Iran hangs three in Yazd: report

Iran has hanged three men who were found guilty of drug trafficking, in a prison in the central city of Yazd, ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The report did not say when the executions were carried out. (AFP - Sept 21, 2010)

Prisoner executed in Zahedan Prison

http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4080-1.html

On Sunday, September 19, a man was executed in Zahedan Prison on charges of murder.

According to the official website of the Sistan and Baluchistan Judiciary, on the dawn of September 19, a prisoner identified as Keshvar Gorgi was hanged in Zahedan Prison.

According to this report, he was sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering a 6 year old girl named Narjis. This charge has not been confirmed by any independent sources. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 21, 2010)

Iran sentences student to two years of prison for political activities

Farshad Dousti Pour, a Kurd student at Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan was sentenced to two years of prison by the Revolutionary Court.

According to reports, this student activist who was arrested in 2007 for participating in a student day ceremony and was detained for two months in cellblock 209 In Evin Prison, was sentenced to two years of prison on charges of committing crimes against the security of the country, propagating against the Islamic Republic by the 28^th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by judge Moqiseh. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 21, 2010)

Five year prison term for journalist upheld by court of review

http://www.hra-news.org/00/4077-1.html

The five year prison sentence for Mehdi Mahmoudian, a member of the Participation Front, was upheld in the court of review.

According to reports, the sentence for Mahmoudian who is currently in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj was announced to his lawyer. This journalist was arrested on September 16, 2009 during post-election events and after the Kahrizak Detention Center incident (in which a number of political prisoners were killed under torture) and from then on he has not even been granted a one day leave from prison.

This political prisoner played an important part in shedding light on the crimes committed in the Kahrizak Detention Center and published 70 names of post election slain protesters. He also played an important part in the publishing of a film showing the secret group burial of slain protesters in section 302 in Behesht Zahra Cemetery. (Jaras Website – Sep. 21, 2010)

Human rights journalist sentenced to 6 years of prison

http://www.rahana.org/archives/25846

Emaddin Baqi, journalist and human rights activist in Iran was sentenced to another six years of prison and five years of limitations after serving four years and a half of prison.

Baqi was sentenced to six years of prison in a case over his interview with the late Ayatollah Montazeri. His interview was broadcasted in January from the BBC. His trial was held on August 17, 2010 headed by Pir Abbasi. Baqi was charged with propagating against the government and assembling and conspiring to disrupt the security of the country in this case. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 21, 2010)

Iran hangs three men: report

Iran hanged on Monday two men convicted of drug trafficking and another found guilty of murder, in a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Fars news agency reported.

The men were only identified in the report by their initials as A. Gh., S.F., Gh. J. (AFP - Sept 20, 2010)

Female political prisoner under severe pressure to confess to fabricated drug charge

http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_3423.html

According to reports, intelligence interrogators are putting severe pressure on Iranian Dutch citizen Zahra Bahrami to confess in court to the fabricated charge of possessing and selling narcotics.

This political prisoner has been under severe pressure and threatened in the past weeks in the notorious cellblock 209 in Evin Prison to confess in court. After protests from the government of Holland, human rights organizations and the Dutch media, intelligence agents are trying to belittle her political charges and bring to attention false narcotics charges to give her a heavier sentence in this way.

Bahrami was taken to see Salavati, the head of the 15^th branch of the Revolutionary Court on September 8. She refused to talk in court without her lawyer, Nasrin Sutodeh and her trial was postponed. Salavati stressed on the charge of possessing and selling narcotics and the heavy sentences that she would receive because of it in this court session.

This political prisoner was once again summoned to the 15^th branch of the Revolutionary Court on September 11 and Salavati announced to her that she would be tried on September

23. Her lawyer is currently in prison and Bahrami does not have a lawyer.

This 45 year old political prisoner is a mother of two and has dual Dutch-Iranian nationality. She came to Iran to see her child and was arrested in the Ashura protests. She was then mentally and physically tortured while detained. Intelligence interrogators in the Sepah Cellblock in Gohardasht Prison and in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison have put her under severe pressure and torture and forced her into giving televised confessions against herself which was broadcasted from state-run TV. These interrogators have used these confessions against her in court. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 20, 2010)

Iran kills another young man under torture

Naser Alizadeh, a Kurd man from a village in Salmas who was arrested last Monday along with a number of other people by security forces, died after being tortured.

He had gone to the border for mountain climbing with a number of other people last Monday when he was arrested by security forces.

Naser Alizadeh passed away on Thursday September 16 under severe torture by security forces and his body was handed to his family for burial on Friday.

Notably, regime forces have threatened his family that they cannot hold a mourning ceremony for him.

Alizadeh was a soldier in Tehran who had come back to his village on a leave and was arrested on charges of cooperating with a dissident Kurd party. (Kurdistan News Agency – Sep. 20, 2010)

Iran exerts more pressure on its former reporter

http://www.rahana.org/archives/25774

Siamak Qaderi, a former reporter and journalist for the state run IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) is under pressure to confess to false charges in Evin Prison’s cellblock 209.

