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January – October 2010

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January – October 2010
Copyright©2010 by Human Rights Center of the
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

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A publication of the Human Rights Center of the


National Council of Resistance of Iran

Correspondance address: B.P. 18, 95430 Auvers-sur-Oise,


France.

Email: HRcentre.ncri@gmail.com

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January – October 2010
Introduction

This year‘s events brought about unprecedented instability for the mullahs‘ regime in Iran.
The Iranian people‘s rejection of the regime in its entirety while demanding a democratic government, the clerical
regime‘s total isolation while losing its friends in the West in its duel with the international community to acquire the
nuclear bomb as well as the major blows it received strategically in export of terrorism to neighboring countries and the
region as a whole, joined hands to create a deep division within the Iranian regime.
To survive, the mullahs stepped up suppression and committed systematic violations of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, further deteriorating the already appalling situation in Iran. These attempts went even beyond Iran‘s
boundaries, moving into the neighboring Iraq to crack down on opponents protected by the Fourth Geneva
Convention.

The sham presidential elections in Iran on the one hand revealed the weakness of the religious-military regime and on
the other, the Iranian people‘s peaceful demand for change. The bloody suppression of the peaceful protest of millions
shocked the world. To deal with the ―threat‖ of being overthrown, the illegitimate regime – strongly rebuked even by
credible Islamic authorities in Iran and abroad – resorted to brutal beatings and widespread arrests, torture and rape to
break its opponents and stage show trials even for officials of the rival faction that lost in the elections. All this was
attempted to terrorize the society.
Khamenei personally intervened and threatened those who dare to stage further protests. Ahmadinejad also described
the disenchanted populace as dirt and dust that must be annihilated.

Last year, with 402 publicly-announced executions and the execution of nine minors, the Tehran regime set the world
record in executions (relative to the country‘s population). This year, in the first ten months of the year, 488 people,
including 260 prisoners who were secretely hanged in mass executions and 14 political prisoners, were executed. Reports
were disclosed in August that prisoners were being secretly hanged in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad. (Only secret mass
executions with exact dates were included in this book) The prisoners were mostly all denied lawyers and were taken to
the gallows without their own knowledge and that of their families.
In another inhumane act and a clear breach of human rights, the Iranian regime executed two political prisoners,
arrested and jailed before the elections for 'crimes' they supposedly committed after the elections. These prisoners were 20-
year-old Arash Rahmanipour, and Mohammad-Reza Ali Zamani. This is while dozens of post election prisoners have also
been charged with 'moharebeh' (enmity with God) punishable by death in the Islamic Republic. Several family members
of Ashraf residents and PMOI supporters are among these death row political prisoners.

The Tehran mullahs resorted to bloody crackdown on those participating in the post-elections protests killing hundreds
who were mostly buried without acquiring their identities or informing their families.
Families of those missing have been inquiring for months about the fate of their loved ones from the judicial authorities
and prisons without receiving any answer. Some have received the lifeless bodies of their children only after pledging to
hold only small, private funeral ceremonies. They also pledged not to speak out against the murderers of their children
(i.e. Ahmadinejad‘s illegitimate dictatorship) or write the reason of death on the tombstone. They were even forced to
pay the price of the bullets used to kill their own children.
This was the case for the families of Farzad Jashni, Saeid Abbassi, Ashkan Sohrabi, Bahman Jenabi, Iman Hashemi,
Parisa Kolli, Mostafa Kia-Rostami, Fahimeh Salahshoor, Arman Estakhripour, Meisam Ebadi (17), Massoud Hashem-
zadeh, Hossein Tufan-pour, Abbas Disnad, Ramin Ramezani, Yaqoub Bervaieh, Shelir Khezari … and Neda Aqa Soltan,
the young woman shot to death by a Bassij agent in a peaceful protest in Tehran on June 20, 2009. Neda became the
symbol of Iranian people‘s demand for democracy as the world witnessed in her death, the innocence of the people of
Iran. Such arbitrary killings also included children as young as 10 and 12.

Torture was widely used to pressure prisoners and even officials of the rival faction to take part in television show trials.
Many young Iranians lost their lives under torture. They included Kianush Assa, Sohrab Erabi, Mohssen Rouholamini,

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January – October 2010

Ramin Qahremani, Amir Javadifar and Taraneh Moussavi, the young girl whose charred body was found in the outskirts
of Tehran after numerous counts of dastardly rape.
Although rape of young women has been used in Iranian prisons as a routine method of torture sanctioned three
decades ago in a fatwa by Khomeini, the founder of this medieval regime, this time, young boys were also exposed to this
type of torture to terrorize the general public.
The measure backfired, however, since Khamenei, the mullahs‘ supreme leader, no longer enjoys his previous influence
and is recognized as the first person responsible for all these crimes. This is why he ordered closure of Kahrizak
Detention Center – publicly referred to as the ―Death Camp‖ – in an obvious retreat.
The regime has so far refrained from persecution and introduction of the perpetrators of these atrocious crimes,
including Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan, the head of Tehran‘s Police, who openly ordered torture of detainees. He said,
―We enjoy absolute freedom in dealing with you, so much that we can cut you into pieces and bury you in the desert.
Your cries will reach nowhere and if you don‘t die here, you should shrink to the size of a mouse to be able to pass
through these bars and go to Evin (Prison)…‖
Torture and rape are routinely practiced in all official and secret prisons and detention centers. Living eyewitnesses and
their families have been threatened to death if they dare to reveal these crimes.

Women are systematically terrorized, repressed, and deprived of humane activities. The mullahs‘ brutality however has
failed to rein in the Iranian women‘s demand for a democratic and equal life and they are present at the forefront of all
democratic protests.

In addition to university students who are systematically summoned, deprived from education and imprisoned,
monitored by hidden cameras, and their freedom of speech violated in the student press, this year, the university faculty
and professors have also been badly suppressed and targeted. Dr. Mohammad Maleki, 76, the first post-revolution
President of Tehran University, who suffers from a severe case of prostate cancer, was arrested while resting at home and
subsequently taken to Evin Prison in solitary confinement deprived from any medication attention since August 22.
Plain clothes agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Guards and Bassij, in coordination with the State
Security Force, attacked student dormitories in the post-election crackdowns, killing several students. At least eight
students were murdered in Tehran University, alone. Hundreds of students have been summoned and detained,
tortured and deprived from education. Those professors, who dared to defend the rights of students and demand
freedom, were deprived from employment (i.e. fired) and subsequently imprisoned.
Today, in an open contravention of international laws, suppressive agents have been organized inside universities under
the banner of security, disciplinary and Bassij forces. Intelligence agents with plain clothes also enjoy freedom of action
on campus and are deployed outside by the State Security Force.

Discrimination against religious and national minorities has also aggravated. Azeri, Kurd, Arab, Baluch and other
activists have been repressed and executed en mass. Ordinary citizens have neither been spared. More than 20 teachers
in Baluchistan have been arrested and jailed. Kurdish citizens, including a 16-year-old boy by the name of Arman Resalat
as well as dozens of inhabitants of border villages, have been arbitrarily killed.
Christians and Bahais have been detained and persecuted. They have been threatened with death and execution on the
charge of being renegades. This type of persecution is no longer limited to religious minorities, Sunni and Sufi Shiites,
but it also includes religious Shiite authorities who oppose Khamenei‘s medieval regime.

Journalists and the press are censored and repressed. Reporters without borders describe Iran as the largest prison for
reporters and one of the major enemies of the Internet. This round, however, the practice expanded to foreign
journalists who were brutalized, jailed, and expelled from Iran.
The internet services are in the control of the Revolutionary Guards Corps and ―internet criminals‖ are charged with
―waging war on God‖ and sentenced to death. Reporters have also been forced to confess in show trials that they spied
for foreign countries.

Today, a large number of persons have been imprisoned, harassed, and sentenced to long prison terms only for being
related to members of political groups, specially the People‘s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI), on fabricated charges. They are
deprived of their most basic rights including the right to have family and lawyer‘s visits and receive medical treatment.
They include the Yazerlu, Banazadeh, Hajiluyi, Tarlani, Nabavi, Dokmehchi, Ziayi, Mo‘ezzi and Naderi families among
others.
The present collection aims to show a picture – although inadequate -- of the pervasive crimes committed against the
oppressed people of Iran and seek help to restitute their trampled rights. These crimes against humanity need to be
addressed by the UN Security Council and its perpetrators -- the Tehran leaders -- appropriately brought to justice in
international tribunals.

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January – October 2010
Contents
Introduction 7

Contents 11

Charts 13

Facts
Systematic violation of the right to life 17
Execution 19
Arbitrary killing 41
Deaths in custody 50
Death sentence 55

Stoning and stoning sentences 83

Inhumane treatment and cruel punishments 93

Arbitrary arrests 153


Political arrests 157
Social arrests 185

Prison 189
Prison condition 191
Prison sentence 235

Basic freedom and right abused 261


Right to education 299
Right to employment 307

Suppression of religious and ethnic minorities 313

Suppressive maneuvers 329

Violence against women 343

Appendices 371

List of executions – Jan. – Oct. 2010


List of arbitrary killings June 2009 – Oct. 2010
List of martyrs of uprising (June 2009 – Oct. 2010)
List of political prisoners – Oct. 2010
List of post election arrestees (June 2009 – Oct. 2010)

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January – October 2010
Charts

13
January – October 2010
Systematic violations of the right
to life

Execution

Arbitrary killing

Deaths in custody

Death sentence

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January – October 2010
Systematic violations of the right to life
Execution, arbitrary killing, deaths in custody, and death sentence

Execution
January
Iran hangs men: state agency
Iran hanged on Monday three men convicted of raping 12 women and murdering seven of them in a town south of
Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
The men, identified by their first names as brothers Alireza and Amir and Afghan citizen Dolat-Khan, were hanged in a
prison in Varamin, a small town 30 kilometres south of Tehran, IRNA and other media said. (AFP - Jan 4, 2010)
Last words of executed prisoners in Varamin
Yesterday morning, three people were hanged with the presence of judicial officials in the Khorin Prison in Varamin.
There were charged with rape.
Alireza (who was hanged along with his brother and an Afghan national) told our reporter in his last moments that his
crime is robbery and kidnapping and that he has not killed anybody.
The two brothers were pleading that they should be given another chance to try to get amnesty from the families of their
victims even while the noose was around their necks. (Jaam-e-Jam Online state-run website – Jan. 5, 2010)
36 MP's call for execution of dissidents within five days
Thirty-six members of Majlis (Iranian parliament) drafted an urgent plan to reduce the time for the execution of enemies
of God from 20 days to five days.
These MP's submitted a plan to Majlis which calls for those charged with 'enmity with God' by court to be executed
within five days. (Radio BBC – Jan. 5, 2010)
Iran hangs Kurd political prisoner in Khoy
On Wednesday January 6, political prisoner Fasih Yasamani was hanged in Khoy Prison at exactly 4 am.
This Kurd man who was from a village in Khoy and had been jailed since 2007 was executed unexpectedly without the
usual legal procedures. Despite this issue, officials refrain from handing over his body to his family.
He was charged with membership in a Kurd opposition group but there were no documents proving his membership in
his dossier expect confessions that Mr. Yasamani said were taken from him under torture.
This Kurd man was 28 years old when he was executed and after Ehsan Fatahian is the second political prisoner who was
executed in Iran's Kurdish regions in the past months. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 6, 2010)
Iran hangs six men: state television
Six men convicted of drug trafficking were hanged on Saturday in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, Iranian state-run
television reported.
The unidentified men were part of a drug trafficking gang who used Revolutionary Guards uniforms and forged orders
for their drug smuggling operations, said the report on the television's website. (AFP - Jan 9, 2010)
Man executed is secret, wife to be stoned to death
Mohammad Mostafayi, a lawyer, said that his client Rahim Mohammadeif was executed without his knowledge or the
knowledge of his family and Kobra Babayi (his wife) will also be stoned to death in the near future.
'This young man and his wife were sentenced to execution and stoning last year in a court in Tabriz with the verdict of
the five judges of the second branch of the Court of Review. Their sentences were ready to be carried out after it was
confirmed by two judges in the 27th branch of the Supreme Court. This sentence was carried out yesterday in the prison
for Rahim, the male offender in the case, and Kobra Babayi is to be stoned to death in the near future in accordance to
her sentence', Mostafayi said. (ILNA state-run news agency – Jan. 20, 2010)
Iran hangs young man in Baluchistan
A 26-year-old year old man named Allah Nazar Shahli Bar was hanged in Khash Prison in the morning. According to
reports, there are rumors that he was executed on charges of murder. But it not clear if the person who was murdered
was an ordinary person or a person affiliated with the government. (Association of Baluchistan Human Rights Activists –
Jan. 20, 2010)
Iran hangs prisoner in Ardabil

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January – October 2010

According to reports from Iran, a person was hanged in Ardabil Prison.


According to the Public Affairs and Communications Department of Ardabil's Judiciary, a person who clashed with the
husband of his sister's wife in a disagreement over irrigation in a village in this province and killed him was hanged in
this prison after his retribution sentence was passed. The name of the hanged man was not specified in this report.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 22, 2010)
Sunni Baluch activist hanged in Zahedan
Officials of the Islamic Republic in Sistan and Baluchistan hanged a Sunni Baluch man yesterday in Zahedan.
This 35 year old man was arrested four years ago on charges of setting a bomb and was hanged yesterday after being
sentenced to moharebeh (enmity with God).
Rahmat Zehi Shahnavazi was a cultural and religious activist in this city and was arrested outside his home after an
explosion in Zahedan. He was sentenced to death two years ago without ever confessing to setting the bomb. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 24, 2010)
Iran hangs man in public: report
Iran publicly hanged on Wednesday a man convicted of murdering a top judiciary official in the central city of Isfahan,
Fars news agency reported.
The man identified as Jamshid Hadian, 59, was executed in front of Isfahan court house for shooting to death last year
the deputy prosecutor of the city, the report said. (AFP - Jan 27, 2010)
Iran hangs first two post-election 'rioters'
Iran on Thursday hanged two men convicted of being Mohareb (enemies of God), in the first executions of dissidents
since protests over the disputed presidential poll in June, news reports said.
'Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmani Pour, whose cases were confirmed by a Tehran appeals court, were
hanged on Thursday morning,' ISNA news agency said, quoting a statement from
the Tehran prosecutor's office.
The pair were also charged with plotting to topple the Islamic regime, the agency
added.
Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi confirmed the hanging to state-run
television.
The two men hanged 'belonged to the monarchist group Tondar (the Kingdom
Assembly of Iran). During their trials they confessed to obtaining explosives and
planning to assassinate officials,' he said.
'They objected to the preliminary sentencing, but the appeals court upheld the Arash Rahmanipour
verdict and they were hanged today,' Dolatabadi added.
They were the first reported hangings of people tried after the wave of protest that
broke out following the re-election last June 12 of hardline President Mahmoud
Ahamdinejad to a second four-year term.
Amnesty International condemned what it termed the 'shocking' executions.
'These shocking executions show that the Iranian authorities will stop at nothing to
stamp out the peaceful protests that persist since the election,' it said in a
statement.
'These men were first unfairly convicted and now they have been unjustly killed. It
is not even clear they had links to this group as their 'confessions' appear to have
been made under duress'.
Mohammad-Reza Ali Zamani
It feared that 'these executions are just the beginning of a wave of executions of
those tried on similar vaguely worded charges'.
Zamani was among scores of people arrested in the mass demonstrations after the election, but Rahmani Pour's lawyer,
Nasrin Sotoudeh, denied her client had anything to do with the post-poll riots.
'He was arrested in Farvardin (the Iranian month covering March-April) before the election and charged with
cooperation with the Kingdom Assembly,' Sotoudeh told AFP.
Sotoudeh said she had been prevented from representing Rahmani Pour at what she called his 'show trial' in July, and
added that many of the charges related to when he was a minor.
'He confessed because of threats against his family,' she said, adding that she was shocked at the news of the executions
because both she and her client's family had been waiting for word from the appeals court.
The prosecutor's office said nine other detained protesters have been condemned to death after facing charges of being
Mohareb, trying to topple the regime and belonging to the outlawed main opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen,
and the Kingdom Assembly. (AFP - Jan 28, 2010)
Rahmanipour confessed under duress – lawyer
Nasrin Sotoudeh, Arash Rahmanipour's lawyer: I was not allowed to attend the trials for Arash Rahmanipour in the 15th
branch of the Revolutionary Court and even in one session which was a show trial and my client was shown on
television they banned me from coming and I was threatened with arrest when I objected…
In that same court session in which I was banned from, they asked Arash's father to persuade him to do what the agents
wanted him to and when his father resisted, they threatened him on the spot that they would arrest him and take him to
prison. You have to consider that before this when Arash was arrested, his pregnant sister was also arrested with him and
two months after his sister was released, she lost her baby because of the pressure she was subjected to… (BBC TV (Farsi
service) – Jan. 18, 2010)
Orumieh official: bodies of executed protester should be publicly paraded on the streets
The representative of the leader (Khamenei) in Western Azarbaijan province, Gholamreza Hassani, referred to the
execution of two seditionists and monarchists and the (death sentence) for 11 others and said in his Friday Prayer
sermon in Orumieh, "The bodies of those who were executed should be brought out on the streets in public view in
Tehran".
"The tongue that says 'Iranian republic' instead of Islamic republic should be cut out…" (IRNA state- run news agency –
Jan. 29, 2010)
Iran hangs two other prisoners
The head of the criminal court announced that those (2 men) convicted in the Lavasan case were hanged at noon in
Evin Prison.
"These people who had committed adultery were sentenced to death in Azar (the Iranian month equal to
November/December) by the 72nd branch of the criminal court and this sentence was upheld by the 31 st branch of the
Supreme Court this month and was carried out", Jafarzadeh said.
"This sentence was carried out in the prison yard today", he added. (Fars state-run News Agency – Jan. 30, 2010)
February
Iran executed man in Zahedan
Haj Daadollah Morad Zehi who was arrested in June by security forces in Baluchistan was executed on
Saturday February 20 in Zahedan.
Morad Zehi was handed over to the Intelligence Agency after his arrest. He was tortured in prison and
despite presented evidence showing his innocence, his execution sentence was carried out.
Morad Zehi is the uncle of Khodayar Rahmat Zehi who was executed two weeks ago with a sentence
from the Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 21, 2010)
38 people executed in Ahwaz in 11 months
The deputy prosecutor of the Revolutionary Court in Ahwaz said that 38 death sentences were carried out in the year
1388 (March 2009 to March 2010), as well as a number of sentences for the amputation of legs or arms.
"From the beginning of this (Persian) year, 38 death sentences and four amputation sentences have been carried out by
the Implementation Branch of Retribution Sentences in this court", he said. (Mehr News Agency – Feb. 20, 2010)
Iran hangs three drug traffickers: report
Iran has hanged three convicted drug traffickers, one in the eastern city of Zahedan and the others in the central city of
Isfahan, Kayhan newspaper reported on Monday.
It said two men were hanged on Saturday in a prison in Isfahan, while the other was executed on Sunday in a Zahedan
prison. (AFP - Feb 22, 2010)
Cleric says only way to stop protests is to repeat 1988 massacre of political prisoners
Hojatalol Islam Hamid Rohani said that the measures taken in 1988 should be repeated in these seditions. In an
interview with a student publication he referred to the executions in 1988 and said, "The events of 1988 were that the
Monageqhin (PMOI members) who were in prison repented in a tactical fashion. Imam (Khomeini) said that those who
do not repent (have to die) and have to be trialed and punished and those executions ended those seditions. I think that
in the recent seditions, if such a decisive, serious and revolutionary measure is not taken, this problem will continue.
(Aftab Website – Feb. 24, 2010)
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January – October 2010

Iran hangs eight people


Iran has hanged five men convicted of drug trafficking and three found guilty of murdering policemen, reports said on
Saturday.
Five armed drug traffickers were hanged inside a prison in the southern city of Kerman, Iran's ISNA news agency
reported without elaborating when the executions were carried out.
In a separate report, the official IRNA news agency said that three men convicted of killing several policemen were
hanged in the eastern city of Birjand.
The three were put to death in front of the families of the slain policemen, the news agency said, without specifying
whether the executions were carried out inside a prison or in a public place. (AFP - Feb 27, 2010)
March
Iran hanged prisoner last week in Gohardasht Prison
Mehdi Ismaili, a prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj was executed last week.
A prisoner in Gohardasht Prison who was jailed on charges of murder at 19 was executed.
Mehdi Ismaili, 26, had been jailed for 7 years in this prison before his death sentence was carried out last week. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – March 7, 2010)
Iran hangs two men: report
Iran has hanged two convicted drug traffickers in the western city of Khorramabad, the official IRNA news agency
reported on Monday.
The report identified them only as Gh. B. and H. R and added the two were hanged early this week -- the Iranian week
begins on Saturday. No other details were given. (AFP - March 8, 2010)
Iran hangs two people in Qom
The head of the Qom Revolutionary Court Mahmoud Talebi said, "From the beginning of the current (Iranian) year, 10
death sentences have been carried out for drug smugglers in Qom and this shows our serious confrontation with
smugglers".
"The latest hangings were in the morning when two drug smugglers were hanged".
"Hamid Kh. and Zeinolabedin Q. were two people who were executed today on charges of smuggling various kinds of
drugs", he added. (Asre Iran state-run website – March 10, 2010)
Iran hangs man in public; two others to be hanged in coming days
On Wednesday March 10, a man was publicly hanged in the Ramezan Center in Ahwaz.
The ILNA state-run news agency said that the execution sentence of this drug smuggler identified only as S.M was
carried out in the evening. According to this report, another person will be hanged in public on charges of moharebeh
(enmity with God) on Saturday March 13 in the Salman Farsi intersection and another man will be hanged in public on
charges of smuggling drugs on Sunday March 14 in the Mashali Center in Ahwaz. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
March 12, 2010)
Iran executions send a chilling message
Interview with Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
Recent developments in Iran have prompted fears that the Iranian authorities are once more using executions as a tool
to try and quell political unrest, intimidate the population and send a signal that dissent will not be tolerated.
There was a noticeable surge in the rate of executions at the time of mass protests over last year's disputed Presidential
elections. Although many of the executions were for criminal offences committed before the unrest, they sent a chilling
message to those involved in protests.
One hundred and twelve people were put to death in the eight weeks between the June election and the re-inauguration
of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad in early August- almost a third of the total for the entire year.
In 2009 as a whole at least 388 people were put to death in Iran - the largest number recorded by Amnesty International
in recent years. Figures collated by various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, suggest the
annual number of executions has almost quadrupled since President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad was first elected five years
ago. Many of those executed did not receive fair trials.
'The continuing surge in executions at a time when Iran has experienced the most widespread popular unrest since the
1979 Islamic Revolution, combined with numerous statements by officials threatening protestors with execution,
indicates that the Iranian authorities are again using the death penalty to try and cow the OPPOSITION and silence
dissent,' said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International‘s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa…
An increasing number of people have been charged with 'moharebeh', a vaguely-defined offence. According to Philip
Alston, the UN's Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, it is 'imposed for a wide range of
crimes, often fairly ill-defined and generally having some sort of political nature'….
There was also a rise in the number of executions of juvenile offenders - people sentenced to death for crimes committed
when they were under the age of 18. Iran is one of only a handful of countries to continue such executions, in clear
violation of international law. According to UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston 'No state really tries to defend it as a
matter of principle - it's clearly outlawed. And yet Iran continues to not only charge juveniles, but to execute them in
significant numbers'….
Hundreds, probably thousands, of individuals are currently on death row in Iran. Sometimes their ordeal can last for
years. Amnesty International spoke to one prisoner who spent years on death row before his sentence was eventually
commuted. In a telephone interview from jail he said:
'Have you ever experienced receiving a death sentence? Have your partner, parents, brother, sister and relatives been told
that tonight a close relative of yours is going to be executed? Can you understand the horror and shock of hearing such
news? But me, two of my close relatives and our families have been going through this - not for a night or two or few
nights, but for a period of over two thousand nights (Amnesty International – March 29, 2010)

April
Human rights groups charge Ahamdinejad regime has used death penalty excessively
The first time Siamak, a private sector employee who participated in Iran‘s post-election protests, witnessed a killing was
last June, one day after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned demonstrators he was escalating the government‘s
repression of street protests.
Siamak was out on the streets of downtown Tehran where groups of protesters seeking to link up with each other pelted
the security forces with stones. Then, gunshots rang out.
'The first bullet hit an iron door and made a huge sound, the other got a guy near me on his arm, and the third one hit a
middle-aged man in the chest and dropped him to the ground,‖ Siamak recollected as he sipped tea in an Istanbul cafe.
He fled the country after several of his friends were arrested in Tehran in February.
"No one moved for three or four seconds," Siamak said, remembering the shocked silence that temporarily blanketed
police and protesters. ―We didn‘t even run"…
Human rights campaigners are calling these and other incidents ―murder‖ and they are charging that Iran's rate of state
executions is much too high. Iran refuses to allow independent human rights monitors to visit the country.
"It‘s murder, even under Iranian law,‖ said Renee Redman, the executive director of the Iran Human Rights
Documentation Center (IHRDC) which recently published a report on post-election abuses. ―They‘re breaking their own
laws, using excessive force against largely peaceful demonstrators"…
Total executions in the Persian year, which started on March 21, 2009, passed 440 according to the Mojahedeen-e Khalq
(MKO) organization, a Paris-based opposition group whose tally is based on executions reported by state-run media…
"The true number for executions is much higher as this does not cover the secret executions and the ones not reported
by the media or people killed in streets by suppressive forces,‖ said Shahin Gobadi, a spokesman for MKO. ―In the past,
the clerical regime has executed many political prisoners as ordinary criminals and drug traffickers".
Since Ahamdinejad‘s controversial June re-election, beatings, shootings, mock executions, torture and rape have been
increasingly documented both inside the Islamic Republic‘s jails and in public.
"We‘re seeing the regime use executions as a threat by making them very visible, said IHRDC‘s Redman, who pointed
out that although no one has been executed yet for participating in demonstrations, the regime‘s heightened executions
of what it describes as ―drug smugglers‖ is suspicious.
"Even if the victims were all convicted of drug trafficking, that is not serious enough a crime under international law to
warrant the death penalty"…
"These are men who will speak out when they are released,‖ said an exiled Iranian prison supervisor who requested
anonymity for discussing the advice he would offer interrogators questioning dissidents in jails operated by Iran‘s
SaVaMa security organization. ―So they must either be struck in such a way that it won‘t show, or they must not leave the
prison alive".
The Islamic Republic cracked down on the protests by arresting an estimated 5,000 people, several hundreds of whom
were subjected to televised trials and issued with sentences ranging from internal exile to capital punishment. Human
rights monitors doubt that all the estimated 200 people executed since the summer elections were guilty of the crimes of
which they were convicted, such as drug-smuggling or seeking to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

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January – October 2010

Iran has continued to defy the international community‘s condemnation of its human rights abuses record, most
recently before the Human Rights Council in Geneva (The Global Post – April 4, 2010)
Iran hangs five people: report
Iran has hanged five people convicted of drug trafficking, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.
None of the people sent to the gallows on Saturday at a prison in the northeastern city of Mashhad were identified in
the report (AFP - April 10, 2010)
Iran hangs 3 men in Taibad Prison
Three people were hanged in Taibad Prison. According to reports, these people were executed on charges of smuggling
drugs.
Quds state-run daily published these executions today but did not mention the names of these people or the exact date
of the hangings.
According to unconfirmed reports, these hangings took place on Thursday April 8. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
April 11, 2010)
Iran hangs three men: report
Iran has hanged three men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, Fars news agency
reported on Monday.
The report identified the men sent to gallows on Sunday as Morteza 40, Qader 32, and Gholam Reza, 38. (AFP - April
12, 2010)
Iran publicly hangs two people in southern Iran
Last week, two people were hanged in the cities of Behbehan and Shadgan in a public execution in the province of
Khuzestan in southern Iran. These death sentences were carried out on April 8, 2010 in the Ghadir Square in Behbahan
and Shahrdari Square in Shadgan.
The Khuzestan Judiciary had announced their charges as drug smuggling but unofficial reports say that they were
executed for political and security reasons.
According to human rights sources, the public execution in Behbahan was unsuccessful and the prisoner was later
executed in prison. This report says the bystanders on the scene protested the execution and security forces shot in the
air to disperse the crowds. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 13, 2010)
45 bodies of secretly executed Afghan prisoners returned to Afghanistan
The execution of a group of Afghan prisoners in Iran has been met with a serious reaction from members of the
Afghanistan parliament.
According to this report, a number of Afghanistan MPs have said in parliament that in the past 3 days, the bodies of 45
executed Afghan prisoners in Iran were returned to Afghanistan via the Islam Qal'eh border region…
Despite this, the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that only three Afghan prisoners were executed in Iran.
The disclosure of the hanging of 45 Afghans has led Fada Hossein Maleki, the Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister, to
summon the Iranian Ambassador in Kabul for explanations. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 13, 2010)
Iran hangs one man, amputates limbs of another: report
Iran has publicly hanged a man and amputated the limbs of another for armed robbery in the southern town of
Mahshahr, the government newspaper Iran reported on Wednesday.
The two along with a third man had resorted to hijacking trucks and stealing their shipments, the report said.
The man executed on Tuesday in a public square in Mahshahr was identified only by his first name, Adnan.
'The amputation of a hand and leg of the other member of the group was carried out in prison,' Mahshahr prosecutor
Reza Abolhasani told the paper without giving further details. (AFP - April 14, 2010)
Iran hangs three men Babolsar
Three people were hanged in the morning in the province of Mazandaran.
According to this report, they were A.A, 24 years old from Babolsar, M.V, 25 from Qaemshahr and 30 year old A.T from
Fereidoun Kenar.
According to the state-run Fars Daily, they were charged with rape and immoral conduct.
They were hanged in public in the Imam Ali Square in Babolsar. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 14, 2010)
Iran hangs five men in Kerman Prison
Iran has hanged four convicted drug traffickers and a rapist in a prison in the southern city of Kerman, the ISNA news
agency reported on Monday.
The report identified the executed drug traffickers only as Mehdi N., Feizollah B., Nazar B., Alam H. They were
convicted for trafficking hundreds of kilos (pounds) of narcotics.
Another man, Hossein S., was also hanged after being convicted of rape, the report added.
ISNA did not give the date of the latest hangings, which bring to at least 47 the number of people executed in Iran so far
this year, according to an AFP count based on news reports.
(AFP - April 19, 2010)
Afghanistan: Iran executed 6 Afghans recently
The Afghanistan government has announced that six of its nationals were recently executed in Iran. According to this
report, the Afghanistan National Security Council said that the bodies of four of these people were transferred to
Afghanistan on April 5 and April 16 via the Islam Qal'eh border region.
According to reports, they were hanged on charges of drug trafficking. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
Iran hangs two men: report
Iran has hanged two convicted rapists in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, the governmental Iran newspaper
reported Tuesday.
The report identified the executed men as Ahmad and Soleiman and added that they were sent to the gallows on
Monday. (AFP - April 20, 2010)
Three people hanged, another man lashed in public
In the past week, three people were hanged in Mashhad and Dezful while the flogging sentence of another person was
carried out in public by the Department of Justice.
Quds state-run daily said today that the execution of two people in Mashhad prison was carried out on charges of rape in
two separate cases. Their names were not mentioned in this report.
The Khuzestan Justice Department also announced yesterday that last Tuesday (April 20, 2010) a person by the name of
Rahman R. was hanged in Dezful Prison on charges of intentional beating and murder of Davoud T.
In a statement, the Khuzestan Justice Department also said that a person identified a Reza S. was lashed in public for
immoral conduct in the Homafaran Intersection in Masjed Soleiman on April 20. The number of lashes was not
specified. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 27, 2010)
Iran hangs so called drug smuggler in Ardabil Prison
A person was hanged this week in Ardabil Prison.
According to the Fars state-run daily, he was charged with smuggling and possessing drugs. His name and age were not
mentioned in this report.
According to the Iran Human Rights Website, in 2009, at least one third of all executions in Iran were carried out on
charges of drug smuggling. But in most cases, names of the hanged prisoners were not announced and their charges have
not been confirmed by independent sources. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 30, 2010)
May
Iran hangs six people: report
Iran hanged on Saturday six convicted drug traffickers in a prison in Karaj, west of Tehran, the official IRNA news
agency reported.
The report identified the men as Arsalan Asadi, Mohammad Ali Fakhri, Abbas Geravand, Rahman Biabani, Saeed
Mikaili and Parviz Taghizadeh. (AFP - May 8, 2010)

25
January – October 2010

Iran hangs 5 political prisoners including female political prisoner


The Revolutionary Court in Tehran announced that five elements of anti-revolutionary grouplets were hanged on
Sunday morning in Evin Prison.
According to the Revolutionary Court, the executed prisoners were Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili,
Shirin Alamhouli and Mehdi Islamian. (IRNA state-run News Agency – May 9, 2010)
Lawyer of executed teacher says he was not informed of client‟s execution
Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alamhouli and Mehdi Islamian were hanged in the morning on
Sunday May 9, 2010.
According to reports, Khalil Bahramian, Kamangar‘s lawyer said a few minutes after this news was published that ‗he had
no information on the execution of these people‖.
He said he would go to the Prosecutor‘s Office to see if the news was accurate.
Farzad Kamangar was a Kurd teacher who was arrested in 2006. He was severely tortured during his incarceration and
published his plight in a letter.
He was sentenced to death in 2007. On February 4, 2010 he wrote a letter to the head of the Judiciary requesting a
retrial.
Mehdi Islamian was arrested on May 4, 2009 and was kept in a solitary cell for six months. His brother, Mohsen
Islamian, was also executed.
Shirin Alamhouli was arrested in May 2008 in Tehran and sentenced to death.
Ali Heidarian who was also executed today has been detained since 2006. Many people believe that the legal procedure
of their trials were ‗unfair‘. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 9, 2010)
Amnesty International calls on Iran to end secrecy surrounding execution of Afghans
Amnesty International is urging the Iranian authorities to reveal how many Afghan nationals it is holding on death row
amid reports 45 Afghans may have been executed in Iran in recent weeks.
More than 4,000 Afghans are thought to be in Iranian jails. The number of those facing the death penalty may be as
high as 3,000, mostly for drug-related offence.
According to Afghan news reports, Afghan MP Gul Ahmad Amini said on 12 April that 45 people had been executed in
the preceding days and their bodies sent back to Afghanistan.
Iranian officials deny such numbers of executions and are refusing to confirm how many Afghans are at risk of
execution.
―These numbers are truly disturbing,‖ said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International‘s Middle East and North
Africa Deputy Director. ―Iran must immediately put a stop to these executions and reveal how many Afghans it has
executed.
―We are also calling on the authorities to come clean on exactly how many Afghan nationals they are holding in Iranian
jails. At the moment, nobody knows for certain how many have been arrested, what crimes they have been convicted of
or what their fate is likely to be. This secrecy can only increase the risk of miscarriages of justice.
―We‘re particularly worried by the fact that so many of the Afghans in Iranian prisons have been convicted of drug-
related offences and may therefore be sentenced to death‖.
An estimated one million Afghan refugees are living in Iran after fleeing more than three decades of conflict in
Afghanistan. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of other Afghans have entered the country as irregular migrants.
Concern for Afghan prisoners grew in March following the visit of a group of Afghan MPs to Iran, which has one of the
highest rates of executions in the world.
Following the visit, Afghan MP Taj Mohammed Mojahed said officials from the Iranian Supreme Court had told them
that 5, 630 Afghans were in prison with more than 3,000 sentenced to death.
An Iranian prison official later confirmed that over 4,000 Afghan nationals are being held in Iranian jails. He admitted
it was possible that the figure of 3,000 Afghans on death row was accurate since the majority of the prisoners were
convicted of drugs-related charges.
In Iran, trafficking in more than specified amounts of various illegal drugs carries a mandatory death sentence. Amnesty
International recognizes that Iran faces serious social, security and economic problems relating to drug-trafficking, but
believes that heavy reliance on the use of the death penalty to combat drug-trafficking is misguided, ineffectual and an
affront to human rights.
―Sadly, these numbers only illustrate the extent to which the Iranian authorities misguidedly resort to the death penalty.
Our concerns are compounded by the serious shortcomings of the Iranian criminal justice system and discrimination
against Afghans in Iran,‖ said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.
UN human rights experts have concluded that the death penalty for drug-related offences fails to meet the condition of
'most serious crime', under which the death penalty may be imposed. In addition, the UN has repeatedly urged member
states to be transparent regarding the application of the death penalty.
Amnesty International has for decades documented shortcomings in the administration of justice in Iran and fair
guarantees are routinely flouted. Detainees are frequently held incommunicado for prolonged periods - which puts them
at higher risk of torture and other ill-treatment - are often denied access to a lawyer and forced to ―confess‖ under duress.
(Amnesty International – May 9, 2010)
Iran Executes Five Activists, Sending Message to Critics
The Iranian government hanged five Kurdish activists, including a woman, on Sunday morning in the Evin prison in
Tehran in what appeared to be an effort to intimidate protesters from marking the anniversary of last year‘s huge anti-
government rallies after the June 12 election…
Although the authorities announced that the five people executed Sunday had been found guilty of carrying out fatal
bomb attacks, the executions were widely seen as intended to discourage people from rallying against the government on
June 12. That will be the first anniversary of the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad , which many people
believe was rigged.
Human rights activists have expressed alarm at the executions and worry that more might be planned because those on
Sunday, in February and in late 2009 were carried out hastily and without having been endorsed by Iran‘s Supreme
Court.
―The executions show that this government resorts to any kind of terror and violence to put down any challenge to its
authority,‖ said Hadi Ghaemi, the director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran , which is based in
New York. ―This could lay the ground for the execution of postelection protesters‖…
The four men were identified as Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili, Mehdi Islamian and Farzad Kamangar; the woman was
identified as Shirin Elmholi…
All denied the charges in public letters posted on Web sites and said they were tortured to force them to confess. Mr.
Kamangar was assured in recent weeks that his death sentence had been suspended, his lawyer, Kahlil Bahramian, said.
{The judiciary is acting politically and has been taken over by the intelligence, security and military apparatus,‖ he said.
In addition to many arrests, lengthy jail terms and executions for activists, the authorities have waged a campaign on
state-run television with millions of viewers to project an image of authority.
A recent television series called ―Black Wisdom‖ shows the police‘s capability to monitor e-mail messages and other
contents of people‘s computers.
―It is really scary to see how far they can penetrate into people‘s lives,‖ said a viewer in Tehran, who spoke on condition
of anonymity because he feared retribution for his comments. ―They clearly want to intimidate Internet users and their
families‖. (The New York Times - May 9, 2010)
EDITORIAL: Iran hangs a little fish
A year ago, The Washington Times
helped bring the world's attention to
the plight of Farzad Kamangar, a
Kurdish school- teacher wrongly
accused of being a terrorist by the
Islamic regime in Tehran. He spent
almost four years of physical and
mental torture in Iran's prison system.
Mr. Kamangar's suffering ceased
Sunday at the end of a hangman's
noose. He was 34 years old.
Mr. Kamangar was killed along with
four other 'moharebs' or 'enemies of
God,' whom the regime said were
'convicted of carrying out terrorist
acts.' Three of the cases were still
undergoing mandatory review when

Farzad Kamangar with students 27


January – October 2010

the executions were rushed through. Phone connections to Tehran's infamous Evin Prison were cut over the weekend
while the executions were prepared and carried out. The regime did not notify the families or defense attorneys of the
condemned in advance, as required by law - they learned of the execution from a press release. For a regime that claims
to be the instrument of God, it behaved more like a criminal cabal with something to hide.
Mr. Kamangar's crime was being a Kurd. He taught at an elementary school in the northwestern Iranian city of
Kamyaran, where he was a member of the Kurdistan Teachers Union and wrote for various underground human rights
publications. He secretly taught his Kurdish students their banned language and told stories about their culture and
history. He was arrested in July 2006 and subjected to beatings, whippings, electric shocks, malnourishment, sleep
deprivation, and solitary confinement in cold, squalid cells. His cries of torment were drowned out by loud tapes playing
passages from the Koran.
Mr. Kamangar was given a five-minute trial in February 2008. His lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, told The Washington Times
by phone from Iran last year that there was 'absolutely no evidence against Farzad that connects him to a terrorist group
or activity.' Farzad, he said, 'is a teacher, a poet, a journalist, a human rights activist and a special person.' And no such
evidence was presented to the court, or was needed for it to make its perfunctory, predetermined ruling.
In his final letter from prison, Mr. Kamangar related the Iranian story 'The Little Black Fish,' written in 1967 by the
dissident teacher Samad Behrangi, which tells the story of a little fish who defies the rules of his community to embark
on a journey to discover the sea. Through many adventures, the little black fish finds freedom, but also an untimely
death. 'Is it possible to be a teacher and not show the path to the sea to the little fish of the country?' he wrote. 'Is it
possible to carry the heavy burden of being a teacher and be responsible for spreading the seeds of knowledge and still be
silent? Is it possible to see the lumps in the throats of the students and witness their thin and malnourished faces and
keep quiet? ... I cannot imagine witnessing the pain and poverty of the people of this land and fail to give our hearts to
the river and the sea, to the roar and the flood‘.
Mr. Kamangar wrote, 'The Little Fish calmly swam in the sea and thought: Facing death is not hard for me, nor do I
regret it‘. (The Washington Times - May 11, 2010)
Amnesty condemns Iran hanging of militants
Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned Iran's execution of five militants, saying they had not received fair trials
and that some of them had been tortured.
‗We condemn these executions which were carried out without any prior warning. Despite the serious accusations
against them, the five were denied fair trials. Three of the defendants were tortured and two forced to confess' under
duress,' Malcolm Smart, director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.
‗They were then executed in violation of Iranian law, which requires the authorities to notify prisoners' lawyers in
advance before carrying out executions,' Smart added.
On Sunday, Iran executed the five after convicting them of bombing government offices and a gas pipeline to Turkey.
The five included a Kurdish woman, Shirin Alamhouli, and four others identified as Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian,
Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian…
Smart said 'these latest executions appear to be a blatant attempt to intimidate members of the Kurdish minority and
other critics and opponents of the government in the runup' to the June 12 anniversary of last year's disputed
presidential election,' Smart said. (AFP May 11, 2010)
Iran hangs two people in Isfahan
Two men identified as Morteza and Azizollah were hanged in the Isfahan Central Prison.
According to the Isfahan Justice Department, the two men were charged with drug trafficking in separate cases. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – May 18, 2010)
Iran hangs man in Isfahan: report
Iran has hanged a man convicted of murdering a woman over a debt and then burning her body, the Fars news agency
reported Friday.
The report datelined from the central province of Isfahan said that the man it identified only as Mohammad had been
found guilty of killing the woman it identified as Shokat over a debt of 4,700 dollars. (AFP - May 21, 2010)
Iran hanged two men in public in Khuzestan
A person convicted of trafficking narcotics was hanged in public on May 18 in Mahshahr in the town Ahwaz.
State run media did not disclose his identity and the head of public relations at the Khuzestan Judiciary only said that
the death sentence of ―an experienced drug smuggler was carried out in the Kout Abdollah region in Ahwaz‖.
The Khuzestan Judiciary also announced the May 4 execution of a person convicted of intentional murder in Dezful.
According to this report, Rahman R. was arrested on charges of intentionally beating to death Davoud T and had
confessed to the murder in court. He was sentenced to retribution.
This sentence was carried out in Dezful Prison after it was upheld by the Supreme Court. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – May 20, 2010)
Iran hangs political prisoner in Zahedan
Abdolhamid Rigi, the brother of Abdolmalek Rigi (the head of the Jundollah Group) was hanged on Monday morning
in the Central Zahedan Prison.
He was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court and the sentence was implemented after it was upheld by the
Supreme Court. (Tabnak state-run Website – May 24, 2010)
Man hanged in public in Ahwaz
On the evening of May 21, a person was hanged in public by the judicial system. This hanging was carried out in Koot
Abdollah Road across the Abadan Terminal. The Revolutionary Court in Ahwaz announced that he was convicted of
trafficking narcotics. The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 23, 2010)
Iran hangs another man in Ahwaz
A man convicted of drug trafficking was also hanged on Sunday in a prison in the western city of Ahvaz, the ISNA news
agency reported.
The man identified only as S.R. had been arrested with 675 grams (about 1.5 pounds) of heroin. (AFP - May 24, 2010)
Iran hangs 5 prisoners, including woman, in Rasht Prison
According to reports, five prisoners including one woman were hanged in Rasht Prison on Monday.
On Monday, May 24, at about 5 am, five prisoners were hanged behind the infirmary in Rasht Prison. Their identities
have not been disclosed.
Even though they were hanged a few days ago, the Judiciary and state-run media have not announced these hangings.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 26, 2010)
Iran hangs prisoners in Zahedan
A person identified as Jamshid Mir was hanged by the judicial system in the Central Zahedan Prison on May 25. He was
charged with rape.
Jamshid Mir was from Zahedan and was arrested in March 2010 and sentenced to death. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – May 26, 2010)
Iran official says it will not stop executions
The Secretary of Human Rights Staff of Iran, Larijani, said in a visit with the Australian Ambassador that ‗we do not
endorse the issue of completely eradicating the death sentence‘.
In a visit with the Norwegian Ambassador he said, ―Human rights is not a western concept and the west cannot claim
such a thing‖.
―Human rights pertains to various cultures and civilizations and all civilizations and cultures have their own specific
human rights values‖, he stressed. (ISNA state-run News Agency – May 26, 2010)
(Note: Human rights is a universal concept and the ‘Iranian culture’ does not endorse torture, rape in prisons, executions, amputations
and thousands of other forms of human rights violations carried out under the Iranian regime.)
Iran executes Afghan in Isfahan
An Afghan national was hanged in the Isfahan Prison On Saturday May 29. Noor-Jamal S., 26, was sentenced to death
on charges of having possession of narcotics. His sentence was upheld by the Prosecutor General on October 24, 2009
and was carried out at dawn. (Iran Human Rights Website – May 29, 2010)
Iran hangs 4 people in Yazd Prison
Four prisoners were hanged in the Yazd Central Prison in central Iran last Wednesday (May 26).
According to reports, they were convicted of trafficking narcotics by the second branch of the General and
Revolutionary Court and were taken to solitary cells on May 25 in this prison to await their execution. They were hanged
the next morning.
The belongings and property of these prisoners, who were awaiting amnesty, had been seized by the Judiciary. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – May 31, 2010)
Iran hangs two others in Khorasan
Two prisoners in the Shirvan Prison in Northern Khorasan were hanged. According to the state-run Iskanews Website,
they were charged with trafficking 5 kilos and 949 grams of the narcotic ‗crystal‘. They were arrested in Northern
Khorasan and sentenced to death in the Shirvan Revolutionary Court. Their names and ages were not specified in this
report. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 31, 2010)

