Amnesty International – Iranian authorities must urgently halt the execution of Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani, who was sentenced to death in an unfair trial on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh), said Amnesty International amid fears that he may be executed as soon as Sunday 1 June.
The family members of Gholamreza Khosravi were informed by prison officials on Saturday 31 May that they must go to Raja’i Shahr Prison, near Tehran, in order to meet him outside the regular visitation hours, sparking fears that his execution may be imminent. He is currently held in solitary confinement. Death row prisoners are generally transferred to solitary isolation units before their executions take place. Continue reading “Halt the execution of death row man convicted of “enmity against God””
The increasing oppression of human rights defenders which started in 2009 after post-election protests in Iran reached a peak in the early months of 2010. March 2nd is the fourth anniversary of the biggest systematic and wide oppression of human rights defenders by Iranian Security-Intelligence Organizations.
Continue reading “Statement of Iranian HR Organizations on the 4th Anniversary of 2 March 2010”
Amnesty International – Hunger striking Sunni men from Iran’s Kurdish minority are in grave danger as their health deteriorates after 64 days on hunger strike. They have been on hunger strike in protest at their death sentences and the conditions in which they are held. Continue reading “URGENT ACTION: Iranian HUNGER STRIKERS’ HEALTH FAILING”
URGENT ACTION JAILED BLOGGER DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE Iranian blogger Mohammad Reza Pourshajari, also known by his pen name of Siamak Mehr, is in urgent need of medical care that he cannot obtain in prison. He is serving a four-year sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, north-west of Tehran. Mohammad Reza Pourshajari, aged 53, has suffered two heart attacks in prison, in September 2012 and again in February 2013, after which the authorities moved him to a hospital outside the prison for five days. The Iranian authorities have denied him medical leave to receive the medical treatment he needs, including treatment for blockage in his arteries, against the advice of prison doctors. Mohammad Reza Pourshajari’s daughter, Mitra Pourshajari, has told Amnesty International that the doctors in the medical facility attached to the prison have also diagnosed her father as having high blood sugar, though the prison administration told him they will no longer provide his medicine. The Iranian authorities have pressured Mohammad Reza Pourshajari at least once, on or about 14 September 2013, to ask for a pardon from the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, for his “crimes”. He refused to do so, saying he had not committed any act that would require him to seek a pardon. Mohammad Reza Pourshajari is serving four years in prison after he was convicted of the vaguely worded charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities”, “insulting the Leader” and “acting against national security” in relation to his blog postings which are critical of the religious and political establishment. He spent eight months in solitary confinement awaiting trial, during which he was reportedly tortured and otherwise ill- treated, including by simulating a mock execution to make him “confess”. Please write immediately in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language: Calling on the Iranian authorities to release Mohammad Reza Pourshajari immediately and unconditionally if he is being held solely for peacefully exercising his freedom of expression for writing on his blog; Urging the authorities to ensure that Mohammad Reza Pourshajari receives any medical treatment he may require, including by granting him medical leave and ensuring that he is treated humanely at all times; Calling on them to investigate allegations of torture immediately and impartially and bring to justice anyone found responsible in accordance with international fair trial standards. Continue reading “Urgent Aaction: Jailed blogger denied adequate medical care”
Brothers Khosro and Masoud Kordpour, both journalists and from Iran’s Kurdish minority, were arrested in March 2013 and later charged with vaguely worded national security offences. They are currently held in Mahabad Central Prison. Their last court hearing is due to be held on 28 October.
Khosro Kordpour, the manager of the Mukrian News Agency, an online news agency reporting on human rights violations in the Kordestan province, and his brother Masoud Kordpour, a freelance journalist, have been charged with the vaguely worded offences of “gathering and colluding against national security”, “insulting the Supreme Leader”, “spreading propaganda against the system” and “spreading lies in order to disturb the public opinion” in relation to their criticism of the authorities through their reporting and interviews they have given. Khosro Kordpour is also facing the additional charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and “corruption on earth” (ifsad fil-arz) which can carry the death penalty. According to the response of the Iranian government to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, they have been accused of cooperating with terrorist groups. Continue reading “Urgent Action – Iran: Journalist brothers detained”
Death sentences of four Sunni men from Iran’s Kurdish minority have been upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court. They are at imminent risk of execution. All men are believed to have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated while in detention. They did not have a lawyer. Continue reading “Urgent Action – Iran: Death Sentences Upheld For Sunni Men, Executions Imminent”
On Saturday, August 3, 2013, you were confirmed as the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran and subsequently were sworn into the office. During the inaugural ceremonies, you stated that the president represented everyone in the country. As an Iranian, I find it necessary to point out that you don’t represent those of us who didn’t participate in the presidential election. We believe that elections aren’t free in Iran because the basic process of nominating and selecting a candidate is not democratic; there is no freedom of speech in the country, and people are not free to form and participate in political organizations. Nonetheless, we hold that as the chief executive officer, the president has the duty to be responsive to people’s demands whether they have voted for him or not.
Continue reading “Mr. Rouhani, please hear our voices!”
Student activist, Arash Sadeghi, has been on hunger strike since 1 June 2013 to protest against his ill-treatment in Tehran’s Evin Prison. He has been held without charge and in solitary confinement since his arrest in January 2012. He is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment and may be in need of urgent medical care. Continue reading “Iran: Growing fears for hunger striker in Iran: Arash Sadeghi | Amnesty”
The victory of Hassan Rouhani, a 64-year-old cleric, in Iran’s presidential election, presents a new opportunity to address human rights abuses in the country, Amnesty International said today. Continue reading “Iran: New President must deliver on human rights promises | Amnesty”
Media freedom has been crushed and, aside from websites that support the Supreme Leader, Internet access has been blocked, including sites belonging to senior government officials. And to top it all, the authorities are now trying to discourage foreign journalists from coming to Iran. Continue reading “Iran’s Censored Election and Foreign Reporters | REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS”