He was arrested on July 27, 2010 after security and intelligence agents raided his home and took him to Evin Prison for creating a weblog called ‘Our IRNA’ and publishing posts of his eyewitness accounts of the popular protests in the green movement.

He is still kept in prison without being given his minimum rights and is under pressure to confess to fabricated charges.

Despite claims by the officials of the Islamic Republic that prisoners’ families are not put under pressure, his wife and child are not able to access their bank accounts or use their credit cards…

Qaderi who officially worked as an editor, journalist and reporter for IRNA for 18 years was arrested by security forces after pressure from the head of this news agency while resting in his home and was thrown in solitary from the very beginning.

Immediately after his arrest, the assistant head of news at IRNA said in a short report in this news agency that ‘Siamak Q. a pro-green seditionist journalist was arrested on immoral charges’. (Jaras Website – Sep. 20, 2010)

Systematic violations of the right to life

Executions, arbitrary killings, deaths in custody, and death sentences

Execution

Iran hangs person in Shirvan: report

Iran has hanged a convicted drug trafficker in the northeastern city of Shirvan, the Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

The report did not identify the person sent to gallows, neither did it say when the execution was carried out. (AFP - Sept 15, 2010)

Iran hangs prisoners after 173 lashes

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4010-1.html

A 25 year old man was hanged yesterday in the Khoran Prison yard in Varamin after receiving 173 lashes.

According to state-run TV, Seyed Reza Hosseini, the Varamin Prosecutor said, “This 25 year old man was sentenced to two deaths, paying a blood money and 173 lashes on charges of kidnapping, intentionally injuring someone, intentional sabotage and using obscene language”. This sentence was upheld in the Supreme Court. Hosseini also said that the convicted man was lashed 173 times before his execution. (Human Rights Activists in Iran, Fars state-run News Agency – Sep. 17, 2010)

Deaths in custody

Kurd prisoner dies under torture in Iran 

http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/083116.htm

According to Kurdish sources, Ravand Mohammad Ismail, an Iraqi Kurd citizen from Qale Dizeh located in Soleimanieh in Iraq’s Kurdistan was arrested in the town of Sardasht by Iranian security forces and passed away after severe torture in the Intelligence Agency. (Iran Press News – Sep. 14, 2010)

Death sentence

Woman who killed her rapist in self defense on verge of execution

Mohabat Mahmoudi said in a telephone call to members of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization that her death sentence has been announced to the Sentence Implementation Unit and she might soon be executed.

According to reports, she sent a letter to this organization asking for a new lawyer and that human rights organizations and other people try to secure her release.

Mahmoudi has been jailed in the Central Orumieh Prison since 2000 for killing a man who intended to rape her. This married woman is on the verge of death after 9 years of prison and her death sentence has also been upheld by the Supreme Court.

It was announced to her on July 11, 2010 that her sentence, which will be carried out on orders of the judiciary, was upheld. According to reports, the wife of the murdered man disagrees with the execution of Mohabat but his brother wants her execution. (Kurdistan Human Rights News Agency – Sep. 14, 2010)

Inhumane treatment and cruel punishments

Amputation, flogging, torture and humiliation

Paralyzed political prisoner returned to prison before surgery

According to reports, political prisoner Hadi (Homayoun) Bakhoda who was paralyzed in the 1980’s after being shot by security forces was prevented from continuing his treatment and was returned to Rasht Central Prison.

He was granted a medical leave and sent to hospital because of his deteriorating health on orders of a legal doctor. He was prevented from receiving further treatment in the middle of his medical tests before surgery and was returned back to prison on September 4.

This 50 year old political prisoner who is suffering from spastic paralysis and neurogenic bladder was jailed in the infirmary of Rasht Prison since November 8, 2009. He was in a critical condition because of his paralysis and several other problems and was kept in inhumane conditions in the infirmary along with newly arrested drug addicts. Also the appalling sanitary, and food conditions and lack of medical treatment made his condition more critical.

Abedi was sentenced to two years of prison in the second branch of the Revolutionary Court. He was also under severe torture in the 80’s in Evin and Qezelhesar Prison on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)...

His brother Hormoz Abed Bakhoda was executed in the 80’s for supporting the PMOI. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 11, 2010)

Political prisoner put under pressure on 64^th day of hunger strike

http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article11088

Arjang Davoudi was taken to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht Prison) infirmary after two months of hunger strike. He is unable to talk and cannot open his eyes.

Despite his severe critical condition in the infirmary, he was put under pressure to sign a form saying that he would accept the responsibility of the consequences of his hunger strike. He has stressed on continuing his hunger strike until all his demands have been met and refused to sign the form.

Notably, Davoudi’s home was seized under a sentence issued by Judge Hadad who was in charge of his case and was then sold.

Davoudi was arrested on November 9, 2003 on charges of acting against national security and writing the Manifesto for Iranian Secularism and has been detained ever since. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 15, 2010)

Hunger striking political prisoner writes letter to freedom lovers

Letter written by political prisoner Arjang Davoudi from Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj:

I want to inform everyone of the below issues:

1- The prison medic sets conditions and terms to treat me and asks me to sign that if anything were to happen to me he is not responsible which means he wants me to sign my own murder sentence!