29
January – October 2010

June
Iran hangs 13 prisoners in mass execution
Thirteen prisoners in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj were hanged in the morning.
Yesterday 26 death row prisoners who were convicted of possessing narcotics were taken to the quarantine section of
prison for execution and it was announced that they would soon be executed.
Mohammad Mostafi, a lawyer, said that most of the convicts had requested amnesty which was refused by the Amnesty
Commission even while some of them did not have any previous criminal records.
The death sentence for many of them was issued by Judge Hosseini, the head of the first Branch of the Revolutionary
Court. The names of these prisoners have not been announced. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 7,
2010)
Iran executes man in Mianeh
The head of the Anti Narcotics Police Department in Eastern Azarbaijan said, ―In line with carrying out the law and
justice in the town of Mianeh in Eastern Azarbaijan, a man with a history of producing and dealing narcotics was hanged
with the presence of authorities‖.
―The case of Jalil B. son of Khoda Karam, 36, was seen to by the Judiciary and after legal procedures, his death sentence
was issued by the judge on his case‖, Mohammad Rasti said. (Fars News Agency – June 5, 2010)
Iran hangs man in Isfahan
A prisoner in the Central Isfahan Prison was hanged today on charges of carrying and possessing narcotics.
According to reports, a man who was sentenced to death by the fourth branch of the Isfahan Public Court for the
possession of narcotics for personal use was hanged in Isfahan Prison after his sentence was upheld by the Prosecutor
General on June 21, 2009.
He had requested amnesty twice from the Amnesty Commission in the Judiciary but his request was refused both times.
Last week, an Afghan national was hanged in this prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 7, 2010)
The UN must try Iran's 1988 murderers
The mass murderers of 1988 now hold power in Tehran. The world must make them face justice. This weekend marks
the first anniversary of the death of democracy in Iran - the rigged election which the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei declared lost by reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Afterwards protesters were shot dead in the street and taken for torture to Tehran's notorious Evin prison; several have
been hanged as mohareb - enemies of God. This intolerance of dissent should have come as no surprise: this is the same
regime that got away with the murder of thousands of political prisoners - and has never been called to account.
It happened in the summer of 1988, after the war with Iraq ended in a bitter truce. Iran's prisons were full of students
sentenced for protesting against Ayatollah Khomeini in the early 1980s - Marxists and leftists of all varieties and
supporters of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation - a guerrilla sunni-Marxist movement.
They had been sorted by prison officials into groups of those who remained 'steadfast' in their political beliefs or who
were apostates. The regime decided they should be eradicated so they would not trouble the postwar government, and
Khomeini issued a secret fatwa authorising their execution.
Revolutionary guards descended on the prisons and a 'death committee' (an Islamic judge, a revolutionary prosecutor
and an intelligence ministry official) took a minute or so to identify each prisoner, declare them mohareb and direct
them to the gallows erected in the prison auditorium, where they were hanged six at a time. Later their bodies were
doused in disinfectant and transported in meat trucks to mass graves. Their belongings were returned in plastic bags to
their families three months later, but the regime still refuses to reveal the location of the graves and continues to forbid
relatives from gathering at one site which has been identified in a Tehran cemetery.
Comparisons between atrocities are invidious, but this involved almost as many casualties as Srebrenica and was a cold-
blooded killing by the state of prisoners after the war had ended. It bears some comparison to the death marches of
allied prisoners at the end of the second world war - the Japanese generals responsible were sentenced to death at the
Tokyo trials. So who was responsible for the Iranian prison slaughter?
Ayatollah Khomeini is dead. But the three leading figures of his regime are still very much alive, and available to be put
on trial in an international court. The then president, Ali Khamenei, is now Iran's Supreme Leader - the man who
endorsed last year's rigged election. Ali Rafsanjani, still a powerful political player, was then the commander of the
Revolutionary Guard, who were ordered to carry out the killings. Then there is the man who in 1988 was Iran's prime
minister - Mir Hussein Mousavi, today's reform movement leader…
Most of the judges and officials who implemented the fatwa are still in high office in Tehran - under a supreme leader
who, when asked about killing prisoners replied: 'Do you think we should have given them sweets?' There is still time for
the UN security council to enforce international law by setting up a court to try the perpetrators of the prison massacres.
This may be a better way to deal with a theocracy whose behaviour in 1988 provides the best reason for concern over its
future behaviour with nuclear weapons. (The Guardian – June 7, 2010)
Iran hangs five people: report
Iran has hanged four men convicted of rape and another man found guilty of drug trafficking in Tehran, government
newspaper Iran reported on Wednesday.
The men hanged on Tuesday were identified as Mehdi, 33, convicted of raping at least two teenage boys, an unnamed
21-year-old man who had raped a retarded 22-year-old woman two years ago, and two other unnamed men who had
broken into a house late at night and raped a woman.
The drug trafficker who was also hanged on Tuesday was identified as Masoud, 33, convicted of smuggling eight
kilogrammes (17 pounds) of heroin, the report said. (AFP - June 9, 2010)
Iran hangs man in public
On Wednesday June 9, a man was hanged in public in the town of Sarab in Eastern Azarbaijan.
He was charged with murder with a Kalashnikov assault rife and sentenced to death. His sentence was carried out
yesterday in the Chamran Square near Tabriz. (IRNA state-run news agency – June 11, 2010)
Iran hangs man in public in Sarab
The head of the state security in Sarab said, ―A person (Mehdi H.) who shot and killed his landlord and injured three of
his family members in the town of Sarab was hanged in public‖…
―He was hanged in the Chamran Square in this town‖. (Fars state-run News Agency – June 14, 2010)
Iran executes man in Zahedan
The retribution sentence of a man was carried out in the morning in Zahedan Prison.
According to the Public Relations Department of the Sistan & Baluchestan Prosecutor‘s Office, the Public and
Revolutionary Court in Zahedan announced that Akbar H. was sentenced to retribution (death) on charges of
intentional murder and rape.
According to this report, the sentence was carried out in the morning in Zahedan Prison after it was upheld by sources
in the Supreme Court. (Fars state-run news agency – June 25, 2010)
Iran hangs head of rebel group
The Tehran Prosecutor announced that Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of the political-military group
Jondollah was executed.
The 27 year old founder and leader of this group was arrested after years of carrying out activities
(against the Iranian regime) in March. He was sentenced to death by hanging in a speedy process
after numerous charges including enmity with God by armed fighting by a branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Tohidi and was hanged in Evin Prison this morning.
Rigi spent his incarceration in an unknown location and his family‘s attempts to visit him or
choose a lawyer for him were without result. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 20, 2010)
Man hanged in Iran: report
A man convicted of rape has been hanged in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, the government daily Iran reported on
Sunday.
The 48-year-old, the sixth rapist reportedly hanged in Iran this month, was identified only by his first name Jamshid. He
was executed for raping a woman in April, the paper reported without saying when the hanging took place.
It said he was an electrician who had called at the woman's house to undertake a repair job and then raped her and
filmed the act after threatening his victim with a knife.
Earlier on Sunday Iran said it had also hanged top Sunni rebel ring leader Abdolmalek Rigi in Evin prison in the capital
(AFP - June 20, 2010)
Head of Iran Judiciary: those who stand against the Islamic Republic will be executed
According to the Public Relations of the Judiciary, Sadeq Amoli Larijani (the head of the Judiciary) advised ‗those who
wrongly think they are standing against the people and Islamic system of Iran‘ to turn back from the wrong path and not
to clash with their own people because their fate will not be better than Rigi‘s fate. (Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of the
Jondollah Group was executed on June 20, 2010 by the Iranian regime). (Iran state-run Daily – June 26, 2010)

31
January – October 2010

July
Iran issues 20 death sentences and executes 8 people in unknown timespan
http://www.rawanews.com/detailsf.aspx?=News&ID=2933&Babat=5
The head of the Judiciary‘s Popular Staff for Social Prevention and Security in Kurdistan said, ―Up to now, the death
sentence for 20 people has been issued in the province on charges of narcotic trafficking and the sentence for eight of
them has been carried out.
―The Kurdistan Judiciary uses the most extreme punishment which has been stipulated in the law in the case of narcotics
criminals‖, Hasan Babayi added. (Ravanews state-run website – July 1, 2010)
(Note: The date for the execution of these prisoners was not mentioned in this report.)
Iran hangs two men in Zahedan
http://www.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8904130184
Two people were hanged in the morning in the Zahedan Central Prison.
According to the Public Relations of the Sistan and Baluchistan Judiciary, in line with the issued sentences by the
Revolutionary Court, convicts Amanollah Purian, son of Malang and Eunice Rahmani, son of Reies were hanged in the
morning in the Central Zahedan Prison.
According to this report, they were both sentenced to death on charges of ‗waging war with God‘ and ‗being corrupt on
earth‘… (Fars News Agency – July 4, 2010)
Iran hangs mother and son in Orumieh Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/2558-1.html
A man and woman were hanged in Orumieh Central Prison on the morning of July 5 on charges of trafficking narcotics.
The executed man was identified as Mostafa Rahimi who was hanged along with his mother. Their charges were
announced by judicial sources and cannot by confirmed by the Human Rights Activists in Iran. This mother and son
were suddenly executed without prior notice.
Also on July 5, five other prisoners in this prison were transferred to solitary cells for execution. Three of these prisoners
are Feisal Saedi, Karam Azizi and Omid Norani.
According to judicial officials, they have been sentenced to death on charges of trafficking narcotics. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – July 5, 2010)
Iran hangs four people: report
Iran on Tuesday hanged four men in prison in the central city of Isfahan after they were convicted of drug trafficking,
the ISNA news agency reported, quoting a statement from the judiciary.
The report said the men, whose appeals were turned down twice, were found guilty of possessing and carrying opium
and other drugs. (AFP - July 6, 2010)
Iran executes 5 men in Orumieh Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/2760-1.html
Five people were hanged in the Central Orumieh Prison yard on the morning of July 15.
They were identified as Feisal Saedi, Karam Azizi, Omid Nourani, Abdolrahman Randi and Ali Sareban.
Judicial sources announced that they were drug traffickers but independent sources have not confirmed these charges.
(Mukarian News Agency, Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 16, 2010)
Iran hangs person in Shirvan
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8904270669
According to the Fars News Agency from Bojnourd and as stated by the Public Relations of the North Khorasan
Judiciary, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Shirvan announced that the death sentence for a narcotics
trafficker was carried out in this town.
―This person was arrested and sentenced to death on charges of possessing and carrying 989 grams of crystal‖, Reza
Rashid said.
―The sentence was carried out after it was confirmed by the Attorney General and after his request for amnesty was
refused by the Judiciary‘s Amnesty Commission‖, he stipulated. (Fars state-run News Agency – July 18, 2010)
Iran executes three men in Kerman
http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1576791&Lang=P
Three narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman Prison.
According to the issued sentences by the Revolutionary Court in Kerman, Abbas Y. was convicted of carrying and
possessing 5 kilos and 720 grams of crack (type of very addictive chemically made narcotics), Rohollah B. was convicted
of carrying and possessing 440 grams of heroin and Mohammad Naiem Sh. was convicted of selling 275 kilos of opium.
They were all sentenced to death for these charges. (ISNA state-run news agency – July 19, 2010)
Man hanged in public in Ahwaz
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/2818-1.html
The death sentence of a drug trafficker was carried out today in public in Ahwaz.
The death sentence for A. Sh. a drug trafficker in the Mashali Akhar Asphalt neighborhood was carried out in the
morning.
It has been some that death sentences are carried out in public in Khuzestan and this issue has had a great affect in the
decrease of the province‘s crime rate. (Asre Iran state-run website, Fars state-run news agency – July 19, 2010)
Iran hangs man in Ahwaz
The death sentence of a drug trafficker was carried out in the morning in Karoun Prison in Ahwaz.
According to the Khuzestan Public Relations Office of the Judiciary, the death sentence for S.H who was sentenced to
death by the Ahwaz Revolutionary Court on charges of buying, selling, carrying and possessing 990 grams of heroin was
carried out in Karoun Prison. (Fars state-run news agency – July 21, 2010)
Iran hangs three men in Ahwaz
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/2975-1.html
The death sentences of three prisoners in the Karoun Prison in Ahwaz were carried out yesterday morning in this prison.
According to reports, on July 26, 2010, the death sentences of three people in the Karoun Prison were carried out on
charges of trafficking narcotics.
These men were charged with carrying and possessing drugs and were sentenced to death by the Ahwaz Revolutionary
Court. The Attorney General had upheld their sentences. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 27, 2010)
2 men hanged in Isfahan Prison
http://www.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8905091228
Two narcotics traffickers were hanged in the morning in the Central Isfahan Prison.
According to the Isfahan Judiciary Public Relations Office, the first convict was 32 year old Behnam J. who had a
criminal record and had been sentenced to death by the first branch of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on charges of
buying, carrying and possessing one kilo and 645 grams of heroin. This sentence was confirmed by the Attorney General.
The second convict was Shahram A. who was also sentenced to death which was upheld by the Supreme Court.
These two prisoners‘, whose requests for amnesty were refused twice, were hanged in the morning after legal procedures.
(Fars state-run News Agency – July 31, 2010)
August
Iran executes prisoner after 11 years of jail
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/3100-1.html
Reza Mohajer, a prisoner in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison was hanged on the morning of August 2.
According to reports, this prisoner was transferred to a solitary cell yesterday in cellblock 6 and was hanged on Monday
morning.
According to reports, he had been waiting for the death sentence for 11 years and had been taken to the gallows three
times before this but his hanging was cancelled at the last minute. He was sentenced to death on charges of murder.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 2, 2010)
Iran hangs three people in Khuzestan
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-28-00-30-11/3123-1.html
Three prisoners were hanged on Saturday morning on July 31 on charges of trafficking narcotics.
According to reports, two of these people were convicted in a joint case in Dezful while the other person was hanged in
the town of Behbahan.
The Khuzestan Prosecutor announced that the sentence for the two prisoners in Dezful was carried out in Dezful Prison.
Their sentence was issued by the Dezful Revolutionary Court and carried out after being upheld by the Attorney
General.
The person hanged in Behbahan was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Mahshahr which was then
confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Notably, these sentences have not been confirmed by an independent source. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 3,
2010)
Iran hangs man in Behbahan
A man identified only by his initials as S.D was hanged in Behbahan on charges of buying narcotics.
33
January – October 2010

According to the official Khuzestan Prosecutor‘s website, on Saturday July 31, a person identified as S.D was hanged in
the Behbahan Prison on charges of buying one kilogram of heroin and keeping 650 grams of heroin. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Aug. 5, 2010)
Iran hangs five others in Ahwaz
The death sentence for five narcotics traffickers was carried out at noon in Ahwaz.
According to the Public Relactions Office of the Khuzestan Public Prosecutor‘s Office, the death sentence for five
narcotics traffickers was carried out in the Karoun Prison in Ahwaz and the convicts were hanged.
According to this report, M.M, M.J and Y.S were sentenced to death by the first branch of the Ahwaz Revolutionary
Court while S.A and A.R were sentenced to death by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Izih. These
sentences were carried out after they were upheld by the Attorney General. (Fars state-run News Agency – Aug. 7, 2010)
Former political prisoner discloses dozens of secret executions in Mashhad
Written by Ahmad Qabel [Khamenei critic who was arrested on
December 21, 2009 in post election events and was later released]
In the time that I was detained in the Vakil Abad Prison [in
Mashhad] in cellblock 1/6 for three months, according to
conclusive figures which I heard from prison officials and
cellblock employees, more than 50 people were transferred to
cellblock 1/6 and were then executed. But only in one instance
when 31 people were executed, the Intelligence Agency and
Khorasan Judiciary informed the Khorasan [state-run] daily that 5
international narcotics traffickers were executed. (I read this in
the Khorasan daily)
Those in this cellblock know that when the decision for
execution is made, free movement is limited in the cellblock and
death row prisoners are transferred to the suits escorted by guards and after a few hours, in the morning or at night,
everything goes back to normal. This means that those who were on death row were hanged and those who carried out
the sentences have been relieved of a hard and upsetting job and our cellmates have been saved from limitations!
I had heard the appalling figures of execution in the past months and years before that from those who were in prison
for a longer time which proves the real figures in only these three months compared to the officially announced figures.
These executions have been carried out based on sentences for narcotics, retribution [murder], rape and … If from the
viewpoint of the government, these [executions] are completely fair and defendable, why are they carried out in secret?
And if it is not defendable, why is it even being carried out? Ahmad Qabel – August 8, 2010 – Fariman (Jaras Website –
Aug. 9, 2010)
Iran hangs three people in public in Lorestan
Despite internal opposition and international protests, the Iranian regime still continues to issue and carry out death
sentence. This is while many believe that the number of executions is higher than the figures officially announced by the
government.
According to reports, three people were hanged in public today in the town of Aznay in Lorestan. (PJAK TV Website –
Aug. 11, 2010)
More than 70 prisoners, including minors, executed in Mashhad in matter of days
There are reports that in the past few days, more than 70 prisoners in Mashhad Prison were suddenly executed.
According to reports from Mashhad, some of these people were arrested on drug related charges and were not sentenced
to death and some of them were even sentenced to pay a fine. But suddenly a judicial order was issued for their
execution.
It is still not clear why this order was issued but there are speculations that this has been carried out upon orders of
security and intelligence institutions.
Before this in a similar case in this city in the beginning of the reign of the 9 th government (Ahmadinejad government)
when a top security agent was linked to drug trafficking gangs, more than 60 people who were related to this case were
suddenly executed. A number of them were relatives of security forces.
According to reports, a number of the recently arrested prisoners were under 18 years old or arrested as minors. (Nedaye
Sabze Azadi Website – Aug. 14, 2010)
Report on mass executions in Mashhad
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/081341.htm
According to information from a prisoner of conscience in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, 64 people were executed
on August 11 or 12, 2010 (in one day) in this prison. Most of them were charged with trafficking narcotics and similar
crimes. Thirty others will be executed in the next two days. (Iran Press News – Aug. 15, 2010)
Iran hangs three drug traffickers: report
Iran has hanged three men, including an Afghan, convicted of drug trafficking in the central city of Isfahan, a newspaper
reported on Monday.
The Iranian men, identified as Akbar Z., 33, and Hamid Reza H., 28, and the Afghan Shah S., 38, were hanged on
Sunday in a prison in Isfahan, hardline newspaper Kayhan said. (AFP - Aug 23, 2010)
Reliable Source Reports Of Group Executions Inside Mashad‟s Vakil Abad Prison
An informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that over the past few months, the
Iranian judicial authorities have ordered the hanging of over one hundred individuals inside Mashad‘s Vakil Abad
Prison. According to this source, most of those executed were sentenced based on drug-related charges and the
executions continue. ―Last Wednesday 68, people were hung and over the coming weeks the executions will continue,‖
said the source.
The source stated that the number of individuals on death row inside Vakil Abad Prison‘s Wards 101, 102, 103, and
104 as well as the Quarantine Ward is ―in the hundreds.‖ The Campaign refrains from publishing the reported statistics
pending confirmation from other sources. The Campaign asks the Iranian judicial authorities to be accountable
regarding news about the weekly group executions of drug-related convicts and to provide exact statistics about events
taking place inside Mashad‘s Vakil Abad Prison.
Sadegh Larijani recently wrote a letter to Iran‘s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, asking him for directions about
what to do with the convicts, the source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
In order to verify the accuracy of the reports about the executions of drug-related criminals in Mashad, we asked Ahmad
Ghabel, a theological researcher and a student of the late Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. Ghabel was arrested
immediately after Mr. Montazeri‘s death on 20 December 2009, and served 170 days in prison before he was released on
bail. The Campaign asked Mr. Ghabel whether he was aware of similar executions during his imprisonment at Vakil
Abad Prison. ―I never saw any of these prisoners up close. I never tried to see outside my cell through the door or the
window, but I heard the news. Soldiers are people just like you and me and they transfer news. I learned through news I
received during fresh air breaks that 50 people were executed during the 170 days I was there,‖ said Ahmad Ghabel. He
told the Campaign that though he doesn‘t have direct information about the executions of individuals under the age of
18, he does remember hearing the prison guards talking about two youths under 18 among those executed.
―Inside our ward, Ward 6/1, in addition to cells where prisoners would serve their long prison terms, there were also
suites where those on the death row would be brought a few hours before the execution. The situation would change so
drastically, everyone would know a death-row inmate was inside the ward. All doors would close and if this was during
the times when prisoners could make telephone calls, the lines would be disconnected. Even other prison authorities
could not move about at this time, because Ward 6/1 was directly managed by the prison Intelligence Unit,‖ added the
theological researcher.
―I have not conducted my own research on this, and I have been following the media news about it. Unfortunately, I
have no access to my ex-cellmates, either. All I know is that the families of those executed read the number [of those
executed] on the forms when they came to take the bodies. I think it is fair to say that these facts are undeniable. Prison
guards and other prisoners are also members of the society and people like to talk about events like this, spreading the
news. Especially as events like this are not unprecedented in our country,‖ said Ahmad Ghabel about news of 70
executions over the past few days.
The Campaign asked Ahmad Ghabel whether it is conceivable for such a large number of prisoners to have death
sentences. ―It is quite customary to have people with death sentences remain in prison for a long time,‖ Ghabel replied.
―People convicted of murder get the death penalty, but their families are given time to seek the forgiveness of the victims‘
families and to attempt swapping the death penalty with diya [blood money]. Also, there are people who are sentenced to
death because of carrying illegal arms, but they also have a prison sentence which they must serve prior to the execution.
As we speak, there are hundreds of people inside prisons who received their death sentences several years ago. Even
inside Ward 1/6 where I was serving, there was an individual who had been in prison for 13 years for illegally carrying.
He had a death sentence, too. Another case is another suspect I was handcuffed to one time when returning from the

35
January – October 2010

court. His charge was possession of 70 kilograms of crystal meth and while serving a long prison term, he had also
received a death sentence,‖ he added.
The source who provided the Campaign with detailed information about the group executions of Vakil Abad Prison said
that the death row convicts are held inside Ward 6 of the prison which is under the oversight of the prison‘s Intelligence
Unit. Each month there are two sets of executions and in each set between 30 to 40 individuals are hung at once. ―For
example, between September 2009 and May 2010, almost 150 people were executed, but there was only one public
announcement about the executions of five people on 3 April 2010. But on that date 35 people were executed, eight of
whom were women,‖ said the source.
Other information received by the Campaign indicates that the frequency of mass executions has increased from twice
per month to four during the recent month. Sources say total number of people executed is between 60 and 70. ―There
are hundreds of people on the death row inside Mashad‘s Vakil Abad Prison,‖ another source said.
According to the said source, on the days when group executions are to take place, Vakil Abad Prison‘s telephone lines
are cut off. Ward 6/1 does not have public telephones and prisoners are only allowed short telephone calls once or twice
per week.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expresses its deep concern about the ambiguous conditions and
statistics of executions offered by various sources and their discrepancies with the numbers announced by officials. The
Campaign demands accountability and clear information about the group executions inside Vakil Abad Prison and
other prisons in the country (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Aug. 24, 2010)
Human rights activist in Mashhad says 300 people were secretly executed in prison
A human rights activist said in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that hundreds
of prisoners have been hanged in secret mass executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad without the knowledge of
their families or lawyers. According to this activist, there are 2,100 death row prisoners in this prison who are waiting to
be executed in speedy, secret, mass executions.
After reports on the mass executions of prisoners in Vakil Abad Prison yesterday, a human rights activist said that in the
past few weeks he has talked to the families of those who were executed and has obtained information on these
executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad.
According to this human rights activist who asked not to be named for security reasons, in the past few months at least
300 prisoners who were mostly convicted of selling narcotics were executed in Vakil Abad prison and hundreds more are
awaiting execution. According to this activist, most of those who were executed or are on death row have been charged
in drug related cases and a small number have been sentenced to retribution (for murder).
―In Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, there are more than 2,100 convicts on death row and most of them are kept in
various halls in cellblock 5 in this prison. Mass executions are carried out secretly in groups of 30 to 70 in cellblock 6.1
in this prison‖, the activist said.
―These executions are reportedly carried out under the order and with the official announcement of Iran‘s Attorney
General Mohsen Ejeyi. In light of the pressure by human rights institutions, these executions are being carried out in
secret in the prisons of towns (outside of Tehran)‖, the source added.
This source also stressed that the prisoners and their families had absolutely no knowledge of the executions from before
and said, ―Even the prisoners did not know that their sentence was going to be carried out and only a few hours before
the executions, they would be transferred from the cell under various excuses and would then be executed shortly after
that without the knowledge of their families or lawyers… For example on April 8, 2010, 35 prisoners were secretly
executed but official sources only announced the execution of 5 prisoners. In most cases, these mass secret executions are
not reported in the official media‖.
This human rights activist also said that at least 150 prisoners were secretly executed in the last 6 months of the Persian
year of 1388 (from late September 2009 to late March 2010).
―In the last month, the numbers of executions have more than doubled and for example in the past couple of weeks
between 60 to 70 people were secretly executed every Wednesday or Thursday‖.
―Last Wednesday on August 18, 67 people were executed in cellblock 6.1 in Vakil Abad Prison and three weeks before
that 70 others were executed in a mass execution‖.
―The number of death row prisoners who are kept only in cellblock 5 in Vakil Abad are as follows:
Hall 101, Cellblock 5 – about 800 people
Hall 102, Cellblock 5 – more than 600 people
Hall 103, Cellblock 5 – more than 100 people
Hall 104, Cellblock 5 - more than 100 people‖
He also said that this week and the weeks to come hundreds of prisoners are to be executed.
―These mass executions will be carried out regularly every Wednesday in the month of Ramadan in cellblock 6.1 which is
run by the Intelligence Unit of the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad‖, this activist said. (International Campaign for
Human Rights in Iran – Aug. 25, 2010)
Silent executions continue in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad
They bring those who are to be executed in groups of 70 to the visiting hall of Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad and an
hour before sunset, they are hanged in a mass execution with nooses sent from Tehran. Those who are to be executed do
not know until moments before their execution why they have been summoned to the Prison Office and only when all
the prison phones go dead an hour before sunset do other prisoners realize that it is time for the executions.
This is the horrific state of Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad in the past few months. A human rights activist in Mashhad
described what he had heard from soldiers in prison saying that in the past weeks at least 60 to 70 people were taken to
the gallows every week without their own knowledge or that of their families; prisoners that did not have lawyers and did
not receive fair trials.
It seems that the heads of Mashhad‘s Revolutionary Court had the order, according to a directive issued by Mohsen
Ejeyi, to send all drug related death row prisoners to the gallows in a speedy and ceaseless manner.
The death sentences are mostly issued by the four judges of Mashhad‘s Revolutionary Court – Kavousi, Kaboli, Soltani
and Yasayi and have been promptly carried out. The haste in carrying out the executions is to the extent that prisoners
realize their fate moments before their execution. According to a prison guard, only a few moments after a prisoner met
with his wife, the prison guard took him to the hall where sentences are carried out while the prisoner and his wife did
not know anything about his execution.
The numbers of hangings in Vakil Abad Prison have reached 500 according to reports from cellmates and the few
families who are willing to talk. The lack of communications, fear among the families and even prisoner employees has
made the task of getting reports on the fate of prisoners very hard. But according to reports in the past 5 months, a
number of prisoners have been executed every week in an alternate fashion and the families only realized that the
number of executions are very high after collecting the corpses of their loved ones (from prison). Prison officials
intimidate these families who are mostly from poor classes and prevent them from spreading the news. They also had to
pay 7 thousand tomans for the noose (their loved ones were hanged with). Most of the prisoners did not have lawyers
and because lawyers charge between 10 to 15 million tomans to appeal the death sentence, most families cannot afford
lawyers.
The hangings of Vakil Abad was not limited to only Iranians and in a number of instances Afghan nationals and in one
instance a Nigerian was also executed. They have all been charged with narcotics trafficking but according to the human
rights activist in Mashhad, the death sentence was given to light crimes which prisoners usually receive prison terms for.
There are reports that the Mashhad public prosecutor's office has said that Mohsen Ejeyi, the Prosecutor General of
Iran, intends to commemorate Khalkhali by executing narcotics traffickers.
In the beginning of the 80‘s, Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali sent many drug addicts and small time narcotics traffickers to
the gallows in a speedy plan to eliminate narcotics in Iran. It is said that Khalkhali believed that if a death sentence was
wrongly given to a prisoner, that prisoner would go to heaven after his execution. (Jaras Website – Aug. 30, 2010)
September
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

37
January – October 2010

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)
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)
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)
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 executes 2 in Kerman and Isfahan
http://www.iranhr.net/spip.php?article1841
According to reports from Iran, two people were hanged in Kerman and Isfahan.
The state-run Kayhan daily wrote today that a person was executed in the town of Aran & Bidgol in Isfahan. According
to this report, this person (name unknown) was convicted of carrying and possessing narcotics.
According to another report in the official website of the Kerman Judiciary, Majid Sh. who was arrested in 2007 and was
sentenced to death by the Kerman Penal Court was executed after his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and
the head of the judiciary. (Iran Human Rights – Sep. 22, 2010)
Iran hangs 3 prisoners in Isfahan Central Prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/3.html
According to reports, the death sentence of three prisoners in the Central Isfahan Prison in Dastgerd was carried out.
On Tuesday, September 21, three prisoners from cellblock 3 in this prison who have been awaiting their death sentence
for years were executed. These prisoners were Alireza Baqeri, Mohsen Goudarzi and Rasoul Mir Safa. They were all
under 30 years old and were sentenced to death on narcotics charges. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
Sep. 23, 2010)
Iran hangs man: report
Iran has hanged a man convicted of rape in a prison in the southern city of Kerman, the ISNA news agency reported on
Friday.
The report identified the man sent to the gallows as Majid D., without saying when the execution took place or
providing further information. (AFP - Sept 24, 2010)
Iran hangs minor offender in secret
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-29-40/4151-1.html
On July 10, Iran secretly executed a young man who had committed a crime at the age of 15. The execution of this
young man, Mohammad, was not announced from before by the judiciary.
Mohammad was swiftly executed without the knowledge of his family in the Morordasht Prison in Shiraz.
This sentence was issued by the Fars Penal Court and upheld by the 33rd branch of the Supreme Court. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Sep. 25, 2010)
Iran hangs two men in Orumieh prison
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4277-1.html
Two prisoners in the Central Orumieh Prison were executed in the past three days on charges of carrying and possessing
narcotics.
According to reports, Yahya Zare from Orumieh was executed on Tuesday morning in this prison on charges of carrying
and possessing narcotics.
Another prisoner identified as Saber Amir Hosseini from Sanandaj was also hanged in this prison on those charges
today.
State-run media did not report their executions. Judicial officials secretly execute hundreds of prisoners every year
without officially announcing their executions. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 30, 2010)
October
Iran hangs woman and three men in Khorasan
A woman was hanged in Northern Khorasan while three men were hanged in Southern Khorasan in the month of
Shahrivar (August 23 to September 22) and the month of Mehr (September 23 – October 23) without official
notifications in internal media.
According to the local Shahre Shirvan website, a woman was executed in the end of last week in this town on charges of
providing and dealing narcotics. According to other reports, three men were executed in the month of Ramadan without
having the opportunity to defend themselves against the charge of rape. They were executed in prison upon the personal
orders of the head of Iran‘s Judiciary, Larijani. Executions are usually not carried out in the month of Ramadan.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 5, 2010)
Iran hangs 8 people in mass execution
Eight narcotics smugglers were hanged in Kerman Prison.
The Public Relations Office of the Kerman Judiciary announced that after the sentences of these men was upheld by the
country‘s Attorney General and after the Kerman Amnesty Commission turned down their pleas of amnesty, their death
sentence were carried out in the Central Kerman Prison. (ISNA state-run news agency – Oct. 6, 2010)
Iran hangs woman, three men for drug trafficking: report
Iran hanged on Sunday a woman and three men in a prison in the northwestern city of Zanjan after they were found
guilty of drug trafficking, Fars news agency reported.
The report did not identify those who were hanged but said the executions were carried out in Zanjan's main prison.
(AFP- Oct. 10, 2010)
Iran hangs five drug traffickers: report

39
January – October 2010

Iran has hanged five people in the central city of Isfahan after finding them guilty of drug trafficking, state television's
website said on Monday.
The report did not identify those who were hanged but said the executions were carried out in Isfahan's main prison,
without specifying the date of the hangings. (AFP - Oct 11, 2010)
Prisoner to be hanged on Wednesday morning in Shiraz
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4521-1.html
Judiciary officials have scheduled the execution of a man in Shiraz Prison on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, this man is from Dehdasht in Kohkiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad and his brother was also hanged on
Saturday along with two other prisoners in Shiraz. Their bodies were transferred to Dehdasht for burial.
They were all charged with participating in the murder of two security agents and possessing narcotics. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Oct. 12, 2010)
Iran hangs 5 people in Isfahan
The Isfahan Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said, ―Yesterday, five drug traffickers were hanged in the Central
Isfahan Prison yard‖.
―These five people were professional drug traffickers who were arrested by the police and were sentenced to death after a
legal procedure and after their requests for amnesty were denied and were hanged yesterday in Isfahan Prison‖,
Mohammad-Reza Habibi added. (Fars state-run News Agency – Oct. 13, 2010)
Iran hangs two people in Ahwaz
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8907251407
The execution sentence of two narcotics traffickers was carried out in Karoun Prison in Ahwaz.
According to Fars News Agency the Khuzestan Judiciary announced that K.Sh was sentenced to death for buying and
possessing opium and M.Kh was sentenced to death on charges of complicity in possessing and keeping narcotics. Both
their sentences were confirmed by the prosecutor.
H.D was also sentenced to death by the 17th branch of the Khuzestan Penal Court on charges of immoral conduct. This
sentence was also confirmed by the Supreme Court.
These sentences were carried out after legal procedures were carried out. (Fars state-run News Agency – Oct. 17, 2010)
Prisoner hanged in Karoun prison on moral charges
A prisoner was executed in the Karoun Prison in Ahwaz on Saturday October 23.
The Public Relations Office of the Khuzestan Judiciary said that M.S was charged with ‗immoral conduct‘. His charge
has not been confirmed by an independent source.
According to this report, his death sentence was issued by the provincial penal court and was upheld by the Supreme
Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 25, 2010)
New reports on secret mass executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is constantly getting credible reports from former prisoners in
Vakil Abad Prison (in Mashhad) regarding numerous group hangings which are carried out without prior notice.
Trusted sources show that in the past year (Persian Year starting from March 24) there have been numerous executions
in Vakil Abad Prison and at least 600 people are waiting for their death sentences to be carried out.
According to the latest reports, on Tuesday October 12, 10 prisoners were hanged in Vakil Abad Prison. The number of
announced executions by officials is much fewer that the real figures…
Iranians officials do not present any figures for the number of executed prisoners, do not announce the names of
hundreds of people who are executed throughout the year and do not announce the crimes that these people have been
accused of. A number of former prisoners in Vakil Abad have reported that officials have tried to limit the information
stream regarding group executions in the prison.
―Families, lawyers and death row prisoners do not receive a written sentence after it has been issued, they also do not
know when the sentences will be carried out so that they can be present at the time of execution. The day after the
execution, they pay the fee for the noose (used to hang their loved one) and receive the bodies‖, a former Vakil Abad
prisoner said regarding the executions carried out in prison.
―When they intend to carry out the execution sentence, the prison telephones are cut off at 4 pm so that no one would
be able to notify the outside, the prison yard is evacuated of prisoners and all prisoners except the cellblock deputies who
are prisoners themselves are led to their cellblocks. At that point, everyone knows that it is time for the executions. No
one knows whose turn it is until the names are read out. The head of the prison Protection Unit (Alizadeh), the prison
judge (Anvari) and the assistant prosecutor or the prosecutor go into the cellblocks and with the help of guards, read out
the names of prisoners and send them outside the cellblock‖, this former prisoner said.
Sources have reported that in prison those who are ‗cellblock deputies‘ are actually prisoners themselves and are allowed
to be present in the stages before the executions.
―After the sentences are carried out and the executions have ended, the names and number of hanged prisoners become
known to prisoners because the cellblock deputies are allowed to be present in the stages before the executions‖.
―Because I was in cellblock 6-1, I was able to see with my own eyes the number of executed prisoners (46) and their
Ghosl (religious washing of the body before death) and when they were writing their wills and after carrying out these
stages, they were taken for execution‖, a former prisoner said regarding a group execution. (International Campaign for
Human Rights in Iran – Oct. 25, 2010)
Iran hangs five people without disclosing time and place of executions
Tehran Prosecutor Jafari Dolat Abadi said that in the past few days, five people were killed on charges of dealing
narcotics in what he called the ‗serious battle‘ against narcotics.
The Tehran prosecutor said that in the past two or three days 5 people were executed and admitted that this policy
would continue. He did not mention the exact time and place of the executions.
According the state-run ISNA news agency, Dolat Abadi said that ―these sentences have to be carried out‖.
―It has been recommended that the sentences of all those who have finalized sentences be carried out‖, he added.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 26, 2010)
Iran hangs member of dissident group in Zahedan
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4828-1.html
According to a sentence issued by the Zahedan Revolutionary Court, a political activist was hanged in the Central
Zahedan Prison on charges of ‗waging war with God and corruption on earth‘.
According to reports, Abdol-aziz Toni Zehi was trialed and executed on charges of having links to and cooperation with
Malek Toni Zehi and membership in a dissident group, clashing with security forces, possessing and keeping illegal arms
and the murder of five state security force agents.
Notably, it is not known if this prisoner of his lawyer accepted these charges. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 29,
2010)

Arbitrary killing
January
Eyewitness: security force pickup truck ran over protester and changed gears to run over him again
Daryoush (who witnessed a security force car run over a person): This incident took place around the Ministry of
Commerce which is about 100 meters away from Valiasr Square and we were there…
When the pickup truck came close, it made a sudden stop and went in the sidewalk. It was going in reverse when I saw
another car coming… The second pickup truck came with high speed and the people who had no idea that the car would
want to do this were running away while holding out their hands from the back towards the car. These trucks which had
metal nets tied to the front of them were coming at the people and the only thing I could do was shout, 'watch out
people', but I saw with my own eyes that one person was ran over and was under the wheels of the car. I saw with my
own eyes that a person was under the wheels of the car and when the truck went into reverse, it passed over the person's
chest and I saw the hands and feet of the person shaking under the wheels of the car.
These trucks had come exactly with the intention of running over people because when the pickup truck went into
reverse, it changed gears and ran over the person again. (Radio Farda – Jan. 3, 2010)
Regime forces kill Kurd man in Turkey-Iran border
Another Kurd man was killed in the Turkey-Iran border after security forces opened fire on him.
On January 1, security forces opened fire on a Kurd man identified as Khaled Ahmadi in the Albak region and killed
him. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2010)
Six people dead, two severely injured after security forces open fire on travelling family
At least eight people were killed or injured after security forces opened fire on ordinary citizens in Iranshahr.
On January 7, security forces stationed on the Darzadeh Shahr Street in the town of Iranshahr in Sistan and Baluchistan
opened fire on a passing car for unknown reasons. This action led to the death of the driver identified as Moradbakhsh
Kadkhodayi. Four other people were killed after Moradbakhsh's car crashed into another car which caught fire. The
security forces that had opened fire left the scene without helping the fire victims.

41
January – October 2010

The wife and two children of Mr. Kadkhodayi who were travelling with him were severely injured in this incident.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 8, 2010)
Security forces open fire on two men in Sardasht; one man dies from injuries
Two tradesmen in the Nalas region in Sardasht were shot at by security forces. On Saturday January 15, security forces
opened fire on a number of passing cars under the pretext that they were carrying smuggled goods. Two brothers
identified as Mostafa and Qader Alizadeh were severely injured as a result. Mostafa Alizadeh died on the way to the
hospital due to his injuries. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 9, 2010)
Security forces kill and injure several Kurd men
At least four Kurd men in West Iran were either killed or injured by security forces.
According to this report, on January 4, in the Baleh Soor region in Aland, a Kurd man identified as Mohsen (last name
not known) died instantly after security forces opened fire on him. On the same day in the Haj Omran border region,
another Kurd man identified as Samku (last name unknown) was shot by security forces. He was severely injured as a
result.
On January 5 in the Mir Omar border region in Khoy, security forces opened fire on a number of Kurd residents of this
area killing Jafar Babazadeh and Ibrahim (last name not known). (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 10, 2010)
Security forces shoot and kill 18-year-old in border region
A young man was killed by security forces in the border area while eight other border residents were shot and wounded
by security forces and then arrested.
Khaled Ahmadi, an 18-year-old man from the Marikhani Village in Suma who intended to cross the border was shot by
security forces and died instantly. At the same time in this region, 8 other men were shot at by security forces. Most of
them wounded when they were violently arrested. Despite their families' pursuit of their cases, they are still detained.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 12, 2010)
Regime forces murder brother of Kurd political prisoner in Tehran
According to reports from the Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners, Kamal Oliayi, the brother of
Kurd political prisoner Arsalan Oliayi, was suspiciously killed in Tehran.
Kamal Oliayi, 32, was working in Tehran. He was killed about 15 days ago and his body was buried by security forces in
the Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Tehran. His family was informed yesterday that their son was killed.
Kamal was the brother of Arsalan Oliayi who was sentenced to death last year. His death sentence was lowered to 16
years of prison a while back. (Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners- Jan. 11, 2010)
Iran hands over body of slain protester to family after two weeks
Mostafa Karim Beigi, 27, was shot in the forehead on Ashura (December 27) near Nufel
Lushato Street in Tehran.
After two weeks of having absolutely no information about their son and thinking that he
was arrested in Ashura, they identified his body and picture on January 11 in the
Kahrizak coroner's office. In the time before his body was identified, his family received
threatening phone calls from his cell phone which added to their concerns.
After his family identified his body, security agents refrained from handing over his body
and said only if his funeral is held outside of Tehran will they hand over the body. His
family was forced to accept this condition despite the fact that they lived in the Amirieh
neighborhood in Tehran.
On the January 12, Mostafa's family were suddenly informed that only his father, mother
and sister can attend his funeral and Mostafa Karmi Beigi was buried in the afternoon.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 17, 2010)
February
Iran shoots and kills 5 Afghan laborers in cold blood
Gunmen on a motorcycle killed two associates of the Afghan president's brother Tuesday while the government accused
Iranian border guards of killing five Afghans in the west…
Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry condemned the killings of five Afghan laborers who were allegedly shot to
death by Iranian border guards while trying to enter the neighboring country without proper documents.
The Iranian guards opened fire at the men as they were crossing into Iran from the southwestern province of Nimroz
early Friday, according to the provincial governor, Ghulam Dastagir Azad. Nimroz lies on a major trafficking route for
Afghanistan's huge opium trade.
He said two other Afghan laborers were wounded and have been returned to Afghan border police, along with the
bodies of four of the men killed. He said he expected the other body to be returned soon. (AP – Feb. 2, 2010)
Jailed man commits suicide because of torture and abuse
According to reports, a young prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj committed suicide and died after being subjected
to pressure and the inhumane conditions of prison.
Hamid-Reza Asadi who had been transferred to hall 12 in section 4 of this prison five days ago had protested his
condition on several occasions by going to the Head and Deputy Head of prison, Mahmoud Moghnian and Ali
Mohammadi, but was met with threats and profane language every time and was sent back to his cell.
This young prisoner committed suicide after finding himself in a dead end of pressure and threats. His cellmates
informed the head of the section when they realized he had committed suicide but he was taken to the infirmary after a
few hours and died because of not receiving medical attention on time.
Most prisoners in Hall 12 known as the Youth Hall are between 16 and 22 years old. They were attacked several times in
the past few days and about 25 prisoners were injured and taken to the infirmary after being clubbed. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 7, 2010)
Women killed by regime forces in Tehran
The wife of Iran's main opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was attacked by government militia Thursday, according
to a report on his official Facebook page…
Opposition protesters accused security forces of using live ammunition, knives and teargas against them, as well as paint-
filled balls that would identify those opposed to the regime later.
More mobile phone footage from the protests posted on Facebook showed an Iranian protester apparently being
viciously beaten by a militia man in full armor.
Unconfirmed reports on Twitter suggested a woman was killed in opposition protests in Tehran, as Iranian dissidents
claimed two female protesters were 'severely beaten' by police. (The New York Post - Feb. 11, 2010)
Identity of another slain Ashura protester
The identity of another Ashura protester in Tehran was determined.
Mehdi Farhadi Rad (Balayi) killed by plainclothes agents and security forces on Ashura (December 27, 2010), was the
son of a well-known religious family in Shahre-Rey.
Regime forces took his family to the Behesht Zahra Cemetery on Ashura evening to show them the body of their son
who was being buried.
Mehdi was killed with two bullets, one in the chest and one in the head. His family was forced to pledge that they would
not hold any kind of ceremony for him. The family's friends and neighbors put up a gravestone with the name of this
slain protester to mark his grave but government forces pulled out the gravestone a few days later. (Jaras Website – Feb.
15, 2010)
Iran shoots and kills two border tradesmen
On the evening of February 15, armed forces of the Islamic Republic stationed in Baneh under the command of major
Purian ambushed a group of border tradesmen in Kandeh Sour and Champarvay in Baneh and targeted them with
bullets and grenades.
Two of these tradesmen identified as Gharib, son of Ibrahim and Najamoddin, son of Ali from the Kaneh Sour village
were killed while Yasin, son of Abdollah, Ibrahim, son of Sayid and five others who are still not yet identified were
severely injured.
Border tradesmen in Kurdistan have turned to this dangerous occupation because of the lack of job opportunities in this
region and only to make a living for their families. (Iran Press News Website – Feb. 16, 2010)
Iran kills four other people in border region
Two Iranian Kurds and two Iraqi Kurds were killed on Monday in the 'Cham Parave' border regions by border security
forces.
This measure which is carried out under the guise of 'fighting smuggled goods' systematically kills dozens of Kurds every
month. This time it led to the death of four people from Baneh.
Along with the two Kurd Iranians identified as Gharif and Najamoddin, two Iraqi nationals were also killed while
several villagers were injured and taken to hospital.
Officials have refrained from handing over the bodies of the slain Kurds until this moment. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Feb. 17, 2010)
Iran brutally murders Azeri poet and activist

43
January – October 2010

The body of Majid Amiri, an Azeri poet and an employee of the Eastern Azerbaijan Bureau of Calculations who was
killed suspiciously on January 27 was found in his home garage.
According to those close to him, this Azeri employee was summoned and threatened to death for his serious pursuit of
the management corruption of top officials in the province. The heads of this bureau had banished Amiri to Yazd for
some time (because of his activities).
After his body was taken to the coroner's, intelligence agents forced his family to bury his body without a detailed
autopsy. These agents threatened and banned his family from pursuing the real cause of his death.
According to those close to this Azeri poet, the signs of beatings and dried blood were on his body and his tongue had
been cut out. (Savalan Sassi Website – Feb. 20, 2010)
Dozens killed and injured by security forces in bus chase
According to reports from Abadan, security forces ordered a Volvo bus to stop in a terminal but the bus ran away with
full speed. Security forces shot several warning shots in the air … The police then chased the bus into the Forodgah
Square and the bus driver slammed into parked cars next to the square and caught fire.
The fire spread to other cars in the square and dozens of people in the scene were killed and injured. There have been
no reports on the number of those killed and injured. (Fars state-run News Agency – Feb. 25, 2010)
Iran kills another Kurd man in border region
On Saturday February 20, a number of Kurd citizens in the 'Nosoud' border region in Paveh were shot by security forces
and a Kurd citizen was killed.
According to reports, Reza Khalidi was severely injured after being shot and passed away yesterday on February 27 in the
Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah because of his wounds. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 28, 2010)
March
Iran shoots and kills Kurd tradesman
A Kurd citizen identified as Karvan Azizi was shot and killed by security forces in the border region of Siran Band in the
town of Baneh.
On Sunday March 8, security forces opened fire on a number of border tradesmen who were reportedly carrying
smuggled fabric and clothes which led to the death of Karvan Azizi.
Another Kurd man, whose identity is not known, was also severely wounded. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March
9, 2010)
Protester killed in Bukan
Urgent News: According to reports, a protester was killed in Bukan in Iran. (Al-Arabieh TV – March 16, 2010)
Iran shoots and kills another Kurd man
A Kurd resident of the Shandareh Village in Sardasht located in the Western Azarbaijan Province identified as Ribvar
Nosrati (Shandareyi) was killed after an SSF agent opened fire on him. Nostrati was suspected of carrying smuggled
goods and was targeted and killed near a village in Baneh. He died instantly. Nosrati was married and had children.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 27, 2010)
April
Iran kills Kurd tradesman in Sardasht
On Sunday April 4, 2010, a tradesman identified as Osman Yusefi, 41, from the Bijveh Village was killed by security
forces. The people of Sardasht held widespread protests outside the governor's office in this city after this killing. Security
forces opened fire on the protesters. There is still no news on the fatalities. (Iran Press News Website – April 4, 2010)
Two other Kurd border tradesmen killed by Iran
Kurdistan news sources reported in the past few weeks that another man identified as Ribvar, son of Maref was killed
after armed forced of the Islamic Republic shot him in the Pitush area in Kurdistan's Sardasht.
The weekly report of the Kurdistan Human Rights Activists also reported that a tradesman from Sanandaj named Sirvan
Abolmohammadi was shot by security forces in the Mahabad – Sanandaj road on February 2, 2010. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 5, 2010)
Border security forces shoot and kill young Kurd man
A young man identified as Khebat Ahmadi was shot and killed today by security forces in the
Marivan border region. (Iran Press News Website – April 15, 2010)
Iran kills two tradesmen in border region
On Thursday April 15, security forces in Marivan shot and killed two citizens identified as Khebat from the Roz Ave
Village in Sarv Abad and Kiomars from Sanandaj.
According to reports, Kiomars sustained severe injuries from the shooting and died after being caught up in a river on
the border. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
Dissident student killed suspiciously in Iranshahr University
Keivan Goudarzi who was a math major at Iranshahr University in Sistan & Baluchistan, was
suspiciously killed today. He was from Kermanshah.
The body of this student was found next to the transmission tower behind the university kitchen. He
was active in Mir Hossein Moussavi's election staff and the reason behind his death is still not clear.
University officials have tried to introduce him as a worker who died from electrocution.
According to reports, his face was severely damaged. (Kordaneh Website – April 20, 2010)
Security forces shoot and kill Kurd man in Marivan
According to reports from Kurdistan, Kamran Faraji, son of Hassanali, was killed after being directly targeted by security
forces in the Khanoum Sheikhan Base in the border town of Marivan. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April
25, 2010)
Security forces shoot and kill 1 man, severely injure 2 children in border region
One person was killed and two others were severely injured after security forces opened fire on them on the Turkey -Iran
border.
Ashraf Bargin, 22 was killed while Valkan Bargin, 17, and Najib, 13, were severely injured after security forces opened
fire on them in the border region of the town of Khoy. (Iran Press News Website – April 28, 2010)
May
Prisoner dies in Gohardasht Prison for not receiving treatment
Mehdi Futohi, a prisoner who had injuries from a chemical gas attack in the Iran-Iraq war died yesterday in Gohardasht
Prison after not receiving treatment on time.
He died of lung failure in cellblock 3 because prison officials did not take him the prison infirmary on time.
This prisoner had served more than 8 years in prison. He took his last breath while other prisoners were desperately
trying to get help from prison officials to save his life. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 6, 2010)
Identity of woman run-over by state security forces on Ashura
The identity of another person killed on Ashura was disclosed. Shabnam Sohrabi, 34, was run-
over by a state security force car on Ashura (December 27, 2009).
Shabnam‘s middle aged mother had been silent about her daughter‘s death out of fear.
Eye witnesses say that a state security force car that was going at a fast speed collided with
Shabnam and after going over her body a few times, crushed her under its wheels.
Her body was handed over to her family after 20 days and her family buried her body in section
86 of the Behesht Zahra Cemetery under severe security measures.
―Police had surrounded section 86 while we were burying the body and I was called several times
and told that I had no right to say anything about the Shabnam‘s death. That is why I stayed
silent‖, her mother said. (Where is my Vote Website – May 13, 2010)
Iran shoots and kills Kurd citizen in Baneh
A Kurd man from Baneh identified as Khadar Abdollahi was shot and killed by a security agent.
Abdollahi was married and had several children. He was suspected of carrying smuggled goods and was shot in the
Baneh border region. He died after being taken to the hospital. (Mukarian News Agency – May 24, 2010)
June
Security forces murder young man in Sari
Security forces in the city of Sari in northern Iran murdered a young man after brutally beating him. A resident of this
city said, ―This news has spread in Sari and the government is not handing his body to his family for fear of protests and
they have probably buried the body themselves‖. (Iran News Agency – June 2, 2010)
Iran shoots and kills two young Kurd tradesmen
Two young Kurds were killed in the ongoing pressure of regime forces against Kurd tradesmen. According to reports
from eastern Kurdistan, on June 11 in the Valeh Sour Alia Village, security forces opened fire on two Kurd tradesmen
killing Samad Hassanpour, 20 and Jamil Rashidi, 18. (Norouz TV – June 23, 2010)
Iran shoots and kills 14 year-old Kurd boy

45
January – October 2010

A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot by security forces in Kurdistan.


