verdict was issued 2 years ago, last week Maziar Yazdanpanah and several other students at Mazandaran University were informed that their suspended prison sentences were reversed, requiring them to serve their sentences. After a November gathering of students at the university, Maziar Yasdanpanah was barred from returning to his dormitory without being given any written warning.

In the past 2 years, despite scores of Mazandaran University students arrested or expelled from school, the students have continued to organize events and gatherings. The last event was held on November 17, 2011, when hundreds of students gathered to protest economic and labor conditions.

4 Gonabadi dervishes being held under perilous conditions in Pirbanan prison

According to Majzooban Noor website, Farzad Darvish, Mohammad Ali Saadi, Mohammad Jalal Nikbakht and Hojatollah Saidi, detained on October 8, 2011, are deprived of their most basic human rights while being held behind bars. They are constrained in an unsanitary environment with no access to health care or adequate nutrition. The 4 prisoners are in Pirbanan prison despite the efforts of their families to have them relocated to Adel Abad prison in Shiraz.

Pirbanan prison in the city of Shiraz is an unsound lockup facility that holds dangerous criminals, drug dealers and drug addicts.

It should be noted that prisoner Mohammad Ali Saadi is among the dervishes who were shot and wounded during an attack by government agents on Sep 4, 2011. On that day security forces opened fire on Gonabadi dervishes at the entry area of Kavar city, killing martyr Vahid Banani and injuring two others.

On July 12, 2011, Branch 1 of Servastan’s Public Court sentenced these four dervishes to 6 months behind bars and 40 lashes on the charges of “disturbing public order.

Journalist Farshad Ghorbanpour detained

Journalist Farshad Ghorbanpour who was arrested at his residence on Thursday contacted his wife today and told her he was about to be transferred to ward 350 at Evin prison.

According to Human Rights House of Iran, Judge Moghiseh presiding over Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court had previously handed down a one-year prison sentence to Ghorbanpour. The charges against him were “acting against the national security” by “propagating against the regime.” He was also accused of “corroborating with illicit resources” due to his cooperation with the news website Roozonline. This verdict was immediately upheld at the appellate court.

Farshad Ghorbanpour was arrested in the summer of 2007. He was held behind bars for a month before being released with a $260,000 bail.

Journalist Farshad Ghorbanpour was involved with various publications including HamMihan, Kargozaran, Farhikhtegan, Shahrvand Emrooz, and Mehrnameh.

Cleric Ahmad Reza Ahmadpour’s 3-year prison sentence increased to 5 years

Seyed Ahmadpour who is a dissident cleric, blogger for Pezhak-e Khamoush and member of the Qom Hezbeh Mosharkat (Participation Front) was arrested on July 19, 1010 after which he spent almost a year behind bars in temporary detention. Last week when he was transferred to Ahvaz prison he was told his prison sentence has been increased from 3 years to 5 years.

According to Human Rights House of Iran the appellate court had previously upheld a 3-year prison sentence for this cleric; 2 years for the charge of “publishing lies with the intent of disturbing public opinion” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” A request was given to the court to give credit for the time served while the cleric was held in temporary detention, with consideration to the fact that he had already spent 20 months behind bars and was eligible for parole.

Ahmadpour is a war veteran [of the Iran-Iraq war] who suffers from physical disabilities from exposure to chemical weapons during the war and per doctor’s orders it is imperative that Seyed Ahmadpour have access to around the clock medical supervision.

Per a document from the Qom special court for the clergy, it was verbally announced to Ahamdpour that not only was his request for release denied, 2 years were added to his prison sentence for the additional charge against him of “acting against national security” and he must now spend 5 years behind bars.

Ahmadpour who was summoned to court on Tuesday objected to the sentencing and asked that the added charge of acting against national security be dropped considering it was not part of the verdict that the appellate court had previously handed down. But he was told that even though they understood his point, the court’s hands were tied and there was nothing they could do.

The new verdict that was announced verbally is in all likelihood due to the publication of a critical letter Ahmadpour wrote to the leadership of the country. This cleric who strongly denies all previous and present charges against him and is suffering from war related ailments, is now behind bars serving his second prison term.

Blogger Rojin Mohammadi detained

GVF — An Iranian blogger has been arrested after returning from the Philippines.

According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Iranian blogger and student, Rojin Mohammadi, was arrested upon her return to Iran on 14 November and taken to Evin prison.

24 hours after her arrest, Mohammadi, who studies medicine at the University of Manila, was released on bail. Five days later, security forces raided her father’s home in Kermanshah province in an attempt to detain her, however she was absent at the time. Authorities summoned Mohammadi to Evin prison for questioning on 21 November and after three days of interrogation, they finally transferred her to Evin prison on Wednesday.

The charges against Rojin Mohammadi are still unknown.

Protester wounded in 2009 demonstrations dies from wounds

GVF — Another Green Movement protester wounded during the protests that erupted following the country’s 2009 presidential election has passed away in Boston, Massachusetts following a stroke.

Alireza Miandehi Sabouri, along with millions of other Iranians also outraged by what they saw as widespread rigging in the elections, had taken to the streets of the capital on 15 June 2009 to ask peacefully, “Where is my vote?” However, like many others on that unforgettable day, Alireza’s peaceful show of protest was answered with the barrel of a gun.