2- The prison nurse reports my blood pressure as 10/8 while the sphygmomanometer which belongs to a prisoner shows that my pressure is 7.5/6

3- The head of the cellblock is indifferent and only says that hunger strikes are illegal!

4- The head of the Prison Protection Unit says that my demands are logical but that I have to end my hunger strike and write my demands down so that they could eventually and slowly meet my long demands and inform higher officials!

5- A prison agent says, so many people have died in prison, you will just by another dead person! ...

10- The Manager of Iran’s Prison Organization has asked the prison manager to see to it that I could visit my family but the prison manager refuses and says that lets punish him some more so that he is forced to end his hunger strike!..

13- The assistant head of security says that his family gives interviews to the foreign media so he can get his requests from them! ...

Now as I enter my 65^th day of hunger strike, I salute all those who were killed for freedom and persistently ask freedom lovers around the world, democratic people, human rights institutions especially the Human Rights Commission of the UN and the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Mon to obligate the Iranian regime to follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and if they do not, suspend their chair in the United Nations.

I will stand until my death behind the ideals of freedom and democracy which go back 200 years in Iran.

Arjang Davoudi, teacher, poet and writer, political prisoners in Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj – Sep. 15, 2010 (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 17, 2010)

Davoudi in danger of death in prison

Sources from inside Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj say that political prisoner Arjang Davoudi is in very critical condition in prison.

These reports say that last night Mr. Davoudi was in a state of delirium and talked about death and his weight has decreased to only 35 kilograms (77 pounds).

According to his cellmates, this political prisoner has continued his hunger strike for 66 days in protest to not being allowed to contact his family and because his complaint against the head of this prison Haj Kazem has not been seen to. His home was also seized and sold off by the justice system. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 17, 2010)

3 Baluch political prisoners in danger of death in prison

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-25-54/4014-1.html

Three young Baluch citizens identified as Nasser Sheh Baksh, Khan La’l Mohammad Sheh Bakhsh and Khaled She Bakhsh who have been arrested on charges of having links to a political organization are in danger of death in prison.

According to Baluchistan human rights activists, these men were arrested around six months ago because their last name resembled that of Haj Khodabakhsh Sheh Baksh, the head of an armed dissent organization. They are in danger of being executed. The family of Nasser was recently able to visit him in prison after many attempts. They said he was in critical condition.

Nasser has severe breathing difficulties because of mistreatment and being kept in an unsuitable place. The families of Nasser and the two other men are concerned that their sons will face the fate of another one of their relatives (Shir Mohammad Sheh Baksh) who was arrested along with

these three and died after being tortured in the Zahedan Intelligence Agency. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 17, 2010)

Prison gang run by officials attempts to behead jailed kickboxing instructor

http://www.hr-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4009-1.html

On Sunday night, unidentified elements in the Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj attempted to kill a jailed kickboxing instructor by beheading him.

According to reports, in this attempt Hassan Armin who is paralyzed in the legs due to torture by the police was severely wounded in the neck and after a light intervention (by prison guards) was taken to a hospital outside of the prison by the infirmary.

Human Rights Activists in Iran had disclosed the existence of gangs inside Rajayi Shahr Prison who physically eliminate prisoners and act in an organized manner upon the orders of prison officials. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 17, 2010)

Arbitrary arrests

Political arrests

Iran jails political activist

http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3946-1.html

Meisam Roudaki was taken to Evin Prison on Saturday September 11 to serve his three years of prison.

According to reports, this political activist was sentenced to three years of prison in June by the 15^th branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati.

He was charged with acting against national security, membership in a political party and cooperating with the opposition.

Notably, he is suffering from a severe digestive illness and is in a bad health. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 13, 2010)

Systematic violations of the right to life

Executions, arbitrary killings, deaths in custody, and death sentences

Execution

Iran hangs person in Shirvan: report

Iran has hanged a convicted drug trafficker in the northeastern city of Shirvan, the Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

The report did not identify the person sent to gallows, neither did it say when the execution was carried out. (AFP - Sept 15, 2010)

Iran hangs prisoners after 173 lashes

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4010-1.html

A 25 year old man was hanged yesterday in the Khoran Prison yard in Varamin after receiving 173 lashes.

According to state-run TV, Seyed Reza Hosseini, the Varamin Prosecutor said, “This 25 year old man was sentenced to two deaths, paying a blood money and 173 lashes on charges of kidnapping, intentionally injuring someone, intentional sabotage and using obscene language”. This sentence was upheld in the Supreme Court. Hosseini also said that the convicted man was lashed 173 times before his execution. (Human Rights Activists in Iran, Fars state-run News Agency – Sep. 17, 2010)

Deaths in custody

Kurd prisoner dies under torture in Iran 

http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/083116.htm

According to Kurdish sources, Ravand Mohammad Ismail, an Iraqi Kurd citizen from Qale Dizeh located in Soleimanieh in Iraq’s Kurdistan was arrested in the town of Sardasht by Iranian security forces and passed away after severe torture in the Intelligence Agency. (Iran Press News – Sep. 14, 2010)

Death sentence

Woman who killed her rapist in self defense on verge of execution

Mohabat Mahmoudi said in a telephone call to members of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization that her death sentence has been announced to the Sentence Implementation Unit and she might soon be executed.