On June 25, Friday night security forces in the Doli Darmanavi region in Sardasht opened fire on a group of traders.
Zaniar Ibrahimi, 14, from the Faqih Khadrian Village was fatally shot as a result.
Last Wednesday night, another group of traders were ambushed by security forces in Marivan and two traders identified
as Yadollah Berazi, 24, and Suran Amini were severely wounded. (Kurdish Perspective – June 26, 2010)
Iran murders student dissident refuge in Malaysia
http://www.roshangari.net/as/sitedata/20100629100546/20100629100546.html
Saleh Torabi Zadeh, a student refuge in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia was murdered by elements of the Iranian regime on
June 16, 2010. The day before this incident, a number of regime elements entered his home and severely beat him for
his opposition to the regime. Saleh was to meet with his friends before this and after a few hours his worried friends
went to his home only to find him near death. Saleh was immediately taken to the hospital but hospital officials said that
he would not be admitted to the hospital because his parents were not present. Saleh died before his parents reached
Kuala Lumpur. (Roshangari Website – June 29, 2010)
July
Grief stricken father of slain 16-year-old boy: a Bassiji murdered my son
Meisam Ebadi, was the first victim of post election events who was fatally shot on June 13, 2009.
His father said that his teenage son‘s murderer was a Bassij member (paramilitary forces of the
Iranian regime) who was initially arrested and it was determined that the bullet was shot from
his gun. This Bassij member was later released and it was announced that he was not the
murderer.
According to his father, Meisam was going to help a girl who was being beaten by Bassij forces
and died after he was shot in the stomach.
Asghar Ebadi, the father of this 16 year old boy says that he wants the murderer of his son to be
introduced but no one answers his demands. (Rooz Online Website – July 3, 2010)
Iran suppresses peaceful strikers in Tehran Bazaar; 68-year-old merchant stabbed
There are reports from the Tehran that there is a security atmosphere and tension in the Bazaar. Mostly all businesses
have closed in protest to the lack of agreement with the tax office about the tax policy of 1388 (2009)… Other reports say
that plainclothes agents with the backing of units of the State Security Forces attacked the fabric shops and damaged the
property of the merchants. There are also unconfirmed reports that in today‘s clashes, Haj Azizollah Kashani, a well
known figure in the fabric business in the Tehran Bazaar was wounded after he was stabbed by plainclothes agents and
was taken to hospital. (VOA TV Persian service – July 7, 2010)
68-year-old Tehran Bazaar merchant dies in hospital after being stabbed by regime forces
A 68-year-old Bazaar merchant was killed in the afternoon in the Bazaar.
Azizollah Kashahni, a fabric merchant who was stabbed by Bassij forces died in the hospital today. (Iran Press News –
July 7, 2010)
Story of student who was arrested and killed under torture in Kahrizak Death Camp last year
A new picture shows slain student Amir Javadi Far is a gathering
in Azadi Square which was probably taken on June 15, 2009
when one million protesters marched in Tehran.
Amir Javadi Far was an industrial management student at the
International Qazvin University, a musician, and actor. He was
severely beaten by plainclothes agents on July 9, 2009 in the
Zhandarmeri intersection in the Amir Abad region and was then
taken to police station 147 in Tehran.
He was in critical condition in the police station because of the
beatings and at 9 pm he was taken to the Firouzgar Hospital. The
next day on July 10, he was transferred to the Kahrizak Detention
Center from the hospital.
In Kahrizak, they struck him with boots in the head and chest
and one of his eyes ruptured and his suffered internal bleeding in
his lungs. After severe torture, he suffered convulsions and a heart attack while being transferred to Evin Prion on July
14.
Ten days later, his family was notified and was told to collect his body. On July 27, his bloody injured body was buried in
section 211, row 42, grave number 10 in Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Tehran. (Jaras Website – July 8, 2010)
Bassji forces rape and murder woman under excuse of countering „improper veiling‟
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-53/2680-1.html
Three members of the paramilitary Bassij forces abducted a young woman in
Tabriz by misusing their Bassij ID cards and fatally shot her after beating and
raping her. They threw her body outside of the city…
After a young woman identified as Elnaz B, 26, disappeared in Tabriz, her family
informed all institutions about her disappearance. Her body was returned to her
family from the coroners after a one week search. The coroner confirmed that she
was raped, beaten and then shot with a gun. Security forces announced that her
body was found near the Imamieh Cemetery in Tabriz.
After her family filed a complaint, security forces arrested three Tabriz citizens who
were active members of the Bassij. The main culprit confessed to all the above
mentioned facts in the Intelligence Department. He said that he entered the girl‘s
car in the Valisasr region in Tabriz for ‗promoting virtue‘ and to give her a notice
for ‗improper veiling‘ as stated in the ‗Chastity and Veiling‘ Plan carried out by the
security forces and the Bassij. He then threatened her at gun point and after two of
his other friends got in the car, forced her into an area outside of town and raped
her. He then killed her after shooting three bullets in her chest.
Currently, the main suspect in this case is in the hands of the Revolutionary Guards Corps because of the sensitivity of
this case.
His membership in the paramilitary Bassij forces, the fact that he carried a gun, has top RGC officials in his family, used
his (Bassij) ID card and (carried out this act) under the ‗Chastity and Veil‘ Plan have added to the sensitivity of this case.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 11, 2010)
Security forces fatally shoot Kurd border tradesman
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-25-54/2705-1.html
On Saturday July 11, a Kurd citizen was killed after being directly targeted by security forces in the western border area of
Iran.
According to reports, security forces in the Paye Vah border region in Marivan opened fire on a number of people in
this region under the excuse of countering smugglers which led to one death.
There is no information on the identity of this person.
Security Forces systematically kill people residing in the western border region of Iran every year under the pretext of
preventing the entrance of smuggled goods. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 13, 2010)
August
Security forces kill 3 border tradesmen, injure 8 others
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/21405
Border tradesmen in the Kani Rash Village were targeted yesterday by Revolutionary Guards Forces.
According to Kurdish sources, two local merchants were killed while eight others were severely wounded. An eyewitness
said that the bodies of the two dead merchants are still left out in a mine field and security forces do not let anyone
remove the bodies from the area.
According to other reports, another border merchant identified as Shamsoddin Jalibaqu was shot and killed in the
Salmas region on July 29. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 1, 2010)
Security forces fatally shoot young Baluch man in Zahedan
According to reports, agents of Police Station 19 in Zahedan opened fire on an automobile killing the driver.
The driver was identified as Khoda Nazar Narouyi and was carrying fuel from Zahedan as a way of providing money for
his family.
In light of the fact that Baluch residents are deprived of various jobs because of their religion and ethnicity, carrying fuel
from various areas to the border region is one of the ways many of them have chosen to make a living.
To cover up this fact, state run media in many cases report that the reason for their death is car accidents. (Baluchistan
Human Rights Activists Association – Aug. 15, 2010)
Brother of slain student says he did not commit suicide
http://www.hra-news6.info/2/00/3563-1.html
47
January – October 2010

The brother of Mohammad-Javad Parandakh broke his silence after one year on the eve of the anniversary of his
brother‘s death and announced that Mohammad-Javad did not commit suicide and that his family‘s suit against agents of
the Ministry of Intelligence and the judge presiding over his case has so far been without result.
Mohammad-Javad Parandakh was a chemical engineering student at the Isfahan Industrial University who was
summoned to the Isfahan Intelligence Agency after students in this university protested election results. His body was
found two days after he went to the Intelligence Agency. (Rooz Online Website – Aug. 24, 2010)
Another innocent border tradesman fatally shot by security forces; more than 900 tradesmen murdered by security
forces last year
http://www.rahana.org/archives/24320
Security forces in the Hassan Salaran Base in Saqez shot and killed 20 year old Mohammad Khoda Rahmi and severely
injured Anvar Khoda Rahmi after they opened fire on their automobile. Anvar Khoda Rahmi was taken to this town‘s
general hospital.
According to reports from the Saqez Information Center, security forces claimed that they opened fire on these two
citizens because they were carrying smuggled goods in their automobile. This is while villagers from several villages have
announced that they are willing to testify in court that these two men were not smugglers and were going to Saqez from
their village for automobile maintenance.
Last year, more than 900 border tradesmen and carriers were shot and killed by security forces. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – Aug. 31, 2010)
September
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 9th 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)
Iran murders second Kahrizak doctor who had evidence of systematic prison rape and
sexual abuse
According to reports, Dr. Abdolreza Soudbakhsh, an assistant professor at Tehran
University who was shot and killed last week was linked to the Kahrizak Detention Center
its prisoners who were suffering from infections in the urinary tract and damaged
reproductive systems (as a result of rape and sexual abuse in Kahrizak) and had orders from
security forces to officially announce that all prisoners who came to him for treatment had
meningitis.
This university professor was suspiciously shot and killed one day before going abroad.
Therefore, Soudbakhsh is the second doctor who was killed in the past year over this issue.
Ramin Pourandarjani, another doctor who was serving in the State Security Forces in the
Kahrizak Detention Center suspiciously passed away on November 16, 2009. Officials announced his death as suicide…
According to this report Soudbakhsh was informed about the medical cases of all those killed in the Kahrizak Detention
Center. In addition to this, he was specialist and checked and treated all Kahrizak prisoners and had special information
in this regard.
This report also said that Soudbakhsh recently felt that his life was in danger because of increased pressure by security
forces.
He had a ticket to leave Iran on September 22 and was shot dead outside of his clinic in Keshavarz Blvd in Tehran less
than a day before he was to go abroad. (Jaras Website – Sep. 27, 23010)
Security forces kill mother and blind 19 year old girl in forced eviction in Mazandaran
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-51/4276-1.html
In an attack to homes near a property in Fereidoon Kenar in the province of Mazandaran, the mother of two mentally
disabled children was killed while a 19-year old girl was blinded in one eye.
According to reports, after a woman who recently came from abroad filed a complaint demanding a property she owned
which is the home of 3 families, judicial orders were issued for the evacuation and demolition of these homes built in
this property. This woman who has lived in the US for the last 30 years is the owner of seven homes in which 7 to 8
families lived in while paying their dues and taxes…
Last Wednesday, security forces came to this property with a warrant for the evacuation and demolition of the homes
and clashed with the residents. These clashes reached their climax when people in the vicinity also interfered. In the
middle of the clashes a woman of about 60 years who was the mother of a mentally disabled girl and boy was killed after
being struck on the head with a baton.
When the clashes increased, security forces used tear gas, plastic bullets and batons to disperse the crowds which led to
injuries on both sides of the clashes. According to eyewitnesses, a 19-year-old girl was shot in the eye with a plastic bullet
and was blinded. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 30, 2010)
October
Security forces shoot and kill young man in Iranshahr
A 26 year old man identified as Abdolrahim Kanbarzehi (Qanbarzehi) was killed in the Gharib Abad region in Iranshahr
by the SSF ‗Relief Unit‘.
According to eyewitness reports, security forces stopped his car and violently pulled him out of his vehicle while beating
him. It seems that he shielded himself from the beatings by hugging a security agent. When these agents saw that they
had not been able to arrest him after 10 minutes of beatings, an agent shot him in the back.
Despite seeing his condition and that he needed to be taken to hospital because of his open wound, they refused to take
him to hospital and banned others on the scene from taking him to the hospital. After about 6 hours, Abdolrahim died
on the scene in front of the security forces because he was not given medical treatment. (Baluchistan Association of
Human Rights Activists, Iran Press News – Oct. 17, 2010)
Iran murders political prisoner in Kermanshah prison
Another defenseless political prisoner was killed by a prison gang working under orders of prison officials in Dizel Abad
Prison in Kermanshah.
Peiman Khanjari, 30, was from Qasre Shirin and had been detained in this prison for 9 years. He was suffering from
several illnesses which he got in his time in prison. Khanjari was severely beaten by mercenaries of prison officials and
was severely wounded. He died on October 11 because he was denied treatment.
This report, which we recently received from Iran shows that the Iranian regime attacks political prisoners through death
row prisoners which have been chosen (for this job) after being threatened and bribed. These mercenaries attack and
beat political prisoners to the point of death and after which the prison infirmary finishes their unfinished job by not
treating the beaten prisoner which leads to his death.
Peiman Khanjari was severely mentally and physically tortured and pressured to give interviews on state-run television
but refused to cooperate with the Iranian regime and was therefore hated by his interrogators. Prison officials had
transferred him to a cellblock where ordinary prisoners, drug addicts and prisoners with deadly diseases were kept to put
more pressure on him.
His father, mother, sister and wife were also arrested by the Intelligence Agency in Kermanshah and detained for three
years. (Center in Defense of the Families of those Slain and Detained – Oct. 24, 2010)
Security forces murder two Baluch men in checkpoint
49
January – October 2010

On Sunday October 4, agents of the Bampour security base opened fire on an automobile which was carrying a small
amount of gasoline from Delgan to Iranshahr and murdered the car passengers who were identified as 47 year old Elias
Bameri and 20 year old Mohammad Bameri.
According to reports, when the agents in this base noticed this automobile, they pursued the car and opened fire and as
a result the car exploded. Mohamamd Bameri burned in the flames and Elias Bameri was thrown out of the car because
of the force of the explosion and was severely injured.
Elias‘s family took him to the Imam Ali Hospital in Zahedan after they were notified but Elias died in the hospital
because of late treatment and his severe burns. His body was buried on Monday in his hometown of Iranshahr.
Young Baluch citizens are forced to carry and sell fuel because of ethnic and religious prejudices which have deprived
them of various occupations. Unfortunately, hundreds of them lose their lives to security force bullets. (Association of
Baluchistan Human Rights Activists – Oct. 26, 2010)

Deaths in custody
January
Female political prison suspiciously dies in Orumieh Prison
Zahra Jafari, a female political prisoner died suspiciously after five months in Orumieh Prison.
According to eyewitnesses, the body of this political prisoner who was charged with having contacts with an opposition
group was initially taken to the prison medical clinic and then was transferred to outside prison. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Female prisoner killed in Eshrat Abad Detention Center in Tehran
According to reports from informed and credible sources in Eshrat Abad Detention Center in Tehran, a girl by the first
name of Elahe, 24 (medium height, had on a black coat and jeans when arrested) was hit on the head in the
interrogations with a chair and had a brain haemorrhage which led to her instant death. According to this report, this
girl was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage in Kurdistan and had come to Tehran for work. She apparently
worked in a clothing factory near Enqelab Square as a laborer in the past few months. Since this girl did not have a
guardian, her interrogator constantly asked for her name, address and about her relatives and the address of those she
was working, with he threw a chair at her in anger (because she could not answer her questions) which led to her death
in the evening of January 8. He body was immediately taken to an unknown location.
According to this report, injured detainees in this detention center are denied treatment and warm cloths and women
are treated very inhumanely. (Iran Press News – Jan. 10, 2010)
Prisoner commits suicide because of prison official's inhumane pressures
According to reports, Azim Askari committed suicide because of the pressures and the violent treatment by the head of
ward 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj and died a few hours later.
This 44 year old prisoner had been jailed for close to 8 years in the Qasr and Gohardasht Prisons. He was detained in
ward 1, known as the 'Akhare Khatiha' ward (known for its violent treatment of prisoners and gross violations of
prisoners' rights). He had tried for a long time to be transferred to Hamedan Prison to be able to visit with his child. On
the morning of January 12, he went to see the head of this ward, Akharian, about his transfer, but Akharian treated him
inhumanely and made insulting remarks about his family.
After he came back, he committed suicide in his cell at about 9 am but (prison guards) refrained from doing anything to
help or treat this prisoner. He was transferred to the medical clinic at about 12:30 where he died a few hours later.
There have also been reports that the beatings and torture of prisons have increased in this ward. Defenseless prisoners
are beaten with electric clubs and are electrocuted and tortured and this has turned into a routine procedure in ward 1.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 12, 2010)
Political prisoner with cancer dies in Evin Prison because of lack of medical attention
A political prisoner sentenced to life in prison died in Evin Prison after being denied medical attention.
His death was confirmed in the morning by the medical clinic in this prison.
Alborz Qasemi, a political prisoner sentenced to moharebeh (enmity with God) for being a member of a political
organization, who also suffered from cancer in the stomach was transferred to the medial clinic because of his critical
condition. He had been banned for a long time from medical attention and medical leave from prison.
According to reports, this prisoner who was detained in ward 350 with his brother Hamid Qasemi, was not even able to
walk in the past few days and suffered from aconuresis. Despite the efforts of his family and cellmates, prison officials
refrained from giving him medical attention until yesterday and he was only taken to the medical clinic after constant
appeals from his family. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 20, 2010)
February
Prisoner killed in Gohardasht Prison after torture
According to reports, a prisoner in section 1 of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj was killed after being brutally tortured by
prison officials.
On Monday, February 22, Yavar Khoda Doust was killed after being tortured by Kermani, the head of the Prison
Intelligence Department and Faraji, his deputy. His body was taken to the infirmary and is currently in the prison
morgue.
Yavar and Latif Khoda Doust are two jailed brothers who were detained in hall 3, section 1 of this prison. Some time ago
they were transferred from hall 3 to solitary cells in hall 2 known as the doghouse. They were taken to solitary after a
raid and search in their cells. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 22, 2010)
Iran kills 22 year old man under torture
Mostafa Mir-Ibrahimi died after six months of pressure and torture in prison. He was born
in February 1988 in Tehran. Mostafa was arrested six months ago by the gravesite of Neda
and was taken to an unknown location. His friends who were with him at the time informed
his family of his arrest but during these six months, despite his family's desperate pursuits,
regime forces gave them no information on their son. His name was not even registered in
any of the official detention centers. After six months, a few days ago, his father was
summoned to the coroner's to identify his body. His father identified the body but agents
refrained from handing over Mostafa's body for burial. Officials have not given any
information to the family regarding his death or where he was killed and only told them that
they will bury him themselves and will only give them the gravesite address. (Peik-e-Iran
Website – Feb. 24, 2010)
April
2 political prisoners killed in Iran jails in Baluchistan
Shir Mohammad Sheh Bakhsh, a Baluch political prisoner died for unknown reasons in a detention center in the
Zahedan intelligence agency. Another prisoner also died a few weeks ago in this prison and the condition of other
prisoners in this detention center is alarming.
According to our reporters, Shir Mohammad Sheh Bakhsh, son of Mirza, who was reportedly only jailed because he was
a relative of a member of the Baluchistan opposition, died in this detention center. His family has confirmed this report
saying that he was buried in an unknown location without their knowledge and security forces only informed them of
his death.
In the past few weeks, another young man identified as Shapure Sheh Bakhsh, son of Gholam-Ali, who was jailed for
similar charges died in this detention center. His family has claimed that there were signs of beatings and torture on
their son's body. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 8, 2010)
Two prisoners beaten to death in Orumieh Prison
On Sunday, April 18, two prisoners were beaten to death in cellblock 9 and 11 in Orumieh Prison by special guards'
forces in prison.
According to reports, an ordinary prisoner identified as Iraj Gham Angiz was killed for unknown reasons by prison
guards yesterday afternoon.
This report says that other prisoners protested this murder and prison guards
under the command of Akbar Pishevar beat these prisoners to counter the
protests.
In these clashes, Seifoddin Yahya Zadeh was struck on the head with a club and
died instantly. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
May
Prison guards torture prisoner to death in Sari Prison
Hadi Aravand, a death row prisoner in Sari Prison was killed under torture.
The head of this prison has claimed that he committed suicide with a sheet but
the forensics doctor said he died after being choked.

51
January – October 2010

The signs and bruises from torture were clearly evident all over his body to the extent that one of his hands was broken
and his back was injured. There was also a 1 cm cut around his neck which cancels the probability of suicide. A person
close to him has announced that the cuts around his wrists show how much pressure he was under while dying.
―Hadi was transferred from his cell on April 30 at about 5 pm and a few hours later, his injured and wounded body was
at the Sari Hospital‖, this person added.
According to the forensics doctor, his feet were crossed and shackled while his hands were tied from behind while he
was killed and he did not have any opportunity to commit suicide. In this position, he was choked with a plastic strap
which was placed around his neck.
According to other prisoners, since the arrival of a new warden named Abedi, there were four instances of suspicious
deaths in this prison in the past 7 months which shows the bad conditions under which prisoners are kept in Sari
Prison.
Hadi Aravandi, 23, was sentenced to death and would have been executed three months from now. He committed
murder in a street fight on March 19, 2008 and was buried last Sunday in the cemetery in Surak which is a few
kilometers from Sari. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 11, 2010)
Iran kills Kurd political activist after 18 years in prison
According to reports, political prisoner Zaher Mostafi was suspiciously killed after serving 18 years in prison and while in
critical physical condition and barely able to walk.
This 44 year old prisoner was from Kurdistan.
Mostafi was transferred from Orumieh Prison to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj 4 years ago. He was suffering from severe
illness and was barely able to walk and do his personal day to day tasks. But he was denied serious treatment for his
illness.
Medics at the Gohardasht infirmary had announced that he was unable to tolerate prison. The Medical Commission
had also supported this notion and in a rare measure, even prison officials had accepted his release. But the Ministry of
Intelligence refused to release him and told him on several occasions that ‗you have to die from pain‘.
Last week he was taken to an unknown location and his cellmates were told that he was being transferred to receive
treatment. On Wednesday May 12, three days after the execution of five political prisoners in Evin Prison, political
prisoner Zaher Mostafi was killed after 18 years of prison and tolerating brutal tortures. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – May 19, 2010)
July
Ailing prisoner dies in Gohardasht Prison from lack of medical treatment
A prisoner in the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj who was suffering from aids died as a result of the lack of
medical attention.
Daryoush Arjmand who had been kept in a solitary cell for 2 years died on June 20, 2010 in a solitary cell in cellblock 1
of Rajayi Shahr Prison after tolerating horrid physical conditions.
Arjmand never enjoyed medical attention and was only separated form other prisoners because he had aids.
Rajayi Shahr Prison in general and cellblock one in particular are in very poor condition on the grounds of sanitary
facilities and medical attention for prisoners. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 15, 2010)
Background info (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 14, 2010)
According to reports, Daryoush Arjmand, has been kept in a solitary cell in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison known as
the 'Doghouse' for months.
Daryoush Arjmand, 40, who has been sentenced to 19 years of prison, has been kept in this cell for close to 25 months.
He was taken to solitary for clashing with the prison deputy officer, Mansouri, who died a few months ago outside of
prison over a financial issue, and is kept in medieval conditions in this cell.
He is deprived of a natural source of light and even a lamp to light his cell. He is forced to go to the bathroom and bathe
in his cell even while his cell is very small and does not have a toilet or showering facilities. Mr. Arjmand also has many
cuts and bruises on his body but is not taken to the infirmary for treatment and is not even given the necessary items to
bandage his wounds. He is also deprived of proper clothing and his current clothes are ripped and worn out. The foul
odor that comes from his cell bothers other prisoners detained in solitary cells in this block. He is also only given enough
food to live on.
Mr. Arjmand has attempted suicide several times and in the last instance, was left in that state for a few hours before
other prisoners protested which saved his life.
A political prisoner informed a prison inspector about the condition of this prisoner and asked him to go see this
prisoner to witness his horrid and unimaginable condition for himself but the inspector argued that this prisoner had
aids and was dangerous and did not visit his cell.
Kurd political prisoner probably killed under torture; no news on condition for past 7 months
http://www.cyrusnews.com/news/fa/?mi=16&ni=11964
According to an Intelligence official in the town of Saqez who asked not to be named and received money for this
report, Aziz Mohammad Zadeh, a death row political prisoner was taken from a solitary cell in the Intelligence Agency in
Saqez to a solitary cell in the Sanandaj Intelligence Agency while in critical physical health last autumn. Mohammad
Zadeh‘s family has had no information about his condition and whereabouts for the last 7 months.
According to this report, Mohammad Zadeh was under the most severe torture in Sanandaj until a few months ago. No
one saw or heard from him after this. According to this Intelligence official, he probably died under torture and that is
why officials claim to have released him.
Notably, Aziz Mohammad Zadeh was sentenced to death in a Saqez court on charges of acting against national security
and moharebeh (enmity with God). He is the son of Ali and is 26 years old. He was arrested on October 13, 2009 by
security forces in Baneh and was transferred to the Baneh Detention Center. He was then transferred to a Saqez Prison
after 3 moths of abuse and torture. (Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners – July 19, 2010)
August
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/1.html
According to reports, a prisoner was killed after violent torture in a solitary cell in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht (Rajayi
Shahr) Prison in Karaj.
On Wednesday, August 11, prisoner Hassan Qashqayi, 35, was transferred to solitary where he was violently tortured
after coming back from court. He was tortured for a prolonged amount of time blindfolded while his hands and feet
were shackled. He went into a coma and died after a few hours.
Hassan Qashqayi had resisted the pressure and bullying of security forces and was arrested in Varamin after clashing
with security forces. He is from the Qashqayi Tribe and has been jailed for about 5 years. He was detained in cellblock 4
in Gohardasht Prison for a few months. Qashqayi was then transferred to the notorious cellblock 1 for no apparent
reason. Some time ago he was thrown in solitary for protesting the violent treatment of prison guards where he was
finally killed. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 12, 2010)
Iran kills prisoner in Orumieh; grieving mother self immolates outside of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3545-1.html
On Sunday August 22, an ordinary prisoner in the Central Orumieh Prison was killed under torture in a solitary cell.
According to reports, Bahman Massoudi died after a prison guard identified as Khanzadeh struck him on the head with
a baton.
After his family heard of his death, his mother doused herself in gas and set herself on fire yesterday outside the main
door of this prison.
There is no information on how severely she was injured or her physical state. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug.
24, 2010)
Political prisoner dies from cancer; denied on-time treatment
Kaveh Kordi Moqadam, a Kurd political prisoners from Ashnavieh who was serving his time in Orumieh Prison passed
away yesterday on August 29 in Orumieh Hospital.
According to reports, this political prisoner who suffered from stomach and lung cancer was granted a medical leave one
month ago to receive treatment, but passed away because of the delay in treatment.
Doctors had warned about his critical condition from a long time ago and had told officials that he had to be under the
care of a hospital and treated by specialists but prison officials refused to grant him a medical leave until a month ago.
Kaveh Kordi Moqadam was arrested in 2008 on charges of ‗acting against national security‘ and was sentenced to 3 years
of prison by the first branch of the Orumieh Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 30, 2010)
September
Tortured prisoner murdered in prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3740-1.html
Mohsen Bikvand, a non-political prisoner in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht)
in Karaj was murdered in prison on August 31.

53
January – October 2010

According to reports, Mohsen Bikvand was severely tortured several times by prison agents and was murdered in
cellblock 6, Hall 16 in this prison.
Bikvand was transferred to solitary in the beginning of June 2010.
Gohardasht Prisoners believe that prison officials ordered his murder and the murder of other dissident prisoners is
carried out systematically by prison officials.
The Human Rights Activists in Iran published a film of the tortures of this prisoner and according to this document,
both of his feet broke as a result of torture, his hands were made useless and his body was burned.
Direct link of the video: http://hra-news21.info/Video/002.mpg (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 2, 2010)
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)
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)
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)
October
Brother of political prisoner tortured to death for pursuing brother‟s case
http://www.irangreenvoice.com/article/2010/oct/05/7438
There are reports that the brother of Alireza Naseri, the former mayor of Anbaran, was murdered in prison by security
forces.
According to this report, Alireza Naseri, Azeri activist and former mayor of the town of Anbaran was arrested by
plainclothes agents last year in his place of work and taken to an unknown location.
He was apparently arrested for giving a speech about Azarbaijan. But before the 2005 presidential elections, he opposed
Ahmadinejad and used Ahmadinejad‘s negative background and actions while he was the governor of Ardabil to carry
out a number of speeches against him.
There is absolutely no news about his current situation. He was sentenced to 10 years of prison and a permanent ban on
working for the government.
His brother, Gholam-Hossein Naseri was arrested after following up his brother‘s case and was killed in prison.
He was arrested five months ago while pursuing his case and his family was notified after some time that Gholam-
Hossein had passed away in prison. His family was then threatened not to talk about this issue or else his other brother,
Alireza Naseri would be in danger of execution.
This is while according to the forensics doctor, Gholam-Hossein died because of torture and electric shocks in the
Intelligence Agency Detention Center.
His crime was looking to know where his detained brother was and whether he was alive or dead. (Neday Sabze Azadi
website – Oct. 6, 2010)

Death sentence
January
62 year old political prisoner sentenced to death
Ali Saremi is a political prisoner in Evin who has been sentenced to death. He has been
charged with participating in a commemoration ceremony to mark the 19th anniversary of
the massacre of political prisoners in 1988.
Akbar Saremi (his son in Camp Ashraf): 'My father is 62 years old and has a degree in
English literature. He has been in and out of prison in the past 20 years and has been
violently tortured. He had a heart attack as a result of these tortures. Also due to the
pressures on him in prison he has problems with his eyesight. He needs surgery but they
have denied him any kind of medical treatment…
My father has no judicial history and the death sentence was suddenly announced to
him'. (Radio Farda – Jan. 5, 2010)
Ashoura protesters at risk of execution in Iran
Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities not to sentence to death
protesters arrested during religious commemorations last month.
Media reports say at least five demonstrators arrested during protests on Ashoura, 27 December, have been charged with
moharebeh (enmity against God), which carries the death penalty. Amnesty International fears they could be tried
imminently. The authorities have said that ―rioting and arson‖ amounts to moharebeh, a criminal offence usually used
against those who take up arms against the state. 'The offences the protesters are accused of do not amount to the 'most
serious crimes' for which the death penalty may be applied under international law.
Even if they have committed such offences, they should not face the death penalty if convicted,' said Amnesty
International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.
'The authorities should ensure that anyone suspected of criminal offences related to the demonstrations, including stone
throwing or acts of arson, is tried promptly and fairly, in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards, and
that no one is sentenced to death'.
The news comes amid signs that the Iranian authorities may be planning to increase the use of the death penalty as a
means to deter demonstrations.
On 4 January, a group of 36 MPs proposed a motion to amend the Code of Criminal Procedures so that those convicted
of moharebeh would be executed within five days of their conviction. Such a move would compromise the effective
exercise of a defendant‘s right to appeal.

55
January – October 2010

The authorities have accused various OPPOSITION groups of orchestrating the unrest on Ashoura, notably the Baha'is,
an unrecognized religious minority. At least 13 Baha'is have been arrested from their homes since the demonstrations.
The Baha‘i community denies any such involvement.
In December, the lawyers for seven Baha'i leaders detained without trial for more than a year were informed their clients
will be tried on Tuesday. They face charges of espionage and could be sentenced to death. Amnesty International
believes that all 20 are prisoners of conscience who should be released immediately and unconditionally. 'Iranians
should be free to assemble in peaceful protests to express their opinions, including about the government and human
rights violations, and not face excessive use of force, arbitrary arrest and unfair trial, or risk execution,' said Hassiba Hadj
Sahraoui. ―Instead of allowing demonstrations to take place, the Iranian authorities are locking up anyone of a different
viewpoint from theirs and are looking for scapegoats to blame for the unrest (Amnesty International – Jan. 8, 2010)
Two Kurd political prisoners in danger of execution
International Committee against Execution: according to reports sent to the Committee, the danger of the imminent
execution of Farzad Kamangar and Habib Latifi is very high. Farzad Kamangar is a popular teacher who has been
detained for several years by the Islamic rule and his death sentence was announced to him some time ago. Habib Latifi,
is a student activist who was arrested for his political activities and sentenced to death. According to this report acquired
by the Committee, the head of the Sanandaj Department for Executing Sentences told Habib Latifi that 'no guarantees
can stop the execution of his death sentence' and in this way announced to him that his death sentence will soon be
carried out. According to this report, Kamangar is also in danger of being hanged. (Roshangari Website – Jan. 12, 2010)
Iran: Halt executions of Kurdish and other political prisoners
Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities not to execute at least 17 members of Iran‘s Kurdish
minority, including one woman - Zeynab Jalalian - who are on death row after their conviction of political offences. The
organization fears that they could be executed at any time, particularly in light of the execution of two other Kurds in
Iran in recent months, most recently Fasih Yasmini in Khoy on 6 January 2010.
All were convicted after unfair trials for moharebeh (enmity against God) for membership of banned Kurdish opposition
groups, mainly the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (known by its Kurdish acronym PJAK), an armed group, and
Komala, a Marxist organization. Some are reported to have been tortured in detention and to have been denied access to
a lawyer.
The executed man, Fasih (Fateh) Yasmini was arrested during clashes between PJAK and Iranian security forces in the
village of Hendavan, near Khoy, in or around February 2008. It is not clear whether Fasih Yasmini was involved in these
clashes or not. He was reportedly among a number of villagers arrested, including five girls, his father Hossein Yasmini,
and another man Fahim Reza-Zadeh, who are said to have been taken to a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in
Khoy, where Fasih Yasmini was reportedly tortured. His family had no news of him for about two months. Hossein
Yasmini is currently serving a two-year prison sentence, while Fahim Reza-
Zadeh was sentenced to 15 years‘ imprisonment to be served in exile.
Fasih Yasmini‘s death sentence by the Khoy Revolutionary court is
believed to have been upheld on appeal by Branch 10 of the Appeal
Court of West Azerbaijan Province and by the Supreme Court and he
was executed without his lawyer being informed - a requirement under
Iranian law - on 6 January. Fasih Yasmini‘s family have not been given his
body, possibly to prevent them holding a funeral or memorial service for
him. Amnesty International condemns this execution.
Ali Saremi (or Sarami), aged 62, was sentenced to death for moharebeh
on 29 December 2009 after being convicted of membership of the
Latifi Kamangar
People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), an opposition group
based in Iraq. He was arrested in September 2007 after speaking at a commemoration at the Khavaran cemetery in
Tehran for the victims of the 1988 ―prison massacre‖ and has been held since. Amnesty International issued an urgent
action on his and six other‘s behalf in November 2007. Held without trial for many months, mostly in Evin Prison, his
final court session took place on 16 November in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Two days after demonstrations
against the government on Ashoura on 27 December 2009 were violently repressed by security forces, he was told that he
had been sentenced to death. The Iranian authorities have blamed various groups for organizing the demonstrations,
including the PMOI and a ―Marxist grouplet‖. Ali Saremi has a son in the PMOI who lives in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, whom
he has visited. Ali Saremi has spent 23 years in prison for his political activities both before and after the Islamic
Revolution in Iran.
Background Since the unrest which followed the disputed presidential election in June 2009, Amnesty International has
documented an increase in the number of executions in Iran, and the Iranian authorities have threatened to try
demonstrators for moharebeh, moves which appear designed to dissuade people from participating in demonstrations
against the government. The 17 Kurds on death row for political offences are reported to be: 1. Zeynab Jalalian [f] 2.
Habibollah Latifi 3. Sherko Moarefi 4. Farhad Vakili 5. Farzad Kamangar 6. Ali Haydarian 7. Hossein Khezri 8. Rashid
Akhkandi 9. Mohammad Amin Agoushi 10. Ahmad Pouladkhani 11. Sayed Sami Hosseini 12. Sayed Jamal
Mohammadi 13. Rostam Arkiya 14. Mostafa Salimi 15. Anwar Rostami 16. Hassan Talai 17. Iraj Mohammadi (Amnesty
International – Jan. 13, 2010)
Iran sentences female political prisoner to death
Shirin Alam Hovi, a Kurd political prisoner in Evin Prison was sentenced to death.
This sentence which was issued for the charge of mohareb (enmity with God) for her cooperation
with a Kurd opposition party was passed by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and was announced to
her lawyer last week.
Shirin Alam Hovi, 28, is from Maku in West Azerbaijan. She was arrested last summer and is
currently in Evin Prison.
It was previously announced that she was sentenced to life in prison but her lawyer has confirmed
her death sentence. This sentence is subject to appeal. (Kurdistan Human Rights Watch News
Agency – Jan. 16, 2010)
Iran prosecutor calls for death penalty against protesters
An Iranian prosecutor called Monday for the death penalty against five protesters arrested during demonstrations staged
as Shiites participated in solemn Ashura rituals last month, state media reported.
The five were accused of having ties with Iran's exiled and armed opposition, the People's Muhajideen, and charged with
'Moharebeh' or being enemies of God, which is punishable by death under Iran's Sharia-based law.
'I ask the court for maximum punishment against these people based on the investigations, the defendants' confessions
and (their) criminal acts on Ashura,' the prosecution said in the indictment carried by the media.
It said the unidentified group had been trained in Mujahideen's 'camp in Iraq and European countries to carry out
terror and rioting'.
Two women, draped in print chadors worn by prisoners, were shown by state television among the group of defendants
sitting in the front row of the court room during Monday's proceedings. (AFP - Jan 18, 2010)
Iran sentences two other Kurd political prisoners to death
Two Kurd political prisoners identified as Mohammad Amin Abdollahi and Qader Mohamamd-Zadeh from Mirabad in
Bukan were sentenced to death by the Orumieh Court of Review.
These two prisoners were arrested on charges of cooperation with Kurd opposition parties and were detained to the
Bukan Intelligence Agency. They were subsequently transferred to the Orumieh Central Prison.
Mohammad Amin Abdollahi, 25, was sentenced to 20 years of prison in his first trial and after a court of review in
January 16, was sentenced to death on charges of acting against national security and Moharabeh (enmity with God). On
the other hand, Qader Mohammad Zadeh, 32, was initially sentenced to 32 years of prison and was later sentenced to
death on the same charges in the court of review. (Kurd Human Rights Organization – Jan. 20, 2010)
Another Kurd political prisoner sentenced to death
The Campaign in Defense of Political Prisoners announced that Aziz Mohammad-Zadeh, a Kurd political activist was
sentenced to death. According to the Campaign, Mohammad-Zadeh was sentenced to death by a court in Saqez on the
charges of acting against national security and moharebeh (enmity with God).
This 26 year old political activist was arrested on October 13, 2009 by security forces in Baneh and taken to a detention
center in this city. He was transferred to a prison in Saqez after three months of abuse and torture. He is currently in
solitary confinement and in poor physical health. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 23, 2010)
Iran revokes birth certificates of two death row prisoners in unprecedented inhumane measure
According to reports, after the confirmation of the death sentence of two prisoners, they were taken to the Registry
Office and their birth certificates were revoked.
On January 18, two prisoner from ward 4 in Gohardasht Prison were taken to court and their death sentences were
announced to them. In a strange and inhumane measure, they were then taken to the Registration Office and their birth
certifications were revoked. They were subsequently told that they would be hanged in the next 10 days.

57
January – October 2010

According to reports, one of the prisoners identified as Miri who is from juvenile hall number 11 in ward 4 and is a
minor offender became sick when his sentence was being announced and when he was taken to the Registry Office and
was in a very poor mental state.
The other prisoner, Aydin Shariatmaday, 28, has been in prison for close to a year.
This is a new measure that judges use in which they revoke the birth certificate death row prisoners. This is a form of
torture which puts severe pressure on the prisoner and on the other hand denies all rights to him as a human being who
is still alive and causes various legal problems for the prisoner and his family. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – Jan. 23, 2010)
Regime forces confiscate death row prisoner's belongings
Yesterday, a few days after Kurd activist Aziz Mohammadzadeh was sentenced to death in a court in Saqez on charges of
acting against national security and moharebeh (enmity with God), his home and car were seized by the intelligence
agency in the city of Baneh.
His car has been impounded and is in a parking lot in the Intelligence Agency in this city while his home has been sealed
shut. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 23, 2010)
Iran sentences two human rights activists to moharebeh
Two members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters have
been accused of moharebeh (enmity with God). Mehrdad Rahimi
announced in a visit with his family that 'judicial officials intend to
charge him with moharebeh'.
Kohyar Gudarzi, the secretary of this committee was also charged
with moharebeh, spreading propaganda against the government
and attending illegal gatherings.
Before this, in a meeting with the family of Shiva Nazar Ahari,
another member of this committee, Tehran's prosecutor said that
the committee is affiliated with the PMOI. (Committee of Human
Shiva Nazar Ahari and Kohyar Gudarzi Rights Reporters – Jan. 25, 2010)
9 protesters on death row
The execution sentences of Mohammad-Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour which was confirmed by the Tehran
court of review was carried out in the morning.
The sentence for nine others on charges of (participating) in the gatherings in the past few months is being reviewed and
will be carried out when the (death) sentences are finalized.
These offenders were charged with moharebeh (enmity with God), trying to overthrow the Islamic Republic,
membership in anti-revolutionary and armed grouplets including the Monarchist Association of Iran and the terrorist
Monafeqin (PMOI) organization among other things. (ISNA news agency – Jan. 28, 2010)
Another protester sentenced to moharebeh punishable by death in Islamic Republic
According to reports, Mostafa Yar Mohammadi, 27, from Tehran who is in Evin Prison and was arrested in the College
Intersection on Ashura was charged with Moharebeh (enmity with God) acting against national security and destroying
public property by Judge Salavati in the Revolutionary Court. (Peik-e-Iran website – Jan. 28, 2010)
Two bloggers face possible death penalty
Two netizens and human rights activists, Mehrdad Rahimi and Kouhyar Goudarzi, have been accused of wanting to
wage ―a war against God,‖ in a similar manner to the two men who were executed this morning in Tehran on charges of
―Mohareb‖ (being enemies of God). Both contributors to an OPPOSITION website, Rahimi and Goudarzi are also
facing a possible death penalty.
"The authorities have shown they will no longer content themselves with just arresting and convicting in order to put
pressure on human rights activists and those who contest President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad‘s reelection,‖ Reporters
Without Borders said. ―Today they have demonstrated that they intend to actually execute Mohareb. There is great
danger that there will be more executions. How many deaths will be needed for the international community to
intervene"?
Rahimi, who edits the Shahidayeshahr blog, and Goudarzi, who keeps his own blog (http://kouhyar.wordpress.com/),
are both members of the ―Committee of Human Rights Reporters,‖ which was created by students and bloggers to relay
information about the crackdown that followed the disputed 12 June presidential election.
Tehran state prosecutor Abass Jafari Dolatabadi declared on 22 January that this committee was an offshoot of the
outlawed People‘s Mujahedeen Organisation and that any collaboration with its website was therefore banned.
Other bloggers who are members of the committee have also been arrested in recent weeks: Parisa Kakei was arrested on
2 January; Shiva Nazar Ahari was arrested on 24 December; and Said Kanaki and Said Jalali were arrested on 1
December. They are all still being held in Section 209 of Tehran‘s Evin prison and are being subjected to considerable
pressure to name other members of the committee and to call for it to be disbanded.
Reporters Without Borders also warns Iranians about the ―mirror-sites‖ being used by the authorities to trap Internet
users. Imitating the websites of foreign political organisation and news media, they invite visitors to send emails and
videos about demonstrations or to post comments, and are used by the authorities to gather evidence to support charges
of spying for foreign organizations.
Reporters Without Borders has meanwhile learned that Mansoureh Shojaii, a contributor to women‘s rights websites,
and Mohammed Reza Zohdi, the former editor of the now-closed newspaper Arya, a member of the Committee for the
Defence of Press Freedom and a contributor to several reformist newspapers, were both released from Section 209 of
Evin prison on 23 December. Shojaii had been held for 22 days while Zohdi had been held for 19 days. (Reporters
without Borders – Jan.28 2010)
Death row Kurd activist taken to intelligence agency and tortured
According the latest reports, Aziz Mohammadzadeh, Kurd activist who has been sentenced to death, and has gone on a
hunger strike in protest to this sentence was taken to solitary confinement in the Saqez Intelligence Agency from the
Saqez Prison solitary cell by security forces.
This is while this political prisoner is in poor physical health and is denied the right to a lawyer. On the other hand the
intelligence agency in Baneh has confiscated his personal property (his car and home).
According to a person close to Mohammadzadeh, he was under very severe torture in the Baneh intelligence agency and
is now in an unknown state. He is in danger of imminent death. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 29, 2010)
Iran puts 16 anti-government protesters on trial
Iran put on trial on Saturday 16 anti-government protesters, two of them women, who were arrested on the Shiite
mourning day of Ashura, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Five of the defendants are accused of being mohareb (enemies of God) and corrupt on earth, both crimes punishable by
death under the Iranian legal system, which is based on Islamic sharia law, IRNA said.
The rest are accused of 'gathering and conspiring against security, propaganda against the system and seeking to harm
security by inciting unrest and riot,' it said.
IRNA said the those accused of being mohareb include two who have ties with and were supporting 'the hypocrites', the
term the regime uses to describe the outlawed rebel People's Mujahedeen.
It said the other 11 accused include one Bahai, a student activist and one having 'communist leanings who also gave
interviews to foreign radios'. (AFP - Jan 30, 2010)
Iran intends to execute in public 5 men and women with links to Ashraf
There are reportedly ongoing efforts to publicly carry out the sentences of 5 Ashura offenders who were sentenced to
death by Judge Salavati.
The sentences for five Ashura offenders were issued by Judge Salavati , the head of the 15th branch of the revolutionary
court sentencing them to the capital punishment.
Among these five, in addition to the 3 people whose trial was shown in part by Seda and Sima (Iran state-run tv)
regarding going to Camp Ashraf and filming the protests, there is a man and a woman who are above 50 years old.
Apparently the child of this couple is in Camp Ashraf and the brothers of the man were executed in the beginning of the
revolution for being members of the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization.
There are reportedly efforts in progress to carry out the execution of these five before February 11 (anniversary of the
revolution that overthrew the Shah) in Tehran especially in Enqelab and Azadi Streets. It is up to the head of the
Judiciary to accept or oppose this issue. (Ayandeh state-run Website – Jan. 30, 2010)
February
Iran to execute nine protesters 'soon': judiciary official
Iran will 'soon execute' nine people arrested during anti-government protests for seeking to topple the Islamic regime,
Fars news agency on Tuesday quoted a senior judiciary official as saying.
'The two people executed and another nine who will soon be executed were definitely arrested in recent riots and each
was linked with counter-revolutionary movements,' deputy judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi told a meeting in the holy city

59
January – October 2010

of Qom late Monday.


