HRANA News Agency – Abdolreza Ghanbari is a 42 year old high school teacher from the poverty stricken regions of Ghiamdasht in Varamin County and holds a PhD degree in Literature and Persian Language. He was arrested on December 27, 2009 during Ashura protests for participating in and videotaping the demonstrations and subsequently tried on charges of Enmity Against God (Moharebeh). Presiding over the Revolutionary Court, Branch 15, Judge Salavati sentenced him to death, and this verdict was upheld by Judge Zargar during the proceedings in the Provincial Appeals Court, Branch 36.
On Friday, August 12, 2011, Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the Amnesty and Clemency Commission has rejected Abdolreza Ghanbari’s plea for reprieve, and the death penalty verdict has been referred to the Revolutionary Court’s Enforcement Unit to be carried out.
The following letter was written by Sahel Ghanbari on Father’s Day in February 2011: Continue reading “Sahel Ghanbari’s Letter to Her Father”
HRANA News Agency – A group of Iranian journalists and political activists have issued a statement from Evin and Rajai-Shahr prisons to commemorate Reporter’s Day observed in Iran on August 8th. The signatories have condemned the oppression and censorship of journalists and press and have demanded freedom of speech, the release of all imprisoned journalists and the establishment of proper environment for an independent press to function in a free society.
The full text of this statement released by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) is as follows: Continue reading “A Statement From Imprisoned Iranian Journalists on Reporter’s Day”
His smile was as wide as his face
His eyes filled with tears
The father telling the tale of his son
With dignity and pride
Remembering Mohammad, Amir, Mohsen and Romin
Recounting the tragic tale of Kahrizak
A while ago, Mothers of Park Laleh visited Mohammad Kamrani’s family to comfort them. This is the tale of Mohammad’s plight recounted by the Mothers of Park Laleh as they heard it from his father during their visit:
Mothers of Park Laleh – Father, Mother and children came to greet us. Nostalgia filled the air as we entered. The restlessness from the pain endured for two years hung in the surroundings. The patient mother with eyes full of sorrow gazed in silent pain. The father, though, with a knot in his throat, bursting into tears now and then to allow himself some relief, talked about what his son had endured in those few days. Continue reading “Mothers of Park Laleh Stand By Mourning Families”
HRANA – The following message has been released by Mothers of Park Laleh and addressed to eighteen political prisoners on hunger strike in Evin Prison.
“Not everyone must be executed.”
These words were uttered by the Prosecutor General of Tehran after the political prisoner Mohsen Dikmechi died in Evin Prison. The recent deaths of Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber have proven that the government of Iran insists on fulfilling such a plan.
The brave and beloved children of Iran, from behind Evin’s soaring prison walls, the news of your hunger strike in protest to Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber’s deaths have reached our ears. You are the free-hearted individuals who don’t give up fighting for freedom and liberty even in shackles and bondage Continue reading “A Message to Eighteen Brave Prisoners on Hunger Strike”
To break this lock, solidarity is essential!
I have said it numerous times in my messages and will say it again that we must think of our beloved prisoners and don’t allow them to be kept in prison, tortured and killed. No prisoner will be set free without our efforts because the cruelest and the most apathetic individuals are tasked to decide the prisoners’ fate. To break this lock, solidarity is essential.
There must be solidarity between families, and people must help them. Certainly, this assistance does exist. We must ask why our loved ones are imprisoned when they are innocent; we must ask what gives the authorities the right to kill our children. Although many years have passed, a large number of families still don’t know in which prison their children are locked up or even whether they are still alive or already slaughtered. Those families whose children are slain don’t know where they are buried. Continue reading “A Message from Farzad Kamangar’s Mother for Global Day to Support Political Prisoners”
The Nobel People of Iran and the Honorable Sahabi Family:
After hearing the news of Ezzatollah Sahabi’s passing, we intended to issue a statement to express our condolences and to announce our sympathy and solidarity with you during this sorrowful time and for this enormous loss. However, before doing so, the government together with its conscienceless hired guns added to Sahabi family and our nation’s grief and delivered another blow at this figure that is barely alive but still standing.
Without mercy, they harassed a pacifist who wanted nothing but tranquility for her country. While she was innocently shedding tears for the loss of her father, they stole his lifeless body from her and disrupted the funeral. With brass knuckles, they punched her and kicked until she couldn’t bear it anymore. At the end, she regrettably succumbed to death. Continue reading “Condolences from Mothers of Park Laleh to Sahabi Family and Iranians”
Amnesty International and International Commission of Jurists Joint Statement
Human Rights organizations condemn continued persecution campaign against lawyers in Iran
Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today condemned the ongoing arrests and imprisonment of several prominent lawyers in Iran which they see as part of an orchestrated attempt by the Iranian authorities to repress dissent in the country.
The two organizations are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of lawyers Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mohammad Seyfzadeh, Maedeh Ghaderi, and Ghasem Sholeh Saadi, who are detained arbitrarily in violation of Iran’s obligations under international law. They are prisoners of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association, or for their work as defence lawyers. Continue reading “Amnesty International and International Commission of Jurists Condemn Persecution of Iranian Lawyers”
Teacher, I learned lessons of life and liberty from you!
“You can’t be afraid of everything all the time; once we’re on the way, our fear disappears.” Samad Behrangi
We are observing Teacher’s Day under such circumstances that our country’s educators have been denied the slightest social and trade union rights, and whenever they scream for justice, they are forced into silence by either empty promises or by torment, torture, imprisonment, execution and dismissal from work.
Continue reading “A Statement from Mothers of Park Laleh for Teacher’s Day”
HRANA News – Secretariat of Human Rights Activists in Iran announced their strong support for the appointment of Special Rapporteur to address the human rights violations in Iran by United Nation.
Accordingly by publishing a statement, while emphasizing on the Islamic Republic return to the sixties (eighties in western calendar) in terms of oppressing its citizens, reported that by appointment of Special Rapporteur and therefore monitoring the behavior of the Iranian government treatment of its own citizens based on international law this government shall be directly responsible of its actions.
The full text of the announcement is as follows: Continue reading “Press Release: We Strongly Support Appointment of “Special Rapporteur” To Address Human Rights Violations in Iran”
HRANA – Secretariat of Human Rights Activists in Iran published a statement to cyber attacks, the news Web site called cyber terrorism and condemned such actions violate international law by the Iranian government and the prosecution deserving compensation eyes, he said.
Accordingly, the association also advised, by human rights groups following their mission while trying to deprive the Iranian government from acquiring advanced technologies, communications and censorship, relying on science day and projected needs of the information in support of free flow of information, the necessary measures in this regard are given. Continue reading “Press Release: Cyber terrorism, continuing the strategy of the security system to prevent free flow of information”