According to reports, she sent a letter to this organization asking for a new lawyer and that human rights organizations and other people try to secure her release.

Mahmoudi has been jailed in the Central Orumieh Prison since 2000 for killing a man who intended to rape her. This married woman is on the verge of death after 9 years of prison and her death sentence has also been upheld by the Supreme Court.

It was announced to her on July 11, 2010 that her sentence, which will be carried out on orders of the judiciary, was upheld. According to reports, the wife of the murdered man disagrees with the execution of Mohabat but his brother wants her execution. (Kurdistan Human Rights News Agency – Sep. 14, 2010)

Inhumane treatment and cruel punishments

Amputation, flogging, torture and humiliation

Paralyzed political prisoner returned to prison before surgery

According to reports, political prisoner Hadi (Homayoun) Bakhoda who was paralyzed in the 1980’s after being shot by security forces was prevented from continuing his treatment and was returned to Rasht Central Prison.

He was granted a medical leave and sent to hospital because of his deteriorating health on orders of a legal doctor. He was prevented from receiving further treatment in the middle of his medical tests before surgery and was returned back to prison on September 4.

This 50 year old political prisoner who is suffering from spastic paralysis and neurogenic bladder was jailed in the infirmary of Rasht Prison since November 8, 2009. He was in a critical condition because of his paralysis and several other problems and was kept in inhumane conditions in the infirmary along with newly arrested drug addicts. Also the appalling sanitary, and food conditions and lack of medical treatment made his condition more critical.

Abedi was sentenced to two years of prison in the second branch of the Revolutionary Court. He was also under severe torture in the 80’s in Evin and Qezelhesar Prison on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)...

His brother Hormoz Abed Bakhoda was executed in the 80’s for supporting the PMOI. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 11, 2010)

Political prisoner put under pressure on 64^th day of hunger strike

http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article11088

Arjang Davoudi was taken to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht Prison) infirmary after two months of hunger strike. He is unable to talk and cannot open his eyes.

Despite his severe critical condition in the infirmary, he was put under pressure to sign a form saying that he would accept the responsibility of the consequences of his hunger strike. He has stressed on continuing his hunger strike until all his demands have been met and refused to sign the form.

Notably, Davoudi’s home was seized under a sentence issued by Judge Hadad who was in charge of his case and was then sold.

Davoudi was arrested on November 9, 2003 on charges of acting against national security and writing the Manifesto for Iranian Secularism and has been detained ever since. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 15, 2010)

Hunger striking political prisoner writes letter to freedom lovers

Letter written by political prisoner Arjang Davoudi from Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj:

I want to inform everyone of the below issues:

1- The prison medic sets conditions and terms to treat me and asks me to sign that if anything were to happen to me he is not responsible which means he wants me to sign my own murder sentence!

2- The prison nurse reports my blood pressure as 10/8 while the sphygmomanometer which belongs to a prisoner shows that my pressure is 7.5/6

3- The head of the cellblock is indifferent and only says that hunger strikes are illegal!

4- The head of the Prison Protection Unit says that my demands are logical but that I have to end my hunger strike and write my demands down so that they could eventually and slowly meet my long demands and inform higher officials!

5- A prison agent says, so many people have died in prison, you will just by another dead person! ...

10- The Manager of Iran’s Prison Organization has asked the prison manager to see to it that I could visit my family but the prison manager refuses and says that lets punish him some more so that he is forced to end his hunger strike!..

13- The assistant head of security says that his family gives interviews to the foreign media so he can get his requests from them! ...

Now as I enter my 65^th day of hunger strike, I salute all those who were killed for freedom and persistently ask freedom lovers around the world, democratic people, human rights institutions especially the Human Rights Commission of the UN and the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Mon to obligate the Iranian regime to follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and if they do not, suspend their chair in the United Nations.

I will stand until my death behind the ideals of freedom and democracy which go back 200 years in Iran.

Arjang Davoudi, teacher, poet and writer, political prisoners in Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj – Sep. 15, 2010 (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 17, 2010)

Davoudi in danger of death in prison

Sources from inside Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj say that political prisoner Arjang Davoudi is in very critical condition in prison.

These reports say that last night Mr. Davoudi was in a state of delirium and talked about death and his weight has decreased to only 35 kilograms (77 pounds).

According to his cellmates, this political prisoner has continued his hunger strike for 66 days in protest to not being allowed to contact his family and because his complaint against the head of this prison Haj Kazem has not been seen to. His home was also seized and sold off by the justice system. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 17, 2010)

3 Baluch political prisoners in danger of death in prison

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-25-54/4014-1.html

Three young Baluch citizens identified as Nasser Sheh Baksh, Khan La’l Mohammad Sheh Bakhsh and Khaled She Bakhsh who have been arrested on charges of having links to a political organization are in danger of death in prison.