'They had participated in riots with the aim of creating disunity and toppling the system,' he added…
The executions drew international condemnation and were branded by opposition leaders as an effort to scare protesters
and keep them off the streets…
But prominent hardline official Ayatollah Ahmad Janati praised the judiciary for the hangings.
'May God not have mercy on those who are lenient with the corrupt on earth. There is no room for clemency but it is
time for severity,' he told the last Friday prayers in Tehran.
Janati is a key backer of Ahamdinejad and heads the powerful electoral watchdog, Guardians Council, whose handling
of the June vote has been at the centre of opposition protests. (AFP – Feb 2, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to death for financially helping younger brother
According to reports, political prisoner Mehdi Islamian has been sentenced to death for giving financial aid to his
younger brother, Mohsen Islamian (who was hanged before this).
Mehdi Islamian, 30, was arrested on May 3, 2008 and was taken to an Intelligence Agency detention center in Shiraz in
the Artesh Square. He was violently physically and mentally tortured for 14 consecutive days. After 14 days, he was
transferred to ward 209 in Evin Prison and was kept in solitary for 6 months.
He was once again tortured in Evin Prison by intelligence agents. These interrogators flogged the soles of his feet, back
and other parts of his body for a long period of time, tied him to a chair and punched and kicked him in the face, head,
chest, stomach and other sensitive parts of his body, tortured him with electric clubs, forcefully injected mind altering
drugs and force fed him mind altering pills, and insulted and abused him. His shoulder and nose broke as a result but
interrogators not only denied him medical attention, but brutalized him even more.
The purpose of these violent tortures was to force him to confess that he was linked to the Shiraz Rahpuyane Vesal
bombing and to announce that he financially aided his brother for political reasons.
His case was referred for trial to the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Salavati. Salvati sentenced him to
death on bogus charges such as, 'moharebeh (enmity with God), acting against national security by assisting bomb
attacks, being corrupt on earth, attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic, being a member of a monarchist
association, and effectively giving financial aid to anti-revolutionary groups'.
Islamian and his lawyer appealed this sentence and his case is currently being reviewed in a court of review.
His brother, Mohsen Islamian, 21, was executed on March 22, 2009 along with two other prisoners. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 3, 2010)
Iran sentences 20-year-old to moharebeh
In a trial held on Wednesday which was the fourth trial for those arrested on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) five defendants
were put on trial.
Tehran's Prosecutor , Farahani, charged a 20-year-old Damghan University student to 'moharebeh (enmity with God),
being corrupt on earth, gathering and conspiring to commit crimes against national security, spreading propaganda
against the government and insulting senior officials', in the indictment.
According to the laws of the Islamic Republic, the charges of 'corruption on earth' and 'enmity with God' are punishable
by death. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 3, 2010)
Iran charges 4 female political prisoners to moharebeh
On Sunday January 31, 2009, four political prisoners were taken to the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court in
Tehran where they were trialed by Mohammad Moqiseyi known as Naserian (member of the death commission during
the massacre of political prisoners in 1988) on the basis of moharebeh (enmity with god, punishable by death in the
Islamic Republic). These prisoners are Ms. Aqayi, Ms. Kazemi, Ms. Masumi, and Zahra Jabari.
Ms. Masumi objected the charges against her in court and announced that her confessions were taken under brutal
physical and mental pressure and are false. Moqiseyi announced in reaction that he would inquire this issue from
intelligence agent interrogators who had tortured her.
Zahra Jabari also objected and denied the charges against her and told the judge that interrogators tortured and pulled
out her nails and showed Moqiseyi the signs of this torture on her fingers. But Moqiseyi said in remarks that surprised
lawyers and those in attendance in the court that 'you pulled out your nails yourself and want to accuse the
interrogators'. In the end, Moqiseyi told Mrs. Jabari that he would ask about her interrogations and will see to it in a trial
to be held after the Persian New Year (March 24, 2010).
Zahra Jabari was arrested on September 18, 2009 and was taken to ward 209 in Evin Prison. She was under
interrogations and torture for two months while in solitary and was then transferred to the women's ward in Evin. She
was jailed because her sister and two brothers are in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.
Ms. Aqayi and Kazemi were also trialed based on Moharebeh. Moqiseyi said that their sentences would be announced to
them in the upcoming weeks.
Moqiseyi treated these prisoners and their lawyers with disrespect and insulted them in court. He also prevented the
families of these political prisoners from attending the trial and ordered that they be thrown out of the court corridors.
These families were violently thrown out of court.
Intelligence agent interrogators pre-determine the inhumane and heavy charges against political prisoners and send these
prisoners to show trials only for their sentences to be announced to them.
All the evidence shows that the death commission has once again been formed. This commission has been formed under
orders of Khamenei and its main members are Sareq Larijani, Reyisi, the head of this commission in 1988, Mohsen
Ejeyi, Salavati, Moqiseyi, Pir Abassi, Ahmad Zargar and Jafari Dolat Abadi along with members of the security branches
of the Revolutionary Court who are stationed in ward 209 of Evin Prison. The death commission is busy making
criminal records for political prisoners with the cooperation of intelligence agents and RGC interrogators to lay the
groundwork to sentence them to death and carry out their sentences. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
Feb. 5, 2010)
Death row political prisoner in imminent danger
A political prisoner condemned to death in Orumieh was taken to a solitary cell in this prison and there has been no
information on his fate after his transfer.
At 10 pm last night on February 6, a number of prison guards along with the officials of the Sentence Implementation
Department of the Central Orumieh Prison transferred Hossein Khezri to solitary. Mr. Khezri had announced before
that according to these officials, his sentence was to be carried out in the near future.
Hossein Khezri, was sentenced to death on June 11, 2009 charges of spreading propaganda against the government, and
cooperating with a Kurd opposition party by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in this city. His sentence was
confirmed and finalized by the Court of Review. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 7, 2010)
Officials shun family of innocent political death row prisoner
The family of death row political prisoner Ahmad Karimi went to the presidential office and Judiciary to inquire about
their son but was denied a clear answer.
This political prisoner was sentenced to death on charges of participating in the post-election protests. The relevant
officials did not accept to meet with his family and refrained from taking a letter which proved Karimi's innocence.
Ahmad Karimi, born in 1979, is a carpenter from Islamshahr who was forced to confess to being a 'seditionist' in court
despite the fact that he was arrested 40 days before the elections. He was sentenced to death based on his (confessions).
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 6, 2010)
Iran sentences another Ashura protester to death
The official website of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran announced that the sentences for nine other
elements of the sedition on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) have been issued by the Revolutionary Court.
In these verdicts, one of the offenders was sentenced to death, while eight others received prison terms.
Their charges were moharebeh (enmity with God), gathering and conspiring against security, and spreading propaganda
against the government among other things. (Ayandeh Website – Feb. 9, 2010)
Two Kurd political prisoners sentenced to death
Qader Mohammad Zadeh and Mohammad-Amin Abdollahi, two Kurd prisoners from Bukan who were arrested
together were sentenced to death by a court of review on charges of 'cooperating with Kurd Parties'. This is while the
initial court sentenced Mohammad Zadeh to 23 years of prison and Abdollahi to 20 years of prison. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 17, 2010)
Young political prisoner sentenced to death
Mohammad Mostafayi (lawyer): On February 14, I received a call from the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court telling
me to go to court about the case of Amir-Reza Arefi on Tuesday. I became concerned for my client after the call until I
went to the court today and read the issued sentence. This 21-year-old man who was arrested on April 15, 2009 was
sentenced to being a mohareb (enemy of God) and was sentenced to death based on articles 186, 187, 189, 190, 191 and
46 of the Islamic Penal Code for being a member of and cooperating with and having effective activities in line with the
intentions of the Iran Imperial Association. (Iran Press News Website – Feb. 16, 2010)
Young man sentenced to death for chanting anti-Khamenei slogan

61
January – October 2010

The Islamic court sentenced a 26-year-old man identified as Omid Dana to death on charges of participating in the
Ashura (December 27, 2009) marches and chanting 'death to the principle of the leadership'. (Roshangari Website –
Feb. 19, 2010)
Death sentences for unidentified "moharebs"
The last trial for five people arrested on Ashura who were sentenced to 'moharebeh' (enmity
with God) and having links to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran and monarchist
groups was held in the Revolutionary Court on Saturday.
In this trial, three people were charged with moharebeh by the Prosecutor and according to the
Islamic Penal Court, the death sentence has been determined for them.
This is while there is no information on their identities and there is fear that they will be
executed in secret.
Yesterday, Daily News Website disclosed the identity of one of them identifying him as Omid
Omid Dana Dana, a 26-year-old man who was arrested in the protests on Ashura. He has been reportedly
sentenced to death on the basis of a film that was displayed in the court. (Peik-e-Iran Website –
Feb. 20, 2010)
Baluchistan Judicial head says Rigi will be executed
The head of the Sistan & Baluchistan Judiciary said that "upon the completion of the judicial case of this mohareb
(enemy of God punishable by death) the divine punishment will be carried out for him (Abdolmalek Rigi) and other
members of this group". (Fars News Agency – Feb. 25, 2010)
March
Ashura student protesters sentenced to death
The death sentence of a member of the Central Council of Damghan University's Islamic
Association was confirmed.
The death sentence for Mohammad-Amin Valian was confirmed on Tuesday based on a statement
by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi regarding the fact that those who broke sanctities on Ashura were
moharebs (at war with God).
The Tehran's Prosecutor's Office also published a statement confirming this issue and announced
that in light of the Fatwa of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, the death sentence for this 20 year old
was upheld by a court of review.
Mohammad-Amin Valian was a member of Moussavi's election staff in Damghan who was
sentenced to death by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Salavati on charges of moharebeh,
corruption on earth, assembling and conspiring to commit crimes against the country, spreading propaganda against the
Islamic Republic of Iran and insulting high government officials.
According to reports, he was arrested on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) because he was holding a stone. (Nedaye Sabze Azadi
website – March 2, 2010)
Iran puts pressure on death row student's family to deny death sentence
While some sources reported that the death sentence for Mohammad Valian was upheld by the court of review, his
family refrains from confirming this issue.
One of Valian's classmates said that his family is under severe pressure not to talk to the media or human rights
institutions.
According to this source, intelligence officials have promised his family that they would get amnesty from the "leader" if
they do not talk to the media. Mohammad Valian's father does not talk to the media and tells whoever calls him to get
news on his son that they have the wrong number.
The Ministry of Intelligence has subjected his father to pressure to deny the news that his son was sentenced to death in
an interview with a state run news agency. (International Human Rights Campaign in Iran – March 5, 2010)
Another minor offender on verge of execution
Mehdi Sadeq Lu, a young man who has been charged with committing murder while a minor (under 18) is in danger of
being executed.
This young man who is imprisoned in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj killed a boy identified only by his last name as Buy in
2007 and was sentenced to death. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 9, 2010)
Female political death row prisoner taken to unknown location
According to reports, Zeinab Jalian, a Kurd activist sentenced to death was taken to an unknown
location from the Training and Correctional Facility in this city from a month ago by agents of the
Kermanshah Intelligence Department without a warrant from the judge and there has been no news on
her whereabouts since then. Zeinab Jalian's story has been a cause for concern for many human rights activists. Some
believe that this transfer can bolster the chances of her death sentence being carried out. (Kurdistan Human Rights
Watch – March 11, 2010)
More than 3,000 Afghan nationals on death row in Iran
A parliamentary delegation from Afghanistan, which recently made a trip to Iran, has reported that more than 3,000
Afghan nationals in this country are awaiting execution.
Amanollah Peiman, the deputy head of the parliament, Abdolsattar Khasi, secretary and Taj Mohammad Mojahed, the
head of the Narcotics Commission in the Afghanistan Parliament were in this delegation.
Mr. Mojahed said in report to the parliament that 'they (Iran judicial officials) said that there are 5,630 Afghans detained
in Iran and more than 3,000 of them have been sentenced to death and their sentences have been finalized'. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – March 13, 2010)
Six Ashura arrestees sentenced to death
Tehran's Prosecutor said that six people related to Ashura (protests of December 27, 2009) were sentenced to death.
"Currently their sentences have been referred to the court of review and naturally after their sentences are finalized, they
will be dealt with", he added. (Fars state-run News Agency – March 15, 2010)
42-year-old Ashura protester sentenced to death
Abdolreza Qanbari who was charged with moharebeh in a trial after Ashura for participating in Ashura protests (on
December 27, 2009), was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati.
Qanbari, 42, lives in a poor neighborhood in Varamin. He is a teacher and according to reports, his only crime is
participating in popular protests on Ashura and chanting slogans against Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic
Republic. He was taken to security section '2-A' which belongs to the intelligence department of the Revolutionary
Guards Corps after being arrested on Ashura. On January 30, 2010 he was taken to court where he confessed to
participating in Ashura demonstrations and other things without the knowledge of his family, and while being deprived
of a lawyer and barred from visits with his family and selected lawyer. A person who closely follows his case said that the
confessions were extracted under pressure and torture. He has been deprived of a lawyer and was just recently transferred
to a public section in prison. (Jaras Website – March 17, 2010)
Three members of family, including 2 women, sentenced to death
Three members of a family from Orumieh were sentenced to death for social crimes in a Mahabad Court.
A Kurd mother and her two children who were arrested for social related crimes were sentenced to death by the
Revolutionary Court in Mahabad.
These prisoners are Jazieh Darvish Zadeh and her two children Afsaneh Darvish Zadeh, 19 and Fatollah Darvish Zadeh,
21. They are currently detained in Mahabad Prison. (Kurdistan Human Rights Organization – March 22, 2010)
Iran sentences man to death on charges of acting against national security
A Military Court in Tehran sentenced Ali Mohammadi Moqadam, who is in the military, to death.
In this court, he was charged with acting against national security by espionage. (Iran Press News Website – March 25,
2010)
April
Women sentenced to 6 death sentences in public
A young woman who killed 5 elderly women and one man in Qazvin was sentenced to 6 death sentences in public, a
prison term and lashes by the judges of the second branch of the Qazvin Penal Court. These judges sentenced this serial
killer to 6 death sentences in public on charges of 6 murders, and 24 months of prison and 74 lashes on charges of theft.
(Jam-e-Jam Online state-run website – April 3, 2010)
Female protester sentenced to death
Motahareh Bahrami, a protestor who was arrested in the Ashura protests (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to death.
She was detained for a short time with Baha'i prisoners and subsequently detained with journalists and is currently in
the women's cellblock in Evin Prison.
Motahareh Bahrami who was arrested on Ashura with her husband, son, son's friend and her husband's friend was
sentenced to death on charges of having communications with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Her case is currently being reviewed. Her husband, Mohsen Daneshvar and her son, Mehdi Daneshvar were also arrested
with her. Reihaneh Haj Ibrahimi is another detainee who was arrested with her. (Peik-e-Iran Website – April 23, 2010)
5 members of family sentenced to death for relations with PMOI
63
January – October 2010

Motahareh Bahrami who was detained in the Ashura protests (December 27, 2009), was sentenced to death. She was
arrested with her husband, son a relative and one her husband's friends on Ashura and there are reports that these five
people were sentenced to death.
Motahareh (Simin) Bahrami Haqiqi, her husband Mohsen Daneshpour Moqadam, and her son, Ahmad Daneshpour
Moqadam were all arrested along with one of their relatives Reihaneh Haj Ibrahim. Hadi Qaemi, a close friend of
Mohsen Daneshpour, who was also arrested with them was also sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (waging
war with God).
One of the son's of this family who became a member of the PMOI years ago is in Camp Ashraf in Iraq which is the
basis of the charge of moharebeh and the death sentences for this family.
Meisam Daneshpour, another son of this family confirmed the death sentences for his family and said, "The case is
currently being reviewed and the final sentence has still not been announced to them". (Rooz Website – April 18, 2010)
Kurd political activist sentenced to death
A Kurd citizen from Sanandaj by the name of Habibollah Golparipour was sentenced to death by the Mahabad
Revolutionary Court.
This man who has been jailed for more than 6 months was charged with moharebeh for propagandist activities in a
dissident party and was sentenced to death based on article 186 and 190 of the Islamic Penal Code by the Revolutionary
Court in Mahabad. (Mukarian News Agency – April 22, 2010)
Two Kurd activists in danger of imminent execution
Hossein Khezri, a 28-year-old man, and Zeynab Jalalian, a 27-year-old woman, both members of Iran‘s Kurdish minority,
are feared to be at imminent risk of execution.
Both were convicted of ―enmity against God‖, in separate cases, for membership of the Party for Free Life of Kurdistan.
Hossein Khezri was arrested in Kermanshah in 2008, held in detention facilities under the control of the Ministry of
Intelligence and Revolutionary Guards, and was later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Oromieh, north-
west Iran, for ―enmity against God‖ (―moharebeh‖).
His sentence was upheld in or around August 2009. He said he was tortured and asked for an investigation, but his
request was denied in March 2010.
On 11 April 2010, he was moved from Oromieh Central Prison to an unknown location, raising fears that his execution
may be imminent.
Zeynab Jalalian, from Maku, a town in the north-west of Iran, was sentenced to death for ―enmity against God‖ around
January 2009 by Kermanshah Revolutionary Court.
Before that, she had spent eight months in a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility, during which time her family had
no information concerning her fate.
She is reported not to have been granted access to a lawyer during her trial, which she said lasted only a few minutes.
Zeynab Jalalian‘s death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 26 November 2009.
In early March 2010, Zeynab Jalalian was moved from Kermanshah Prison to an unknown location, possibly a detention
facility of the Ministry of Intelligence.
After several weeks, in late March 2010, she was transferred to Section 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.
The precise reasons for her transfer are unknown, but the website Reporters and Human Rights Activists in Iran has
reported that she said she is awaiting execution.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Zaynab Jalalian wrote a letter the day after her sentence was confirmed, which was
published on the internet.
In the letter, she claimed to have been tortured, and she said: ―I asked the Judge if I could say good-bye to my mother.
He told me ―shut up.‖ The Judge rejected my appeal and refused to let me to see my mother.‖
Kurds, who are one of Iran‘s many minority groups, live mainly in the west and north-west of the country, in the
province of Kordestan and neighboring provinces bordering Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iraq. They experience
religious, economic and cultural discrimination…
At least 18 other Kurdish men and one other Kurdish woman are believed to be on death row in connection with their
alleged membership of and activities for banned Kurdish organizations.
They include Farzad Kamangar, Farhad Vakili, Habibollah Latifi, Sherko Moarefi, Ali Haydarian, Anvar Rostami,
Rostam Arkiya, Mostafa Salimi, Hassan Talai, Iraj Mohammadi, Rashid Akhkandi, Mohammad Amin Agoushi, Ahmad
Pouladkani, Sayed Sami Hosseini, Sayed Jamal Mohammadi, Mohammad Amin Abdolahi, Ghader Mohamadzadeh, Aziz
Mohammadzadeh and Shirin Alam-Hoei.
Some have had their prison sentences increased to death sentences on appeal. (Amnesty International – April 21, 2010)
Female political prisoner deprived of lawyer one step closer to the death sentence
According to reports, Masumeh Yavari, who is protester and was arrested in the post election unrest, was only allowed to
have a lawyer in her first court session. The government has requested the death sentence for her.
Mohammad Seifzadeh, her lawyer said, "Ms. Yavari's trial will be held on May 5 and the prosecutor has requested the
death sentence for her".
"I had not seen my client until her first trial and she was deprived of a lawyer until that time", he added. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
May
Amnesty International urges action for imminent execution of Jafar Kazemi
Amnesty International has issued an urgent
statement about the imminent execution of
Jafar Kazemi in the next few days:
"The danger of imminent execution in Iran"
An Iranian, Jafar Kazemi, is in imminent
danger of execution for participating in anti-
government demonstrations. He has also been
accused of collaborating with the MKO
(Mujahedeen Khalgh Organization).
Jafar Kazemi was arrested on September 18,
2009 during a demonstration and was
transferred to Evin prison. He has been
accused of participating in a demonstration
where 100,000 others participated and he has
not been accused of any violent actions.
He has been sentenced to death for being ‗an
enemy of God‘ and propaganda against the
Mohammad Aqayi and Jafar Kazemi regime. He was arrested along with at least
one other person, Mohammad Ali Aghaii who has been accused of similar charges but Amnesty International has no
information whether he has been sentenced to death as well.
According to reports, Jafar Kazemi has been interrogated for months and has been under pressure appear in fake v.
confessions but he has refused.
In April 2010 he was informed that his order of execution has been re-confirmed by a court of appeals. His lawyer who
has had limited access to his client has asked the Judiciary office to review this case. Unless this request is accepted, then
the execution could happen at any moment.
In 1980s and 1990s Jafar Kazemi was arrested for being a member of MKO and for spending time at Ashraf Camp in
Iraq. One of his sons is in Iraq.
Others who are in danger of execution for protesting after the election:
Amir Reza Arefi, Mohammad Amin Valian, Motahareh (Simin) Bahrami and her husband Mohsen Daneshpour
Moghadam and their son Ahmad Daneshpour, two friends: Hadi Ghaemi and Reyhaneh Ghanbari. (Amnesty
International – May 3, 2010)
No news on death row political prisoner
Following the transfer of Aziz Mohammadzadeh, a death row political prisoner, from the Central Saqez Prison to a
solitary cell in the Intelligence Agency, his family, who were pursuing his whereabouts from the intelligence agency and
court, were told that Aziz was released from prison some time ago.
According to the latest news from credible sources, Mohammadzadeh is in critical physical and mental condition. He
had denied links to opposition Kurd parties and insists on his innocence.
According to a person close to him, he has been subjected to the most severe torture while jailed in the intelligence
agency and is currently in an unknown state. His life is in danger and despite the constant pursuits by his family, they
have not received any information on his location and condition. (Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights
Prisoners – May 4, 2010)
Death row teacher confessed under duress

65
January – October 2010

Abdolreza Qanbari was arrested in his home in Pakdasht on January 4, 2010 and was taken to Evin Prison‘s notorious
cellblock 209.
He was forced to sign a confession in ‗constant‘ interrogations while under ‗pressure‘. He was only allowed to answer yes
or no to his interrogator‘s questions. This is while according to those close to this political prisoner he was in Pakdasht
on Ashura (December 27, 2009) and a number of his neighbors have born witness to this…
Hamid Babayi, his lawyer, has not been able to examine his case after going to the court in Evin Prison two times and
this is while according to previous arrangements, a trial was held for him in the 36 th branch of the review court headed
by Zargar on April 27.
Abdolreza Qanbari was a university professor, an employer of the Education Ministry and the author of five books…
He is currently in cellblock 350 along with Rasoul Bodaghi, Omid-Ali Mehrnia and Mohammad Davari, three other
teachers.
After promises given to Qanbari regarding his release from prison, he was summoned before his initial court session was
to be held (Jan. 29, 2010) and was encouraged to give an interview in the presence of Prosecutor Dolat Abadi, Judge
Salavati and his interrogator. This political prisoner was told that ‗reading this text is in your favor and will lead to your
release‘.
The next day (Jan. 30, 2010), after the interview in front of the camera, the initial trial was held and he was sentenced to
death. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 10, 2010)
Tehran prosecutor says death sentence for 6 PMOI supporters has been finalized

From left to right: Ali Saremi, Jafar Kazemi, Ahmad Daneshpour, Mohammad-Ali Haj Aqayi
Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, the Prosecutor of Tehran announced that the death sentence for Mohamamd Ali Saremi, Jafar
Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aqayi has been finalized.
In answer to a question on if anyone arrested in the events after the elections was executed he said, ―We requested the
charge of moharebeh (enmity with God) for 10 people arrested in the events after the elections and especially on
December 27, 2009 (Ashura) and three of the death sentences which were issued by a court of first instance have been
upheld by the Court of Review.
―Ahmad Daneshpour Moqadam, Mohsen Daneshpour Moqadam and Abdo
lreza Qanbari are all supporters or relatives of the People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran and Abdolreza Qanbari
directly sent reports to them (PMOI) on Ashura. The death sentence of these three people has been finalized but they
have requested amnesty‖, he said.
―Currently, we have three upheld sentences for Mohammad-Ali Saremi, Jafar Kazemi and a person named Mohammad-
Ali Haj Aqayi who are all supporters of the PMOI. The connection of these
three people with the PMOI is apparent and certain. They have group
affiliations and were arrested on September 2009‖, he said.
―It is necessary to stipulate that the sentence for 217 offenders arrested after
election events has been finalized. Their appeals have also been seen to and
their sentences have been finalized‖, Jafar Dolat Abadi said. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – May 15, 2010)
Death row political prisoner denied due process
The execution sentence for political prisoner Ali Saremi which was upheld and
announced has not even gone through the Iranian regime‘s own legal judicial
process. According to reports, the right to appeal the death sentence which was
issued by Salavati for Saremi in the 15th branch of the court of first instance was not given to him in the Supreme Court.
His death sentence was announced to him on December 29, 2009 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. Saremi refused to sign
the death sentence and demanded that the sentence be announced to his lawyer. Hosseini, his lawyer was waiting to
receive an official sentence from the court of first instance to appeal it in the Supreme Court but after four months, the
sentence has still not been announced to him.
On May 15, 2010, Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, Tehran‘s Prosecutor, announced in an interview that the sentence for Mr.
Saremi along with 5 other political prisoners has been finalized. His lawyer Mr. Hosseini was surprised from the
announcement because he still had not received an official death sentence from the court of first instance and was not
able to appeal the sentence. The question is how the death sentence could have been finalized without it being upheld by
the Supreme Court.
On the other hand, Dolat Abadi said that Saremi was arrested on September 18, 2009 while he was arrested on
September 4, 2007 after an attack by intelligence agents to his office following his participation in the 19 th anniversary of
the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 17, 2010)
Judge Said Issuance of Death Sentence Forced Under Pressure From Higher Authorities
Jafar Kazemi‘s death sentence has been upheld. His wife, Roudabeh Akbari, has written an open letter to the Secretary-
General of the United Nations advising him that force is being used on her husband in an attempt to pressure him into
making confessions-and that Kazemi‘s punishment is disproportionate to his charges. The letter, which has been shared
with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, also states that authorities are refusing to allow his family to
visit him in prison.
Akbari, who is a homemaker and has two children, writes: ―My husband was arrested at 6:00 a.m. on 18 September 2009
on Haft Howz Avenue in Tehran, and I didn‘t have any news about him for two weeks. He was under torture for three
days, and spent 74 days in solitary confinement under deplorable conditions. My husband‘s charge was, ‗support and
propagation for Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization [MKO],‘ and meeting with our son in Ashraf [Camp in Iraq]. During
three days of torture and three months in solitary confinement, he was put under pressure for a televised interview. And
when he resisted, he was tortured and severely beaten, leading to three broken teeth. Currently my husband is
imprisoned under alarming psychological and physical conditions‖.
Referring to the sentence and statements by Judge Moghiseh about the ruling, Jafar Kazemi‘s wife wrote: ―After Judge
Moghiseh issued the death sentence in the lower court, my husband‘s lawyer objected verbally to this heavy and illegal
sentence. The charge against my husband was merely ‗propagation against the regime.‘ The case judge then said, ‗I was
forced to issue this sentence under pressure from higher authorities.‘ According to my husband‘s lawyer, the three-page
appeal statement prepared in his defense concentrating on the [charge of] ‗propagation against the regime‘ was not
addressed at all during the [second] trial. The appeals court upheld the lower court‘s death sentence decision in two
short lines. The appeals court judge was Judge Zargar‖.
She added, ―The interrogator told my husband that, ‗We need some victims in order to safeguard the regime, and you
are one of the people who has been chosen for this.‘ They asked my husband again to agree to an interview pertaining to
Ashura Day [protests]. He resisted this because he was arrested three months prior to Ashura Day [which was on
December 27, 2009]. The interrogators threatened that if he did not agree to an interview, his wife and his children
would be tortured before his eyes. Even though the interrogators threatened that they would cut his wife into pieces in
his presence, he resisted doing any type of interviews. They then informed my husband that his execution is final and
will be carried out. After 74 days in solitary confinement at Ward 209, he was first moved to a location called ‗The
Suite,‘ and after that to Ward 350‖.
Akbari stated that she and her young children have not been allowed any visits with Kazemi during the past three weeks
despite their repeated trips to the prison. ―Under which law and norm, and in which country is visiting one‘s child a
crime? If visiting with one‘s child is considered a crime punishable by death in the Islamic Republic, then yes, my
husband is guilty. Considering the dire conditions of political prisoners, and the lack of review of illegal sentences-which
are against human rights and the innocence of all political prisoners, I request immediate and practical consideration of
overturning the orders to execute him. Thank you, Roudbeh Akbari, Wife of political prisoner Jafar Kazemi, May 2010‖.
(International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – May 18, 2010)
June
Iran confirms death by firing squad sentence for two political prisoners

67
January – October 2010

The death by firing squad sentence of two Kurd political activists was confirmed by the Supreme Court and was
announced to their lawyers.
According to reports, the death sentences of political prisoners Mohammad Ami Agushi and Ahmad Pulad Khani which
was issued by a military court was announced to their lawyers today after it was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Mohammad Amin Agushi is a retired teacher who has been detained in Orumieh Prison for 20 months. He was arrested
in 2007. Ahmad Pulad Khani, from Piranshahr, was also arrested in 2007 and was sentenced to death by a firing squad
in the Orumieh Military Court on December 2009 on charges of espionage, and being a member of and cooperating
with the Kurdistan Life Party. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 7, 2010)
Death sentence of two PMOI supporters confirmed by court of review
The death sentence of Mohammad-Ali Haj Aqayi and Jafar Kazemi, two men who were arrested during the post-election
unrest, was confirmed by the court of review. (Rooz Website – June 14, 2010)
Kurd female prisoner on verge of execution
Last week the case of Zeinab Jalalian, a death row political prisoner was sent to the
Sentence Implementation Department for permission to carry out the sentence.
According to the court verdict, Jalalian was convicted of moharebeh (enmity with
God) and sentenced to death for being a member of a dissident party and
propagandist activities. Zeinab was tried without a lawyer in a court which lasted only
a few minutes. Her case which was confirmed in a court of review a short time ago,
was also upheld by the Supreme Court and sent to the Sentence Implementation
Department.
Jalalian is a political activist from Maku who has been jailed for two years on charges
of Moharebeh and cooperating with the Kurdistan Independent Life Party (PJAK).
(Kurdistan Organization against Execution – June 27, 2010)
Iran: Stop Imminent Execution of Kurdish Dissident
The Iranian judiciary should immediately halt plans to execute Zainab Jalalian and other Kurdish dissidents, Human
Rights Watch said today. Jalalian is one of 17 such dissidents currently on death row in Iranian prisons.
Jalalian may be in imminent danger of execution. Her precise status is unknown because authorities have held her
incommunicado and prevented her from retaining a lawyer.
Khalil Bahramian, a lawyer who represented Farzad Kamangar, one of four Kurdish dissidents executed without warning
in May, told the Persian-language website Roozonline that his efforts to represent Jalalian have been rebuffed by the
government and that he is not certain where she is being held.
Some media reports say she may be in Section 209 of Evin Prison, administered by the Intelligence Ministry.
‗It is absolutely inconceivable that a woman who has been in detention for more than a year and is in danger of
imminent execution has still not been granted access to a lawyer,' said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human
Rights Watch. 'Facing death, she is denied even her most basic rights‘.
Iran is in violation of both its own constitution and international law in denying Jalalian a lawyer, Human Rights Watch
said.
Iran's Supreme Court confirmed Jalalian's death sentence in November 2009. The government charged Jalalian with the
crime of moharebeh, or 'enmity against God,' in connection with her alleged membership in the outlawed Free Life Party
of Kurdistan, or PJAK. The party is widely regarded by analysts to be an Iranian affiliate of the banned Turkish Kurdish
Workers' Party, or PKK.
In May 2010, Human Rights Watch called for a moratorium on all executions and noted that Jalalian was among 17
Kurdish dissidents awaiting execution.
The 16 other Kurds facing execution are: Rostam Arkia, Hossein Khezri, Anvar Rostami, Mohammad Amin Abdolahi,
Ghader Mohammadzadeh, Habibollah Latifi, Sherko Moarefi, Mostafa Salimi, Hassan Tali, Iraj Mohammadi, Rashid
Akhkandi, Mohammad Amin Agoushi, Ahmad Pouladkhani, Sayed Sami Hosseini, Sayed Jamal Mohammadi, and Aziz
Mohammadzadeh…
‗Given the secrecy surrounding Zainab Jalalian's detention and the Iranian government's recent executions of Kurdish
dissidents, we believe she is at great risk of imminent execution,' Stork said. 'The Iranian judiciary will be responsible for
any harm caused to her and other prisoners who are at risk of execution‘. (Reuters – June 29, 2010)
Iran: Fears for prisoners on death row in Iran
Amnesty International has made a new call to the Iranian authorities to immediately halt all executions and commute all
death sentences as concern grows about two women and other prisoners who may be at imminent risk of execution.
The organization is also urging the authorities to review and repeal death penalty laws, to disclose full details of all death
sentences and executions, and to join the growing international trend towards abolition.
Two women are feared to be at imminent risk of execution. Zeynab Jalalian, a political activist and member of the
Kurdish minority, was sentenced to death in early 2009 after being convicted of ―enmity against God‖, while Sakineh
Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose conviction of ―adultery while being married‖ was upheld in May 2007, could be executed
by stoning at any time.
Prisoners on death row are often not informed when they are due to be executed until the last minute, adding to their
suffering and that of their families. Sometimes their lawyers are not informed 48 hours in advance, as is required by
Iranian law.
Others prisoners under sentence of death include two members of the predominantly Sunni Muslim Baluch minority in
Sistan-Baluchistan province. On 31 May 2010, the Zahedan Prosecutor said they had been sentenced to death for their
alleged involvement in clashes between Sunni and Shi‘a Muslims which led to the deaths of six individuals. He also said
that the death penalty has been sought in the trials of six other individuals. The clashes followed a bomb attack on a
Shi‘a mosque in May 2009, which killed at least 25 individuals, which was claimed by the People‘s Resistance Movement
of Iran (PRMI), an armed Baluch group opposed to the Iranian government.
The PRMI‘s leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, was hanged by the Iranian authorities on 20 June 2010, in Zahedan. His brother,
Abdolhamid Rigi, was hanged in Zahedan in May 2010.
In Kordestan province, home to many members of the Kurdish minority, a government officials said on 27 June 2010
that at least 20 prisoners were being held on death row there who had been convicted of drug smuggling. At least 15
other members of the Kurdish minority, all political prisoners, are also on death row in the province and are at risk of
execution. Two are said to be facing execution by firing squad. Most executions in Iran are carried out by hanging.
Many prisoners on death row did not receive fair trials, having been sentenced on the basis of vaguely-worded charges
and ―confessions‖ which they allege were made under torture or other duress while they were detained incommunicado
before trial. Some were denied access to a lawyer.
Despite these grave shortcomings, the Iranian authorities continue to carry out more executions than most other states.
This year, Amnesty International recorded no less than 126 executions in the period from 1 January to 6 June. Those
hanged included five political prisoners who were executed on 9 May; the authorities may have intended the executions
as a warning to potential protestors in advance of the anniversary on 12 June of the hotly disputed presidential election
of 2009, which sparked mass protests and a wave of state repression.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate form of
cruel and inhuman punishment. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a
worldwide moratorium on executions. Iran was one of the minority of states that voted against the resolution.
Background
Currently held in Evin Prison, Tehran, Zeynab Jalalian, an Iranian Kurd, was arrested in 2007. She was convicted in or
around January 2009 of ―enmity against God‖ in connection with her alleged membership of a Kurdish armed
opposition group. She has said she was tortured. She is reported not to have been granted access to her lawyer during her
trial, which is said to have lasted only a few minutes and during which no evidence was reportedly produced against her.
Zeynab Jalalian‘s death sentence was upheld on appeal and confirmed by the Supreme Court on 26 November 2009.
Her family have received no news of her for a month and have been told by the authorities that her case file has been
―lost‖. Unconfirmed reports are circulating widely that her execution may take place any day.
On 13 June, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani‘s lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, published an article entitled Sakineh on
the threshold of stoning and pointed out that there is no legal obstacle to her execution being carried out at any time.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, has been held since 2005. In May 2006 she was convicted of having had an ―illicit
relationship‖ with two men and received 99 lashes as her sentence. Despite this, she was subsequently convicted of
―adultery while being married', which she has denied, and was sentenced to death by stoning.
She has retracted a ―confession‖ made during interrogation, stating that it was made under duress. However, she was
convicted by a majority of three out of five trial judges on the basis of the ―knowledge of the judge‖, a provision in
Iranian law that allows judges to make their own subjective and possibly arbitrary determination regarding guilt even in
the absence of clear or conclusive evidence

69
January – October 2010

Her death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 27 May 2007. Her case has been sent to the Amnesty and
Clemency Commission twice, but her request for clemency was rejected on both occasions. Sakineh Mohammadi has
two children
Consensual sexual acts such as those criminalized by Iranian law under the provisions for ―adultery‖ do not amount to
the ―most serious crimes‖ under which in international law the death penalty may be imposed only as an 'exceptional
measure' where 'there was an intention to kill which resulted in the loss of life'.
UN human rights mechanisms - including the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary
executions, and the UN Human Rights Committee - have concluded that the death penalty for drug offences also fails to
meet the condition of 'most serious crime'. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the director of the UN
Office on Drugs and Crime have likewise expressed grave concerns about the application of the death penalty for drug
offences. (Amnesty International – June 30, 2010)
July
Innocent juvenile prisoner to be hanged on Wednesday
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-29-40/2529-1.html
According to the family of Mohammad-Reza Haddadi, a juvenile offender who was arrested on charges of murder when
he was 15-years-old, his death sentence will be carried out on Wednesday July 7.
His family said that it was stated in a summons they received that Mohammad-Reza will be executed on Wednesday.
Mohammad-Reza Haddadi is a juvenile death row prisoner who was born in March 17, 1988 and was 15 years old upon
his arrest. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 4, 2010)
Background
Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder which took place when he was 15. His death
sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in July 2005. Mohammed Reza Haddadi initially confessed to the
murder, but retracted the confession during his trial, saying he had claimed responsibility for the killing only because his
two co-defendants had offered to give his family money if he did so. His co-defendants later supported Mohammad Reza
Haddadi's claims of innocence, and withdrew their testimony that had implicated him. They were both over 18 at the
time of the crime and received prison sentences. He was first scheduled for execution in October 2008, but it was stayed
on the order of the Head of the Judiciary. His execution was then scheduled again on 27 May 2009 and 16 July 2009.
(Amnesty International- Dec. 8, 2009)
Iran court sentences innocent man to death on charges of sodomy
The sentence for four young men in Tabriz which was brought up with the false complaints of Hojat F. was issued for
the third time.
(Human rights lawyer) Mohammad Mostafayi said in this regard, ―In this case, for which I accepted carrying out the
defense for the four defendants on August 2, 2008, the judges of the 12th branch of the Penal Court in Eastern
Azarbaijan cleared three of the defendants of the charge of sodomy and sentenced the other defendant, Ibrahim H. to
death on this charge. The three defendants were sentenced to death on this charge before this by the second branch of
the Penal Court in Eastern Azarbaijan‖.
―This is an example of a case in which the defendants have been sentenced to death without committing a crime. But
after numerous court sessions, three people were acquitted and one person, whom I am sure is innocent, has been
sentenced to death‖, he added.
In July 20, 2008, four judges of the second branch of the Penal Court in Eastern Azarbaijan by the names of Bahloul
Alizadeh, Aziz Amn Elahi, Nabiollah Jafarzadeh and Ayoub Behnam issued death sentences for Hamid Taqi, Ibrahim
Hamidi, Mehdi Pouran (17) and Mohammad Rezayi on charges of sodomy without considering their defense and by
citing the ‗knowledge of the judge‘. One of the judges, Ahad Kazemi, ruled that the defendants were innocent…
According to their lawyer Mohammad Mostafayi, this is while there are numerous reasons in the case which proves the
innocence of all the defendants. These reasons were taken into consideration by judges Davoud Hadizad and Rajab Jafi
and they ruled that all the defendants should be acquitted while three other judges who formed the majority by the
names of Ali Amini, Ismail Vahdat and Seyed Hamid Moussavi issued a death sentence for Ibrahim Hamidi.
After the sentence was issued, the plaintiff who had deceived the judges for more than two years leading to the death
sentence for these four young men, ceased his lying and on June 24, 2010 wrote a letter to the judges of 12 th branch of
the Penal Court announcing that his complaint was made because of pressure by his mother and father and that it was
all a misunderstanding. He stipulated that Ibrahim Hamidi had in no way raped him. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – July 4, 2010)
Father of innocent death row juvenile: do not execute my son
According to the family of Mohammad-Reza Haddadi, a young man who was arrested on charges
of murder at the age of 15, his death sentence will be carried out on Wednesday July 7… His
father said in a telephone interview that he has received a summons which states that
Mohammad-Reza will be executed on Wednesday.
―They brought us a notice in my home and said that my son would be executed on Wednesday
and that I can go visit him on Tuesday which will be our last visit…‖, his father said.
―We were never able to see him in these last days. Every time we went to see him, they would tell
us that they did not have any visits and we would return home‖…
―He is in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. What I want is for the family of the victim to forgive.
Judicial officials have to consider God. They were four people (referring to the accused men in
the murder case) my son was under 15 years old and they want to carry out his sentence. Because
my son was the weakest. His mother has had a heart attack and is sick at home. His sister self-immolated after she heard
that they were going to hang her brother and she is paralyzed at home. I have another child who has also been paralyzed
for 27to 28 years. The truth is, I do not have the ability to do anything. (I have only) you and God. Help me if you can‖,
his father said. (VOA TV Persian service – July 5, 2010)
Iran must halt tomorrow's hanging of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, convicted aged 15
Amnesty International is urgently calling on the Iranian authorities to halt the imminent execution of Mohammad Reza
Haddadi, who could face death by hanging as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday 7 July) for a murder he allegedly committed
when he was 15 years old. Mohammad Reza Haddadi‘s family were told by judicial officials on Sunday (4 July) that they
should arrange a last visit to their son before he is executed in the early hours of tomorrow at Adelabad prison in the city
of Shiraz. Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for the murder of Mohammad Bagher, who was
killed while driving between Shiraz and Kazeroun, a town south of Shiraz. He confessed to the killing initially but during
the trial he retracted this confession and said he‘d made it because his two co-accused said they would give his family
money if he did so. He then denied that he had taken any part in the murder and his co-defendants are said to have
since supported his claims of innocence and withdrawn their testimony implicating him in the murder. Despite this, his
death sentence was confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court in July 2005. Since then, his execution has been scheduled
several times - for October 2008, when it was stayed on the order of the Head of the Judiciary, and then for 27 May and
16 July 2009. Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Director Malcolm Smart said: ―Mohammad Reza
Haddadi must not be executed for a murder that he is alleged to have committed when only 15 years old. ―This constant
and repeated threat of imminent execution hanging over Mohammad Reza Haddadi, and the fear and anguish that this
is causing him and his family is no less than a form of torture. The threat of execution must be lifted now, once and for
all. ―The Iranian authorities must immediately cease executing convicted juvenile offenders, in breach of international
law.‖ Convicted juvenile offenders have previously been executed without prior warning to their lawyers, although
Iranian law requires that their lawyers receive 48 hours' notice. The death penalty is used for a wide range of offences in
Iran, and is still applicable to those who are convicted of committing a capital offence while under the age of 18…
At least 135 juvenile offenders remain on death row in Iran. The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under
international law, including Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a state party. In Iran a person convicted of murder has no right
to seek pardon or commutation from the state, in violation of Article 6(4) of the ICCPR. The family of a murder victim
have the right either to insist on execution, or to pardon the killer and receive financial compensation (diyeh). (Amnesty
International – July 6, 2010)
Baluch teenager in danger of execution
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-25-54/2653-1.html
A Baluch teenager who was abducted seven months ago by security forces is in danger of execution.
According to reports, 15-year-old Mohammad Saber Malek Risi, son of Molavi Dad Rahman Sarbazi who is from the
town of Sarbaz was arrested on charges of cooperation with a dissident group.
Security forces have put pressure on Mohammad Saber Malek to confess to links to the Jondolalh Group. These forces
have also told his family that if they do not hand over his elder brother, who is a member of the Jondollah, they will
execute Mohammad.
Judicial officials have still not issued any sentences, including a temporary detention order or court sentence, for this
political prisoner after 7 months of incarceration. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 10, 2010)

