HRANA News Agency – The book of “Diverse Approaches to Human Rights in Iran” by “Seyed Mehdi Khodai”, human rights activist and former political prisoner, is the outcome of discussions on human rights. This book after the Atlas of Human Rights (joint translation with Omid Kokabee), is the second book that has been written by Mr. Khodai, during his imprisonment in Evin Prison.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), the book of “Diverse Approaches to Human Rights in Iran” by “Seyed Mehdi Khodai”, human rights activist and former political prisoner, is the outcome of discussions on human rights.

The above-mentioned book contains conversations with Mr. Fariborz Raisdana, Alireza Rajai, Rahman Ghahremanpour and Saeid Madani in the prison and as its author says that it talks about the most important parameters affecting human rights, such as; economy, politics, religion and sociology.

Emadaldin Baghi, a prominent Iranian historian and journalist, as a respect, at the beginning of this work wrote: “Collecting such series within the prison shows the spirit and character of its author. Mehdi Khodaei has made a right use of the opportunities of being imprisoned and has entered the politicians to human rights issues….  Among the interviewees, except Dr. Saeed Madani, who is more of a social and civil activist with human rights-oriented; the rest were known among politicians some pf whom were imprisoned following the events in 2009. Writing this book in the atmosphere of prison – where you cannot have true perception of it, if you do not have the experience of living there – is meaningful”.

The author writes in the preface to his book: “The book, considering the legal interpretations of human rights in Iran, has tried to review this issue from other angles and points of view. In recent years, due to pure legal approach to human rights and the failure to address other aspects such as economic, social and cultural aspects, this topic has been inflicted with serious damages. Because nowadays due to widespread human rights issue and its importance, a multiple approach should be taken towards human rights.”

He also expressed his hope that “this book is a little step towards the institutionalization of human rights values in our dear country”.

In a part of the conversation with Dr. Fariborz Raisdana, in relation to different definitions of human rights, we read: “Do those who say that if a piece of Iran would be separated, they would fight and die and kill not to let this happen, are more human or those who want to isolate a part of Iran? What is the answer? The human rights issue is very uncertain and depends on rentier and inter-communal structures”…

Seyed Mehdi Khodaei has presented his book to Seyed Jamal Hosseini, human rights activist and late editor of HRANA.

Purchasing and reading this book, all profits of which is dedicated to charity, is recommended to those who are interested in human rights and also to other audiences.

Book title: Approaches to Human Rights in Iran
Author: Seyed Mehdi Khodaei
Publisher: Achandas Media
Date of publication: 2016, London