According to Baluchistan human rights activists, these men were arrested around six months ago because their last name resembled that of Haj Khodabakhsh Sheh Baksh, the head of an armed dissent organization. They are in danger of being executed. The family of Nasser was recently able to visit him in prison after many attempts. They said he was in critical condition.

Nasser has severe breathing difficulties because of mistreatment and being kept in an unsuitable place. The families of Nasser and the two other men are concerned that their sons will face the fate of another one of their relatives (Shir Mohammad Sheh Baksh) who was arrested along with

these three and died after being tortured in the Zahedan Intelligence Agency. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 17, 2010)

Prison gang run by officials attempts to behead jailed kickboxing instructor

http://www.hr-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4009-1.html

On Sunday night, unidentified elements in the Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj attempted to kill a jailed kickboxing instructor by beheading him.

According to reports, in this attempt Hassan Armin who is paralyzed in the legs due to torture by the police was severely wounded in the neck and after a light intervention (by prison guards) was taken to a hospital outside of the prison by the infirmary.

Human Rights Activists in Iran had disclosed the existence of gangs inside Rajayi Shahr Prison who physically eliminate prisoners and act in an organized manner upon the orders of prison officials. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 17, 2010)

Arbitrary arrests

Political arrests

Iran jails political activist

http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3946-1.html

Meisam Roudaki was taken to Evin Prison on Saturday September 11 to serve his three years of prison.

According to reports, this political activist was sentenced to three years of prison in June by the 15^th branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati.

He was charged with acting against national security, membership in a political party and cooperating with the opposition.

Notably, he is suffering from a severe digestive illness and is in a bad health. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 13, 2010)

Iran hangs person in Shirvan: report

Iran has hanged a convicted drug trafficker in the northeastern city of Shirvan, the Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

The report did not identify the person sent to gallows, neither did it say when the execution was carried out. (AFP - Sept 15, 2010)

Iran violently attacks and ransacks home of political prisoners and family of Ashraf residents

http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_15.htm

According to reports, plainclothes agents attacked and ransacked the home of Mohammad Salam Jushan, the husband and father of two political prisoners and violently destroyed his home and personal belongings.

On Monday, September 12 at about 7 pm, more than 8 plainclothes agents raided Mohammad Salam’s home in Tehran’s Hakimiyeh neighborhood. They broke down his door and broke all the windows and house appliances. They also stole some of this family’s belongings. This raid continued for a long time. The agents chanted death to the hypocrites (used by the Iranian regime to refer to the PMOI) while ransacking the home.

Jushan called the police to stop the raid but they did not show up and did nothing to stop the violent raid.

The names of the assailants who participated in this raid are Ali Afrouz, Mohammad Afrouz, Mehrdad, Reza Koul, and Rohollah Arzi among others. This violent attack was done under the orders of Mohebbi, a top Ministry of Intelligence interrogator in the Sepah Cellblock in Gohardasht Prison (Rajayi Shahr) in Karaj. He was leading the raid a short distance from the house. Attacking homes with plainclothes agents is a new method used by the Ministry of Intelligence to terrorize the society.

Mohammad Salam Jushan was arrested a short time ago by the Ministry of Intelligence for participating in post-election protests and was transferred to Evin Prison. He was released on bail. Currently his wife, Zahra Asadpour Gorji and his son, Reza Jushan are in Gohardasht Prison and have been detained since December 2009. It has been close to 8 months that they have been banned from any kind of communication with their family. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 15, 2010)

Female university students will be forced to study only in universities close to home

The assistant head of Student Affairs at the Ministry of Science (higher education) cited a plan in which female university students would be transferred to universities and other educational facilities closest to their homes and said, “This issue has been brought up and discussed in the Ministry and will soon be officially announced”.

He said that students can continue their education in their chosen majors as permanent guests and receive their degree from the university they were accepted in and stressed that ‘this plan is effective in all universities and higher learning facilities in the country’. (State-run Iran International Women’s News Agency – Sep. 15, 2010)

Political prisoner put under pressure on 64^th day of hunger strike

http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article11088

Arjang Davoudi was taken to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht Prison) infirmary after two months of hunger strike. He is unable to talk and cannot open his eyes.

Despite his severe critical condition in the infirmary, he was put under pressure to sign a form saying that he would accept the responsibility of the consequences of his hunger strike. He has stressed on continuing his hunger strike until all his demands have been met and refused to sign the form.

Notably, Davoudi’s home was seized under a sentence issued by Judge Hadad who was in charge of his case and was then sold.

Davoudi was arrested on November 9, 2003 on charges of acting against national security and writing the Manifesto for Iranian Secularism and has been detained ever since. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 15, 2010)

Iran arrest 5 Kurd activists in Ravansar

http://www.rahana.org/archives/25350

Five Kurd activists were arrested last week in Ravansar and were taken to unknown locations.

On September 3 agents of the Revolutionary Guards Forces went to the Bencheleh Village and arrested five villagers. They were taken to an unknown location.

There is no information on their whereabouts and their families have still not been able to see them.