71
January – October 2010

Father and son await execution for relations with Ashraf resident
http://parsdailynews.com/68109.htm
Mohsen Daneshpour Moqadam, his wife Motahareh Bahrami,
their son Ahmad Daneshpour and two of their relatives named
Reihaneh Haj Ibrahim Dabagh and Hadi Qaemi were arrested
on December 27, 2009 in their homes and have been sentenced
to death and long prison terms in an unclear and secret legal
procedure.
Meisam Daneshpour, the son of Mohsen Daneshpour said
regarding his family‘s arrest, ―I was not home that day. A
number of agents came to our house and after conducting a
search, arrested them. They announced that my father and
mother were arrested on the streets in last years protest which is
not true because my father and mother have trouble going out
because of their physical condition‖.
Despite this, in April the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced these five people to death on charges of moharebeh
(enmity with God). This family was trialed with an appointed lawyer in the initial court hearing.
―They had an appointed lawyer‖, Meisam says. ―But a lawyer who only comes two minutes before the trial to ask your
name and last name and is only present so that it could be said that you have a lawyer is actually not a lawyer‖.
―For our family, it was as if they did not have a lawyer‖, he added.
In light of the procedure of the arrest, trial and the lack of a lawyer for defending their case, it seems that Ahmad
Daneshpour Moqadam and the other members of the family do not actually have any charges except the fact that one of
their sons is in Camp Ashraf. This kind of sentence has been issued to scare dissidents in the past.
Mohsen Daneshpour is 67 years old and is in poor health. There are concerns for his health in prison…
The sentence for Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour was confirmed in the court of review while the sentence for
Motahareh was reduced to 10 years of prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. Reihaneh Haj Ibrahim Dabagh
was sentenced to 15 years of prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison while Hadi Qaemi was sentenced to 15 years of
prison to be served in Gonbad Prison.
Mohammad Sharif who is the family‘s lawyer said that the case procedures were illegal.
After constant follow ups he was finally able to represent Motahareh, Reihaneh and Hadi.
―After reading the case, I made out a defense bill and sent it for the three open cases in the 53 rd branch of the Court of
Review. Unfortunately, regarding the two cases in the 36 th branch of court (the cases of Mohsen and Ahmad
Daneshpour) despite my constant pursuit of the cases I was not able to represent them. They said again that they had not
received power of attorneys for the Daneshpours. We once again made out new power of attorneys for them and gave
them to the 36th branch to at least be able to review their cases‖, Sharifi said.
But they were still not given access to their files and were not able to represent them.
―After more pursuits of this case, the court of review said that the initial sentence had been upheld without us being able
to review their files and defend them and told us that our requests to represent them were now irrelevant‖. Therefore
despite all our efforts, we were not able to do anything. Despite our constant visits to the prison and court, they did not
allow us access to the Daneshpours‘ files and only informed us that the sentence had been upheld‖.
―We are still following the case to see if we can work on it from another angle, but until now, there is absolutely no
hope‖…
―The truth is that my father is innocent. My brother and my whole family are innocent. We have faith in God and hope
that they are released‖, Meisam said. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 19, 2010)
Political prisoner on death row for fabricated drug charges
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_23.html
According to reports, prisoner Loqman Abdollah Zadeh Moqadam awaits execution
on the false charge of possessing narcotics.
Abdollah Zadeh, 32, was arrested six months ago after agents raided his home and was
taken to the Sanandaj Police Station on charges of possessing drugs. According to his
family he was under physical and mental torture to make false confessions. His case
was then transferred to the first branch of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court where he
was tried and sentenced to death. He did not have a lawyer during the trial.
According to his family, the charges made against him are false and were planned from before to execute him. Abdollah
Zadeh was arrested before this for killing intelligence agents but was released after proven innocent. His new arrest is
related to this charge. The drug related charge has been made to justify the death sentence. He is currently awaiting
execution in Sanandaj Prison.
His wife Ameneh Manaf Zadeh, 45, was arrested in their home a short time after his arrest on charges of political
activities against the regime and was transferred to a solitary cell in the Orumieh Intelligence Detention Center. After a
few months she was transferred to a solitary cell in the Orumieh female cellblock and she is currently kept in an
undetermined state in this prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 23, 2010)
Political prisoner and father of Ashraf resident on verge of execution
http://www.hra-news6.info/component/content/article/55-1389-01-14-13-18-46/3014-1.html
The death sentence for Jafar Kazemi was upheld by the court of review and his request
for appeal was turned down by the 31st branch of the Supreme Court. This sentence
was upheld by the 36th branch of the Tehran Appeals Court headed by Hojatol-Islam
Zargar.
His lawyer, Ms. Ghanavi said in an interview with a human rights website that her
client has spent many days in solitary but was not informed of any other pressure that
might have been put on him or his family.
Kazemi, 36, is a lithographer of Amir Kabir University student textbooks and was
arrested on September 18, 2009 in Haft Tir Square in Tehran. He was transferred to a
solitary cell and was then taken to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison after 74 days. Kazemi
was also jailed from 1981 to 1990.
His wife, Roudabeh Akbari had asked for help to stop her husband‘s death sentence in
a letter to the United Nations. Kazemi was initially tried in the 28 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court.
―Jafar Kazemi has been charged with enmity with God by supporting the Mojahedin
group although he has not accepted the charges in any of the interrogations‖, Nasim Ghanavi said.
―The charge of enmity with God is one of the crimes for which lawmakers have to consider the canonical conditions for
because it has canonical roots; including armed measures because most Shiite clerics believe that a mohareb is someone
who uses arms (in resistance). Which is not the case regarding my client. He only participated in post-election gatherings
and he might have chanted slogans but as a lawyer I believe that the issue of moharebeh does not definitely relate to
him‖, she added.
―Unfortunately neither the initial trial considered our defense nor the court of appeals and the Supreme Court also
ruled that he is a mohareb‖, she said regarding the defense in court.
According to this lawyer, his sentence has been transferred to the Sentence Implementation Department and from a
legal standpoint, no legal measures will be affective to save his life. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 29, 2010)
Tehran Prosecutor to death row political prisoner‟s family: he will surely be hanged
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_31.html
According to reports, Jafari Dolat Abadi, the prosecutor of Tehran told
the family of Jafar Kazemi, a death row political prisoner, that he will
surely be executed.
On Saturday, July 31, the Kazemi family went to the prosecutor‘s office
on previous arrangements and asked to see the Tehran Prosecutor. One
of his assistants by the name of Alizadeh told this family on behalf of
Abbas Dolat Abadi that he did not want to see them.
―Jafar Kazemi will surely be executed‖, he said on behalf of the Tehran
Prosecutor.
Kazemi‘s case file was sent to the 31st branch of the Supreme Court
where Judge Salimi who has received a promotion for confirming
executions and was recently appointed in the Assembly of Experts
refused his request for a re-trial and the confirmed sentence of the

73
January – October 2010

appeals court was maintained and sent to the Sentence Implementation Department of the Revolutionary Court.
The Kazemi family also paid a visit to Bakhtiari, the Judicial Minister. The Minister said that he was unable to do
anything and that the only thing they could do was request amnesty from Khamenei. The Judicial Minister‘s statement is
a strong reason that the issuing of death sentences for political prisoners is decided by Khamenei and appointed judges
issue such inhumane sentences.
This 47 year old death row political prisoner is married and has two sons. He is a lithographer and lithographed the
textbooks of Amir Kabir University. He is also a witness of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988.
Jafar Kazemi was arrested on September 18, 2009 after an attack by intelligence agents and was transferred to cellblock
209 in Evin Prison where he was kept in a solitary cell under severe physical and mental torture for more than 74 days.
One of the head interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence nicknamed Alavi told Kazemi in an interrogation before he
was sentenced to death that ‗a number of people are supposed to be victimized for the government and your name came
out of the hat and its not important for us if it is you or someone else‘. He was then transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin
Prison.
Kazemi was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was jailed from 1981 to 1970 and subjected to brutal torture. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 31, 2010)
August
6 death row political prisoners kept in state of limbo
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3066-1.html
After the Supreme Court
denied a requested re-trial
by the lawyer of death row
political prisoner Jafar
Kazemi, and after his case
was referred to the
Sentence Implementation
Department, the Keyhan
state-run daily said that six
prisoners are awaiting
execution. Their families
From left to right: Ali Saremi, Jafar Kazemi, Ahmad Daneshpour and Mohsen Daneshpour
and lawyers have said that
the state of their cases is unclear.
Abdolreza Qanbari, Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour Moqadam, Ali Aqayari and Ali Saremi are some of these death
row political prisoners.
Ali Aqayari‘s lawyer, Mehdi Hojati, said, ―The case of my client was referred to the Supreme Court with the case of Mr.
Kazemi and I also requested a re-trial for my client but I have not received an answer and I still do not know if it has
been refused or accepted‖.
―My client‘s case is in the 31st branch of the Supreme Court and I went to the branch today to see about the state of my
client‘s case and I hope that in light of the evidence and documents that we presented they will accept our request for re-
trial‖.
Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour Moqadam are a father and son who have been sentenced to death. The Tehran
Prosecutor said before that this father and son and Abdolreza Qanbari had requested amnesty.
Meisam Daneshpour Moqadam, another son of Mohsen Daneshpour Moqadam said, ―Despite the fact that the
prosecutor announced that my father and brother had requested amnesty, their case is still in an undetermined state and
we do not have any news on the results of the amnesty‖.
―The sentence of my brother and father was confirmed by the court of review but unfortunately we have not seen the
sentence and they have not given my father or brother or us a copy of the sentence so that we could send it to the
Supreme Court and request a re-trial and we are still waiting to see about the result of the amnesty request‖, he added.
―My mother‘s lawyer is Mr. Sharif‖, Meisam said. The death sentences for three of his other family members including
his mother were lowered to prison terms.
―Despite all our efforts and the efforts of Dr. Sharif they have not allowed him to represent my father and brother. He
sent his power of attorney inside the prison three times to be signed by my brother and father but unfortunately, the
power of attorney never came out of prison‖.
―Their cases are still in an undetermined state and they do not tell us anything. After the prosecutor announced that
they had requested amnesty, 80 people were granted amnesty but my father and brother were not among them… We are
extremely worried especially about my father who is 70 years old and is not even able to walk and others in the case
testified in court that he was innocent. But it is very surprising that neither the initial court nor the court of review did
not pay any heed to this matter and issued and upheld the sentence‖, he added.
Abdolreza Qanbari, is a teacher who has been sentenced to death and the Tehran Prosecutor also said that he had
requested amnesty.
A person close to him said, ―We do not have any news on the results of the amnesty request and his case is in an
undetermined state and we do not have a copy of the sentence to protest to the Supreme Court‖.
―His lawyer was appointed for him and we do not even have any news on his lawyer‖, he added.
―Unfortunately, Mr. Qanbari‘s appointed lawyer is not from the Justice Department Lawyer Center and is a lawyer who
got his permit from the Judiciary according to article 187 of the Economical Development Program and not from the
Center of Lawyers and we do not even have access to him to see about the measures that have been taken or will be
taken or even if he has a copy of the sentence so that we could request a re-trial. On the other hand we do not know
about the circumstances of the amnesty request and we have not received any answers and are extremely worried‖, he
added. (Human Rights activists in Iran – August 1, 2010)
Iran sentences pro-PMOI Bazaar merchant to death
http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article10418
Javad Lari, a 55 year old political prisoner was sentenced to death by the 15 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court on charges of waging war with God (moharebeh) and being corrupt on earth
(fesade fel-arz).
This political prisoner‘s trial was held on July 14. His initial charge was ‗acting against national
security‘ but he was charged with being a mohareb by Judge Salavati, the head of the 15 th branch of
the Revolutionary Court and sentenced to ‗death without the possibility of amnesty‘.
Javad Lari was jailed for three years in the 80‘s for links to a dissident organization and was arrested
on September 16, 2009 in his office…
Notably, this death row political prisoner intended to go to Camp Ashraf in 2008 to visit his old
friends but was barred from entering Ashraf by Iraqi police and went back to Iran.
Javad Lari is a well known Bazaar Tehran merchant. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – August 2, 2010)
Prison transferred to solitary for execution
According to reports, prisoner Hamid Moqadas was taken to a solitary cell in Varamin Prison to await execution.
On Sunday, August 1, 24-year-old Moqadas was taken from Hall 3 Cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj to a
solitary cell in Varamin Prison to await his execution sentence which is to be carried out in public in the town of
Varamin.
He has been jailed for close to 5 years in this prison and was sentenced to death on charges of killing a state security
force officer.
The wave of executions in Iran goes on non-stop and recently most executions have been carried out in secret. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – August 2, 2010)
Iran confirms sentence for another political prisoner
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/21625
The death sentence for Mohammad Haj Aqayi which was issued by the Revolutionary Court on charges of ‗cooperating
with the People‘s Mojahedin Organization‘ was confirmed by the court of review.
His lawyer has requested for an appeal saying that the Supreme Court is only qualified to see to death sentences.
(Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 3, 2010)
Judiciary asks Khamenei to hang more than 1000 prisoners in secret letter
According to reports, the head of the Judiciary has requested clearance for the execution of 1,120 people in a
confidential letter to Ali Khamenei.
According to a report by Sadeq Larijani to the leader, death sentences have been issued for 1,120 people which have
been confirmed by the Supreme Court and the Judiciary is waiting for clearance from the leader to carry out the
sentences.
From 2005 until now, the numbers of executions have increased every year and despite claims from Iranian officials, the
numbers of executions have not been able to lower the crime rate and crime rate is on the rise…

75
January – October 2010

Executions and the noose have always been the solution for many problems for politicians in the Islamic Republic. For
example in the ninth presidential elections in Iran, Ali Larijani who was the candidate for the traditional
fundamentalists who is currently the parliament speaker, said in answer to a question regarding improper veiling from a
supporter that he believed that if an improperly veiled girl was executed in public, the problem of improper veiling
would be uprooted! (Nedaye Sabz Azadi – Aug. 9, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to death for links to PMOI
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/22371
An informed source said that a death sentence has been issued for Farah Vazehan who was arrested after Ashura.
On August 4, there were reports that the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 15 years of prison but
this informed source said that she was actually sentenced to death.
This source, who asked not to be named, said that Vazehan‘s family did not inform her of her death sentence to prevent
her from becoming unhappy.
This sentence was issued by Judge Salavati in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court and is an initial sentence.
Farah Vazehan is currently in the Public Female Cellblock in Evin Prison and has been in temporary detention for 7
months. She was arrested in her home two days after Ashura on December 29, 2009.
She has been charged with participating in street protests and ‗waging war with God by cooperating with the People‘s
Mojahedin Organization of Iran‘. She lived outside of the country for many years and only came back to Iran to be at
the side of her 19 year old daughter who has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – Aug. 10, 2010)
Female political prisoner kept under hard conditions in Evin Prison
According to reports, political prisoners Elmira (Farah) Vazehan who was arrested after Ashura events is held in an
undetermined state and under hard conditions in the female cellblock in Evin Prison.
She was arrested after widespread popular protests on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in
her home along with her two children. She was taken to a secret Ministry of intelligence detention center where she was
under constant torture for one month. She was interrogated three times in one month for several hours. This political
prisoner was physically and mentally tortured in her interrogations. This detention center had dark cold corridors and
lacked minimum facilities. The moans and cries of other prisoner who were being tortured could be heard day and night
in this secret detention center.
After 30 days of torture, she was taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin prison where she was interrogated by an
intelligence agent nicknamed Alavi. He was also in charge of interrogating her two children.
Her daughter has lymph cancer and is in critical condition. But agents of the Ministry of Intelligence detained her for a
few days and interrogated and tortured her to force her to make confessions against her mother. They were forced to
release her because of her deteriorating condition.
Farah Vazehan was banned from calling her family while in the secret detention center. Even when she was taken to
cellblock 209 where she shared a cell with other prisoners she was still banned from contacting her family. This is while
her daughter was very sick and Vazehan desperately needed to known about her condition.
She is currently detained in the female cellblock in Evin Prison and is still kept in an undetermined state after 8 months.
She has been charged with taking pictures and films of protests and having communications with the People‘s
Mojahedin Organization of Iran…
Notably, Farah Vazehan‘s uncle was hanged in the 80‘s in prison and a number of her other family members including
her sister were arrested and violently tortured in the arrests made in the 80‘s. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – Aug. 11, 2010)
Imminent risk of execution
Iran's Supreme Court has rejected Ja'far Kazemi's request to appeal against his death sentence. The sentence was imposed
for his alleged participation in anti-government demonstrations and links with a banned organization. His sentence may
be carried out at any time. Six other people with alleged links to the same organization are said to be under sentence of
death.
Ja‘far Kazemi was arrested on 18 September 2009 and interrogated and possibly tortured for months in Evin prison in
Tehran. He was accused of participating in protests which followed the disputed outcome of Iran‘s presidential election
in June 2009, but was not accused of committing any violent acts; and for his alleged contact with banned
OPPOSITION group the People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). He was sentenced to death for ―enmity
against God‖, and is also believed to have been convicted of ―propaganda against the system‖. On 26 April, he learned
that his death sentence had been confirmed by an appeal court. A further appeal was apparently rejected in late July.
Amnesty International is aware of six other men sentenced to death in Iran for alleged links to the PMOI.
Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, Ali Saremi (or Sarami), Abdolreza Ghanbari, Ahmad Daneshpour Moghaddam and
Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam were reportedly also found guilty of ―enmity against God‖, possibly in the same case
as Ja'far Kazemi. Information received on 4 August indicated that another man, Javad Lari, a merchant in the Tehran
bazaar, had been sentenced to ―death, without pardon‖ for ―enmity against God.‖ He is also held in Evin prison, where
he was reportedly tortured and forced to ‗confess‘.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Ja‘far Kazemi is reported to have been interrogated by security forces for months, and was pressured to make a televised
―confession‖, which he refused to do. He was previously imprisoned for membership of the PMOI in the 1980s or
1990s. One of his sons is a PMOI member and lives in Camp Ashraf, which houses PMOI members in Iraq. On 1
August, his wife, Roudabeh visited the Judiciary‘s office in order to deliver a letter. They refused to accept it and
informed her that the death sentence would be carried out.
Tehran‘s prosecutor announced on 15 May that the death sentences of Ja‘far Kazemi, Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei,
Mohammad Ali Saremi (or Sarami), Abdolreza Ghanbari (or Qanbari) and father and son, Ahmad and Mohsen
Daneshpour Moghaddam, were upheld by the Appeal Court after they were found guilty of ―enmity against God‖ in
relation to their alleged links to the PMOI. In some cases, these links may amount to no more than having contact with
family members linked to the PMOI…
Two women, Motahareh (Simin) Bahrami and Rayhaneh Haj Ebrahim, and one other man,
Teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari, aged 42, was arrested after the demonstrations which took place in later December 2009
marking the Ashoura religious commemorations, in which he was accused of participating. Held in section 2A of Evin
Prison, which is under the control of the Revolutionary Guards, he was tried on 30 January 2010 and made a
―confession‖ which is believed to have been made under duress.
Ali Saremi (or Sarami), aged 62, has a son in the PMOI who lives in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, whom he has visited. Ali
Saremi has spent 23 years in prison for his political activities both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran
(see http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/007/2010/en.) (Amnesty International – Aug. 5, 2010)
Female political activist in danger of receiving death sentence
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_5406.html
According to reports, Salavati, the head of the 15th branch of the Revolutionary
Court intends to issue a death sentence or life in prison sentence for Zahra Bahrami
who has a dual Dutch Iranian nationality. She was arrested in the Ashura protests
(Dec. 27, 2009).
On Monday August 17, Bahrami, 45, who has been kept in an undetermined state
in the notorious cellblock 209 in Evin Prison for more than 8 months, was taken to
the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Salavati.
―You will be either given the death sentence or life in prison‖, the judge told her.
Bahrami refused to defend herself because she did not have a lawyer and
announced that she would only defend herself in the presence of a lawyer. After her
protest, Salavati suspended the court session for another 10 days. Bahrami is still
denied the right to a lawyer.
She has been charged with waging war with God, propagating against the government, being an active member of a
monarchist association and forming an anti-government grouplet. Bahrami has denied all the charges and said that they
were all extracted from confessions that she was forced into under physical and mental torture.
This 45 year old political prisoner is a mother of two and has a 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 – Aug. 18, 2010)
Man sentenced to death on fabricated charges of murder of security forces
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_19.html
According to reports, Amir-Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani was sentenced to death by the 71st branch of the Tehran Penal
Court on false charges including murdering security forces.

77
January – October 2010

On Tuesday August 17, Berazjani was taken to the Tehran Penal Court without prior notice and was trialed by Norollah
Aziz Mohammadi. This prisoner is detained in cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
He was accused of complicity in the death of a security agent, 5 counts of armed and unarmed robbery, the possession of
and carrying arms and ammunition, addiction and beating security forces…
The Judge did not allow him to defend himself in court…
Judge Aziz Mohammadi charged Berazjani with addiction even as this prisoner does not even smoke cigarettes…
On the same day after the trial, state-run media published false reports on Tavakoli‘s trial and announced that he was
sentenced to retribution (death) because of intentional murder, 10 years of prison on charges of armed robbery, and 74
lashes.
Before this, Tavakoli defended jailed teacher Rasoul Bodaqi in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj after he was attacked by
security forces and was summoned to the office of the head of the prison intelligence department where he was abused
and threatened.
Three agents of the intelligence agency went to the home of Soudabeh Shahpour, his mother, and after threatening her
told her that she is not to mention in court that she was shot in the neck by security forces else she will be charged with
apostasy on charges of becoming a Christian and will be executed. She was also threatened that they would harm her
other children and nephew.
Notably on July 17, 2008, Tehran's security and intelligence agents raided the apartment of the Tavakoli Berazjani family
arresting all the members of this family present at the time. Agents shot Soudabeh Shahpour, the 50 year old mother of
the family in the neck. Abbas Tavakoli and his brother Hossein Tavakoli Berazjani were beaten and tortured in front of
their other family members in their home for several hours.
All the arrestees were taken to this city's criminal intelligence department. Some of the people arrested were, Tan-naz
Abolhusseini Ahmadi (16 year old female), Khosro Qaedi (17 years old), Mahnaba Tavakoli Berazjani (26 year old
female), Fatemeh Farahani (female), Soudabeh Shahpour (50 year old female), Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani (38 years old),
Hussein Tavakoli Berazjani (33 years old), and Mohsen.
The tortures inflicted on this family were as follows:
The skin of the sensitive parts of the prisoner's body were pressed with pliers which sometimes led to wounds and
injuries
Toe nails were pressed with pliers
Beatings with clubs and other objects for a prolonged amount of time
Tying the hands and feet of the prisoner from the back and keeping him this position for a long time
Hanging the prisoner from the ceiling until the prisoner passed out
Depriving the prisoner of drinking water in the hot summer temperatures
The prisoner was only allowed to use the restroom twice in 24 hours
The judge handling their case threatened the female detainees with rape
Pulling a bag over the head of the prisoner while he was being tortured
Jumping on the hands and feet of the prisoner while handcuffed
The prisoners witnessed the torture of his/her family members or heard their cries while they were being tortured
Hussein Tavakoli Berazjani whose whole body was black and bruised from the torture, died in this detention center.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 19, 2010)
September
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)
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)
Father of Iranian blogging faces death penalty: watchdog
ACanadian-Iranian blogger credited with starting the blogging movement in Iran faces
the death penalty over his writings, two watchdog groups said Thursday.
Hossein Derakhshan was arrested after returning to Iran in November 2008 and
charged with 'collaborating with enemy states, creating propaganda against the Islamic
regime, insulting religious sanctity, and creating propaganda for anti-revolutionary
groups,' said Canadian journalists for free expression (CJFE) and pen Canada.
According to the two organizations, prosecutors are now calling for Derakhshan to
face the death penalty after he was convicted by Tehran‘s revolutionary court earlier
this year.
News of the sentencing request started filtering out on social media sites on Monday,
and the CJFE and pen said they confirmed the reports with his family.
‗The proposed sentence is a travesty,' said CJFE president Arnold amber, calling on
the Canadian government to intervene.
‗Action must be taken right away because in Iran there is not necessarily a lengthy period before executions can be
carried out. We are very concerned,' he added…
Derakhshan is the third Canadian journalist to be arrested in Iran in recent years. In July 2003, Canadian-Iranian
photojournalist Zahra Kazemi died in prison and Newsweek correspondent Maziarbahari was briefly detained earlier this
year. (AFP – Sep. 23, 2010)
October
Names of death row minor offenders
A group of minor offenders are in Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison in Karaj. Death sentences have been issued for
many of them and they are considered to be on death row. The identification documents of some of these young
prisoners have also been invalidated and they do not have a true and legal identity.
Some of these young men are:
1- Saied Mohsen Miri (his death sentence has been issued and his identity has been invalidated)
2- Reza Padashi (on death row)
3- Hamed Pour Heidar (on death row and transferred to cellblock 2)
4- Hossein Ranjbarzadeh (on death row)
5- Kazem Khosravi (on death row)
6- Ehsan Ejdehaki (on death row)
7- Alireza Johari (on death row)
8- Daniel Hassanpour (on death row)
9- Safar Angouti (on death row)
10- Mohammad Aqili (on death row)
11- Saber Sharbati (on death row)
12- Mohsen Taher Nejad (on death row)
All these prisoners were under 18 when committing a crime and some of them have been jailed for up to 3 years.
(Center in Defense of the Families of Those Slain and Arrested – Oct. 1, 2010)
Two jailed Christian priests in danger of execution for „apostasy‟
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/4407-1.html
79
January – October 2010

The 11th branch of the Gilan Judiciary has requested the death sentence for Christian
priest, Yusef Nodrkhani, on the charge of apostasy. His jailed wife has also been
sentenced to life in prison. Another jailed priest in Shiraz, Behrouz Khanjani, also faces
the threat of execution.
Nodrkhani is a Rasht resident and has been detained in this town‘s prison since 2009.
He was arrested after being summoned several times for encouraging Christianity in his
home church. This 35 year old priest has two small children.
Reza Dehghani, a priest and member of the Leadership Council of the Iran Church said
that Yusef Nodrkhani was sentenced to death on charges of apostasy.
―He was tried three times and the last time he went to trial was three weeks ago. His
lawyer was informed over the phone that a death sentence was issued for him but they
have not made officially announced this and have not given them a written sentence.
This is a common practice carried out to evaluate the reaction of the public‖, he said.
Fatemeh Pasandideh, the wife of Yusef Nodrkhani, has been jailed since June 2010.
Dehghani said that the children (of this Christian couple) are under six years old and live with their aunt.
―Mrs. Pasandideh has been sentenced to life imprisonment because in Islam, the sentence for a man who has committed
apostasy is death and for a woman it is life in prison‖.
Dehghani also cited the dangerous state of Behrouz Khanjani in Shiraz Prison and said that he had also been sentenced
to death.
―His wife was also arrested and released on bail‖, he added. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 16, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner on death row in Orumieh Prison
Jailed political prisoner Hossein Khezri, 28, who is in the Central Orumieh Prison,
has been sentenced to death on charges of ‗waging war with God‘ and his sentence
has been confirmed by officials. This political prisoner is under hard conditions in
Orumieh Prison and his death sentence might be carried out at any moment.
One of his relatives said in an interview: ―The death sentence was issued for
Hossein after he was in solitary cell for seven months and after he was transferred
to the Orumieh Prison in 2008. He was tried in a 7 to 8 minute trial with the
presence of the representative of the prosecutor and the representative of the
Intelligence Agency in the first branch of the Revolutionary Court, which was his
first and last court session.
His lawyer was present with him in court but neither him nor his lawyer were
allowed to defend his case. A few days before the trial, his lawyer was threatened by
unidentified men who demanded to know with ‗what right he was defending an
anti-revolutionary‘.
Hossein was arrested in 2008 by the Nabi Akram Revolutionary Guards Corps base in the Kermanshah Terminal. He
was transferred to a detention center in a military base from the very beginning without being informed of why he was
arrested and was brutally tortured to the point of losing conscious several times.
He was kept in that detention center for 49 days. In this time he was taken with chained hands and feet down the stairs
to the cellar and would be hanged from the roof while shackled.
They would close his mouth and nose with a cloth and he had to move his leg if he wanted to talk. He was tortured in
this way many times. He was also electrocuted and beaten with batons and lost 30 percent of his vision, developed
bleeding in his kidneys because of the brutal strikes and kicks and punches and also suffered a lung infection as a result
of the unsuitable prison conditions and he is still suffering from this disease but officials refuse to treat him. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 10, 2010)
Veteran sentenced to death on espionage charges
A Kurd citizen was sentenced to death on charges of espionage by a military court in Sanandaj.
According to reports, Abdollah Sarvari, a resident of Sanandaj who has 25 years of experience in the Islamic Republic
Army was recently sentenced to death by the military court in this town on charges of espionage.
Sarvari went to Iraq‘s Kurdistan to visit one of his relatives and was arrested upon returning to Iran. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Oct. 19, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to death before trial
The fourth court session for Saied Malek Pour will be held on October 26. His wife said that Judge Moqiseh has told
Saied‘s lawyer that he will receive the death sentence. Saied Malek Pour was a resident of Canada and was arrested in
October 2008 when he came to Iran for links to the so called ‗Mozelin 2‘ case related to internet crimes.
Gerdab Website which is run by the Revolutionary Guards Corps charged Malek Pour with being a member of several
‗corrupt internet networks‘ and then named him as the head of some of the largest immoral, anti-religion and anti-
security websites.
Malek Pour wrote a letter a while ago detailing the torture he was subjected to and how he was forced to confess and
announced that he was forced to make confessions against himself under torture. Two years after his arrest, his wife Mrs.
Eftekhari says that ―Saied has been charged with being corrupt on earth‖.
―Two weeks ago Judge Moqiseh told his lawyer that he would be sentenced to death. This shows that the sentence has
been issued from before without Saied having the opportunity to defend himself‖, she added. (Rooz Website – Oct. 19,
2010)

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January – October 2010
Stoning and stoning sentences

83
January – October 2010
Stoning to death
January
Man and woman sentenced to death by stoning in Orumieh
The death by stoning sentence of two people convicted of adultery was confirmed in a court of review in West
Azerbaijan Province. According to reports, Sarimeh Ebadi, 30, mother of two and Bu-Ali Janfeshani, 32, father of one
child, are the announced identities of these two people.
These two people were sentenced to stoning on charges of adultery before this by the Public Court in Orumieh. They are
both detained in the Central Orumieh Prison. In addition to the unclear judicial procedure of this sentence, this verdict
was passed while the accused were not allowed to have the lawyers of their choice and the right to defend themselves.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 13, 2010)
June
Innocent woman on verge of being stoned to death
Mohammad Mostafayi, the lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is suffering day and
night at the Tabriz Prison since she was jailed in 2005. She was sentenced to being stoned to death on charges of
adultery which she has not committed.
Sakineh was sentenced to 99 lashes on May 15, 2006 by a verdict passed by the 101st branch of the Penal Court in Osku
(Eastern Azarbaijan) number 114 – 5/17/05 on charges of having an illegitimate relationship with Naser and Seyed Ali.
The punishment stated in the indictment was sent to the Sentence Implementation Department and carried out after it
was finalized . On September 10, 2006 while the above mentioned indictment was closed, the case was treated like a
murder case and reopened in the sixth branch of the Eastern Azarbaijan Penal Court.
The judges of the sixth branch of the provincial penal court charged Sakineh with adultery this time without the
existence of evidence proving her guilt in line with article 83 of the Islamic Penal Code. While she denied this charge in
the last court session and announced that all the past incidents were false, the court sentenced this unfortunate woman
to death by stoning merely by citing the knowledge of the judge.
According to Radio Zamaneh, firstly, Sakineh Mohammadi was sentenced to 99 lashes according to indictment number
114 – 5/17/05 in the 101st branch of the Osku Penal Court on charges of having an illegitimate relationship and
because the defendant cannot be accused of new charges regarding the past issue until the time that the issued sentence
has not become invalid, the issued indictment is still valid and prosecuting Sakineh for a second time was and is illegal.
Secondly, two of the five counselors in the sixth branch of the Penal Court by the names of Mr. Kazemi and Mr.
Hamdollahi believed that Sakineh should be acquitted and announced in the issued sentence that, ―There is no legal or
(Islamic) reason concerning the adultery charge in the case of the defendant and the existing evidence are not the
standards methods of acquiring knowledge‖.
Therefore, in light of the unanswered questions in the case, Sakineh does not deserve death especially by way of stoning,
particularly because two of the counselors in the branch believe in her acquittal.
Sakineh Mohammadi requested amnesty twice and has announced that she has two children, a boy and girl, waiting for
her outside of prison. She has also said many times that she is innocent and if she has committed an act that is against
Islamic norms, she has repented and regrets the fact that she had an illegitimate relationship. She could be stoned to
death at any moment.
Regardless of the faults in the nature of the case which seriously impedes the implementation of the stoning sentence,
because of the value of human life and the high status of request for amnesty, I wrote a letter to the head of the
Judiciary, the head of the Justice Department in Eastern Azarbaijan and the members of the Amnesty Commission
requesting the suspension of the implementation of the stoning sentence and that it be commuted to another
punishment so that my client can return to her life and the society.
And I hope, despite the fact that her appeal for amnesty was refused twice, this time because of the reasons written
above, her amnesty be considered by the authorities.
It is obvious that in the case of these kinds of issues, the previous head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi had
appealed in many instances for the commuting of stoning sentences to flogging sentences from the Supreme Leader and
the Leader had accepted the request of the head of the Judiciary and in this way a human being was saved from death. I
hope that my client would be subject to this kind of Islamic compassion. (Iran News Agency – June 14, 2010)

85
January – October 2010

July
Son pleads for help as mother awaits stoning in Iran
Sajjad Mohammedie Ashtiani travels to a Tabriz jail in Iran every Monday to
see his mother. And for 15 minutes each week, he speaks to his mother,
Sakine Mohammedie Ashtiani, through the prison glass that divides them.
Neither mother nor son ever know if the visit will be their last. Convicted of
adultery in 2006, Ashtiani has been sentenced to be stoned to death for her
alleged crime. Originally sentenced to 99 lashes for her alleged 'illicit
relationship outside of marriage,' Ashtiani endured that punishment in front
of her then 17-year-old son. 'The authorities asked if I wanted to wait
outside. I said no. I could not leave my mother alone. 'Sajjad says it is a day
he will never forget. But, he says, that day he thought the worst was over. 'I
was thinking, OK, they hit her, now it's finished. They told me this process
was finished. She's done. She's free to go. 'But then a judges' panel in Tabriz
suspected Ashtiani of being involved in her husband's murder and re-opened
her case. She was cleared of the murder charges, but the panel re-examined
Ashtiani's adultery sentence, and based on unspecified 'judges' knowledge,'
decided she should be put to death for the alleged affair. 'At that time it
should have been finished. They should have punished her only once,' says
her son. 'Her documents say she is innocent. She paid for the crime five years ago. 'Human rights activist Mina Ahadi,
herself forced to flee a death sentence in Iran almost 30 years ago, has also taken up Ashtiani's cause, working with Sajjad
and his sister Farideh to get their message out. She says pressure from outside Iran can make a difference. 'Legally, it's all
over, and we have no chance. It's a done deal. Sakine can be stoned at any minute. But we have experienced again and
again that when we organize events world-wide, when we protest world-wide, and in particular when we contact
European governments and these governments put pressure on the Islamic regime in Iran, sometimes we have a chance.
'So far, there has been no response from Iranian officials about the Ashtiani case. And with all legal appeals virtually
exhausted, Sajjad says the Tabriz court has told him there is only one thing that can stop his mother's imminent
execution. 'They told me if supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei ... or Judiciary Chairman Sadegh Larijani grant my
mother a letter of pardon, she will go free. 'Sajjad says he traveled to Tehran six times to obtain that letter, but has been
unable to gain an audience with either man. But he refuses to give up. He is turning to the international community in
hopes the Iranian government will hear his voice. 'It is crucial I tell these men what I have to say. 'Dear Mr. Khamenei,
Mister Ahmadinejad, and Mister Larijani: 'All I ask for is a letter. I want a letter for my dear mother. Please write this
letter of pardon because she is innocent, 100 percent innocent. If you do not have respect for what I am saying, just take
a look at her file. You will see she is innocent. 'To the people of the world, I want to say, for this situation we are in:
Help us. Whoever can tell the government to stop this, please do. If you can pressure Ayatollah Khamenei or Sadegh
Larijani to give my family a letter, please get them to send it to us. 'Sajjad knows he is taking a risk by speaking out so
publicly, but says he is not afraid for his own safety. 'I am just fighting for what is right,' he says. 'My mother is a
housewife, a good person, a caring mother,' Sajjad says. And she has grown weary of what seems to be a punishment
without end. On his last visit with her she told him, 'I can't stay in this prison any longer. 'And so Sajjad and his sister
Farideh are reaching out in any way they can to try and save their mother's life. In their open letter to the international
community circulated on websites, Facebook pages and through human rights organizations late last week their anguish
is clear. 'Today we stretch out our hands to the people of the whole world,' the letter reads. 'It is now five years that we
have lived in fear and in horror, deprived of motherly love. Is the world so cruel that it can watch this catastrophe and
do nothing about it? 'We resort to the people of the world, no matter who you are and where in the world you live. Help
to prevent this nightmare from becoming reality. Save our mother. 'We are unable to explain the anguish of every
moment, every second of our lives. Words are unable to articulate our fear. (CNN – July 7, 2010)
Stoning in Iran: Brutality pure and simple
Stoning takes place in the darker recesses of life in Iran, in rural provinces where the population is more conservative
and where there are no media. It is rarely practised in public and often the victim of this savage form of capital
punishment is disowned by their children on the grounds that the offence - adultery or homosexuality - stains the family
honour. This newspaper revealed a week ago that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old Iranian woman convicted
of conducting an 'illicit relationship outside marriage', faced imminent death by stoning in Tabriz. Today we name 15
others facing the same fate. What made Sakineh's case unusual is that her son Sajad and daughter Farideh were
courageous enough to speak up publicly against it.
It is not just the fact that Sakineh has already been in prison for five years and endured a sentence of 99 lashes for an
offence there is no evidence that she committed, and that the death sentence was a sham. It was handed down on the
basis of 'judge's knowledge', a loophole that allows rulings where there are no witnesses or conclusive evidence.
Furthermore, the judgment was not unanimous. Two of the five judges dissented, which means that under Iranian law
that she should not have been sentenced to death.
The death itself is unimaginably cruel: men are buried to the waist and, if they wriggle free during the stoning, the death
sentence is commuted, but women are buried up to the neck, for fear that their breasts may be uncovered. Watching
men hurl stones - big enough to injure but small enough to delay the death - at a defenceless woman is so repugnant that
it cannot be shown to a wider Iranian audience and reports of stonings are censored. But nor can it be dismissed as the
local custom in remote villages, if the sanction itself is contained in Iran's penal code and if the Guardian Council has
remained silent on the issue. Parliament itself voted a year ago to strike out the clause, but nothing has happened.
Unlike other facets of Iranian life, where world opinion has no leverage, the Islamic Republic is embarrassed by the
international attention stonings attract. Publicity makes a difference. Last night the Iranian embassy in London, citing
information from judicial authorities, said that the stoning of Sakineh would not go ahead, but would not say what
would now happen to her. No mention was made of the fate awaiting the 12 other women and three men on death row.
The lesson of this tale is that Iran, which is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, must
be challenged on each and every occasion when stoning is threatened until it is forced to strike the punishment from its
penal code. (The Guardian – July 9, 2010)
So-called human rights official in Iran defends stoning
The Secretary of the Human Rights Staff in the Judiciary pointed to the widespread attack by western media regarding
the sentence issued for a convicted criminal in the Judiciary and said, ―Our judicial system cannot change course because
of western attacks and media pressure‖.
―Western media attack the Islamic Republic under various excuses at any given time and in the past years, sacred Islamic
decrees were the subject of these propagandist attacks‖, Mohammad Javad Larijani said.
―The attack that the west has carried out on this issue has no affect on the opinion of the judges. The execution of sacred
Islamic decrees such as ‗rajm‘ (stoning) veiling and inheritance has always been met with their flagrant animosity and
basically any issue that smells of (Islamic) decrees is met with their opposition‖. (Tabnak state-run website – July 10,
2010)
3 men and 11 women await stoning in Iran
http://www.hra-news6.info/685/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2677-1.html
Since stoning is very inappropriate, is incompatible with the culture of the Iranian people and global and Iranian public
opinion seriously oppose it, the judiciary is very confidential on this matter and stonings are carried out in cemeteries or
desolate locations in secret. Sometimes the body of the stoned person is not returned to his/her family. The word
‗stoning‘ is even banned in Iranian media.
The government‘s solution for stoning in Iran is to carry it out in secret and quietly. The new orders are that if we face
pressure from public opinion for stoning, hang them instead!...
There are fears that those who are sentenced to stoning will either be hastily stoned in secret or will be hanged due to
the current international pressure so the cases can be closed and the fuss would die down. Because until the time that a
person sentenced to stoning is alive and in prison, there will be rigorous widespread efforts for saving that person.
Therefore there are fears that the Islamic Republic would eliminate all those sentenced to stoning by either stoning or
hanging to close their cases and show that it is independent and does not care about the west‘s reaction…
A complete list those who are currently in prison on charges of adultery – which means people who have had a sexual
relationship with someone other than their spouse - is as follows:
Tabriz
- Kobra Babayi – mother of a 13 year old daughter. Lawyer: Mohammad Mostafayi
Her husband, Rahim Mohammadi, was executed on charges of adultery in 2009
- Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani – 43, mother of 19 year old Farideh and 22 year old Sajad. Lawyer: Mohammad
Mostafayi
She was sentenced to 99 lashes which was carried out. She was once again sentenced for the same crime to death by
stoning. Her children wrote a letter addressing the people of the world and asked for help in saving their mother.
- Azar Baqeri – 19 years old. Has a lawyer

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She was jailed when she was 15 because her husband filed a complaint against her and has been sentenced to stoning.
- Maryam Qorbanzadeh – 25 years old – has a lawyer
Orumieh
- Sarimeh Ebadi (or Sarimeh Sajadi) – 31 years old, mother of two children. Lawyer: unknown
- Bu-Ali Janfeshani – 33 years old. Has one child. Lawyer: unknown
This man and woman (Ebadi and Janfeshani) have been sentenced to stoning by the Orumieh Public Court in a mutual
case. Their stoning sentence was upheld by the 12th branch of the Western Azarbaijan Court of Review on January 6,
2010 and they are currently in the Central Orumieh Prison.
Ahwaz
- Iran Eskandari – 31 years old. Has a 13 year old son. Lawyer: Unknown
Iran is from the Bakhtiari Tribe who was forcefully married to her cousin. Her husband only came home about once a
month. She became friends with her next door neighbor‘s son and wrote letters and talked on the phone with him. One
day while they were talking, her husband came in the backyard from the wall of the yard and attacked her, severely
beating her. The neighbor‘s son came to her aid and killed her husband with a knife. She was sentenced to five years of
prison on April 7, 2005 in a court of first instance in Khuzestan for complicity to murder and to stoning for adultery.
Her sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court on April 8, 2006. In light of the culture in the region, if Iran is released
from prison, there is a high chance that she would be murdered by the men in her family.
- Kheirieh Valania, 42 years old. Has several children. Lawyer: unknown
She was sentenced because she confessed to adultery four times. She says that she is the victim of domestic violence and
had a relationship with a man who murdered her husband but was not involved in his murder. She was charged with
complicity to murder. The third branch of the Behbahan Public Court sentenced Kheirieh to stoning on charges of
adultery on May 9, 2002. ―I am willing to be hanged but not stoned. They suffocate you and then you die. But it is very
hard to be constantly hit on the head with stones‖, she says. She is sure that if she is released, she would have no place to
go and her brothers would kill her.
Tehran
- Ashraf Kalhori- 41 years old. Lawyer: unknown
Her stoning sentence was halted on orders of Shahroudi, the previous head of the Judiciary and she is still in Evin
Prison. He lawyer used to be Shadi Sadr who is currently not in Iran.
- Fatemeh, age: unknown. Lawyer: unknown
Fatemeh was tried in the 71st branch of the Tehran Penal Court and was sentenced to retribution (execution) and
stoning for complicity in murder and an illicit relationship. Her husband Fatemeh had a fight with Mahmoud, a man
who was after Fatemeh and had entered their home, and killed him with his wife‘s help.
Asghar, her husband was sentenced to 16 years of prison on charges of assisting in intentional murder.
Mashhad
- A woman identified as M.Kh. age: unknown. Lawyer: unknown
- A woman whose last name is Hashemi Nasab. Age: unknown. Lawyer: unknown
These two women are in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad
Rasht
- Mohammad Ali Navid Khamami – Father‘s name: Safar. Lawyer: unknown
He was sentenced to stoning on June 2008.
Sari
- Seyed Naqi Ahmadi. Age: unknown. Lawyer: Ibrahim Mohammadzadeh
On June 10, 2008, three of the five judges in the second branch of the Mazandaran Penal Court sentenced Seyed Naqi
Ahmadi to stoning. Ahmadi was charged with adultery with Pouran Q. It has been stated in court that Ahmadi who
lived next to Pouran entered her home at night while her husband was away on business in Semnan and had a sexual
relationship with her. Some of the reasons that they were charged was: 1. A report from the ‗Prohibiting Vice and
Promoting Virtue Departmnet‘ 2. Pouran‘s confession 3. Seyed Naqi Ahmadi‘s confession.
In other words, the only proof of the adultery charge was their confession and in the end, the court sentenced Seyed
Naqi Ahmadi to stoning in light of the ‗knowledge of the judge‘ and Pouran was cleared of this charge because her
husband was not home and she did not have access to him. Two of the judges in this branch believed that both suspects
should be acquitted. This sentence was upheld by the 33rd branch of the Supreme Court.
Reason behind Convictions: Knowledge of the Judge
It is worth mentioning that in the case of all these people, there is no evidence to prove the so-called ‗adultery‘ charge
and the reason most of them were convicted was because of the ‗knowledge of the judge‘. This means that despite the
fact that there is no evidence or witness to prove the crime (there has to be at least four witnesses to prove adultery) the
judge decides based on his ‗knowledge‘ that the person has committed adultery. The interesting point is that in Iranian
courts, a judge cannot decide based on his knowledge if someone has overdrawn from his bank account and jail him/her
but can decide that he/she has committed adultery and sentence him/her to stoning.
In some cases, the person has been forced to confess under duress and has only to confess four times to adultery instead
of four witnesses and say that he/she has committed adultery to be sentenced to stoning. This means that security forces
and judicial authorities force the person to confess to adultery using various methods.
Lawyer?
In light of the fact that mostly all of those sentenced to stoning are from deprived social classes, most of them have been
deprived of lawyers in the initial stages of their case and therefore accept the charge of adultery without knowledge of the
consequences of their confession to be relieved of the pressure on them by authorities without knowing that the final
consequence is stoning. Since, according to Iranian law, people who are sentenced to death or stoning have to have
lawyers, those who are sentenced to stoning are given appointed lawyers and unfortunately most of them are not able to
suitably defend their clients because of their inexperience or because the case is not important for them.
List of people who have been stoned in the past years
The judicial system of the Islamic Republic does not recognize monitoring rights on its actions by its citizens. Therefore,
the number and names of those who were sentenced to stoning after their sentences were upheld by the Supreme is
unknown.
But the names of those who we are aware were stoned from 2006 up to now is as follows:
Mashhad
- Mahboubeh Mohammadi. According to reports she had confessed to adultery after threats and torture and was stoned
to death along with Abbas Haji Zadeh on May 2006.
- Abbas Haji Zadeh was stoned to death on May 2006 in Mashhad.
- Three men were stoned to death in December 21, 2008 in the Behesht Reza Cemetery in Mashhad. One of them,
identified as Mahmoud who was an Afghan national, was able to escape from the ditch he was buried in while severely
wounded. Houshang Khadadeh and another unknown person were stoned.
Qazvin
- Jafar Kiani whose stoning was halted by the head of the judiciary because of a campaign against stoning was stoned in
the Akhcheh Village near Takestan in Qazvin on June 2007 on orders of a local judge.
Rasht
- Vali Azad, from Pars Abad in Maghan was stoned in secret in Rasht on March 5, 2009 on charges of adultery. His body
was not handed over to his family. His stoning sentence was issued and carried out by Judge Hojatelislam Kashani in the
11th branch of the Penal Court and Judge Javid Nia, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor. But the woman who was
also charged with him was granted amnesty. The stoning of Vali Azad was officially confirmed by the former spokesman
of the Judiciary, Alireza Jamshidi.
List of those who were hanged instead of being stoned
It has to be reminded that the names and numbers of those who were hanged in the place of being stoned to death are
not known and the following list shows that our knowledge is only limited to the below mentioned names:
Sari
- Abdollah Farivar, 53 years old. This music teacher was executed on February 19, 2008
Shiraz
- Afsaneh Rahmani- Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. Was hanged in 2009
Tabriz
- Rahim Mohammadi- husband of Kobra Babayi. Was hanged on September 2009
Tehran
- According to unconfirmed reports, a woman was hanged in 2008 in a closed off room in Evin Prison on charges of
adultery. (Rooz website – July 11, 2010)
East Azarbaijan Judicial head: Sakineh will be executed
http://www.rajanews.com/detail.asp?id=54825
The head of the East Azarbaijan Judiciary said that the Judiciary is determined to carry out the rules
and regulations and stipulated that ―whenever the respected head of the Judiciary decides, the