In the afternoon of 15 June, when he was just nineteen years of age, Alireza was trying to help rescue fellow protesters wounded in front of the Basij militia’s Ashura base, Battalion 117, when he was struck by a bullet and fell unconscious. He was then taken to Ibn Sina hospital in west Tehran for treatment.

Although he gained consciousness at the hospital, doctors were unable to fully remove the bullet from inside his skull. “The bullet exploded inside his head, a fragment left through an eyebrow, [but] the projectile stayed inside his skull while four shrapnel fragments were stuck. The projectile was extracted during a complicated and intense operation, but the fragments remained inside,” a family member told the Green Voice of Freedom on condition of anonymity.

Months after his operations, Alireza continued to suffer from numerous physical and psychological complications. He would experience recurring seizures either at home or on the street.

“We still have all of the evidence and Ali’s documents which show how they shot him in the forehead. The side-effects were due to the fragments in his brain. The two complicated brain operations led to his premature death,” the close relative explained.

Eleven months after he was first wounded, Alireza, accompanied by the family member, left Iran for Turkey to seek medical treatment through the UN office there. However, despite family pleas to relocate him to Germany where some of his relatives reside, the UN officials in Turkey rejected the family’s calls and instead decided to send Alireza to the United States. “We told them [the UN] time after time that he should be in Germany, close his relatives who could take care of him. But as usual, the UN completely ignored our calls and sent him to the US,” the family argued.

Nearly 900 days after being shot, Alireza Miandehi Sabouri died at the tender age of 22, 6,000 miles away from home in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was buried. “He passed away in a foreign land in silence and loneliness,” the family member continued. “He was treated unjustly both in Iran and abroad. We couldn’t take our complaint to any organisation.”

“You don’t know the fire that burns me from within, maybe you’re able to understand me. But at the very least you can write the truth [about Alireza] so that the world can know what they’ve done to us and how they’ve treated us. Everyone knows that Alireza was innocent, just like the many thousands of youth who were on the streets on 15 June. He was very innocent and did not deserve this.” 

Alireza had five older sisters while his only brother had died during Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq. It is also said that his father was reportedly close to the Iranian regime and did little to improve his son’s poor health.

“The death of Ali is not the death of a single person. For me it has a universal meaning. I hope that I can one day say what I have not yet said … I am filled with pain,” the relative told us.

While the exact casualty figures from the 2009 anti-government protests are still unknown, the tragic death of Alireza Miandehi Sabouri 2 ½ years later is yet another reminder of the brutality and heartlessness exercised by the Iranian regime in quelling dissent.

Baha’i Citizen Farhood Eshtiyagh Incarcerated for the Past 5 Months

Farhood Eshtiyagh has been in prison since June without an arrest warrant. According to the Human Rights House of Iran, he is held in Mashahd prison after 4.5 months of detention.

he is suffering from heart problems and Guuillain-Barre Syndrome. The judicial authorities prevent his release.

In October, his arrest warrant was extended twice. He was granted prison visits twice during this time and his children are awaiting his release. His family has traveled to Mashhad several times in order to follow up on him.   

'Iranian prisons holding 8 times maximum capacity,' says official

GVF — Prisons in Iran are currently overcrowded as much as eight times their maximum capacity, according to a report by the reformist Shargh daily.

Describing the poor prison conditions in the country, the newspaper said that in some cases, some 800 inmates were being held a single prison whose maximum capacity was 100 detainees.

“The country’s prisons can hold up to 55,000 inmates, but there are currently more than 220,000 prisoners,” says Iran’s head of Prisons Organisation. Less than three months ago, Gholamhossein Esmaili announced that since he took over as the country’s prison chief a year and a half ago, the number of prisoners in the country had risen by 55,000.

Citing a member of the Iranian parliament’s judicial commission, the newspaper said the condition of some of the prison complexes made them “inoperative,” raising the vulnerability to diseases under poor hygienic condition.

“At the moment, the number of prisoners is four times the capacity, and in some places, the number of inmates is as much as eight times bigger. This means that in a prison that can hold up to a hundred detainees, 800 are being held. This is something we can see in smaller cities,” Yousefian told Shargh.

While acknowledging the need for more prison space, he asked “with the changing laws on a global scale, is there really a need for so many prisoners?”

According to Shargh, on 30 April, Younes Mousavi, another member of the judicial commission of the parliament, voiced similar concerns regarding overcrowded prisons, claiming that some prisoners were forced to sleep in prison corridors due to a lack of space.

Brother of slain protester Kianoush Asa detained

GVF — The brother of Kianoush Asa, one of the protesters slain during the clampdown on anti-government protesters in 2009, has been detained.

According to opposition website Jaras, Aziz Daneshvar Asa, has been arrested and is currently being held by the Revolutionary Guard in Kermanshah. It’s still unclear why Aziz had been arrested, the family told Jaras.

Agents from the Revolutionary Guard reportedly went to Asa’s house on Friday and summoned him for a “number of explanations.” Nevertheless the family allege that “Aziz went there at 9:30am and never returned home.”

On 15 June 2009, Kianoush Asa, Aziz’s younger brother, was killed during massive protests in Tehran against the results of Iran’s disputed presidential election. The family could not identify Kanoush’s body until eight days later. He had been shot twice.

Thus far, the family’s efforts to identify Kianoush’s killers have been futile.

Since his tragic death, the Asa family, have been continuously harassed and intimidated by the authorities. Despite being summoned numerous times, this is the first time that Aziz has been imprisoned, the family explain.