Ayat Karimi, Saleh Karimi, Akbar Gholami, Saber Mohammadi and Vahed Rahmani are the five arrested villagers.

They have been arrested on charges of cooperating with a Kurd party. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 15, 2010)

Student activist in Tehran banned from continuing education

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3974-1.html

Camellia Kosari, a student activist in Alameh University and a member of the Islamic Association in this university participated in the master’s degree exams but was banned from continuing her education by the Selection Committee.

Kosari was active in defending jailed students in this university especially Majid Dori and Mahdieh Golro. Her name was taken off the list despite the fact that she received acceptable grades in the exam. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 15, 2010) 

Iran to lash so-called street harassers

The punishment for those who harass women and children on the street or in public places is 2 to 6 months of prison and up to 74 lashes. Of course if this crime is the result of a prior conspiracy or carried out in group, each one of the convicts will be sentenced to the maximum punishment. (Fars state-run News Agency – Sep. 15, 2010)

Systematic violations of the right to life

Executions, arbitrary killings, deaths in custody, and death sentences

Execution

Mashhad Political prisoner: more than 500 prisoners secretly executed since last year

http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=21530

After reports of secret executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad were published, a political prisoner in Mashhad Prison has also disclosed these executions in a letter:

“The tragedy going on in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad is too atrocious to describe. Section 5 in Vakil Abad Prison is the most mysterious and secret section in this prison and when international inspectors come for inspection, blankets are lined in front of the door and it is introduced as a blanket storage room and only a few people are aware of what actually goes on in there. Section 5 has four cellblocks including:

Cellblock 101: more than 500 death row prisoners who have been convicted of dealing narcotics

Cellblock 102: about 300 prisoners sentenced to retribution and 250 prisoners with other crimes

Cellblock 103: about 600 prisoners between 18 to 25 year of age with charges such as robbery, adultery, and selling narcotics

Cellblock 104: about 600 prisoners over 25 year with charges such as robbery, narcotics and adultery

In cellblocks 102, 103 and 104 there are about 200 death row prisoners who have been transferred from cellblock 101 with the approval of the Prison Protection Unit.

Cellblock 101 is the most sensitive in Vakil Abad Prison. Severe security measures have been carried out in this cellblock. Unlike other cellblocks, 101 has a two layered iron door and it is impossible to see inside of the cellblock from outside. People rarely use this door and all movements are approved by the Protection Unit. Prisoners in this cellblock are only allowed to call the phone numbers that have been pre-approved by the Protection Unit and are only allowed calls every other day for five minutes. Their death sentences are not announced to them, their lawyers or their family in a written form and they are only verbally informed in the Revolutionary Court or by an agent in prison that they have been given the death sentence. None of them know when they will be executed and until their death sentence is carried out they all have to count themselves dead. This means that before their execution, they are executed in their minds many times. In the time between July 2009 and April 2010 close to 250 people were executed in Vakil Abad prison. Sixty eight prisoners were hanged in august 2009, 40 in November 2009, 30 in January 2010, about 20 in February 2010 and in April 2010 more than 50 prisoners were hanged.

This number excludes women who have been hanged in each incident from the women’s cellblock. There are no exact numbers on how many female prisoners and those who have been brought for execution from towns near Mashhad especially Torbate Heidarieh and Fariman were executed.

In August 2010, in four counts of group hangings about 70 people were hanged in each incident. In August 4, 2010, 70 prisoners and on August 18, 67 people were hanged. On the two days of July 28 and August 10, 60 to 70 prisoners were hanged but the exact numbers are still unknown”. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 9, 2010)

Arbitrary killing

Security forces murder teenager in Qeshm Island

Security forces fatally shot a Sunni teenager in the head in the Island of Qeshm on September 7.

According to reports, Sadeq Dolayizadeh, from the Dolab Village in Qeshm went out today to the ocean for fishing. He was arrested by security forces and was shot in the head on the shore in front of bystanders.

This teenager who was in the 9^th grade was forced to work to provide for his family and went out fishing everyday. He was arrested by security forces in the sea and was then led to the shore.

After seeing this scene, a number of eyewitnesses attempted to get close to Dolayizadeh to save his life but were shot at by security forces. These agents initially beat Sadeq and then shot him in the head.

Two of the agents fled from the scene after seeing the angry crowd but one of the agents was captured by the people and after being beaten, the body of the teenager and the agent were both handed over to the Qeshm Intelligence Agency.

The father of the Dolayizadeh family has been suffering from an illness for years and the only breadwinner of the family was young Sadeq.

Notably, a large number of young people in this region are killed yearly because of mistreatment by security forces.

Most people in Qeshm Island located in Southern Iran fish for a living. The people of this region have been faced with a drought for more than 10 years and live in dire economical conditions.

Poverty has made the living standards of more than 80 percent of the villages in this island very dreadful. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 7, 2010)

Deaths in custody

Another prisoner killed under execution after 8 years of prison

According to reports, Shahin Rajabi Mourkani was murdered by security forces in the SSF Karoun Operation Center in Ahwaz.