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sentence for Sakineh Mohammadi will be executable without any heed for the atmosphere of exaggeration that western
media have created ‖…
He pointed to western media and those who claim to be defenders of human rights and said, ―They are the greatest
violators of human rights and (have carried out) crimes against humanity‖. (Raja News state-run website – July 11, 2010)
Pregnant young woman awaits stoning
According to reports, in the prison where Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (mother of two who was sentenced to death by
stoning on adultery charges) is detained, two other women await stoning. One of them is Maryam Qorbanzadeh. This
25-year-old woman was sentenced to death by stoning for having a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Maryam is
pregnant and expects the world to help her.
The misogynist Iranian government has in the past few years been forced to halt the stoning sentences for at least 13
women because of international pressure and in some cases, released them after lashing them 100 times. Kobra Babayi
was one of these women. After her stoning sentence was stayed, she was lashed 100 times and then released. According
to reports, her spinal cord has been damaged as result and she has trouble walking. Her children say that she has severe
pain from the flogging which has made their mother‘s life very difficult. (International Committee against Execution –
July 15, 2010)
August
EDITORIAL: The stoners of Iran
Tortured view of justice from a brutal regime
The Islamic Republic of Iran has a habit of throwing rocks at its perceived enemies, but the Mullahs in Tehran are slowly
learning that the civilized world will not countenance the practice. Iranian officials last week commuted the sentence of
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani , a 43-year-old woman who had been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. But all is
not well yet.
When news of Mrs. Ashtiani's sentence began reaching the outside world in recent weeks, it prompted an international
outcry.
‗Death by stoning is always cruel and inhuman, and it is especially abhorrent in cases where judges rely on their own
hunches instead of evidence to proclaim a defendant guilty,' said Nadya Khalife of Human Rights Watch last week.
Democratic Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran 's execution
method as 'appalling' and 'barbaric-‗.
The Web is replete with videos of stonings in Iran that show women buried up to their necks and pelted with stones
hefty enough to inflict injury but not large enough to kill. Victims often die in slow agony.
Human rights organizations now fear that authorities will simply take an alternate tack and hang Mrs. Ashtiani instead.
Chillingly, Iranian television broadcast a blurry interview with the woman on Wednesday in which she purportedly
confessed to adultery and a new charge of complicity in the murder of her husband. But her lawyer, Mohammad
Mostafaei, said the confession had been extracted through torture. Mr. Mostafaei himself was forced to flee Iran earlier
this month and seek asylum in Norway after learning that his vociferous defense of Mrs. Ashtiani was about to result in
his arrest.
New York-based Human Rights Watch expressed 'grave concerns' Friday that the televised confession signals that her
execution is imminent-.
Amnesty International also denounced the broadcast: 'It appears that Iran's authorities have orchestrated this
'confession,' following the call for a judicial review,' said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director at Amnesty
International's Middle East and North Africa program.
The organization said it is aware of at least 10 other people - seven women and three men - under a death sentence by
stoning. Last year, at least three people sentenced to death by stoning were in fact hung.
Stoning was integrated into Iran's legal system in 1983 with the adoption of the Islamic Penal Code. An official
moratorium was placed on the practice in 2002 but judges have continued to issue the sentence. The Iranian parliament
has been considering a revision of the code that would exclude stoning but it has yet to be ratified.
Iran is discovering that few outside the Middle East favor the Mullahs' attempt to drag humanity back to an earlier era in
human history, before justice was tempered by forgiveness-.
Only the benighted would willingly return to a world devoid of compassion for human frailty embodied by the wise
words, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone‘.
It is long past time for Iran to remove the barbaric practice of stoning from its legal code, once and for all. (The
Washington Times – Aug. 16, 2010)
150 people stoned in Iran in last 30 years
The website of French daily Le Figaro wrote that a number of cultural and literary personalities and Nobel laureates
protested Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani‘s stoning sentence saying that in the last 30 years, 150 stoning sentences were
carried out in Iran. The French daily also said that there are currently three men and eight women in Iran who have
been sentenced to death by stoning. (Radio Farda website – Aug. 17, 2010)
Editorial: Iran's barbaric side
The execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is on hold. But until Iran ends the practice of stoning and insists on
equal justice for women, it will not be rid of international censure.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani may not have long to live. International outrage over Iran's plan to stone to death the 43-
year-old mother of two appears to have dissuaded it from going forward with that particular barbarity.
But Ashtiani is not free. Her case is now under review by Iran's Supreme Court, and a final verdict could come as soon
as next week. A state-run television news program, however, announced that she would not be executed during the
month of Ramadan, which ends Sept. 9, and that instead of being stoned, she is to hang.
Exactly why is Ashtiani to die? At first, the judiciary announced that she would be executed for committing adultery.
Then, caught off-guard by the international response, the government put her on television and implied that she was also
involved in her husband's killing.
But if Iran hoped the broadcast of Ashtiani giving a "confession" would sway world opinion, it was mistaken.
Rather, the blurry telecast, in which her face was obscured and her words dubbed from her native Azeri into Persian,
only emphasized her powerlessness.
It reminded the world that Ashtiani is the victim of a regime that oppresses women, violates international accords
regarding the treatment of prisoners and is cavalier in its disregard of human rights.
In 2006, Ashtiani was accused of involvement in her husband's slaying. She was acquitted on that charge but sentenced
to 10 years in prison because the killing "disturbed the public order." A separate court then charged her with adultery.
But on what grounds was she convicted? Ashtiani maintains that she was coerced into confessing. In addition, Iran's
penal code permits judges to determine guilt based on their own "knowledge" if there is an absence of evidence. Three of
the five judges deciding her case condemned her to death on that basis. Meanwhile, the man convicted of killing her
husband is free after paying "blood money" to the dead man's family.
Even if Ashtiani is allowed to live — or sent into exile in Brazil, which has said it would welcome her as a gesture of
friendship with Iran — that will only give Iran a temporary reprieve.
Until it ends the practice of stoning and insists on equal justice for women and men, international censure will surely
reoccur. In that, Iran has inadvertently achieved something worthy: By persecuting Ashtiani, it has exposed its own
barbarism, indicted its own judicial system and isolated itself from all civilized nations. (The Los Angeles Times - August
21, 2010)
Man and woman sentenced to death by stoning
http://www.hra-news6.info/component/content/article/55-1389-01-14-13-18-46/3663-1.html
According to reports, the Supreme Court upheld the death by stoning sentence of two prisoners in an adultery case who
are currently in Orumieh Prison.
Vali Janfeshan and Sarieh Ebadi were sentenced to death by stoning before this in the Public Orumieh Court and this
sentence was confirmed by the 12th branch of the Western Azarbaijan Court of Review.
Both suspects have been jailed in Orumieh Prison since 2008. This sentence was confirmed even as both suspects were
denied the right to have their chosen lawyers and did not have the chance to defend themselves. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Aug. 29, 2010)
September
Iran Judiciary says Ashtiani sentenced to stoning despite Ahmadinejad‟s claims in NY
In the first news conference of the spokesman of the judiciary, Mohsen Ejeyi answered
questions from reporters.
The first question in this news conference was about the case of Sakineh Mohammadi
Ashtiani and the spokesman of the judiciary was asked to give more explanations
regarding this case and its current state. The reporter asking the question also said that
the president said that the issue of stoning was never brought up in this case.
Mohsen Ejeyi stressed on the independence of judges in issuing sentences and said,
―We will never back down from Islamic laws and divine values because of the pressure
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of those who are in the first place for violating human rights today and want us not to implement the law‖…
―In the case of Mrs. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani such a sentence (stoning) has been issued; but it has to go through
its procedure. The preceding sentence for this lady is retribution because retribution is the right of the people. This case
has to follow its procedures and I stress again that retribution (eye for an eye on charges of murder) comes before Had
(stoning on charges of adultery)‖. (ISNA state-run news agency – Sep. 27, 2010)
Inhumane treatment
and cruel punishments
Amputation, flogging, torture, and humiliation

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Amputation, flogging, torture, and humiliation
January
Iran sentences journalist to 7 years of prison and 34 lashes
Bahman Ahmadi Amuyi, a journalist and economical analyst was sentenced to seven years and four months of prison
and 34 lashes. This sentence was announced to this jailed journalist in the 26 th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary
Court. He is still in ward 350 in Tehran's Evin Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 4, 2010)
No news on two students who were severely wounded by government supporters in Mashhad Univ.
After a bloody attack on December 30 and 31 by plain clothes agents and government supporters known as the 'Ansar',
against the Azad University in Mashhad which led to dozens of injuries and the arrest of 210 student dissidents, 30
students who are mostly members of the Islamic Association are still jailed after six days…
According to reports, there is no news on the faith of 10 students of Mashhad's Sajad University, who staged a gathering
in protest to this bloody raid and were arrested by security forces. There is also no news on four Firdosi University
students who have been arrested two weeks ago.
There is no information on the faith of eight students who were injured as a result of the attack on the Free Mashhad
University on Wednesday. They were abducted by security forces from inside the university and taken to unknown
hospitals.
The fact that there is absolutely no information on a student who was stabbed in the neck and another student who was
clubbed on the head, has led to serious concerns amongst Mashhad University students. These two students were
dragged out of the university while unconscious and severely bleeding. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 4, 2010)
300 tortured Ashura detainees transferred to Sepah ward in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, on Thursday December 31, about 300 Ashura detainees were transferred to the solitary cells in
ward 8, aka the Sepah ward, in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
These detainees were brought to this ward with their hands tied behind their backs and black plastic bags over their
heads. They were tortured in detention and could barely walk and moaned from pain.
Ward 8 is controlled by interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence and prisoners kept in solitary face worse
conditions than ward 209 in Evin Prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2010)
Mashhad police beat detained students
After the bloody attack on December 30 and 31 against the Mashhad Free University and widespread protests in all of
Mashhad's universities, 210 Free University, 7 Firdosi University, 35 Khayam University and 10 Sajad University
students were taken to the Police Area in Mashhad.
Six Firdosi university students named Tohid Tamadoni, Mohsen Bayat, Ali Mamuri, Reza Khojasteh and Ali Latifi were
jailed there since Wednesday, while Hossein Qabel has been detained there since December 27.
According to a Free University student, these jailed students are treated unsuitably and interrogators beat them to put
pressure on them. They are also kept dozens in a cell in very unsuitable conditions. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 6,
2010)
Student activist sentenced to three years of prison and 74 lashes
After Naseh Faridi and his lawyer Mohammad Oliayi Fard went to the 26th branch of the
Revolutionary Court in Tehran yesterday morning, it was announced to them that Faridi
was sentenced to 6 years of prison and 74 lashes.
Naser Faridi, the former secretary of the Islamic Association in the Teacher Training
University in Tehran and member of the Policy Setting Council of the Free Citizen Staff
was arrested on June 14 in the staff office and after three months of temporary detention
was released on a 50,000 dollar bail. This human rights activist has been charged with
acting against national security and disrupting public order. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Two Shiraz University students receive hard punishments
The four year prison sentence of Mohammad Tabe Mohammadi, a detained Shiraz
University student was confirmed by the 16th branch of the Fars Court of Review by Judge
Afzal and Zaker.

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The dossier of Seyed Hamed Kavusi, another Shiraz University student arrested on December 4, who had been
sentenced to 3 years of prison, was sent to the 16th branch of the Court of Review. In light of the confirmation of
Mohammadi's sentence, there are concerns that the prison sentence of this 19 year old student will also be upheld.
Another case has been made against this student on charges of disrupting public order, insulting government officials
and drinking alcohol in branch 115 of the Shiraz Court. In a verdict which was passed in his absence, he was sentenced
to five months of prison for insulting government officials, and four months of prison in addition to 25 lashes on the
charge of disrupting public order. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 7, 2010)
Intelligence agency tries to force 54-year-old political prisoner to make false confessions on TV
According to reports from Iran, interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence have physically and mentally tortured 54-
year-old Javad Lari to force him to make a televised confession. They are laying the groundwork to sentence him to death
with these interviews.
In this 'television show' Mr. Lari has been dictated to say that he was arrested in the protests on Ashura. This is while
Javad Lari was arrested in his home on September 16 after an attack by agents of the ministry of intelligence and was
taken to ward 209 in Evin Prison. He is to be trialed on the unsubstantial charge of mohareb or enmity with God.
On the other hand, his lawyer Mrs. Mirzayi, was arrested recently by the intelligence agency and he is currently without a
lawyer. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 8, 2010)
Three Kurd men sentenced to heavy punishments
Fasih Yasamani (Kurd political prisoner who was executed last week), his 65 year old father, five women and five men
who lived in his village were two years ago. They were tortured in solitary cells in the Khoy Intelligence Department.
These people eventually received their sentences.
Fasih's father, Hossein Yasamani was sentenced to two years of prison.
Fahim Reza-zadeh was sentenced to death after being violently tortured but his death sentence was eventually lowered to
16 years of prison.
At the same time, the three Zamani brothers received these sentences:
Yaqub Zamani was sentenced to three years of prison and is currently in Salmas Prison.
Qasem Zamani was sentenced to one years of prison and is in Khoy Prison while Sadeq Zamani was sentenced to have
one hand and one foot cut off and he is also in Khoy Prison. These three brothers were arrested for cooperating with
Kurd dissident parties and being involved in political activities against the regime. (Kurdistan Net Website – Jan. 8,
2010)
Prison official resigns from post in protest to systematic torture in Gohardasht Prison
A Gohardasht Prison official in Karaj resigned from his post in protest to the constant violent treatment and beatings of
prisoners in this prison.
Saftar Moradi, a deputy officer, who is considered one of the top officials in this prison resigned from all his positions in
the Organization of Prisons which includes his position in Gohardasht Prison in protest to the beatings and systematic
torture of prisoners.
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj is one of the most notorious prisoners in the country in the management and legal fields.
Dozens of prisoners die yearly in this prison as a result of the standard use of violence against prisoners and a large
number of prisoners are injured and maimed every year. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 11, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 2 years of prison and 147 lashes
The sentence of Yashar Qajar, the former secretary of Amir Kabir (Polytechnic) University, was announced to him after
three and a half years. According to reports, he has been sentenced to 147 lashes, a fine of 1,000 dollars and 2 years of
prison which has been suspended for five years.
Qajar has been charged with managing the Amir Kabir Newsletter website, acting against national security, instigating
public opinion and insulting officials. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 11, 2101)
Iran sentences student activist to 15 years of prison and 74 lashes
Zia Nabavi was sentenced to 15 years of prison and 74 lashes by the 26 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court presided over by Pir Abassi. Nabavi who had been banned from education
before this is the spokesman for the Council in Defense of the Right to Education.
He was sentenced to 3 years of prison for gathering and conspiring to disrupt national security,
one year for spreading propaganda against the government, one year for disrupting public order,
74 lashes for creating anxiety for the public and 10 years of prison to be served in exile in the
town of Izeh in Kerman on charges of cooperating with the PMOI.
This is while Zia Nabavi denies that he had links with the PMOI and has said that the only reason
that the court gave him such a sentence was because a number of his family members are in
Ashraf (home to thousands of PMOI members in Iraq).
Nabavi has been violently beaten by his interrogators on several occasions while detained in ward 209. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 12, 2010)
Human rights activist sentenced to six months of prison and 50 lashes
Yashar Hakakpour, an Azeri human rights activist, was sentenced to six months of prison and 50 lashes by branch of 106
of the Penal Court in Zanjan.
He was charged with publishing and spreading lies and insulting official government institutions by sending news to
outside of the country and organizing a poem reading ceremony in Zanjan University on December 12. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Jan. 15, 2010)
Tortured political prisoner in appalling state
According to reports, Mohammad Hossein Sohrabi- Rad has attempted to commit suicide on several occasions due to
the intolerable and inhumane pressures on him in prison.
This political prisoner who was close to Karoubi's election staff was arrested last September by the Intelligence Agency.
He was arrested on charges of aiding the editor in chief of Saham News Website in providing a film regarding the crimes
committed (by prison officials) in the Kahrizak Detention Center for the Judiciary and Khamenei's office. He was taken
to the security ward number 350 in Evin Prison after being interrogated.
About two months ago, due to the mental torture inflicted on him in ward 209 and 350 and to end the intolerable
situation, he cut the vein of his left hand in front of the head of Evin Prison, Sedaqat and Bozorgnia, a torturer of
political prisoners and the head of ward 350 intending to commit suicide. He was taken to the prison medical clinic and
his life was saved. Intelligence interrogators subsequently threw him in the solitary cells in the fourth story of ward 240
and continued the medieval pressure against him.
According to a political prisoner who was able to see and talk to him in the Revolutionary Court, the mental pressures
and abuse against this prisoner have increased and has led him to attempt suicide two more times.
Sohrabi-Rad had recently married before his arrest and has a young wife. (Human Rights and Democracy in Iran- Jan.
17, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison guards torture and beat prisoners
According to reports, last night prisoners kept in solitary cells known as the 'doghouse' in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj
clashed with the officer in charge and prison guards and took over the control of this section.
On Sunday January 17, prisoner Hossein Karimi known as Hossein Qazvini and Mehrdad Sarayi who were jailed in
solitary cells in hall 2 known the doghouse of ward 1 were tortured and beaten with clubs by two guards named Marjani
and Mohsen Khalesi. These two prisoners unarmed the guards in self defense.
The officer in charge, Mirza Aqayi, along with a number of guards attacked the prisoners in this hall, beating them with
electric clubs. These prisoners unarmed the officer to keep him from beating them and took him to one of the solitary
cells. They subsequently took over the hall of ward 2.
(After the clashes) the two above mentioned prisoners were brutally beaten and transferred once again to solitary cells.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 18, 2010)
Regime arrests and abandons tortured unconscious student on street
The son of a member of the Kashan City Council and an assistant of Mir Hossein Moussavi's Election Staff in this city
was abandoned unconscious in one of the streets in the outskirts of this city with a broken hand and leg and with
cigarette burns on his body. He was left in this way after being arrested by a security institution three days ago. After
being abandoned on the street, he was taken to the intelligence agency for 36 hours without being allowed to see his
parents. He was interrogated regarding his father's activities (his father is a professor at Kashan University) and his
political activities and the activities of the Islamic Association of Kashan University. This student was forced to sign a
number of documents while blindfolded. (Roshangari Website – Jan. 18, 2010)
Prison guards attack political prisoners in Orumieh Prison
The Special Guards forces in Orumieh Prison stormed the political prisoner's ward and beat them.
The Special Guards forces and Protection Forces stormed ward 12 where political prisoners are kept with the presence of
Fathi, the head of prison and Bahreini, the head of the Protection Department, and beat political prisoner with clubs,
electric clubs and electric shockers. They also destroyed and broke the prisoner's personal belongings and took Ali
Ahmad Soleiman, a citizen of Turkey to an unknown location.

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It is not clear why these political prisoners were beaten and there is also no information on where Ali Ahmad Soleiman
was taken. Mr. Soleiman who is in poor health because of his first degree burns, has been sentenced to 5 years of prison
for being a member of an opposition Turkish party. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 20, 2010)
Traffic police abuse people on streets, beat taxi driver
According to reports, the abusive treatment of police with the people in Tehran has increased.
On Wednesday evening in Haft Tir Square, a number of traffic police attacked the people standing in taxi and bus lines
and clashed with taxi drivers. The people on the scene protested their abusive behavior but these traffic police forced a
taxi driver out of his car and beat him, threatening that they would impound his car and told him to leave the area. (Iran
News Agency – Jan. 21, 2010)
Kurd political activist savagely tortured by regime forces
The Kurdistan Organization against Execution disclosed medieval tortures by regime forces in the intelligence agency
detention centers.
This report says in the violent torture of Kurd political activist Ahmad Bob, they pulled out five of his teeth with pliers
and drilled a hole in the bottom of his foot.
They also burned his back with an iron and then flogged the burned area.
According to this report, Ahmad Bob was denied ointments or bandaging in this time to treat his torture wounds even
while the infection in his wounds added to his pain.
This report also said that Bob has lost 31 kilograms (68 pounds) in his five months of incarceration as a result of the
brutal torture.
He was carried to Marivan Prison by armed plainclothes agents because he was unable to walk on his own.
Ahmad Bob is a political activist from Marivan who was arrested in late August 2009 in this city by agents of the
intelligence agency and was taken to the Sanandaj Intelligence Agency. He was subjected to brutal torture from the
moment he was arrested for five months. He was banned from having any visits in these five months.
Bob was transferred to Marivan 20 days ago and no news has been published on his condition since that time.
(Kurdistan and Kurd News Website – Jan. 25, 2010)
Iran lashes three men in public
The deputy prosecutor of Andimeshk announced that the sentences for two harassers in this city were carried out in
public.
"The court sentenced the first suspect to two years of prison, 10 years of exile and lashes. The second and third suspects
were each sentenced to two years of prison and 74 lashes", he said.
"These sentences were upheld by the provincial court of review and carried out on Saturday morning in public". (Mehr
state-run news agency – Jan. 26, 2010)
Prisoners in Gohardasht juvenile hall go on hunger strike in protest to systematic attacks by prison guards
On Tuesday January 26, from about 5pm prison guards stormed the cells in juvenile hall number 12. These forces made
a human tunnel and forced prisoners to pass through while beating them in the face and head with batons from both
sides. Sixteen prisoners who sustained injuries in their faces and heads were taken to the prison medical clinic. Some of
the young men who were injured were Mojtaba Asadi, Reza Mehraban, Behzad Cheraghi, Manouchehr Baba Khani,
Mohammad-Reza Garshasi and Mehdi Mohammad Javanmardi. The beatings lasted for 2 hours.
The young men in hall 12 in ward 4 of Gohardasht Prison went on a hunger strike from last night in protest to the
attacks and beatings and refuse to take the prison food. They have announced that they will continue their hunger strike
until the attacks are stopped.
In the past two weeks, prison guards have attacked juvenile cells 9 times. These attacks are usually between 12 to 1 am.
Prison guards take the prisoners in the severe cold and sometime under the rain to the prison yard and order them to
take their clothes off. They then violently beat them for prolonged periods.
These guards have also confiscated the television set that these young men bought with their own money from the prison
store and also some of their other personal belongings.
These attacks are carried out under the supervision of Kermani and Faraji the deputy heads of intelligence under the
orders of intelligence agency interrogators and Ali Haj Kazem, the head of Gohardasht Prison. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 27, 2010)
Ashura protesters under torture and abuse in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, Ashura (December 27) detainees who are kept in solitary confinement in Gohardasht Prison in
Karaj are under torture and inhumane pressure.
About 300 of these detainees in solitary cells in ward 5 are under physical and mental torture by intelligence agency
interrogators. They are pressured to give false confessions which will lead to heavy sentences for them in the future.
Intelligence agency interrogators have placed a curtain in the middle of the hallway in which their solitary cells are
located to keep these prisoners from communicating with each other and to isolate them. Ordinary prisoners who are in
these cells can hear the shouts and screams of these young people while they were being interrogated and tortured day
and night. Their screams and moans are so painful that other prisoners are not able to rest and suffer from severe mental
pressure. In some cases, these prisoners have even tried to protest the torture from inside their cells. Prisoners are mostly
kept with handcuffs and blindfolds, a usual procedure in Gohardasht Prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists
in Iran – Jan. 29, 2010)
Kurd female political prisoner speaks of cruel torture in prison
Letter written by death row political prisoner Shirin Alam Hovi from the women's ward in Evin Prison dated Jan. 18,
2010 – I was arrested in Tehran in 2008 by a number of plainclothes agents and was taken directly to a Revolutionary
Guards Force base. They started beating me the moment I got there without even asking any question. I was there for 25
days. The interrogators who were all men tied me with handcuffs to a bed. They would beat me in the face, head and the
soles of my feet with electric clubs, cables, fists and kicks. In that time, I could not even speak or understand fluent Farsi.
When they did not receive any answers for their questions, the beatings would start again until I passed out…
One day in the interrogations, they kicked me in the stomach so hard that I immediately started to bleed and lost a lot of
blood. Another day, one of the interrogators came to the room. He was the only interrogator I saw because the rest of
the times I had on blindfolds. He asked me irrelevant questions. When he did not get an answer, he slapped me in the
face and put a gun that he carried on his belt to my head.
"Answer the questions I ask", he said.
"I know that you are a member of the PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) and you‘re a terrorist. It doesn‘t make a
difference if you talk or not girl, we're happy to have a member of PJAK in our hands".
One day, I was sitting with blindfolds in a chair and I was being interrogated. The interrogator used my hand to put out
his cigarette and on another day, the interrogator pressed so hard with his shoes on my feet that my nails turned black
and fell off. Or sometimes they would force me to stand all day in the interrogation room without asking any questions.
The interrogators would just sit in front of me and do puzzles. They did whatever they could (to torture me)…
After I got back from the hospital, they decided to take me to ward 209. But because of my poor physical condition and
the fact that I could not even walk, 209 was not willing to accept me and I was kept in that condition the whole day
outside of 209 until they finally took me to the medical clinic… (Iran Press News Website – Jan. 31, 2010)
Gohardasht prison official threatens young prisoners to rape
According to reports, a number of prisoners from hall 12 in which young prisoners are kept in were tortured and
threatened to rape and that they would be sent to ward 1 known for its inhumane conditions.
On Thursday January 28, two prisoners from the youth hall who were injured after prison guards attacked this hall went
to see the head of ward 4, Mahmoud Moghnian, to file a complaint on behalf of all the prisoners regarding the violent
attack of prison guards to their cells.
Mahmoud Moqnian, who carries out bloody attacks against political prisoners, handcuffed prisoners Mojtaba Asadi and
Mir Ahmad Hosseini who had come to protest and hung them from their handcuffs. Moghnian tortured these two
prisoners for a long time and used offensive remarks regarding their family members. On Saturday January 31,
Mahmoud Moghnian took these two prisoners to the office of the assistant head of prison, Ali Mohammadi. He
threatened and insulted these two young men telling them that he would send them to ward 1 where they would be
raped and 'a thousand other things will happen to you there'.
A large number of young prisoners who committed offenses as minors and have been sentenced to death are kept in hall
12 waiting for their sentences to be carried out. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 31, 2010)
February
Iran brutalizes defenseless prisoners in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, the prison guards at this prison
attacked the cell of political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani and other prisoners and
insulted and brutalized them.
On Saturday January 30, at about 11:30 pm the prison guards at this prison attacked
Javid Tehrani's cell. They also scattered and broke his personal belongings. Prison guards
sent their guard dogs inside the cell to terrorize the prisoners. These guards also attacked
several other cells.
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These forces beat Mehdi Zia Abadi, a prisoner who had objected the attacks. Abadi was injured in several parts of his
body. Another prisoner, Salahaddin Qorbani, 60, who protested the attack with dogs was also attacked and clubbed.
Qorbani was later summoned to the Prison Protection Department by Faraji, the Intelligence Department deputy and
threatened that his death sentence would soon be carried out. Faraji also threatened another prisoner, Qorban Ali Nasiri
Parshimi, 60, who has a 70 percent handicap after being injured in the Iran-Iraq war and has been jailed for 4 years
because of financial offenses, that he would be sent to solitary in the 'doghouse' for 20 days.
There are other reports that Dr. Ahmad Zeidabadi, the Secretary General of the Iran Postgraduates Organization
(Danesh Amokhtegan), is in the quarantine section of Gohardasht Prison.
On Monday February 1, Kermani and Faraji, the head and deputy of the Intelligence Department at this prison, stormed
ward 6 with several guards and threatened and harassed the prisoners. While leaving the ward, they took 25-year-ol
prisoner Saied Afsharzadeh to the Intelligence Department and he was beaten with clubs, fists and kicks for a long
period of time. When he was brought back to the cell, he was injured and bleeding in several parts of his body. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 1, 2010)
Iran tortures and beats Ashura detainees in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, a large number of Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) detainees who are in solitary cells in ward 5 of
Gohardasht Prison are under severe torture by intelligence agents.
A wall has been built in the middle of the main hallway where the solitary cells are located on both sides to prevent the
prisoners from communicating with each other. If these political prisoners talk to prisoners in the cells next to them they
are attacked by prison guards. Guards initially tie the hands and legs of these prisoners and then 3 to 4 guards start
beating them with clubs for a long period of time. The bodies of most political prisoners have become bruised because of
these beatings. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 2, 2010)
Interrogators torture and sexually harass Mashhad students
A student at Mashhad University who asked not to be named talked the International Human Rights Campaign about
measures taken by the Revolutionary Court in this city.
According to this student activist, some of the interrogators directly physically abused the suspects. In one case, the
interrogator tortured a student by applying electric shocks to his body. According to this student, one of the officials of
the Mashhad Revolutionary Court personally tortured two students in the Police Koy with electric shots and even after
their release, burn marks were still evident on the body of one of the students.
"We should not forget the white torture (including) the fact that one student was threatened that he would be forced to
eat excrements by Mr…, transferring detained prisoners to a ward where men accused of sodomy were kept in the Police
Koy and threatening detainees with rape in at least one case that I know of in the Police Koy Detention Centers and
Mashhad Intelligence Agency", he added.
He also said that (Mr…) constantly summoned female university students and carried out measures that were morally
wrong like locking the doors (of the interrogation room), reading their personal messages out loud and laughing about it
and threatening them that he would disclose their personal issues. He also used strange and very affectionate language in
talking to the girls. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 2, 2010)
Iran tortures student activist in Shiraz
Kazem Rezayi, Shiraz University student was trialed 3 months after he was jailed. According to eyewitness reports, this
student activist who has been detained in the Shiraz Detention Center for more than 3 months was in court on Saturday
with evident torture signs on his body. These eyewitnesses said that he came to court in a disheveled appearance and had
become very thin. Numerous torture signs were evident on his back and stomach. According to reports from various
sources, a number of other Shiraz University detainees had seen torture signs on his hands and especially his fingers.
Rezayi was brutally arrested with the cooperation of the university's Protection Department while being severely beaten
and broke his nose as a result. Because of his resistance during his incarceration, security forces put severe mental and
physical pressure on him. (Roshangari Website – Feb. 4, 2010)
Political prisoners in Evin Prison put under increasing pressure
According to reports, in the past few days, the telephone calls of a number of political prisoners with their families have
been cut off and their interrogations have once again started. The pressure and threats against their families has also
increased.
According to a number of released prisoners, Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) detainees who had been recently transferred from
ward 209 to ward 7 have been recently brought back to 209 for interrogations and torture. These interrogations
sometimes go on for the whole day.
Recently released prisoners say that in the first two days of their arrest they were kept in secret detention centers. When
they first entered these detention centers they were forced to go through a tunnel made up of security forces with clubs.
When they passed through the tunnel, they were beaten with electric clubs and whoever fell on the ground or fainted
was tortured even more. Most of the detainees had injuries, wounds and bruised bodies as a result. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 4, 2010)
Male journalist speaks of violent rape in Iran prisons
According to the French Liberation Daily, a 27-year-old journalist, Ibrahim Mehtari disclosed that he was raped by
regime forces. Mehtari was arrested on August 20 in a Tehran street by agents affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards
Forces.
"In the first days of my detention I was tortured with electricity cables, electric clubs, burned with cigarettes and beaten
with various tools in my face and head and sustained injuries in my skull as a result", he said.
He also said that in his nine days of incarcerations in the detention center he was violently raped with clubs. On the
ninth day, he was abandoned in Farahzadi Blvd. with ripped and bloody clothes. His internal bleeding was so grave that
the police and medical examiner confirmed the rape and claimed that he was attacked by thugs. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – Feb. 6, 2010)
Security forces attack and beat families of detainees
According to reports, a gathering of families of those arrested on February 11 outside the Vozara Detention Center in
Enqelab Square was attacked and the families were brutally suppressed by Special Guards Forces.
On Thursday, families of those detained on February 11 gathered outside this detention center to demand the freedom
of their loved ones. According to a State Security Force official in this detention center, 1000 people arrested on
February 11 were kept in this detention center. The families were beaten on orders of this official. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 11, 2010)
Iran security forces fire at protesters--website
An Iranian opposition website said security forces fired shots and teargas at supporters of Opposition leader Mirhossein
Mousavi staging a rally in central Tehran on Thursday.
'Security forces opened fired at protesters and fired teargas in central Tehran,' Iran's Green Voice website said, citing
witnesses. (Reuters – Feb. 11, 2010)
Rights violations increasing in Iran: HRW
Iran's crackdown on dissidents since the controversial June 2009 elections is 'broader and the abuses more flagrant than
previously reported,' Human Rights Watch said in a new report.
The 19-page report documents 'widespread human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings; rapes and torture;
violations of the rights to freedom of assembly and expression; and thousands of arbitrary arrests and detentions' against
dissidents since the election, the group said in a statement late Wednesday.
The Iranian government is trying to use anniversary celebrations 'to deflect attention from its human rights violations,'
said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
'Instead, it should use the occasion to finally hold the abusers accountable,' he said.
The report from the independent rights group is based on 'extensive phone interviews and email correspondence with
protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, and the families of detained political figures'.
On June 26 2009, guards at the Kahrizak detention center outside Tehran again 'set up fake executions, cursing and
randomly beating people who asked for water or to use the toilet,' an unnamed former detainee told HRW.
The prisoner then recounted in graphic detail of how he was kicked in the stomach until he threw up blood after he
protested, then sodomized until he passed out.
According to HRW, the worst abuses 'against ordinary protesters took place at police stations and detention centers,
most notoriously at the Kahrizak detention center.
'At least three detainees died due to injuries sustained there, as a parliamentary inquiry has acknowledged. Former
prisoners held in police detention centers have alleged that authorities sexually assaulted and raped them while in
detention'.
Authorities also abused detainees in Evin, 'a large prison complex where Human Rights Watch has previously
documented systematic abuses,' the statement read.
The Iranian government 'is carrying on its campaign of intimidation, arrests, and convictions of individuals for
peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It has neither ended its crackdown nor held
those responsible to account.' HRW said (AFP - Feb 11, 2010)
Jailed student and brother tortured in prison
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Shabnam Madadzadeh, the assistant secretary of the OCU Council in Tehran and her brother were sentenced to five
years of prison.
Finally after one year of being temporarily detained and six trials, Shabnam Madadzadeh who is also a member of the
Teacher Training University's Islamic Association and her brother were each sentenced to 5 years of prison to be served
in exile in Gohardasht Prison.
In the issued verdict for Shabnam and her brother, they were charged with moharebeh (enmity with God) based on
article 186 of the Islamic Penal Code. This article refers to having communications with groups or parties that have
carried out armed struggle against the Islamic Republic. This is while Shabnam Madadzadeh is considered a member of
the Office for Consolidating Unity which is a union for all Islamic Associations in the country and the largest student
organization that is critical of the government. In addition to this, the issued sentence only refers to Shabnam's family
connections and nothing else that would incriminate her.
In the last trial for this brother and sister which was held with the presence of Interrogator Alavi and Interrogator
Sheikhan, two head interrogators in Evin Prison, these two Ministry of Intelligence experts denied any use of torture or
beatings against the Madadzadehs during interrogations. When Judge Moqiseyi asked Shabnam what she meant when
she talked of torture, this student activist referred to being severely beaten, punched and kicked, and flogged with whips
and cables in addition to 71 days in solitary. Judge Moqiseyi reaction (to her statements) was, "you call this torture"?!
This sentence was announced to the Madadzadehs last Tuesday. This jailed brother and sister were not allowed to read
the whole verdict and Shabnam's persistence to read the whole verdict and her request to document her objection in
court led to a severe dispute with the head of office in the 28th branch of the (Revolutionary) Court.
The court verdict has not yet been announced to their lawyer, Mohammad Oliayi Fard. When the sentence was being
announced to the Madadzadehs, and when Shabnam obligated the court to announce the sentence to her lawyer, the
head of office for the 28th branch of this court, known as Mr. Mojtaba, said that this request by the assistant secretary of
the OCU in Tehran was a political move.
Oliayi Fard, the Madadzadeh's lawyer has announced that he would protest the verdict. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– Feb. 12, 2010)
Karroubi's son beaten by regime thugs
Iranian forces beat the son of an OPPOSITION leader for five hours after
events marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic.
The bearded men in plainclothes who grabbed Ali from a crowd of anti-
regime protesters and hauled him to a nearby mosque had no idea who
they had arrested.
It wasn't until the regime thugs had finished beating him and the 50 or so
other young men they had rounded up that they checked his identity
papers.
Then, when they realised that Ali Karroubi, 36, was the son of Mehdi
Karroubi, a leader of Iran's opposition Green Movement, they started
beating him again - this time with sticks and batons.
'When they recognised who my brother was, the militia tried to punish
him so badly,' said Mohammed Taghi Karroubi, the reformist politician's Ali Karroubi after torture
eldest son.
'His wrist was fractured, he received so many lashes on his back and legs and his internal bleeding was so bad he was
vomiting up blood. He was tortured by the basij and the police for five or six hours before they released him'. (The
Telegraph – Feb. 13, 2010)
Political prisoners in Gohardasht Prison under increasing torture and abuse
According to reports, the pressure and limitations against political prisoner Dr. Ahmad Zeid Abadi, the Secretary
General of the Iran Alumni Organization and other political prisoners is ongoing in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
Political prisoner Zeid Abadi is detained in section 6 along with ordinary and dangerous criminals. All prisoners have
been warned in this section that they have no right to have any kind of contacts with him and if they do, they will be
thrown in solitary in section 1 for 'those at the end of the line'.
According to other reports, yesterday two people arrested on Ashura identified as Farid Rohani, 29, and Alireza Shetabi,
27 have been transferred from solitary cells in section 5 to the public ward in section 6. Intelligence interrogators have
put pressure on them telling them that they have to claim that they were arrested on financial charges and not (for
protesting) on Ashura (December 27, 2009). They have been threatened that if they do refrain from doing this, they will
be transferred to section one 'for those at the end of the line' and will be killed there. These political prisoners were kept
in solitary in Evin Prison for 10 days with blindfolds where they were tortured. They did not know exactly where they
were detained in Evin Prison. Shetabi and Rohani were then transferred to solitary cells in ward 5 and were faced with
degrading and insulting treatment and physical torture for 37 days. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
Feb. 13, 2010)
Four tortured Gohardasht prisoners in danger of death
According to reports, four prisoners from section 1 of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj were transferred to the RGC section
which is controlled by intelligence agents in this prison after being savagely tortured.
After prisoners took over the control of section 1 for a few hours on February 10, forcing the head of this prison, Ali Haj
Kazem to give in to their demands, four prisoners identified as death row prisoner Hossein Karimi, Alireza Rezayian,
Mohammad Mohammadi and Gholam Ali were summoned on February 14 to the Prison's Intelligence Department.
These prisoners were violently tortured for several days by the head of prison, Ali Haj Kazem, the assistant head of
prison, Ali Mohammadi, the head of the Prison's Intelligence Department, Kermani, the assistant head of this
department, Faraji and Hassan Akharian, the head of the section 1.
Hassan Akharian has reportedly broken the hands and feet of Hossein Karimi and Alireza Rezayian. These four
prisoners were taken for a few moments to the infirmary with stretchers and then thrown in solitary cells in the RGC
section while in critical condition. According to eyewitnesses, the condition of Hossein Karimi and Alireza Rezayian and
two other prisoners was critical.
One of the prison guards has announced to prisoners in section 1 that 'we have broken the hands and legs of all four
prisoners so that no one would even get tempted to protest". This guard also referred to the four prisoners and said,
"They will come back with next year's snow". (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 16, 2010)
Activist extradited to Iran and tortured
Ahmad Saraji, a member of the Reporters without Borders, ran away to Turkey from Iran with his wife and newborn
baby a while ago. After going to Turkey, he called the United Nations and Canada accepted his political case.
Unfortunately Turkey arrested him and his family in an attack.
Ahmad Saraji was directly arrested by the Intelligence Agency after his extradition and tortured for 20 consecutive days.
After 20 days, while he had internal bleeding in his ribcage and other signs of torture, he was taken to prison. Saraji has
been banned from receiving visits and his family has no information on his whereabouts. (Cyrus News Agency – Feb. 28,
2010)
Tortured student activist taken to court
Majid Tavakoli was taken to the Revolutionary Court on Sunday with torture signs clearly
evident above his right eyebrow. He did not know why he was taken to court. Tavakoli, who
was wearing prison clothes from the security section 209 in Evin Prison, said he has been
kept in solitary in section 240 of this prison for the past 3 weeks. This is while this student
activist was kept in a solitary cell in section 209, three weeks before that.
This Amir Kabir University student was summoned to court again even as he was previously
sentenced to 8 years and six months of prison, a 5 year ban on political activities and a 5
year ban from leaving the country in a trial behind closed doors. (Bamdad Khabar – Feb. 22,
2010)
Journalist activist sentenced to prison and lashes
Kambiz Norouzi, a journalist and the head of the Legal Committee of the Journalist's Association in Iran was sentenced
to two years of prison and 74 lashes.
Seyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatayi, his lawyer said that the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court charged his client
with spreading propaganda against the government and disrupting public order and that he has filed for an appeal.
(ISNA state-run news agency – Feb. 26, 2010)
Journalist sentenced to two years of prison and 74 lashes
Iman Mirzazadeh, the lawyer of Asghar Khandan, announced that this journalist had been sentenced to two years of
prison and 74 lashes. He was charged with spreading propaganda against the government and disrupting public order.
(Jaras Website – Feb. 25, 2010)
March
RGC forces brutally beat and arrest human rights activist in Ahwaz
Abolfazl Abedini, human rights activist and journalist was arrested by security forces.
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At 2 am in the morning, agents from the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence arrested Abedini after breaking down
his door.
These 50 plus forces that were completely armed were all from the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence in
Ramhormoz and Ahwaz. Some of these forces were masked.
After a few hour clash because of the resistance of his family, and while these forces created a atmosphere of fear and
terror in his neighborhood, they broke down his door and entered the yard of the house. The agents broke all the
windows, and arrested him at about 5 am after brutally beating him.
These forces even broke the windows of his neighbors' homes.
Abedini's mother, brother and brother's wife were severely injured in this clash. The arrest warrant which was brought by
these forces was illegible and it was not clear what institution had issued it. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 3,
2010)
Iran cuts off limb of man in Khuzestan, lashes another in public
The amputation sentence of an armed robber was carried out in Khuzestan.
The Khuzestan Judiciary announced this and said, "The amputation sentence of Shoqi Z. was carried out in Karun
Prison in Ahwaz after legal procedures were carried out. In light of the evidence, this person was a mohareb (at war with
God)".
Another troublemaker was lashed in the Laleh Square in Susangerd.
A court had sentenced Mehdi H. to a year in Hamedan Prison, 74 lashes in the Laleh Square in Susangerd and five years
of exile in a far off town. (Iskanews state-run website - March 3, 2010)
Security forces beat father of women's rights activist to hand over daughter
Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence beat Darsa Sobhani's father to get information on
this student who has been banned from education.
On March 4, while her father was coming out of their home, six security agents attacked
and beat him and subsequently interrogated him with blindfolds and handcuffs for 4
hours.
These forces told him that if he did not hand over his daughter to the intelligence agency
by Saturday, they would arrest his wife and young daughter and will also seize their
home.
Before this on March 2, six security forces had raided their home in the middle of the
night to conduct a search and confiscated some of their personal belongings.
Darsa Sobhani, a member of the One-Million Signature Campaign who is also active on
the issue of educational rights was banned from continuing her studies at university
because of following the Baha'i faith. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March
4, 2010)
Prison guards attack and beat political prisoners in Orumieh Prison
Darsa Sobhani Special Guards Forces in Orumieh Prison attacked section 12 in this prison. They beat 3
political prisoners identified as Sezayi Baman, Ali Hossein Andi and Ahmad Soleiman
and then transferred them to solitary cells.
One of these prisoners suffered a broken skull and it is not clear whether he received medical attention or not. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – March 5, 2010)
Head of Ardabil prison behind abuse of Azeri political prisoners
Vadoud Sa'adati, Behrouz Alizadeh, Ali Abassi and Rahim Gholami, political Azeri prisoners in Ardabil Prison were
beaten and injured by prison thugs on Saturday March 6 on orders of the head of the this prison.
According to sources close to these political prisoners, Enzayi, the head of the Ardabil Prison has
transferred a number of death row thugs to section 7 of this prison, where political prisoners are
kept, and has tasked them with harassing and abusing political prisoners.
According to this source, these thugs prevented prisoners in section 7 from watching a live
football (soccer) game which was being shown in this section and subsequently attacked Sa'adati,
Alizadeh, Abassi and Gholami with knives, injuring them. There are reports that Vadoud
Sa'adati was severely injured in the face and his nose was broken. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – March 7, 2010)
Prison guards attack prisoners in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, prison guards have started a new round of attacks against defenseless prisoners in Gohardasht
Prison in Karaj.
On Sunday, March 7, at about 8 am, more than 40 prison guards attacked prisoners in section 1 in this prison. They
were transferred to the prison yard while being beaten and insulted. They were kept in the cold air for several hours and
were not allowed to wear their warm clothes. These prisoners were also banned from using the bathroom in this time.
Prison guards subsequently attacked their cells and violently conducted a search in which they seized or broke the
prisoner's personal belongings which were provided by their families or with their own money from the prison store.
Some of the items confiscated by prison guards were phone cards, food stuff, and family pictures. This attack which
started at 8 am, ended at 12 pm and was carried out under the orders of the head of this section, Hossein Akharian and
the commander of the guards, Sami'ie Nejad.
The pressures on prisoners in section 1 have increased and prisoner's visits with their families have been suspended.
Prisoners Ahmad Qa'emi and Kiomars Shokri, who protested these suppressive measures in prison were violently
attacked and beaten by Hossein Akharian, Mirzayi, Aqayi and head officers in this prison. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – March 7, 2010)
Political prisoner beaten and thrown in solitary
According to reports, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani was transferred to a
solitary cell in section 1 known as the Doghouse, after being violently beaten.
On Monday, March 8, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehran was violently beaten
with electric clubs by Hassan Akharian, the head of section 1 in Gohardasht Prison
in Karaj. Akharian and a number of prison guards transferred Tehrani to a solitary
cell in the Doghouse where prisoners are taken for torture and which has medieval
conditions.
Akharian threatened Tehrani that he would, "have it so that he would be killed".
This prison official told Tehrani that he would spend the night there and would
then be transferred to a solitary cell in the Sepah section run by agents of the
intelligence agency. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 8, 2010)
Jailed journalist beaten in prison
Ali Malihi, a journalist and member of the Iran Graduates Organization who was arrested on February 9
and transferred to Evin Prison was beaten in this prison.
Interrogators beat him because of his resistance to the extent that the bruises and torture signs were
evident on his face. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 9, 2010)
Student activist tortured to confess to lies
Mohsen Abdi, an archeologist major at the Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan who was arrested
after Ashura on December 27, 2009 in Tehran told his mother in his first visit with her that he was
physically tortured to confess to participating in the 'seditions'.
This jailed student activist is currently held in Evin Prison's Public Section and was trialed in a court
in this prison before this. His lawyer, Mohammad Oliyayi Far, who was recently arrested, was not
able to go to court to pursue his case because the court was inside the prison. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – March 13, 2010)
Iran lashes young "thief" in public
This film shows a young man being lashed in public for stealing. This event occurred
on Sunday March 14 in the main square (Mahi Square) in the town of Fereidoon
Kenar in the province of Mazandaran. There was a strict security atmosphere and no
one was allowed to freely film the scene. It seems these measures were taken to scare
university students in this town. In the past few months, the inner and outer walls of
the university in this town have full of graffiti against the government and especially
against Khamenei. (Iran Press News
Website – March 25, 2010)
Jailed labor leader kept with drug addicts
and prisoners with contagious diseases; Young man being lashed in
prisoners beaten to make false confessions Fereidoon Kenar
According to reports, a few days before the Fire Festival (May 16) threats and
pressures against political prisoners and ordinary prisoners in section 4 of

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January – October 2010

Gohardasht Prison severely increased which led to the transfer of Mansour Osalu to section 5 of this prison and the
brutal torture of seven other prisoners.
On Sunday March 14, Mr. Osalu, the head of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Union was unexpectedly
summoned by the head of the Protection and Intelligence Department of this prison. Officials intended to transfer him
to a solitary cell in section 5 on the false charge that he intended to hold the Fire Festival in prison. But because all the
solitary cells in this section were full, he was taken to the public cell of this section which is known as the 'methadone
ward' alongside prisoners with severe addictions and contagious diseases. Prisoners in this section have no security. One
of the prisoners in this section is the head of a mafia and is known for dealing drugs in prison and physically eliminating
prisoners. He acts on orders of the prisoner officials, Ali Mohammadi, Kermani and Faraji. This person does whatever
he is told for money. Officials told Osalu yesterday that he will stay in section 5 from now on. Osalu's life is in serious
danger and this is a cause for concern for other prisoners.
On Sunday, simultaneous with the transfer of Osalu to section 5, four prisoners in hall 14 of section 4 were summoned
to the Protection and Intelligence Department and were brutally tortured for a long time with electric clubs. They were
told to confess against Osalu and say that he intended to burn blankets for the Fire Festival. These defenseless prisoners,
whose bodies were severely bruised, were not willing to confess to such lies.
In another attempt on Monday March 15, three other prisoners including Mr. Shahriari were summoned to the
Protection and Intelligence Department. They were also severely tortured with electric clubs. They were told to confess to
collaborating with Osalu to hold Fire Festival celebrations in prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
March 17, 2010)
Student activist beaten in Babol Prison
Mohsen Barzegar, a student activist in the Nonshirvani Industrial University in Babol who is jailed in this prison in this
city was beaten by a number of other prisoners on Sunday and then hospitalized.
This is while the officer in charge of the section who was present in the scene ignored the beating. Barzegar is currently
hospitalized in the Babol Prison Infirmary.
He was arrested in the protests after the presidential elections and was sentenced to 10 months of prison and a one year
suspension from education. (Jaras Website – March 23, 2010)
Jailed dissident cleric beaten in prison
Mohammad Hossein Kazemini Borujerdi, a cleric who is jailed because of his opposition with the
system of the Velayate Faqih (religious jurisprudent – Khamenei) was beaten and insulted by prison
guards and threatened to be thrown in solitary.
According to reports, prison officials have not given any explanations on why he was beaten.
Borujerdi has been jailed since October 8, 2006. (Guya News Website – March 28, 2010)
Man humiliated in public for cutting down trees
After the cutting down of 204 trees in
the 22 Bahman Highway in Zanjan, one
of the offenders was tied to a tree this
morning where the crime was
committed.
A man identified as H.N, one of the
residents of this neighborhood, was
arrested and a criminal record was filed
for him.
Mohammad-Reza Hamidi, the head of
the Judiciary in Zanjan said in this
ceremony that cutting down trees in
public places is a crime.
"This offender has paved the road for
others to cut down trees by cutting
down 9 trees", he added. (ISNA state-run News Agency – March 29, 2010)
Resistant political prisoner under continuous torture and pressure
According to reports, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani was given the choice of
being kept with professional killers or staying in a solitary cell in section 1 of Gohardasht
Prison known as the Doghouse where he is violently tortured.
Tehrani refused both options presented to him by prison officials Kermani, Faraji and Akharian with the intent of
physically eliminating him.
Kermani, the head of the Protection and Intelligence Department and Hassan Akharian the head of section 1 extended
his time in solitary in the doghouse. This is while he was told before this that he would be kept in solitary for 20 days
and his term ended on Sunday (March 28).
Before this, Kermani and Faraji the head and assistant head of the prison's Protection and Intelligence Department and
Hasan Akharian, the head of section 1 had subjected Behrouz Javid Tehrani to psychological and physical pressure
telling him to deny all the reports about the medieval conditions of Gohardasht Prison and announce them as false.
Akharian especially stressed that he deny that section 1 was temporary freed and controlled by prisoners on February 10
and that Hassan Akharian was beaten by prisoners and ran away after his clothes were taken off by prisoners. He was
told that if he did not deny these reports, he would be kept in the Doghouse until he ceased to exist. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – March 30, 2010)
April
Jailed Kurd student threatened with execution
Jahangir Abdollahi, a master's degree political science student at Tehran
University is under physical torture to accept charges made against him.
According to an informed source, interrogators have forced this Kurd student 'to
sit on the ground' in long interrogation sessions and this has caused muscles
problems for him. He has been taken to the Evin Prison infirmary 'on several
occasions' for this reason.
Prison officials have also given him pills as medicine which has caused him to have
'severe insomnia' and Abdollahi has not been able to sleep for 'three days'.
On the other, he has been threatened to execution many times and interrogators
have told him that they would 'execute him like Ehsan Fatahian'.
This Kurd student is a Sunni and interrogators have also insulted his religious
beliefs on several occasions.
Jahangir Abdollahi was arrested on January 26, 2010 while boarding a university
bus.
This student has only stated in a short visit with his family that he is under pressure to accept the charge of having had
'communications with the Kurdistan Democratic Party'. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April. 3, 2010)
Human rights activist under psychological and physical torture in prison
Hesam Firuzi, blogger and human rights activist is under physical and psychological pressure in
prison.
Prison officials are trying to force him to make false confessions and accept charges made against
him.
According to this report, he has only called his family once since his arrest and his wife only
visited him once on March 22 with the presence of security forces. (Radio Farda Website – April
3, 2010)
Iran tests gamma rays on female prisoners and their unborn children after raping them
This report was disclosed by a group of Iranians working in a medical center in a former Soviet country.
There is evidence that shows that women in Iranian prisons are used for Gamma ray research. The Iranian regime rapes
these prisoners and then subjects them and their unborn babies to medium to high doses of gamma rays (1.4 to 4.2 Gy).
Some of these women have died and regime forces have tried to hide their crimes by (burning) the bodies…
In the summer of 2009, there were many reports from Iran about the medical condition of political prisoners who had
severe and rapid hair-loss, blood in their excrement and nose bleeds. There were also reports that prisoners had unusual
nausea and vomiting spells. All these side effects can show that that particular person has been subjected to radiation.
These reports came mostly from Tehran, Arak and Amol.
In 2008, a unit of the Revolutionary Guards Corps was tasked with testing the effects of high doses of radiation on the
liver, brain, breasts, reproductive organs and blood circulation. Two scientists from White Russia were appointed for this
project…

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January – October 2010

In a number of cases (in the five cases that we know of) women ranging from 21 to 40 years old were burned after their
arrest or were eliminated. There are reports of the rape of men and women in Iranian jails but the treatment that was
carried out on these women after the rape was a special kind of treatment of which the nature is not known to us.
Despite the fact that a number of women were released between October to December 2009 and we have had access to
them, no one has announced their willingness to talk about this issue. What is certain for us is that a number of women
had chronic vomiting spells and nausea, bleeding and hair loss and even their eyelashes fell off, signs that were all seen in
Ukraine after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. In the past 8 months there have been many cases of people who were
killed in prison. In some cases, their bodies were acid washed after their deaths. And all these cases were that of women
whose reproductive organs were deformed with acid and completely burned to wipe out all the evidence showing the
existence of such tests. (Cyrus News Agency – April 5, 2010)
Interrogators torture female human rights activist in prison
The brother of political prisoner Mahboubeh Karami in a letter to Tehran's Prosecutor demanded
that the charges against her sister be announced and disclosed heightened pressures against this
human rights activist.
"More than a month has passed since the arrest of my sister Mahboubeh Karami. In this time, she
was held in solitary including on the new year, and the charges against her have still not been
announced. In the only visit I had with my sister, she said that she had been abused by an
interrogator and that he had constantly struck her on the head with a water bottle", he wrote in this
letter. (Taghir Baraye Barabari Website \ Change for Equality – April 6, 2010)
No news on young man beaten and arrested on Fire Festival
There is no news on the whereabouts and condition of Rasoul Hardani, a young man who was severely beaten and
arrested on the day of the Fire Festival (March 16, 2010).
His family said that Rasoul has not made any phone calls since his arrest and that they do not know where he is jailed
and what his present condition is.
Rasoul Hardani, 27, was arrested on the Fire Festival along with two of his friends and after being taken to the Shapure
Detention Center, was tortured with electric clubs and electric shocks.
According to one his cellmates who was recently released, Rasoul, who had severe injuries because security forces had
pulled his body on the asphalt, was taken to an unknown location after 24 hours. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – April 6, 2010)
Political prisoner suffers heart attack; shackled in hospital
On Tuesday April 6, jailed student activist Peiman Aref suffered a heart attack in Evin Prison because of
the pressures and tortures by the head of cellblock 350, Mostafa Bozorgnia and was transferred to the
Modares Hospital. Even while he was in a critical condition he was shackled and taken to hospital
despite the fact that patients who have suffered heart attacks have to be in a (calm) environment without
stress and pressure.
Heart specialists in the hospital stressed that he had to be hospitalized, but since he was kept with
shackles in the hospital under psychological pressure, he asked to be taken back to prison to end the
inhumane conditions in the hospital. He was transferred back to Evin Prison on Wednesday without
heed to the heart specialist's medical orders. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 7,
2010)
Tortured jailed human rights activist taken to prison infirmary
Abolfazl Abedini, a former member of the Human Rights Activists in Iran who has recently been
sentenced to 11 years of prison has been transferred to the infirmary in Evin Prison.
This human rights activist was severely beaten by security forces upon his arrival in Cellblock 2A in Evin
Prison and after resisting the torture for a few hours, was taken to the prison infirmary because he could
not bear the severe blows as he suffers from a serious case of 'mitral valve prolapse'. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 11, 2010)
Prisoner held in horridly inhumane condition in solitary for 25 months
According to reports, Daryoush Arjmand, has been kept in a solitary cell in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison known as
the 'Doghouse' for months.
Daryoush Arjmand, 40, who has been sentenced to 19 years of prison, has been kept in this cell for close to 25 months.
He was taken to solitary for clashing with the prison deputy officer, Mansouri, who died a few months ago outside of
prison over a financial issue, and is kept in medieval conditions in this cell.
He is deprived of a natural source of light and even a lamp in his cell. He is forced to go to the bathroom and bathe in
his cell even while his cell is very small and does not have a toilet or showering facilities. Mr. Arjmand also has many cuts
and bruises on his body but is not taken to the infirmary for treatment and is not even given the necessary items to
bandage his wounds. He is also deprived of proper clothing and his current clothes are ripped and worn out. The foul
odor that comes from his cell bothers other prisoners detained in solitary cells in this block. He is also only given enough
food to live on.
Mr. Arjmand has attempted suicide several times and in the last instance, was left in that state for a few hours before
other prisoners protested which saved his life.
A political prisoner informed a person who visited the prison as an inspector about the condition of this prisoner and
asked him to go see this prisoner to witness his horrid and unimaginable condition for himself but the inspector argued
that this prisoner had aids and was dangerous and did not visit his cell. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran
– April 14, 2010)
Yasuj activists tortured in jail
According to reports, student and human rights activists in Yasuj who were arrested are still under constant pressure by
interrogators from the Ministry of Intelligence despite their release from prison.
These activists were arrested on February 2, 2010 in their homes after violent attacks by agents of the Ministry of
Intelligence. They included Ardavan Qera-ati, arrested on February 2 who was released some time later, Hassan
Akvanian, released after one week and Reza Akvanian, arrested on February 2 and released on February 11, 2010…
These activists were taken to solitary cells in the Yasuj Cental Prison. They were psychologically and physically tortured
during their arrest. These tortures included beatings with electric clubs and kicks and punches in the face and head and
other sensitive parts of the body. The tortures were so violent that some of the prisoners passed out under the beatings.
They were struck in the nose and back and suffered injuries. The signs of torture are still evident on their noses and
backs despite being released weeks before from jail. They were also deprived of sleep and forced to consume pills which
made them drowsy and were then tortured to stay awake. One of the activists was mentally tortured and threatened in
the interrogations that if he did not accept everything they said, they would bring his wife and rape her.
In the first 3 days of their incarceration, the tortures were very violent and constant.
They were charged with instigating Yasuj University students to go on strikes and hold sit-ins, participating in the
Tehran post-election protests, being members of the One Million Signature Campaign (advocating women's rights),
being in contact with human rights activists, giving interviews to international Farsi radio stations, being in contact with
the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, sending reports of human rights violations to outside sources in Iran,
spreading propaganda against the government, and insulting government officials and the 'leadership' in their weblogs.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 16, 2010)
Prison guards attack and abuse prisoners in Gohardasht Prison
On Sunday, April 18, at about 8 am, prison guards in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj violently attacked defenseless
prisoners in this prison under the pretext of searching prisoners and threw them in the prison yard. These forces then
started breaking and confiscating the prisoner's personal items in their cells. This attack continued until about 11 am.
In the end of the attack, Hassan Akharian, the head of cellblock 1 in this prison gathered all the prisoners in the yard
again and started crying out insults using profane language against them.
According to other reports, the pollution of prison water and the constant lack of water still continue in prison. Another
number of prisoners were taken to the infirmary after being poisoned including Morteza Sadeqian from cellblock 1.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
Two prisoners violently tortured for protesting systematic violence in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, two prisoners who had protested the violent and inhumane treatment of Hassan Akharian, the
head of cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, were taken to a torture room which has been recently set up in this
prison and were subjected to violent torture for hours. They were then thrown in solitary cells in cellblock 1 known as
the doghouse.
On Monday April 19, two prisoners from cellblock 1 by the names of Hamid Kheirkhah and Reza Jalilvand were taken
to a torture room set up by Hassan Akharian. These prisoners were first shackled and them violently beaten with clubs
and electric clubs by Akharian, and other prison guards including Amini, Mohammad Mohammadi and Goudarzi. They
were beaten in the face, head and other sensitive parts of their bodies. Two clubs broke as a result of the severity of the
blows. After a long time, Akharian stopped the beatings and told the prisoners that they had to insult themselves and

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January – October 2010

their families for the beatings to stop. But the prisoners did not only refuse this demand, they also tried not to cry out
from pain while being tortured.
These four torturers then sprayed the prisoners' eyes with pepper spray and tear gas. The tortures were so severe that
blood was dripping down the prisoners' faces and their bodies were black and bruised and bloody. These two defenseless
prisoners who were bloody and injured were then thrown in solitary without any treatment. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – April 20, 2010)
Political prisoner discloses systematic torture and humiliation of prisoners in Gohardasht Prison
I am political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani and I have spend more than 10 years in Gohardasht Prison, one of the
most notorious prisoners under this regime. I am jailed though I have committed no
crime. In this time, aside from all the human rights violations that occurred when I was
arrested, interrogated and unjustly tried, I have witnessed thousands of other human
rights violations only in this prison.
I am witness to 10 years of crime, torture, injustice, execution, bureaucratic corruption,
the death of ill prisoners from lack of treatment, suicide in prison and other incidents.
In the solitary cells in hall 2 in cellblock 1, prisoners are beaten with batons, logs and
cables and in some cases with electric clubs by prison guards for revenge and not to
carry out justice. In some cases the prisoners are beaten so severely that they urinate in
themselves. Last year, a young man died under these beatings. In these solitary cells, prisoners are shackled and left in
that state for a few days in their cells and only when they are willing to use profane language and insults against
themselves and their family are they unshackled.
In solitary cells in cellblock 2, being allowed to take a shower is considered a privilege and sometimes prisoners are not
allowed to bathe for months. If the prisoner is not submissive, he will even be barred from using the restroom. There is
no such thing as fresh air time in this block. Radio, TV, newspaper, telephone, visits, fresh air time and books are
banned in these solitary cells.
Prisoner guards address prisoners with insulting remarks and use profane language. Being checked by a doctor is also
considered a privilege and not everyone gets this chance.
I know of a prisoner infected with HIV in the solitary cells in cellblock 2 by the name of Daryoush Arjmand who has
been detained in solitary for 2 and a half years. He has aids and it has been some time that the infirmary has cut off his
antibiotics so he would die sooner. He is not even given the ointment and rubbing alcohol that aids patients need for
their wounds. Prison guards are even afraid to open his cell door to let him out to use the toilet and shower and no one
even changes the light bulb in his cell which burned out long ago.
Our cellblock is under the management of Hassan Akharian. He is a drug addict and treats prisoners with violence most
of the time. Any sort of protest to his erratic behavior is met with solitary in cellblock 2. He has recently taken out the
security cameras in one of the rooms in prison turning it into a torture chamber.
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj is headed by Ali Haj Kazem. He is a corrupt person and receives bribes. He lets those who
work under him carry out any crime and in 2005 there were more than 10 instances that I know of where he sold the
body parts of prisoners without their consent. The prison infirmary cooperated completely with this issue. These
prisoners would be mostly chosen from those whose death sentences were imminent. These prisoners whose body parts
were sold without their consent include Afshin Karimi, Sharvin Goudarzi and Ahmad Hanani.
In this prison, being medically treated on time is also considered a privilege. They say that prisoners do not have the
right to become sick more than once a month and go to the doctor. My close friend Amir Hossein Heshmat Saran
passed away last year because he did not receive treatment on time.
Another problem in this prison is the lack of space in the cells. It is so overcrowded that all prisoners are extremely angry
and annoyed and there are also limitations in using the bathrooms in the non-solitary sections of prison. A very few
number of halls have beds (only 4 halls out of 24 halls have beds). In the halls without beds, prisoners have trouble
sleeping on the ground because of lack of space. This in itself is another form of torture in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
In hall 1 and 3, cellblock 1, prisoners with psychological problems are kept with healthy prisoners and this issue both
leads to the mistreatment of these mentally ill prisoners and the aggravation of healthy prisoners.
Honorable Ban Ki Mon, I do not want to write a long letter but just wanted to request from you on behalf of myself and
all political and ordinary prisoners who do not have access to you to come and visit Gohardasht Prison (Rajayi Shahr
Prison) in your visit to our beautiful country. Without doubt it would be an honor for me, if you would allow it, to come
along with you in your visit to prison as a guide to show you all the dark angles and torture chambers and all the human
rights violations carried out in this prison. Obviously, your visit to Iran and especially this prison would better the
atmosphere for the 3000 or so prisoners in Gohardasht Prison.
Political prisoner and human rights activist Behrouz Javid Tehrani
Gohardasht Prison (Rajayi Shahr Prison) hall 1, cellblock 1
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 18, 2010)
Labor activist says he was tortured by security forces in Saqez
A labor activist in Saqez who asked not to be identified for security reasons said, "Because of the torture and pressure I
was subjected to in prison both my kidneys were damaged and I am in a bad condition ".
"My doctor believes that because of the torture, my brain was also damaged and my ailments are increasing", he added.
This activist said that he had appealed to the United Nations to help him leave the country without result and that he is
condemned to a gradual death. (Iran News Agency – April 26, 2010)
Hospitalized student taken to prison from hospital
Ali Parviz, a student at Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran who went on a leave from prison before the Iranian New Year
was taken back to prison from the hospital by security forces despite his critical condition.
He went on a furlough on a 300 million toman (about 300,000 dollars)
bail and after going to the doctor because of constant asthma attacks he was
hospitalized in the Special Lung Hospital of Masih Daneshvari after the
doctor diagnosed him with lung infection and internal bleeding in his
lungs which he had gotten in prison.
Last week after the end of his furlough, his family asked the representative
of the prosecutor in Evin Prison that his furlough be extended because of
the fact that he was hospitalized. But their constant pleas in this regard
were left unanswered. Immediately after it was announced that he was
hospitalized, the representative of the prosecutor went to the hospital at
night and interrogated the Ali Parviz and all the hospital personnel and
asked for his medical records.
The frequent visits of the prosecutor's representative to the hospital and a
visit by the representative of the medical examiner on behalf of the
prosecutor led Ali Parviz's doctor to release him from prison before the end
of his treatment. After the announcement of his release from prison, agents
of the prosecutor's office immediately came to the hospital for his arrest
and separated him from his family. They took him to Evin Prison with an ambulance.
Ali Parviz was arrested on November 3, 2009 after security forces raided his home and was under constant interrogations
while in a solitary cell. He was sentenced to 3 years of prison in an initial sentence by the 28th branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Moqiseh. Parviz is a computer engineering student at Khajeh Nasir University. (Kalameh
Website – April 27, 2010)
Ailing prisoner in Gohardasht Prison beaten savagely
On Monday, April 26, prisoners in cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj were pulled out of their cells and taken to
the prison yard. One of the prisoners by the name of Ali-Akbar Lamaei, 30, from cell 2, hall 16 uses sedatives because he
is suffering from a mental illness.
When the prisoners were being taken to the yard, he was moving at the back of the line because of his condition.
Prison guards insulted him and then took him to section 8, where they beat him with clubs and iron pipes. He became
injured and some of his body parts were fractured as result after which he went into a coma. Prison guards first left him
in that condition for a long time before he was taken to the prison infirmary. The infirmary announced that he was in
critical condition. The painful sounds of his crying and sobbing which were heard in the prison yard enraged his
cellmates.
The prison guards who were torturing Ali-Akbar Lamaei were Qasem Mohammadi aka Uncle Qasem, Sheikhi, Ahmadi
and Eqbani. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
Prisoner commits suicide in Gohardasht Prison in protest to injustice
On Wednesday April 28, Hassan Nasirvand, a prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj committed suicide because of the
intolerable pressures he was subjected to.
According to reports, Nasirvand, who was about 30 years old and married, committed suicide in protest to being forced
to pay a bribe by the Karaj Revolutionary Prosecutor. He died after in cellblock 4 in this prison.

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His body was left for a few hours in the showers of this block which enraged his cellmates.
Nasirvand, who had been jailed for financial charges, was kept in an undetermined state in prison. His families constant
visits to the Karaj Prosecutor's Office was met with insults and harassment by the prosecutor and in the end he asked
them for a large bribe to free Nasirvand which the family could not afford. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – April 29, 2010)
Fleeing torture in Iran
After he was tortured and his brother was executed, Ali fled the Iranian regime and sought asylum in Britain.
Ali looks young and healthy for his 32 years. But during the course of our interview it becomes clear that he still suffers
from the physical and mental effects of the torture he suffered at the hands of the Iranian authorities.
At university in Shiraz, southwest Iran, Ali got involved with a number of student protest movements. In 1997 he led a
demonstration against the newly elected President Khatami.
'The militia came and beat us with batons. As I tried to protect my head they broke my arm'.
A few weeks later the police came and arrested him. They had been to the university and taken the names of everyone
involved in the protest.
'This time not much bad happened. I was slapped maybe ten times, and they made me sign papers saying I would not
cause any more problems'.
Shortly afterwards he graduated with a degree in environmental engineering. His employment prospects should have
been good but his blemished record meant he was unable to find work and he was forced to go into military service in
Tehran.
At first he committed himself to his training and military studies and, because of his high level of education, was soon
assigned the task of teaching other recruits.
'When I was teaching the other soldiers I always questioned the mullahs. I asked why we should believe everything we
were told about our government'.
One night while on guard duty in the barracks he was attacked by a masked man armed with a knife. Ali pulled his pistol
to defend himself but somebody had removed the live rounds from the weapon. He was stabbed eight times in the chest,
back and legs then left for dead.
The knife had somehow missed his vital organs. When he was well enough to talk he spoke to his superiors about the
attack. Nobody was listening to him. They thought it was his fault for forgetting to check his weapon was loaded and
they blamed the attack on 'some criminal element'. The fuss that Ali kicked up about the attack led to him being
discharged dishonourably.
Feeling embittered with the regime, he formed his own underground group whose stated aim was to 'free Iranian people
from tyranny'. With five other core members, including his younger brother, they used the internet and student contacts
to drum up support for the movement.
'The problem with my brother was that he didn't show patience. He was so proud of our group that he wanted to tell
people about it'.
As the group became better known and the network of supporters grew, his brother was arrested and later executed. Ali's
wife was taken into custody and tortured. After several months on in hiding, Ali was arrested himself.
'For 40 days they beat me. They stamped on my head: they broke my jaw and they broke my pride. They told me I was
against the Supreme Leader and therefore against God and they were going to cut off my hands and feet and then kill
me'.
Ali was forced to sit for hours in a small wooden box, leaving him with permanent injuries to his knees. At night they
would haul him out of bed with a knife to his throat and tell him he was going to be killed. As we speak he keeps
shifting position to try and ease the pain in his legs.
'They destroyed my mind. Now I find it hard to concentrate because of the pain in my body and the flashbacks'.
Then after the beatings and the threats, it was time for Ali to meet the same fate as his brother.
He was bundled into a car and driven towards Tehran to be executed for treason.
On the way the two soldiers stopped the car and told Ali to run. He later learnt his wife had sold everything she had to
bribe soldiers to help him escape.
Ali spent weeks, his health deteriorating, travelling clandestinely through Iran, before being brought to England by an
agent. In 2007 he applied for asylum. He is still waiting for a decision.
Ali has made great progress. With the help of NHS doctors and 112ounseling from the Medical Foundation for the Care
of Victims of Torture his flashbacks are now far less frequent.
But he is still in pain every day. He is on 11 different types of medication for his physical and mental symptoms. He is
separated from his wife and his mother blames him for his brother's death.
Looking at Ali now it seems a lot of the fight has left him. The pain in his jaw stops him from sleeping and he is having
physiotherapy on his knees. He feels that he is getting the best care for his injuries and his psychological problems.
But what would really help would be if he felt he was contributing to society rather than just waiting for handouts.
'The Home Office didn't send me home, but they don't accept me as a citizen. It is very difficult for me when I don't
have permission to work. I cannot even apply for a driving licence'.
In Iran he couldn't work because he had spoken out against the government. Not being able to work in Britain makes
him feel he is still being punished (Telegraph – April 28, 2010)

May
Prisoners in Gohardasht Prison group tortured by guards
On the night of May 2, prison guards at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj attacked prisoners who were in a cell called the
Hosseinieh. This cell is located at the end of Hall 2 in Cellblock 2 in Gohardasht Prison. The guards beat the prisoner
which led to clashes between the prisoners and guards… They then blindfolded and shackled three prisoners by the
names of Hassan Sharifi, Bahram Tasviri and Mohammad Mohammadi and forced them to go back and forth through a
human tunnel made by the guards. The guards then barraged them with clubs while they were moving through the
tunnel. When one of the prisoners fell on the ground, they were attacked and violently beaten.
Other prisoners in the hall woke up from the moaning and sobbing of the prisoners and their cries could even be heard
in the next block. These three prisoners who had fractured bones in their hands and black and bloodied bodies were
sent to solitary without being treated (for their wounds). (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 4, 2010)
Jailed lawyer under pressure to make false TV confessions
A lawyer who has been jailed for more than 130 days in Evin Prison is under severe pressure to make a televised
confession.
According to reports, a new round of interrogations started about 10 days ago for Hassan Sarchahi who was arrested on
Ashura.
According to this report, interrogators have put pressure on this lawyer to force him to participate in a televised
interview and they have asked him to make false confessions against himself.
This is while this 30 year old political prisoner has protested his undetermined state in prison and the fact that his file
has not been referred to any of the branches of the Revolutionary Court.
Hassan Sarchahi was beaten upon his arrest and after four months and 10 days in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison, is still
kept in a state of limbo. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 5, 2010)
Death row political prisoner under torture in Evin Prison
According to reports, death row political prisoner Jafar Kazemi is under torture and pressure by intelligence agents in
ward 209 in Evin Prison to give an interview ('confess') on television.
This 47-year-old prison is a father of two. He has a lithographing company and lithographed all the educational books
for Amir Kabir University.
Jafar Kazemi was arrested on September 18, 2009 while in a Taxi to pick up his wife who had gone on a trip. Four cars
which belonged to the Intelligence Agency stopped him in 7 Hoze Square and forced him out of the car while beating
him. These agents also beat the taxi driver on the street amid protests from Kazemi saying that he was only a taxi driver.
Kazemi was then transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison and was under the most severe psychological and physical
torture for the first 3 days of this incarceration. These tortures which went on for 72 hours left scars on his face and
body and he also suffered an injury in his nose and jaw. Kazemi also lost a large amount of weight. Interrogators did not
give him any treatment even while he was bleeding and continued their tortures. The interrogators then threatened him
that if he did not participate in the TV confessions, they would arrest his son and wife and bring them to cellblock 209
to torture them in front of him. But Kazemi still did not give in to their demands. After 74 hours in a solitary cell, he
was transferred to cellblock 350.
After widespread protests on Ashura (December 27, 2009) intelligence agents once again put him under pressure to
participate in TV interviews and announce that he was arrested on Ashura and repeat the words dictated to him by his
interrogators. Otherwise they would arrest and torture his wife and son in front of him.
He was once again tortured for a few hours in which two of his teeth broke and he also suffered severe injuries in his
nose and shoulder. Kazemi told his interrogators that they could do whatever they wanted but he will not repeat what

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they told him to in front of cameras and that he would only speak the truth. He was severely tortured because one of his
sons is in camp Ashraf in Iraq and Alavi, the head interrogator, has constantly reminded Kazemi of this.
Kazemi is tortured by an interrogator nicknamed Alavi. Alavi kicked and punched Kazemi in the face and broke his
teeth and nose.
Kazemi's case was referred to the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court which is headed by Moqiseh aka Naserian who
was a member of the 'death commission' in charge of killing thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Because there is no
evidence of any action carried out by Kazemi, Moqiseh has sentenced him to death on charges like moharebeh (enmity
with God), spreading propaganda against the government, acting against national security, organizing Amir Kabir
University students and being in contact with former political prisoners and their families. Mohammad Moqiseh
despises former political prisoners and has stated this issue a number of times. He has even told them that 'we should
have executed you while you were jailed and made a mistake in not doing so'.
Kazemi's death sentence was upheld by Ahmad Zargar, the head of the 36 th branch of the Revolutionary Court of
Review. Zargar was an interrogator in the 80's and tortured political prisoners. During the recent protests, he gave
heavier sentences to prisoners whose cases were referred to him compared to the prisoner's initial sentences.
Death row political prisoner Jafar Kazemi was a political prisoner in the 80's. He was jailed and tortured from 1981 to
1990. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 6, 2010)
Iran tortures prisoners by denying them treatment
According to reports, a prisoner whose leg was broken and his body was injured and bleeding after being tortured was
taken to the Prison infirmary after several days of suffering severe pain.
Prisoner Bahram Tasviri from cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj suffered a broken leg and injuries after being
tortured by prison guards. His leg broke after a prison guard commander named Aqayi struck him on the leg with a fire
extinguisher.
He was left with a broken leg and an injured and bleeding body for a several days in a solitary cell in cellblock 1 known
as the doghouse and endured great pain. This is a new method for torturing defenseless prisoners. He was only taken to
the infirmary after several days and even Eshraqi, one of the medics in the infirmary, was shocked at the sight of his
black and bruised body. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 7, 2010)
Government agents beat protesting students in Beheshti University
According to reports, after Ahmadinejad left the Abu-reihan Hall in Beheshti University following his surprise visit to
this university, agents of the Protection Department attacked and beat protesting students. These forces had cut off the
university dormitory‘s internet lines from the night before to prevent the spread of this news. (Iran News Agency – May
10, 2010)
High chance of death of death row political prisoner under torture – source
According to credible reports, Kurd political prisoner Aziz Mohammadzadeh who was sentenced to death in a court in
Saqez on charges of membership in a Kurd opposition party and acting against national security has probably died under
torture while on a hunger strike. He had gone on a hunger strike in protest to his sentence. Security forces in Saqez have
transferred him to an unknown location and there has been no news on his whereabouts for months despite constant
pursuits by his family.
All relevant government institutions have denied the existence of such a prisoner in their detention centers and this has
led to serious concerns for his family and there is high chance of his death under torture.
Aziz Mohammadzadeh, 26 is from the town of Baneh and was arrested on October 13, 2009 by security forces in this city
and taken to the Baneh Detention Center. He was transferred to Saqez Prison after 3 months of severe torture. (The
Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners – May 10, 2010)
Letter female political prisoner days before execution
The Iranian regime executed Shirin Alamhouli, a female Kurd political prisoner on the
dawn of May 19, 2010 in Evin Prison. Shirin was told that if she gave interviews on state-
run television to ‘confess‘ against herself she would not be executed, but she refused to
cooperate with the regime.
Shirin was born in 1981 in a village near Maku and was arrested in 2008 by agents of the
Revolutionary Guards Corps. She was tortured in an unknown location for the first 25 days
of her incarceration.
Her death sentence was announced to her lawyer on January 3 but her case investigation in
the court of first instance was not legal and therefore her lawyer filed for an appeal.
In a letter dated May 2, 2010, Shirin wrote about the torture she was subjected to in prison.
This letter reads in part:
―I was jailed for three years which meant that I had spent three years of my life, two of which I was without a lawyer,
behind the metal bars of Evin prison. I was jailed for two years in a state of limbo and without a detention order. They
would not answer my contestant pleas about my undetermined state and in the end, they sentenced me to death.
They have told me to deny the fact that I am a Kurd so I say that if I were to do such a thing, it would be like denying
myself‖.
Shirin addressed her interrogator and judge and wrote: ―In the time that you interrogated me I could not even speak
your language and I only learned Farsi from my friends in prison in the last two years. But you interrogated and tried me
with your own language and issued a sentence for me. This is while I did not clearly understand what was going on
around me and could not defend myself.
The tortures I was subjected to give me nightmares. My pain and suffering from the tortures are with me everyday. The
blow that I received on my head has led to injuries in my head. Sometimes I have severe pain. My headaches are so
severe that I black out and do not know what is going on around me for hours and I get nose bleeds from the pain until
I gradually come to again‖.
The tortures and pressures subjected to Shirin in prison have also affected her eyesight.
―They have asked me to cooperate with them so that I would not be executed. I do not know what cooperating with
them means when I have nothing more to tell them. As a result, they have asked me to repeat what they tell me and I
have refused. The interrogator said: We wanted to release you last year, but because your family did not cooperate with
us, it led to this. The interrogator has admitted that I am only a hostage in their hands and they will keep me and
execute me to reach their goals, but they will never release me. Shirin Alamhouli – May 3, 2010‖. (Iran News Agency –
May 7, 2010)
Executed political prisoner said he was innocent in letter from prison
Letter written by Ali Heidarian, who was hanged on May 9, 2010 in Evin Prison:
I am Ali Heidarian. I was born on September 23, 1979. I lived in Sanandaj. I was arrested on
the evening of August 19, 2006 by a number of plain clothes agents and was taken to an
unknown location…
The interrogations started before I was actually charged with a crime. The interrogator had
not finished his question when the person next to him put a shocker to the sensitive parts of
my body like my face, ears and tip of my fingers and demanded that I answer without even a
moment of hesitation. I was forced to answer questions, some of which I did not have time to
understand, dozens of times just to prevent the electric shocks.
But this did not satisfy them and the interrogator ordered for them to bring out the whip and
take my clothes off. I was stripped and laid on the ground with my hands shackled behind my
back. Another person had put his foot on my shoulder and was pushing my hands upwards and I could not make the
smallest move. One of them folded the whip to increase the pain and whipped me from head to toe…
Suddenly one of them pinched my nails with the tool in his hand, pressed and pulled out my nail which caused so much
pain, incomparable to what I had felt before…
The next day, a medic they trusted came to examine the effects of the torture on my body. He took off my clothes and
wrote down a few sentences with shaky hands, a pale complexion and terrified eyes after seeing the injuries and bruises
from the flogging, electric shocks and beatings I had received…
The fact that I believed I was innocent and had not carried out any illegal act was the only thing that gave me hope
among all my hardships…
After about 18 months of detention, I was summoned to the 30th branch of the Revolutionary Court and in a trial which
lasted less than 10 minutes without considering the minimum judicial procedures, I was sentenced to death on charges
of membership in the Kurdistan Worker's Party in Turkey. A Party that was founded in Turkey and none of its members
had received the death sentence even in their own country. When I asked the judge for evidence for such a charge he
answered that the sentences for political cases are issued by security institutions ‗and I just carry out orders‘!
This is the story of a death row (prisoner).
Ali Heidarian – Evin Prison – Feb. 1, 2010 (Iran News Agency – May 10, 2010)
Evin Prison guards‟ brutal attack on political prisoners leaves some prisoners unconscious
According to reports, after the execution of five political prisoners, riot police in Evin Prison took revenge on protesting
prisoners and brutally beat them to prevent the spread of protests.

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January – October 2010

The severity of the attack and the suppression was so high that some prisoners in cellblock 350, the special clerical
cellblock 500, and cellblocks 7 and 8 became unconscious and there are reports of probable deaths. According to this
report, agents prevent the injured prisoners from being taken to the infirmary.
All the phone lines in Evin were also cut off while in the past few days political prisoners Isa Saharkhiz, Tabarzadi,
Davoud Soleimani, Rasoul Bodaghi, Mehdi Mahmoudian and Dr. Rafiei were transferred to Gohardasht Prison and
Pardis Prison in Karaj. From the beginning of the (Iranian) New Year, some prisoners including Ayatollah Borujerdi who
reported events inside prison to the outside were barred from visits. These pressures have been carried out to prevent the
flow of news from prison especially reports on the critical and restive state of this prison. (Cyrus News Agency – May 12,
2010)
Security forces open fire at protesters in Sanandaj; injure two people
Following the restive atmosphere in Kurdistan and after public calls for a strike and protests in all Kurd areas, the Crisis
Corps of the Interior Ministry entered Sanandaj today.
This is while according to reports there were clashes between security forces and young people in the Kamarbandi Street
today.
This clash started after riot police opened fire on protesters to disperse them and at least two people were injured.
(Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners – May 13, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison denies proper medical attention to wounded prisoner
On Friday May 14 at about 4:30 pm when prisoner Seyed Mostafa Alavai was praying in is cell in cellblock 6 in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, an unidentified person attacked him from behind hitting him on the head with a hard
object. His head broke as a result and he fainted. Because there was no one in his cell at time, he was left in this state for
some time on the ground with a bleeding head until one of his cellmates found him on the floor and quickly took him
to the infirmary. He received 16 stiches on his head and had deep wounds on his forehead.
Despite his wounds, the infirmary refused to hospitalize him and only gave him stiches and sent him back to his cell in a
critical condition. Alavi is also suffering from heart problems and diabetes.
His family called Gohardasht Prison and protested this issue but they were told that that the prison were not aware of
such an incident. This is while the head of the cellblock, his deputy officer and the prison infirmary knew of this
incident. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 15, 2010)
Iran burns prisoner to extract confession
Prisoner Mojtaba Haji Nia, 23, was arrested on April 12 in his parent‘s home in Karaj and was taken to the Saba Base in
Shahriar. A person named Lieutenant Majid Golshan demanded that he confess to a crime he had not committed but
Haji Nia refused and told him that he had not committed any crime. Lieutenant Golshan used a torture against this
prisoner known as the ‗Jujeh Kabab‘ (chicken barbecue). This method of torture is normal in detention centers in Iran
and is used to extract confessions from prisoners. In addition to this kind of torture, Golshan soaked his back, feet and
hands with gasoline and burned his body parts in the course of the tortures. He continued this method until the
prisoner became unconscious. Haji Nia was then taken to the infirmary and was hospitalized there for some time for
severe burns on his back, hands and feet.
Haji Nia was transferred to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj a few days ago before his burns had completely healed.
Despite the brutal tortures used against him, he has not confessed and has announced that he is innocent and has not
committed any crimes. He is currently in a state of limbo in prison and is suffering from severe pain. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – May 16, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner suffering from lung cancer in critical condition
The physical condition of Kaveh Kurd Moqadam, a political prisoner in Orumieh Prison, is very critical.
He was sentenced to three years of prison by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Orumieh on charges of
acting against national security and was afflicted with lung and gastric cancer in prison.
Judicial and prison officials have refused to give him a medical leave despite seeing his critical condition and
recommendations from doctors that he needs urgent chemotherapy. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 18, 2010)
Iran charges 57 year old father of Ashraf resident to moharebeh
Hamid (Mashallah) Haeri, 57, was arrested on December 5, 2008 after agents of the Ministry of Intelligence attacked and
arrested him in his home. He was taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. Haeri and his family were
mistreated by these agents upon his arrest. They searched his home breaking his appliances and confiscated some of their
belongings.
Haeri was kept in solitary in cellblock 209 for 74 days under physical and psychological torture. Intelligence agents told
him that they would arrest and detain his wife and daughter in the Kahrizak Detention Center to force him to confess.
They threatened that if he refused their demands, the chances of the death of his wife and daughter would become
higher.
Intelligence agents also constantly summoned his wife and daughter to the intelligence agency in this time, threatening
and interrogating them. Criminal records were also filed for them.
On Wednesday May 19, political prisoner Hamid Haeri was tried in the 28 th branch of the Revolutionary Court by
Mohammad Moqiseh (member of the ‗death commission‘ responsible for the massacre of political prisoners in the 80‘s).
Haeri was treated violently by Moqiseh and was threatened that they would also put his wife and daughter on trial.
He was charged with moharebeh (waging war with God), visiting his child in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, supporting the
PMOI, being active (against the regime), propagating against the regime, and attracting supporters (for the PMOI) among
other things. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 20, 2010)
Jailed director violently beaten in prison goes on hunger strike
Jailed writer and director Mohammad Nourizadeh went on hunger strike after he was beaten by Evin Prison agents.
On Tuesday May 18, Mohammad Nourizadeh was taken outside his cell on the pretext of being taken out for fresh air
and was then attacked by 5 security agents in this prison who beat him close to death. He was violently struck in the
head and prison medics diagnosed him with a concussion. His eyesight has also been damaged because of the strike to
his head.
This political prisoner has gone on a complete hunger strike (refusing to eat both food and water) in protest to this
illegal and immoral act. He has announced to his family that if this state continues, he will not stay alive.
He was sentenced to 3 and a half years of prison in addition to 50 lashes by a court of first instance. (Kalameh Website –
May 20, 2010)
Qazvin Prosecutor: limb amputation will be used as punishments for thieves
The Prosecutor of Qazvin announced that the amputation law would be pursued to decrease robberies in Qazvin.
Hojatoll-Islam Sadeqi Niaraki cited the increase of some crimes in Qazvin and said, ―Narcotics, robberies and intentional
beatings are crimes that have the highest rates (in Qazvin) and we are looking to control these crimes by issuing sentences
and urgently implementing the sentences according to the law‖.
―Regarding drug dealers, heavier sentences will be carried out and robbers are to be sentenced to hand amputation‖, he
said.
He also said that the punishments for crimes will be more severe. (ISNA state-run News Agency – May 23, 2010)
Political prisoner writes letter from prison detailing brutal tortures
Hassan Mirzayi, a political prisoner in the Orumieh Central Prison who was sentenced to 32 months of prison by the
first branch of the Orumieh Revolutionary Court wrote a letter detailing the tortures he was subjected to during his
detention in the Salmas, Khoy and Orumieh Intelligence Agencies, and Evin Prison.
―I am Hossein Mirzayi and was arrested by security forces in a Revolutionary Guards Corps checkpoint on May 24, 2009
and was detained for about 17 days in the Salmas and Khoy Intelligence Agencies where I was interrogated. On June 11,
2009, I was taken from the Khoy Intelligence Agency to Orumieh and was subjected to severe physical and mental
tortures for 47 days.
During the 47 days in the Orumieh Intelligence Agency I was physically tortured, beaten, lashed on the legs and
shoulders, and hung from my hands and feet.
From the seventh day of my detention in Orumieh, I was tortured twice a day, in the morning and evening, in an electric
chair and after 14 days I was transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. There they gave me three injections which made
my muscles extremely weak and sluggish and I was strangely slow in answering their questions. I was not able to walk and
during this stage I was unable to eat anything except water for 7 to 8 days.
I was then transferred to Khoy from Evin. Because of the injuries in my chest, I am suffering from respiratory problems
along with severe coughs and have nasal secretions. I still have pain in my left knee as a result of the tortures.
After making constant visits to the prison infirmary, medics in the Khoy and Orumieh Prisons announced in their initial
checkups that I need to have urgent radiology pictures taken from lungs. Also the doctor in Evin Prison said that as a
result of the torture, the nerves in my left knee have been damaged and this has led to thinness in my left leg.
After the checkups, I constantly requested to be treated in a hospital outside the prison at my own expense or asked to
be seen by a specialist without any results and my condition is deteriorating by the day‖. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– May 22, 2010)
Mentally ill prisoner brutally tortured by prison guards in Gohardasht Prison

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According to reports, a prisoner who is suffering from a severe mental disorder was brutally tortured with cables, metal
rods and electric clubs.
Prisoner Mehdi Abedini Nejad, 25, who should be kept in a mental hospital, is jailed in Gohardasht Prison. This
prisoner has no control over his actions but is actually gentle and harmless.
On Sunday, May 22, Abedini Nejad took off his clothes because of his mental state. The head of the cellblock 6 in this
prison, Shokri, took him to section 8 and tortured him with cables, metal rods and batons for a long period of time
along with Sheikhi and Aghvayi, two other officers in this prison. The tortures were so brutal that his enraged cellmates
could hear his sobbing and cries for help. When Mehdi was brought back to his cell he was unable to walk and moved
with the help of his cellmates. His whole body was bloody and bruised and he was unable to sit or lie down because of
the pain. Despite his critical condition, he was not taken to the infirmary and was left in that state in his cell. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 23, 2010)
Bassij forces attack peaceful protesters at Tehran Free University
Following the attack of the Bassij against a protest gathering at the Tehran Central Free University, a number of students
were injured and arrested. According to reports, after the end of classes in this university on Saturday, students held a
protest gathering. The protesters chanted slogans against the dictators and demanded the release of student prisoners.
Following a speech by a student and an anthem sung by the participants, security forces and the Bassij attacked and beat
the protesters, attempting to arrest them. (Radio Farda – May 23, 2010)
Jailed student activist goes on hunger strike in protest to being thrown in solitary
Majid Tavakoli, a jailed student activist was taken to a solitary cell today for unknown reasons.
He had announced to his cellmates before his transfer that he would go on a dry hunger strike
(refusing to eat both food and water) if he is taken to solitary.
This is while in the past few days, his physical health was reportedly poor and he was taken to the
infirmary several times. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 23, 2010)
Prisoner brutally tortured and raped for protesting
According to reports from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj prisoners who are mostly young are transferred to cellblock 1
known as the Doghouse for protesting and are subjected to brutal treatment by Hassan Akharian, the head of the
Doghouse. They are tortured and their hands and legs are broken and according to reports, prisoners Saman
Mohammadian and Mohsen Bigvand are currently hospitalized in the infirmary after being tortured .
One of the many prisoners who have been tortured in this way in the Doghouse is Bahram Tasviri. This 30-year-old
prisoner has been jailed in an undetermined state for six years now. He was thrown in solitary for five days about 6
weeks ago after protesting insults by Yusefi, a prison official, against his family. Tasviri requested to call his family but
prison officials refused. Akharian called his mother and told her that her son had passed away and his body is in the
hospital for them to collect for burial. Tasviri‘s mother had a heart attack and was hospitalized after hearing this news.
Akharian then told Tasviri that his mother had been hospitalized. Tasviri asked to call his family and again he was
denied the phone call. This is while his five days in solitary had ended and he was going into the seventh day. But prison
officials refused to take him out of solitary. He then asked to see the prison warden but this request was refused as well.
Finally to end the intolerable condition in which he was kept in he immolated himself. Prison guards stormed his cell
and sprayed pepper gas in his eyes and beat him in the face and head with clubs .
Bahram Tasviri was taken to another cell used for torturing prisoners while his body was burned. He was shackled and
blindfolded and tortured for a long time with clubs. His hands and feet broke as a result. Then he was stripped and
sodomized with clubs by Mirza Aqayi, the officer in charge and two guards named Yusefi and Shirkhani. This defenseless
prisoner passed out as a result of the torture and the guards splashed water in his face until he came to and repeated the
sexual torture. All the tortures were carried out under the supervision of Hassan Akharian .
Bahram Tasviri was then taken back to the solitary cell. He was stripped and left without any covering or blankets on the
cement floor of the cell which was dampened by prison guards. Tasviri was kept in this condition for one month with a
broken hand and foot and while his body was injured, bruised and bloody. His feet became infected after a while and he
went into a coma and prison guards were forced to take him to the infirmary. The infirmary at first refused to take him
in because he was near death and did not want to take his responsibility. Finally Dr. Razavi took him in and after he
became conscious, told prison officials that he needed an urgent surgery. But Akharian refused and threw him in solitary
again until after two days, he was taken for an operation because of pressure from the infirmary .
The Tasviri family filed a suit against the crimes committed against their son in prison and Bahram Tasviri also filed a
complaint to the prison inspection department. A person by the name of Reza Torabian has threatened him that if he
does not take back his complaint, he would have to face the consequences and there is a chance that he would be killed
in prison .
On Saturday and Sunday, Akharian beat Tasviri again in front of other prisoners with a baton for a long time trying to
pressure him into taking back his complaint .
Other prisoners have the same situation and a number of them are still in solitary. They are Ahmad Ashkan, Reza
Jalaleh, Majid Afshar, Mohsen Bigvand, Taqi Nazari, Mehdi Surani (his jaw broke as a result of the tortures and he is in
solitary), Qeisar Ismaili, Majid Mahmoudi, Naser Quchanlou, Hossein Karimi, Hamid Ashki, Shir-Mohammad
Mohammadi and Hassan Sharifi who has been kept in solitary for six months for no reason and is tortured on a daily
basis. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 25, 2010)
Iran attacks and beats students in Shahre Kurd, one student in critical condition
According to reports from students in the Free
Shahre Kurd University in the province of
Chahar Mahale Bakhtiari in south west Iran,
from the early morning hours there was a
heavy security atmosphere in this university
and security, intelligence and plainclothes
agents were stationed inside the university .
Bassij forces started beating the students and
using widespread violence intending to arrest
Student become unconscious after being struck on the head a number of students. Until this report was
issued, one of the students who was severely
beaten by Amir Amirkhani Dehkordi (a member of the pro-state Alam Hoda Organization) became unconscious because
of the severe blows to his head and was taken to the Kashani Hospital in Shahre Kurd. Reports say that he is in critical
condition. (Peik-e-Iran Website – May 25, 2010)
Two jailed student activists in critical condition after going on dry hunger strikes
Student activist Majid Tavakoli and Hossein
Ronaqi Maleki who are in their 5th day of hunger
strike are in poor condition. According to reports,
Tavakoli who was suffering from a kidney illness,
is in critical condition and is not able to speak. He
is also suffering from a stomach hemorrhage.
There is also no news on the condition of Hossein
Ronaqi. His parents came to Tehran yesterday to
pursue the case of their blogger son but were not
able to get any information on his condition.
There were reports on the third day of his hunger
strike that he was in a very poor state to the extent
that he was barely able to speak to his family over
the phone and his family did not understand what
he said in their short conversation.
Majid Tavakoli and Hossein Ronaqi Tavakoli was arrested on December 7, 2009 after a
student day ceremony and was sentenced to 8 years of prison. Hossein Ronaqi was arrested on December 13, 2009 and
was detained in cellblock 2A in Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 7, 2010)
Hunger striking jailed human rights activist taken to infirmary
Human rights activists Kohyar Goudarzi was taken to the Evin Prison infirmary after
going on a hunger strike in his solitary cell.
Goudarzi who was expelled from the Sharif Industrial University and was arrested on
December 20, 2009 was thrown in a solitary cell some time ago where he went on
hunger strike. He is currently in the infirmary and is being given intravenous fluids.
―I went to Evin Prison to visit my son today‖, his mother, Parvin Mokhtara said in
this regard.
―But officials did not let me see him and said that until he is solitary he is barred
from visits‖.