Mourkani, 28, was arrested in 2002 for clashing with security forces in Ahwaz and was transferred to the Karoun Prison. He was tried on charges of armed robbery in court and was serving his time in this prison.

About eight months ago, he was suddenly transferred to cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prison from Karoun Prison where he was detained for eight months. About 3 months ago he was once again transferred back to Karoun Prison. His family was not aware of this transfer.

In the beginning of last week, his family was called from the Karoun Operation Center which is run by the State Security Forces and was told that they have to go to this center to collect his body. When the Mourkani family went to this center, they were told that they have to sign a paper saying that he was killed in an accident, else the body will not be given to them for burial. His family was forced to sign.

His body was given to his uncle on September 1 in the Ahwaz Cemetery and state security forces were present in the burial. They also banned the family from investigating his death and his uncle was the only one allowed in the burial ceremony. The body of Shahin Rajabi Mourkani was bruised from torture and his hands and feet were broken. There were also deep wounds on his head. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 5, 2010)

Young man killed under torture in Kamyaran Detention Center 

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3805-1.html

A young man who was arrested on charges of possessing alcoholic beverages by the Kamyaran Intelligence Detention Center died in this detention center after being physically tortured.

According to reports, Gholamreza Bayat, a Kurd resident of Kamyaran who was wanted by the police for the possession of alcoholic beverages went into a coma and suffered internal bleeding as a result of torture and mistreatment last Sunday after he turned himself in to the Intelligence Center.

This Kurd citizen died after being taken to hospital and the coroners

announced the reason for his death as internal bleeding from severe beatings. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 6, 2010)

Death sentence

Death sentence of political prisoner upheld by Supreme Court

http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/3792-1.html

The death sentence for Kurd political prisoner Habibollah Golparipour was upheld by the Supreme Court.

According to reports, this sentence was announced to Golparipour in the past few days in court. This resident of Sanandaj is currently in Mahabad Prison.

He had been detained for a long time in the Sanandaj and Mahabad Detention Centers and was sentenced to death by the Mahabad Revolutionary Court on charges of waging war with God by membership in a dissident party. (Mukarian News Agency – Sep. 5, 2010)

Inhumane treatment and cruel punishments

Amputation, flogging, torture and humiliation

Three students sentenced to prison; student activist beaten in Vakil Abad Prison

Three students of the Firdosi University in Mashhad by the names of Mehdi Khosravi, Amin Riahi and Hamid-Reza Amirkhani were sentenced to one year of prison which has been suspended for five years.

This is while Amir Riahi, the editor of the Mohavereh student publication, was severely beaten in Vakil Abad Prison. Eyewitnesses said that the reason he was beaten was for protesting to a soldier in prison…

Riahi disclosed the name of the person who beat him and said, “A soldier named Reza Bayat who was responsible for fingerprinting took me to another room and then started violently beating me for about 10 minutes. In the two or three hours that I was kept in that hall I saw at least four more beatings and two of them were carried out by Mr. Bayat”.

“After that when I was being released from prison, another soldier separated me and another political prisoner and asked us a few questions. I really did not have the ability to answer but the person next to me who decisively answered the questions was beaten and unfortunately he did not have a name tag and I do not know his name”.

These students wrote for their student publication in Mashhad’s Firdosi University and were sentenced to one year of prison on charges of propagating against the government. They were also sentenced to four semesters of suspension in 2008 for their activities in this publication. (Daneshju News – Sep. 6, 2010) 

Officially organized instigated clashes in Gohardasht Prison leaves many prisoners severely injured

According to reports from Iran, on Monday September 6, at least seven prisoners were severely injured after bloody clashes in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison. Four of these prisoners were taken to hospitals outside of prison because of the severity of their injuries and are in critical condition.

One of the prisoners identified as Javad Zare was struck on the head with a sword and his eye was scooped out in the prison infirmary. Another prisoner who had a deep wound on his head was taken to a hospital outside of prison. 

The clashes in these cellblocks are carried out with the instigation and encouragement of the Prison Intelligence Unit and those who participate in these clashes and attack prisoners are intelligence elements in prison and are also used in distributing drugs and suppressing prisoners.

When a clash starts in a cellblock, prison guards close the cellblock doors and let the gangs attack their victims. These attacks are carried out with the intention of fatally wounding or severely injuring the victims. Prison guards only intervene after the clashes end and start evacuating the wounded prisoners. In most cases the attackers are not held accountable and continue their crimes in the cellblocks.

The organizers of these clashes in various prison cells are Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the Intelligence Unit in this prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 7, 2010)

Mashhad Political prisoner: more than 500 prisoners secretly executed since last year

http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=21530

After reports of secret executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad were published, a political prisoner in Mashhad Prison has also disclosed these executions in a letter:

“The tragedy going on in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad is too atrocious to describe. Section 5 in Vakil Abad Prison is the most mysterious and secret section in this prison and when international inspectors come for inspection, blankets are lined in front of the door and it is introduced as a blanket storage room and only a few people are aware of what actually goes on in there. Section 5 has four cellblocks including:

Cellblock 101: more than 500 death row prisoners who have been convicted of dealing narcotics

Cellblock 102: about 300 prisoners sentenced to retribution and 250 prisoners with other crimes

Cellblock 103: about 600 prisoners between 18 to 25 year of age with charges such as robbery, adultery, and selling narcotics

Cellblock 104: about 600 prisoners over 25 year with charges such as robbery, narcotics and adultery

In cellblocks 102, 103 and 104 there are about 200 death row prisoners who have been transferred from cellblock 101 with the approval of the Prison Protection Unit.

Cellblock 101 is the most sensitive in Vakil Abad Prison. Severe security measures have been carried out in this cellblock. Unlike other cellblocks, 101 has a two layered iron door and it is impossible to see inside of the cellblock from outside. People rarely use this door and all movements are approved by the Protection Unit. Prisoners in this cellblock are only allowed to call the phone numbers that have been pre-approved by the Protection Unit and are only allowed calls every other day for five minutes. Their death sentences are not announced to them, their lawyers or their family in a written form and they are only verbally informed in the Revolutionary Court or by an agent in prison that they have been given the death sentence. None of them know when they will be executed and until their death sentence is carried out they all have to count themselves dead. This means that before their execution, they are executed in their minds many times. In the time between July 2009 and April 2010 close to 250 people were executed in Vakil Abad prison. Sixty eight prisoners were hanged in august 2009, 40 in November 2009, 30 in January 2010, about 20 in February 2010 and in April 2010 more than 50 prisoners were hanged. This number excludes women who have been hanged in each incident from the women’s cellblock. There are no exact numbers on how many female prisoners and those who have been brought for execution from towns near Mashhad especially Torbate Heidarieh and Fariman were executed.

In August 2010, in four counts of group hangings about 70 people were hanged in each incident. In August 4, 2010, 70 prisoners and on August 18, 67 people were hanged. On the two days of July 28 and August 10, 60 to 70 prisoners were hanged but the exact numbers are still unknown”. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 9, 2010)

Student activist tortured in prison to give false confessions

Abdollah Momeni, the spokesperson of the student Office for Consolidating Unity who was arrested in the post election events and is currently in prison detailed severe torture, false confessions, a show trial and also the complete absence of judicial independence in his trial in a letter to the leader of the Islamic Republic Khamenei and requested that a truth seeking committee be established to see to these issues.

This student activist is currently serving his 4 years and 11 months of prison in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison in Tehran…

In this letter, Abdollah Momeni said he was severely beaten and was choked until he passed out. His interrogator also put his head in a toilet bowl and he was kept in a solitary cell for 86 days (in a 1.6 by 2.2 meter cell). He was constantly threatened that he would be executed, and sexually harassed. Momeni was also forced to practice his false confessions before his trial. He said that the judge on his case, Abolqasem Salavati, and other judiciary officials who were involved in his trial did not have judicial independence and that interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence had too much influence in the court process which all show the political nature of his trial. (Human Rights Campaign in Iran – Sep. 9, 2010)

Iran puts more pressure on jailed dissident cleric

http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_09.html

According to reports, on September 8, Ayatollah Borujerdi was once again verbally attacked and abused by prison officials in Evin Prison for protesting the lack of the minimum human needs and the violation of prisoners’ rights.

Prison officials said, “Why do you report prison news to the outside and do not stop propagating against the government even here?”

“Instead of animosity with this victimized government, you have to condemn the US on TV so that we could provide the conditions for your hospitalization”.  

Mr. Borujerdi said, “I am not political and I only request that religion be separated from state and that is why I have been under torture in jail for years. In Iran the clerics and officials are the ones committing the crimes and not the US. You intend to kill prisoners of conscience and if the news does not get out of prison, you will kill everyone. It is your inhumane measures that have had an international reaction”.

The latest reports from prison are that the heated exchange of words deteriorated Borujerdi’s heart condition to the extent that he fell unconscious to the ground for a few moments. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 9, 2010)

Female death row political prisoner taken to hospital

http://www.rahana.org/archives/24883

Death row political prisoner Farah Vazehan was taken to a hospital outside of Evin Prison after she suffered severe heart problems.

Vazehan, who was arrested two days after Ashura Protests (Dec. 27, 2009) in her home, was taken to the prison infirmary after she suffered severe pain from her heart condition. She was mistreated by the personnel in the infirmary was mocked and asked why she chose this day to become sick.

After being checked, the prison medic transferred her to the Modares Hospital in Tehran to receive more treatment. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 9, 2010)

Mr. Javid Hotan Kian, lawyer of Mrs. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiyani, about the speech of spokesman of foreign ministry of Iran, Ramin Mehmanparast who has talked about the suspension of judgment file of Mrs. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiayani, in an phone interview, 4 pm. European time, said, “In order to carry out suspension the verdict, a documentary form which, has been confirmed by chief of the Supreme Court or head of the judiciary is essential”. According Mr. Kian this does not exist and he emphasized that speech of spokesman of foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, is false and is consumed for outside Iran.

September, 8, 2010

Published by Association for Freedom for Women and Prisoners in Iran

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