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―He also stopped calling us from about 15 days ago and we are not aware of his current condition‖, she added.
Goudarzi who is a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters was thrown in solitary in cellblock 240 after
protesting to the head of cellblock 350 on May 20. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 27, 2010)
Iran sentences man to 10 years of prison on charges of having contact with PMOI
Political prisoner Abbas Badfar was arrested on December 1, 2009 in Baluchistan and transferred to cellblock 209 in
Evin Prison. He was kept for a few months in this cellblock and subjected to brutal physical and mental torture. Because
he was an unknown, violent methods of torture were used against him and he was kept in solitary for a long period of
time. He was also threatened that he would killed and executed.
Badfar was recently transferred to cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prison. He was tried without a lawyer and denied the right
to defend himself and was sentenced to 10 years of prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison on charges of moharebeh
(enmity with God) and being in contact with the People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Signs of torture are still evident on his body. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 29, 2010)
Jailed teacher violently beaten in prison
According to reports, Rasoul Bodaghi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Iran Teacher
Center was brutally attacked, beaten and insulted by prison guards.
On Saturday May 29 at about 7 am, this political prisoner was attacked by 3 prison guards and was
violently beaten.
Prison guard Qasem Mohammadi first started insulting him which was met with his protests. Then
an officer by the name of Sheikh and another prison guard, Aqvayi, violently attacked him punching
and kicking him in the face and other sensitive parts of his body. They also used profane language
against him and his family. Mohammadi also threatened him calling him a traitor and saying that he
had to be tried and executed.
When other prisoners tried to interfere they were also beaten by the guards. Dr. Ahmad Zied Abadi was among those
beaten and insulted by the guards. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 29, 2010)
Female university professor sentenced to 6 years of prison and 74 lashes
According to a sentence issued by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Abbas
Pirbabayi, Dr. Sara Tavasoli was sentenced to six years of prison and 74 lashes on charges of
participating in Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) protests and giving her condolences to the family of Moussavi
(who was shot by security forces). Tavasoli is a university professor and a member of a university
science department.
She was arrested on January 3 and was jailed for 50 days in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison.
Tavasoli was charged with assembling and conspiring with the intention of committing crimes against
the security of the state and disrupting public order. (Daneshju News – May 31, 2010)
Security forces beat boy and girl on street
According to reports, a girl and boy were violently beaten by security forces in Shahroud last night in the Kodak Park to
the extent that they were hospitalized. This occurred after the boy sneered at the forces. (Iran News Agency – May 31,
2010)
Security forces brutally beat and arrest innocent construction workers
According to reports from Shahroud, six construction workers were beaten and arrested by security forces. They were
arrested because the building they were working on was being illegally built by a relative of the Mayor of Shahroud and
officials were not able to claim charges against him therefore they announced that the construction workers were guilty.
The workers who resisted the arrest were brutally beaten and pulled on the ground. (Iran News Agency – May 31, 2010)
June
Peaceful protester sentenced to 6 years of prison and 74 lashes
Arash Nouri who was convicted of (participating) in post election events was sentenced to 6 years and 74 lashes.
Judge Pir Abbasi, who is in charge of the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, issued this verdict with
disregard for his defense in court. He was sentenced to 5 years for assembling and conspiring, and 1 year of prison and
74 lashes for disrupting public order.
Nouri was arrested on February 8, 2010 after 8 RGC intelligence agents raided his home. After conducting a search and
confiscating many of his personal belongings, they transferred him to cellblock 2A run by the RGC Intelligence Agency.
He was released on bail on March 17. This protester is a graduate of Amir Kabir University in Tehran. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – June 2, 2010)
Political prisoner under severe torture in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj
According to reports, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani is under severe torture in a
solitary cell known as the doghouse in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
On Sunday May 30 after being transferred to the prison‘s Intelligence Department, he
was interrogated and threatened for a long period of time by the head and assistant head
of Intelligence. They threatened him with murder and that they would pin additional
charges on him.
He was then taken to a solitary cell in the doghouse which has medieval conditions and is
used to torture prisoners. A number of prison officials such as Kermani, Faraji and
Hassan Akharian and a number of prison guards then went to his cell and tortured and beat him with batons. This is
while he was shackled and blindfolded. The life of this political prisoner is in danger. There is no other information on
his condition.
He has not been allowed any phone calls with his family since his transfer and his family is extremely concerned.
Tehrani, who was transferred to cellblock 1 last year, has mostly been kept in solitary in the past year. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 3, 2010)
Iran court confirms jail, lashes for film maker
An Iran court has confirmed a sentence of three-and-a-half years in jail and 50 lashes for a journalist
and film maker found guilty of anti-state propaganda and insulting the supreme leader, media
reported.
Mohammad Nourizad was arrested late last year after he published on his blog letters deemed
disrespectful to Iran‘s highest authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior officials.
Opposition blogs say he has been beaten while in detention in Tehran‘s Evin jail where he has begun
a hunger strike.(Reuters – June 2, 2010)
Political prisoner beaten in Evin Prison
Reza Malek who was taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 240 in Evin Prison on May 29 for insulting
Khamenei, was beaten after one week of solitary while shackled from the back and blindfolded. His
rib cage has broken as a result and he is unconscious.
Malek, who sustained many injuries, has now been transferred to Cellblock 8 but prison officials
refuse to give him medical attention.
This is all while his jail term has ended and agents of the Ministry of Intelligence refuse to release him
because a film taken from him in prison was published by the Human Rights Activists in Iran. The Ministry has asked
the Judicial Department to issue another sentence for him. (Iran News Agency – June 3, 2010)
Labor activist sentenced to prison and lashes
Pejman Rahimi, a labor activist in Khuzestan in southern Iran was sentenced to one year of prison and 40 lashes by the
Ahwaz Public Court on April 17 on charges of disrupting order. The verdict of the court was announced to him on May
31.
This labor activist was sentenced to 5 years of prison before this on charges of instigating workers of the Haft Tapeh
Sugar Cane Factory and the Ahwaz Tubing Factory. (Iran News Agency – June 7, 2010)
Jailed relative of Ashraf residents under mental and physical pressure in notorious cellblock 209
According to reports, political prisoner Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi has been under mental and physical torture
for more than six months in cellblock 209 in Tehran‘s Evin Prison in Tehran.
This 63 year old member of the Tehran Bazaar is interrogated and tortured by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.
These interrogators stop interrogations and keep him in an undetermined state and then start them all over again with
heightened mental and physical torture.
They have subjected Banazadeh to pressure to make false statements in front of cameras and to repeat what is dictated to
him. He will be tried on charges of Moharebeh and sentenced to death if he refuses.
This political prisoner has lost close to 16 kilos (35 pounds) as a result of the torture.
He was detained in solitary for a few months in this cellblock. Six months after his arrest, he is still under mental and
physical pressure and in an undetermined state.
His family has pursued his case since his arrest but officials refuse to give them a clear answer and mistreat them.
Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi was arrested on November 30 after intelligence agents stormed his home. He was
taken to cellblock 209. His brother, Ali Banazadeh Amirkhizi was executed in the 80‘s for supporting the PMOI. His

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January – October 2010

wife, Shahla Zarin Far was sentenced to one year of prison for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. She was
released after serving her prison term. Currently political prisoner Kobra Bananzadeh Amirkhizi, his sister, is in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj for intending to visit her children in Camp Ashraf. Before this, his brothers Asghar and
Hamid were sentenced to two years of prison for visiting their children in Ashraf and were released after serving their
time. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 8, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to 4 years of prison and 74 lashes
Mohammad-Hossein Sohrabi, an political prisoner who was arrested during post election events was sentenced to four
years of prison and 74 lashes.
He was a member of Mehdi Karroubi‘s election staff during last years presidential elections and was charged with
‗instigating public opinion, propagandist activities against the state, publishing lies and insulting officials‘.
Sohrabi was arrested in relation with the issue of the Kahrizak Detention Center and has been jailed for close to 10
months. (Advar News – June 9, 2010)
Political prisoner under brutal torture in Gohardasht Prison
Political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani has been under severe physical torture since his transfer to solitary in cellblock 1
in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. This cellblock is known as the ‗Doghouse‘. Unconfirmed reports say that his hands and
legs have been broken and his body is injured and bruised.
Tehrani was also taken to the torture cell which was set up by the head of cellblock 1, Hassan Akharian, a number of
times in the past. Akharian and a number of other prison guards tortured Tehrani after shackling and blindfolding him.
There are security cameras in all prison cells, but this particular cell does not have a camera.
An intelligence agent interrogator was also in the room when Tehran was being tortured. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – June 10, 2010)
Family of jailed rights activists beaten by security forces
The family of Akbar Karami, a writer and human rights activist, was beaten by security forces in the Revolutionary Court
in Qom.
His family had come to visit him and attend his trial but was banned from going to court.
After the end of the court session and while Karami was leaving the building, his seven year old daughter passed the
security guards who were surrounding her father to jump into his arms.
At the same time, Karami‘s nephew who intended to film the scene was attacked by security forces. The family‘s protest
to this measure led security forces to attack them with batons and even Karami‘s elderly mother and small child were
attacked.
After the attack, Mohammad Karami, a university professor and Karami‘s brother and Hamed Karami, his nephew who
is a 19 year old university student were arrested. (Jaras – June 11, 2010)
As protests persist, security and demonstrators clash in Iran
OPPOSITION leaders had called off demonstrations
marking the one-year anniversary of disputed
elections. Nevertheless, fights break out as forces try
to break up scattered protests.
Clashes erupted in downtown Tehran late Saturday
afternoon between demonstrators seeking to mark the
one-year anniversary of Iran's disputed presidential
elections and baton-wielding security forces. The small
skirmishes between security forces and demonstrators
unfolded along streets adjacent to Tehran University,
the capital's main institution of higher learning…
In Saturday's clashes, at least five young men were
arrested, handcuffed and hauled away by militiamen
and uniformed officers. Security forces opened fire
with paint guns and rubber bullets, one striking the
ear of a young man. Police and demonstrators played
cat-and-mouse through side streets, and pro-
government militiamen could be seen pummeling protesters as cries of 'Death to the dictator' rang out. Helicopters
hovered over the east-west transportation corridor Enqelab Avenue. (LA Times – June 12, 2010)
Security forces throw rocks and bricks at protesters in Enqelab Street
Special Guards Forces threw stones, brick pieces and tear gas at protesters in the main squares of Tehran (Enqelab
Square) forcing them to take shelter in metro stations.
According to our reporter who was beaten in Enqelab Square by Special Forces, a large number of people were in the
main squares in Tehran and streets leading to Enqelab Square and security forces on motorcycles used tear gas against
them.
A number of agents charged at the people with their motorcycles to disperse them and prevented any kind of gathering.
Between Imam Hossein and Azadi Square a number of people were arrested by security forces and Bassij Forces.
Arrested protesters were severely beaten upon their arrest. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 12, 2010)
Security forces brutally beat dissenting students of Tehran University
At about 4 pm after the end of exams about 1000 students in Tehran University held a gathering. In a new measure, the
university‘s Disciplinary and Protection Department attacked the students with batons, brutally beating them. This time
the Protection Department and the university‘s Disciplinary forces acted themselves instead of opening the university
doors for plainclothes agents and Bassij forces. They separated students from the gathering and brutally beat them taking
them to an unknown location. Police vans were also parked outside the university. (Nedaye Sabze Azadi Website – June
12, 2010)
Iran uses force and brutality to suppress peaceful protesters
On June 12, at about 6:15 pm, young people who intended to join protesters in Tehran University were attacked by
security forces.
According to eyewitness reports, at least 12 people were arrested including Ahmad Shah Rezayi who is a student at the
Industrial Yazd University. Young people who were arrested by plainclothes agents and Bassij forces were taken to
unknown locations.
A new deceit tactic is used by plainclothes agents to arrest protesters. They wear masks like the protesters to penetrate
into the protesters and then arrest them. Security forces on motorcycles also patrol the alleys and beat anyone they see. A
girl was targeted in this way and was brutally beaten by security forces. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
June 12, 2010)
Iran continues systematic torture of prisoners in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj
In the past few weeks, the inhumane torture, harassing and abuse of prisoners has continued in cellblock 1 in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. These prisoners are under severe torture in solitary cells knows as the doghouse. They are
kept in high temperatures without water for a long period of time and if they knock on their cell doors asking for water,
they are shackled and blindfolded and taken to the torture cell where they are tortured. Torture with electric shockers is
a common method used in this prison. Prisoners who were tortured in the past few days include Hassan Sharifi, Qeisar
Ismaili, Javad Zare, Ahmad Fathian (security forces broke his nose in torture), Saman Mohammadi and a number of
other prisoners. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 16, 2010)
Iran top human rights official: flogging is not torture
According to the Secretary of the Human Rights Staff of the Judiciary, methods like flogging have been considered
torture in the Human Rights Conference while according to Islamic rules, flogging is a punishment and not torture. He
also said that according to the constitution, torture in banned in Iran and therefore there is no torture in Iran, only
punishment. (Radio France –Farsi Service- June 22, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 6 years of prison and flogging
According to reports, Arash Sadeqi, a student activist from Alameh Tabatabayi University who is also a member of the
Youth Branch of the Participation Front was sentenced to six years of prison and 74 lashes by the 26 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court on charges of assembling and conspiring against the government and spreading propaganda against
the government.
Arash Sadeqi was sentenced to 3 years of prison for a previous case related to Student Day events and his current
sentence is related to his arrest on Ashura (December 27, 2009).
Arash Sadeqi told his friends on his New Years leave from prison that he was beaten and that he sustained injuries in his
right shoulder for the second time. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 23, 2010)
Iran kidnaps and tortures jailed labor activist‟s daughter in law

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According to reports, Mrs. Samadi, the


daughter in law of Mansour Osalu, the
jailed head of the Union of Workers of the
Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company was
kidnapped by three agents of the
Intelligence Agency and was violently
tortured.
On Wednesday, June 23 at about 5:30 pm,
while Zoya Samadi was going home from
work and got off at the Karaj Metro Station,
she was violently attacked by agents of the
Ministry of Intelligence. These agents
pulled her by her hair and beat her. Samadi
cried out for help and told other passengers
that she was Osalu‘s daughter in law but
these agents taped her mouth shut to
Mansour Osalu (second from the right) with his family prevent her from crying out.
She was then taken to an unknown location
with a car. These agents shackled, blindfolded and tied down in a cell and subjected her to beatings for a long period of
time.
She was mostly struck in the face and head and her head was pounded on the wall a number of times. The signs of
torture are clearly evident all over her body. She sustained cuts in her gum, injuries in her teeth, bumps on her head and
injuries and cuts in her hands and right foot. Her whole body has also been bruised as a result.
Agents shouted and threatened while beating her that she had to pledge that when Osalu was released from prison, he
would not carry out any activities.
After hours of torture and abuse, they dumped her tortured body at about 9:45pm under the Seyed Khandan Bridge and
left the scene. They also threatened that she was not to file a complaint and should not talk to anyone about the incident
or she would have to face the consequences.
After 24 hours, Zuya Samadi is still in shock and has not returned to a normal mental state. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – June 24, 2010)
Jailed labor activist‟s daughter in law loses baby after abduction and torture by regime forces
The family of Mansour Osalu demanded that the arrest and beating of their young daughter in law be legally looked
into. Mrs. Osalu announced this and said, ―My daughter in law was two months pregnant and we were totally unaware
of this issue. She had severe bleeding because of the attack and when we looked into this issue, we realized that she was
two months pregnant and unfortunately, she lost the baby‖.
Mansour Osalu is the head of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company and is one of the most
well known labor activists in Iran who has been sentenced to 5 years of prison on security charges.
Now, while Osalu has served four years of his prison term, his young daughter in law was arrested and beaten in an
unknown location according to her family and after being threatened not to disclose this issue, was dumped under the
Seyed Khandan Bridge. (Rooz Online – June 27, 2010)
Iran humiliates young people in public in systematic violation of human rights
http://www.javanonline.ir/Nsite/FullStory/?Id=302372
The deputy commander of the State Security Forces in the Greater Tehran
District said, ―Dealing with troublemakers as one of our most important
priorities in our operational program for 1389 (Persian year from March
2010 to March 2011) has been announced to all units from the
Command Center of the Greater Tehran State Security Forces‖.
Alipour said that from 80 troublemakers who were identified, 75 were
arrested…
Archive ―A number of well known troublemakers were paraded in their
neighborhoods on judicial orders last night so that others would learn
their lesson. (Javan Online state-run website – June 29, 2010)
July
Ill political prisoner gradually becomes paralyzed because of lack of medical attention
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2471-1.html
The psychological and physical condition of political prisoner Hamed Rouhi Nejad
who is detained in cellblock 8 in Evin Prison is critical because of the deterioration of
his multiple sclerosis (MS) and lack of medical attention.
According to reports, one of his hands is completely paralyzed and he is suffering
from serious problems in the eyesight of both eyes. This political prisoner is even
having problems hearing. But despite his numerous problems from his disease,
prison officials are completely oblivious to his illness.
This lack of attention by officials is so serious that aside from not taking him to
hospital, they even refuse to give him medicine provided by the Rouhi Nejad family.
It seems that officials are oblivious to the dangers of MS or at best have no knowledge
about its dangers.
There is a high chance of this disease paralyzing the whole body of the victim from lack of medication.
Hamed Rouhi Nejad is a philosophy student who has been jailed since May 2009 on charges of being a member of a
dissident group and has been denied even a one day medical leave from prison.
He was sentenced to death in the mass post election show trials but his sentence was commuted to 10 years of prison in
a court of review. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 1, 2010)
Jailed student activist in critical condition after suffering nervous convulsions in prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2484-1.html
Ziaddin Nabavi, a student who was banned from continuing his university education
suffered a nervous convulsion attack in prison.
A number of his cellmates tried to warn prison officials of his condition but their
lack of attention to his condition led to the severity of his attack and he lost his
speech for several hours.
His cellmates gave him sweetened water to try to level his blood pressure and prison
officials only transferred him to the infirmary after several hours. Medics announced
his condition as critical saying that future attacks would deteriorate his immune
system.
Some time ago and after his 10 year prison term was finalized, the judge on his case
determined a 500 million toman (500,000 dollar) bail for him for a leave from
prison but his family said that they could not afford such a bail and asked the judge
to lower the bail.
Despite the fact that they could not afford the money, his family was desperately
trying to somehow provide the bail but in the past few days, the judge seeing to
Nabavi‘s case told them not to try to provide the money.
―If you and his friends continue your attempts at trying to provide the money, the bail money will be increased to 800
million tomans‖, he told his family.
Seyed Zia Nabavi spent 98 days of his one year in jail in a solitary cell in cellblock 209. He was put under pressure in his
interrogations by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence to say that he was cooperating with the election staff of a
reformist candidate with the coordination of the People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Nabavi is a graduate of the Babol Industrial University who received impressive scores in his finals exams but was
expelled from university and banned from continuing his studies for a master‘s degree.
He is a member of the Council in Defense of the Rights to Education who was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence
on June 15, 2009 and his interrogators have banned him from having in person visits with his family in the past year.
(Jaras Website – July 1, 2010)
Tortured political prisoner on 11th day of hunger strike
According to reports, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani has been on hunger strike for 11 days in protest to the
tortures and inhumane conditions he is kept under in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
This political prisoner was transferred to a solitary cell in cellblock 1 known as the doghouse after disclosing details of
torture. He is being kept in the worst solitary cell. There are unconfirmed reports that he is on his 11 th day of hunger

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strike and has been taken to the torture chamber several times from his cell. He was tortured by Hassan Akharian, the
head of cellblock 1 and Aqa Mirzayi, Mohammadi and a number of other guards.
The quality of food he is given in solitary is very poor and the quantity very low and barely enough to live on.
On June 30, a so-called inspection delegation from the Prison Intelligence and Protection Department of Iran carried
out an inspection in cellblock 1. Prisoners talked to them about tortures used against them such as rape, sodomy with
bottles, and the breaking of the hands and legs of prisons. This delegation also talked to political prisoner Behrouz Javid
Tehrani and heard and saw details of the torture used against him. But they have not done anything to stop this
condition as yet.
This delegation also witnessed the bloody and tortured bodies of a number of prisoners in solitary and also talked to
them. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran- July 3, 2010)
Iran court amputates thief's hand: report
http://www.kayhannews.ir/890412/15.htm#other1512
Iranian authorities have cut off the hand of a convicted thief after a court ruling in the western city of Malayer, the
hardline Kayhan newspaper reported on Saturday.
'Following a court ruling, a thief's hand was amputated in Malayer,' the report said, referring to the city located in
Hamedan province.
It did not specify if the verdict was carried out in public or in prison, or if a doctor was present during the amputation.
Under Iran's Sharia-based Islamic law, amputation is permissible for crimes such as thefts. (AFP - July 3, 2010)
Judge tells children‟s activist that she should have been executed
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1616.aspx
On Sunday, July 4, Maryam Zia, a children and women‘s rights activist was summoned to the 28th branch of the
Revolutionary Court and was tried by Mohammad Moqiseh who was a member of the death commission responsible for
the execution of political prisoners in the 1988 massacre. The trial was held despite the fact that the representative of the
prosecutor was not present.
Her trial started at about 9:30 am. Moqiseh mistreated her much like intelligence interrogators and raised his voice to
make threats and verbally abuse her.
―You are a Monafeq (literally meaning hypocrite used for members and supporters of the PMOI by the regime)‖,
Mohammad Moqiseh told her in the end. ―You should have been executed‖.
This children and women‘s rights activist was trialed on charges of ‗spreading propaganda against the government‘.
Maryam Zia is suffering from physical ailments which she developed in her time in prison and is currently being treated
by a specialist. (Human Rights and democracy Activists in Iran – July 7, 2010)
Gohardasht Prisoners kept in conditions similar to Nazi death camps
The sewage route in Hall 18, cellblock 6 has become clogged up from Saturday July 12, and the sewage water is running
in the hallways of this hall. Close to 10 cm of sewage water is in the hallways. In the past few days, sewage water from
halls 16 and 17 started flowing into hall 18. Days after this incident, the condition is so horrible that prisoners
constantly protest but no action has been taken to solve the problem as yet.
Eight hundred prisoners are kept in this cellblock which is close to 3 times more than its normal capacity. The sewage
water has even started seeping into the cells despite the obstacles placed in its path by prisoners. This issue seriously
threatens the health of prisoners. The putrid stench and the high temperatures have made the already bad conditions in
prison intolerable and have deprived prisoners from the little rest they had. In this time, prisoners have also been
deprived of using the restrooms and showers.
They face dangers of being inflicted with illnesses as a result of the sewage water and the high concentration of prisoners
in one area can lay the groundwork for a catastrophe.
The head of cellblock 6 is Shokri who has not been present in the cellblock for the last few days and is usually on leave
doing his personal business. He is in the carpet business in addition to his prison occupation and is usually out selling
carpets. Shokri played a direct part in the recent attack and torture of political prisoner and teacher Rasoul Badaqi.
The Praying Hall of this cellblock is also packed with prisoners who are forced to sleep on their sides next to each other
on the ground. Currently 210 prisoners are detained in this hall. Lice and other skin diseases are prevalent. Because of
the lack of space for each prisoner, they are forced to sleep in the hallways of cellblock 6. Close to 50 prisoners sleep in
the hallways every night.
Prisoners are also denied of cooling facilities and cold clean water. They are forced to drink from the tap water in
temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Prisoners are denied minimum facilities and the sanitary conditions, food and medical treatment is horrid. The
conditions in this prisoner are similar to conditions in Hitler‘s death camps. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – July 15, 2010)
Two political prisoners in poor health denied medical attention
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2752-1.html
The physical health of Sina Golchin and Vahid Asghari, two prisoners detained in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison is in
serious danger because of lack of medical treatment.
Golchin and Asghari who were arrested in the post-election events are suffering from severe ear infection. They have not
been given any treatment because of the absence of a specialist in the prison infirmary.
Sina Golchin is a student of constructional engineering at the Free Tehran University who was arrested in his home on
January 7, 2010 on charges of participating in a December 27 march on Ashura. Judge Salavati sentenced this 20 year
old student who had no prior political activities to 8 years of prison which was later lowered to 4 years and 6 months of
prison in a court of review.
Vahid Asghari was also arrested after the elections. He was detained for some time in a solitary cell in cellblock 240 and
is currently in cellblock 350 (known as the labor cellblock). (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 16, 2010)
Political prisoner goes on hunger strike in protest to horrid condition in Gohardasht Prison
Arzhang Davoudi, a political prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj went on a hunger
strike.
Davoudi went on a hunger strike on Wednesday July 14 in protest to his poor condition
in cellblock 3 which he was transferred to to be place under more limitations.
This political prisoner has been denied the right to contact his family for one month.
One of his fingers which broke in prison has been swollen and infected for close to 3
months but officials do not give him medical treatment.
According to reports, his home where his family lived was sealed down and then sold by
agents of the intelligence agency which has left his family homeless.
Davoudi was jailed in 2003 and has been sentenced to 16 years of prison. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 15, 2010)
Political prisoner in poor health in Gohardasht Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2779-1.html
According to reports, political prisoner and journalist Massoud Bastani is in poor health in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
He is suffering from ailments of the mouth and teeth and is not able to tolerate these problems.
According to his family, he is deprived a prisoner‘s most minimum rights and authorities refuse to
grant him a leave.
Massoud Bastani has been detained for a year without a leave and was transferred to Gohardasht
Prison in February. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 17, 2010)
Kurd death row political prisoner in critical condition denied treatment
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2823-1.html
Rashid Akh Kandi, a death row political prisoner is under special security conditions in prison and is
denied medical treatment and visits with his family.
He was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity with God) and is denied visits with his
family. Despite his various ailments, Saqez Prison authorities prevent him from receiving medical
treatment.
Kandi is suffering from pain in his eyes and kidney infection and has so far not received any kind of
medication for his condition. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 19, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison officials suppress rightful protests of political prisoners
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=19395
Political prisoners in cellblock 4 in Gohardasht Prison protested after elderly prisoners and political prisoners in this
cellblock were kept outdoors and in the sun under the excuse of a headcount and prisoners were banned from making
calls to outside prison.
Political prisoners threatened that they would go on a hunger strike if these pressures continued.

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January – October 2010

These protests were met with severe reaction from prison officials and led to clashes among prisoners and prison guards.
Two interrogators named Mahdavi and Moqiseh who are experienced and well-known torturers in this prison personally
attacked prisoners with batons. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – July 20, 2010)
Jailed dissident cleric in critical condition
The physical health of Ayatollah Hossein Kazemini Borujerdi is very poor and he is enduring severe hardships in Evin
Prison.
In light of his serious eye and leg problems, prison officials prevent him from receiving medical attention.
According to his family, he is near blindness and cannot keep his balance. His legs are also near paralysis.
Ayatollah Borujerdi is a dissident cleric who was arrested in 2006 and was sentenced to 11 years of prison and the
confiscation of his property. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 21, 2010)
Political prisoner suffering from numerous illnesses denied treatment
According to reports, the physical condition of political prisoner Ali Moezi, 57, is deteriorating but he is deprived of
serious treatment.
On July 19 after he went to the Gohardasht Prison infirmary, he was denied a visit with the general practitioner under
the excuse that the specialist doctor was away on vacation and despite his severe pain and Hematuria, Shabani, a prison
guard, forcefully returned him to his cell. This is while because of the crowdedness of the prison, prisoners have to wait
up to 3 months to be visited in the infirmary.
Moezi has a history of kidney diseases such as nephritis, kidney stones and kidney cysts and small intestine diseases and
varicose veins which are all symptoms of his time in prison in the 80‘s. He has received numerous surgeries for his
conditions.
Ali Moezi suffered a severe kidney infection last July but was prevented from being hospitalized in the Labafi Nejad
Hospital in Tehran. He was taken back to prison in that condition.
This political prisoner has been denied in person visits and getting possessions from his family for a year now.
Moezi was arrested on November 11, 2008 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence under the command of Reza Arefian
who is a head interrogator at the Intelligence agency and was transferred to a solitary cell in Gohardasht Prison. He was
detained in the Sepah cellblock in this prison for seven months and Mohebi, another interrogator had the responsibility
of interrogating and mentally and physically torturing him. Moezi is currently in cellblock 4 in this prison.
This political prisoner was arrested in the 80‘s and was detained in the Ghezel Hesar Prison from 1981 to 1984. He
suffered many injuries as a result of the physical and mental torture and still suffers from the aftermath. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 21, 2010)
Iran amputates the hands of 5 people in Hamedan
http://www.ilna.ir/newstext.aspx?ID=137025
Akbar Bigleri, the prosecutor of Hamedan said that crimes are divided into two groups which include personal crimes
and crimes related to God.
―Robbery is a crime that has two aspects and is in both groups and if the criminal is granted amnesty by the complainant,
in the end he/she will be convicted because the aspect as related to God still exists‖, he said.
―The five robbers, whose sentences were carried out in the Hamedan Prison, were all above 25 years old‖…
―When a hand gets used to stealing and causes harassment for the people, it has to be cut short‖, he added…
He said regarding not carrying out the sentence in public, ―The global arrogance (the west) misuses the implementation
of these sentence and claims that Iran violates human rights‖. (ILNA state-run news agency – July 22, 2010)
Jailed blogger in poor physical health in Evin Prison
The physical health of Hossein Ronaqi Maleki who is detained in a solitary cell in cellblock
1A in Evin Prison is very poor but prison officials refuse to give him medical treatment.
This blogger and human rights activist is suffering from heart and kidney problems. Despite
this, prison officials and interrogators refuse to allow him to receive medical attention and are
oblivious to his physical health.
He has been under torture and physical and mental pressure in the months of his detention
and this has led to numerous physical problems for him…
Hossein Ronaqi Maleki was arrested in the home of his brother, Hassan Ronaqi Maleki, on
December 13, 2009. His brother, who did not have any previous political activities, was under
severe physical torture for one month to force him to give false confessions. He was severely
injured in the neck as a result of the torture. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 21, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison guards attack and beat political prisoners
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_22.html
According to reports, political prisoners in cellblock 4 in Gohardasht
Prison were violently beaten.
On Thursday July 22, the head of cellblock 4, Mahmoud Moghnian
and his prison gangs attacked and violently beat political prisoners in
this cellblock.
At about 10:30 am political prisoner Khaled Hardani who was in cell
number 15 was attacked by a dangerous prisoner. After this attack, he
was summoned and reprimanded and insulted by Moghnian. When
Mr. Hardani protests his actions, Moghnian attacked and beat him
with a baton. Hardani was then transferred to solitary. Khaled Hardani and Hood Yazerlu
After this measure, Moghnian ordered his prison gang who follow his
orders in the cellblock in dealing drugs and suppressing prisoners, to attack political prisoners.
Student prisoner Hood Yazerlu was violently attacked by this gang. Hood lost a portion of his eyesight as a result of
strikes to his head and he also sustained abrasions on his body.
Moghnian then ordered Hood Yazerlu to be transferred to the cell where the prison gang was detained. With this
transfer he intends to subject this young political prisoner to serious danger. Other political prisoners protested this
transfer.
Mahmoud Moghnian played a part in the killing of political prisoners in the 80‘s especially in 1988 in Gohardasht
Prison in Karaj and personally executed a large number of political prisoners. He also plays a part in attacking political
prisoners and in these attacks, Amir Heshmat Saran, who was killed under torture, Behrouz Javid Tehrani, Afshin
Baimani and other prisoners were seriously wounded.
The attack on political prisoners is decided by the offices of Khamenei because of its international sensitivity, is planned
by the intelligence Agency and carried out in prison by Ali Haj Kazem and Ali Mohammadi, the head and assistant head
of the prison, Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the Prison Intelligence Department and the head of
the cellblock. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 22, 2010)
Former student prisoner witnesses horrifying sexual abuse in Babol Prison
Iman Sediqi explained the horrifying condition of political prisoners in prison in an interview…
Iman Sediqi: Dangerous criminals were kept in the public cellblock. People who had
committed crimes such as murder, kidnappings, rape, vandalizing and forced entrance
into homes… In our room there were about 15 other prisoners who lived with us in the
cell…
Most of them were arrested for street fights but there were other people who were
arrested for kidnappings, vandalizing or raping their child.
Unfortunately that person (rapist) who was not in a suitable mental condition raped his
11 year old son and was sentenced to 10 years of prison and lived with us in one room.
Of course no one had the right to know our charge and they had written that we had
committed vandalizing in the prisoner list in our cell so that no one would notice (that
we were political prisoners)…
There were two prisoners who had a fight with each other in the quarantine section… The next day when I went to the
quarantine section to use the telephone I realized that prisoners who ran the quarantine section (we call them the
prisoner‘s representatives) had chained the legs of this prisoner to the leg of another prisoner in the middle of the yard
and forced him to carry out a vulgar sexual act with the prisoner chained to him in front of all the other prisoners in the
middle of the yard. And when he got tired and stopped what he was doing, he would be violently assaulted with the
handle of a broom and would be forced to continue…
Three days after we were transferred to the public cellblock, we went to see the head of the prison and asked to be
transferred to the Private Cellblock but he refused and said that we do not give a cell to anti-revolutionaries. He also told
us that we had no right to tell anyone what our crime was and that we are not allowed to talk about our charge with
anyone and if we did we would be transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Center in Sari. (Daneshju News
– July 24, 2010)
Amputation sentences carried out after necessary conditions for amputation were met

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January – October 2010

Hamedan – The prosecutor of Hamedan cited the implementation of the hand amputation of five robbers in the
Hamedan Central Prison and said, ―These sentences were carried out after the necessary legal qualifications were met
and because a number of the plaintiffs did not pardon (the robbers)‖.
―These people committed heavy robberies, and violated the personal space of people‖, Hojatel Islam Akbar Bigleri said.
―In article 98 of the Islamic Penal Code there are 16 conditions for the amputation of the hands of robbers and all these
conditions were met in the three cases of these five convicts‖, he added.
―If the plaintiffs who were 115 people in one instance had granted amnesty, this could have prevented the
implementation of this sentence and commuted the sentence‖.
―Despite great efforts by the Amnesty Commission of the province which tried to get amnesty from the plaintiffs, a
number of the plaintiffs refused to grant amnesty because of the financial and psychological damages and insisted that
the legal punishment be carried out‖, the Hamedan Prosecutor said.
―According to their cases, three of the convicts caused (a pregnant woman) to lose her baby‖, he added regarding this
issue.
The Hamedan Prosecutor stipulated that these three cases had hundreds of plaintiffs and more people were sentenced to
amputation.
―But with the efforts of the Amnesty Commission a number of the plaintiffs granted amnesty and at least five of the
amputation cases were lowered to prison terms‖.
He cited the many crimes of these people including stealing cash and gold, violating the personal space of people,
stealing livestock, automobiles and house appliances.
The prosecutor of Hamedan referred to the media coverage of the implementation of the sentence of these people and
said, ―The poisonous controversy-making of the enemies cannot and should not prevent the implementation of the law
and defending public rights‖.
―Why don‘t the media which use the implementation of the law to create a fuss never refer to the crimes by the Zionists
in occupied Palestine and even the attack on the boats carrying aid for the people who are under siege in Gaza?‖
―These people and media express opposition to the implementation of a sentence for robbers who have been sentenced
for knowingly committing crimes with the insistence of their plaintiffs even while they stay silent about inhumane
tragedies of the west in Islamic countries‖, he added.
―The stealing of livestock is only one of the many crimes of these people‖, the Hamedan Prosecutor said regarding the
stealing of livestock which was carried out last year and led to concerns and psychological insecurity in some rural areas
in Hamedan.
The amputation sentence was carried out yesterday with the presence of the relevant representatives and officials
including the representative of the Sentence Implementation Department of the Central Hamedan Prison.
The widespread theft of livestock especially in remote rural areas in Hamedan and the request for the arrest of the
suspects received widespread media attention in Hamedan. (IRNA state-run news agency – July 24, 2010)
Father of Ashraf resident taken to hospital in critical condition after torture
Political prisoner Hamid Haeri, 60, who is the father of an Ashraf resident, was taken
to the Tajrish Hospital as a result of torture in Evin Prison.
According to reports, after a hard blow to his leg and pelvis he was taken to hospital
with an ambulance in a critical condition.
According to his family, they went to see him in the hospital but they were not
allowed to get close to him. According to reports, he was seen with shackles on the
hospital bed while in critical condition and no one was allowed near him.
Despite the doctors‘ orders that he must be hospitalized, he was once again
transferred in critical condition to prison after some time.
According to other reports, elements of the security branch of the court seeing to
Haeri‘s case have turned to extortion and called his family telling them that if they
paid 50 million tomans (about 50,000 dollars), his 15 year prison sentence would be
lowered to 2 years of prison. (Center for Defense of Political Prisoners in Iran – July 25,
2010)
Hunger striking political prisoner goes into coma
According to reports, political prisoner Reza Jushan went into a coma on his sixth day of
hunger strike and was taken to the Gohardasht Prison infirmary on a stretcher.
He went into a coma on Monday, July 26. Other prisoners were not allowed to get near him in the infirmary and
according to eye witnesses he is in critical condition. This political prisoner is in a very dangerous state. It is not know
why he went into a coma.
Reza Jushan announced on July 21 that he would go on a hunger strike in protest to the intolerable conditions in
prison. He announced his reasons for hunger strike in the letter below written to Gerami, Gohardasht Prison‘s manager
which has been sent for us as well:
1- My future state has not been determined and I have not been transferred to the public cellblock.
2 – Being banned from making calls and visiting my mother Mrs. Zahra Asadpour Gorji, son of Habibollah, who is
currently in the female cellblock in Gohardasht Prison.
3 - Not having the right to call or see my family outside of prison.
Mohebi, a head interrogator in the Intelligence Agency ordered that Reza Jushan be transferred to the Secondary Section
17 in Cellblock 6 after subjecting him to violent physical and mental torture. This section is used to put pressure on
prisoners. Mohebi also deprived his mother, Zahra Asadpour Gorji, from having any kind of communication with her
son and other family members. Mohebi threatened political prisoner Reza Jushan that he would be physically eliminated.
He is an official and head interrogator in the Intelligence Agency in Karaj. This torturer issues arrest warrants for
student, labor, and political activists, dervishes and those who participated in the post-election protests. He also
interrogates and physically and mentally tortures detainees along with another interrogator named Reza Arefi in the
Sepah Cellblock in Gohardasht Prison. This intelligence interrogator threatens and puts pressure on political prisoners.
He has committed numerous crimes in the last 30 years.
Jushan, 25, was arrested on December 1, 2009 after agents of the Intelligence Agency raided his home. He was taken to a
solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock and after two months was taken to cellblock 4. Intelligence Agents once again raided
the home of this family on December 7 and arrested his mother, Zahra Asadpour Gorji. She was also taken to the Sepah
Cellblock and after weeks of interrogations and physical and mental torture, was transferred to Gohardasht Prison‘s
female cellblock. Gorji and her daughter Fatemeh Jushan were arrested before this for visiting their family members in
Camp Ashraf in Iraq and were detained for 16 months in Gohardasht Prison. They were released after serving their
prison term. Gorji and her son were sentenced to one year of prison to be served in Zanjan Prison and four years of exile
in the Qeilar Village in Zanjan.
Currently, in addition to political prisoner Reza Jushan, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi and prisoner Khaled Hardani
have also gone on hunger strikes this prison.
Notably, political prisoners have been murdered before while on hunger strike including political prisoners Akbar
Mohammadi and Valiollah Feiz Mahdavi on orders of the Ministry of Intelligence and prison officials. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 26, 2010)
Political prisoner tortured and under pressure in Bushehr Prison
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=19659
According to reports from Bushehr, political prisoner Vahid Asghari, 24, who was arrested by RGC forces in 2008 has
been under the most severe physical and mental torture and all his bones have broken including his nose, head and rib
cage as a result of severe beatings with batons, whips and hoses. He was also mentally tortured including being subjected
to threats, and being put in a cage with rodents. Plastic bags were also put over his head to cut off his oxygen, he was
hanged from his legs for hours and hundreds of other methods of torture which he detailed in a letter to the security
court. He was also forced to make false confessions and his interview was broadcasted for the propaganda campaign of
the RGC. Asghari and a number of other young people who were
oblivious to everything were victimized for the policies of the RGC
and were charged with dozens of strange and unbelievable
accusations. Vahid was 22 upon his arrest. He studied for 4 years in
India and provided hosting services and domains to his customers
and has not committed any crimes. (Peik-e-Iran Website – July 26,
2010)
Jailed family member of Ashraf residents severely beaten in prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_27.html

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January – October 2010

According to reports from Iran, student prisoner Hassan Tarlani was severely beaten in the Kerman Prison and was
threated to death.
This 23 year old political prisoner who has been sentenced to spending his 10 year prison term in the Kerman Prison is
the only political prisoner in Kerman Prison jailed with ordinary prisoners and dangerous criminals.
A former jailed RGC agent named Ali Malek who was arrested for being involved in the serial murders of women in
Kerman attacked Tarlani without any reason.
―You are a mohareb (enemy of God), you are an apostate‖, this former RGC agent shouted at him. ―Spilling your blood
is permitted and I will kill you‖.
Ali Malek enjoys special privileges in this cellblock.
Ali Malek deceived defenseless women on orders of a cleric in Kerman and then murdered them. This case is known as
the serial murders of women in Kerman.
Hassan Tarlani was arrested on February 21, 2008 after an attack by Ministry of Intelligence agents and was transferred
to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. He was subjected to mental and physical tortures for 88 days by Saied Sheikhan, a head
interrogator of the Ministry of Intelligence, and was sentenced to a harsh 10 year prison sentence to be served in Kerman
Prison on the recommendations of Sheikhan by the 22nd branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Mohseni.
Tarlani was sentenced to this harsh sentence because of the political history of his family in opposition to the Iranian
regime. His grandfather, Hassan-Ali Safayi who was a well known and respected Bazaar merchant was executed by the
Iranian regime in the 80‘s. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 27, 2010)
Jailed human rights activist suffering from severe influenza denied proper treatment
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2979-1.html
Journalist and human rights activist Abolfazl Abedini is suffering from influenza in the
Karoun Prison in Ahwaz.
According to reports, this journalist from Khuzestan who is also a former member of the
Human Rights Activists in Iran has been jailed since March 2, 2010 and came down with the
flu a few days ago.
His condition has been reported as critical and he is suffering from a severe fever along with
chills and nausea. The Karoun Prison infirmary does not provide him with proper medical
treatment.
This journalist is currently detained in cellblock 6 in this prison with murderers and armed
robbers. He has been banned from visits for three weeks. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 27, 2010)
For those who are willing to listen
Political prisoner reports on appalling state of Gohardasht Prison
Dr. Saied Masouri, a political prisoner sentenced to life in prison is currently in
Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj and has given a report on this
prison.
The report, which has been sent for us, is as follows:
Though it is probable that life seemingly goes on outside of prison, in Karaj no
one can believe that a few meters away behind the walls of prison which people
pass by, there is a hell and human catastrophe in progress. Just as many people
were living around the Auschwitz and Dachau death camps and they might not
have know what went on inside these camps.
I want to paint you a picture of the Rajayi Shahr Prison which seems very big
for the residents of Karaj but is actually very small because of the mass crowds
held inside. It seems as if it is a different world here. Something like hell in
fictional movies filled with fire and smoke and blackened and unkempt faces,
naked and sweaty bodies which have become red with lice bites, pants with one
leg ripped off used as a makeshift belt, dirty bare feet, clothes that have been worn inside out because of lice, ripped
rubber slippers, dirty and polluted air, the smell of rotten trash, the sewage coming from clogged toilets, dried vomit
from food poisoning, mucus from infected throats which can be seen everywhere in prison, the smell of sweaty bodies
which rarely have the privilege of taking a shower in this closed, hot and polluted space… All of this is completed with
the smell of urine of those who cannot control themselves reaches. And the aggravating shouts and yells of prisoners
waiting in long lines with blackened plastic bottles used as tea cups; prisoners waiting in long compressed lines for a turn
in the bathroom, shower or …
Tired worn out faces, as a result of malnutrition, hidden under long beards and disheveled hair, irritant coughs from
lung problems as a result of the closed atmosphere, unusual bodies which reminds a person of starving African children,
scores of prisoners lying in the middle of the halls who have either fallen into a death like sleep or have been heat
stricken and are staring with glassy eyes at the walls or ceiling. Or others, leaning naked on the walls, searching for the
lice in their clothes.
Several other prisoners stand alone or in groups of two staring at others because they are unable to move around in the
density of the prison or those who play with the stiches on their writs or throats which they have received as a result of
suicide attempts. They usually have a piece of cloth or towel with them to wipe off the sweat from their face every few
minutes which they sometimes use as a mask to fend off the pungent stench or at least make it a little more tolerable. All
of this along with the deafening sounds of the loudspeakers and vulgar cursing which invite prisoners to follow their
turns for the shower and toilets. All of this can be understood when you realize that in a place that has the capacity of 90
people, 1,100 people are detained. There is one shower for 250 people, 500 people have one soap, 170 people have one
toilet (which is usually clogged up and filthy), five people have one cubic cm of space (that is why prisoners sleep in the
hallways and staircases), 5 or 6 people share one blanket and are forced to stay out in the sun in the prison yard from
7am to 7pm because they do not fit in the cells or indoors. There is rarely any room to stand in the prison yard and
when food is thrown in a piece of newspaper for many prisoners, they can find no other place than the prison yard to sit
down and eat. This situation has even annoyed the prison guards because they cannot conduct a headcount and are also
in danger of catching all kinds of diseases…
What is more amazing is that the TV (state-run TV inside prison) talks about human dignity, the stature of human
beings and even global management from dawn to dusk but does not talk about these hardships in prison because
talking about hygiene, showers and toilets is intertwined with national security and bringing it up is a crime in the lines
of acting against national security and publishing lies and if someone like 22 year old political prisoner Reza Jushan who
was arrested after the elections protests this condition, he is immediately thrown in solitary. Of course I expect nothing
less, but the state of Rajayi Shahr Prison (and of course other prisons) is so appalling that solitary is no solution (for
dissent) and therefore Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghuraib are like inaccessible dreams fro prisoners and the hope of
execution is a far easier, prevalent and more accessible solution for escape from this condition.
Saied Masouri
Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 28, 2010)
August
Prisoner in critical condition denied proper treatment
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_6064.html
According to reports, the physical state of prisoner Khaled Hardani was critical in the morning and he was taken to the
Gohardasht Prison infirmary.
On Monday August 2 at about 4 am, his condition deteriorated in his solitary cell in cellblock 1 known as the
‗doghouse‘ and he was kept in the cell in his condition until 9 am. He tried to call prison guards by knocking on his cell
door to inform them about his critical condition but they paid no heed to his calls and requests.
At about 9 am when his condition became very critical he was taken to the infirmary. Despite his very poor physical
health, he was once again taken back to his cell in the ‗doghouse‘.
This prisoner suffers from heart palpitation, kidney hemorrhage, stomach problems and the extreme pain of these
illnesses.
Hardani was attacked by a prison gang which takes orders from the head of cellblock 4 on July 22. He was then
summoned by Mahmoud Moghnian, the head of cellblock 4, and was insulted and beaten before being transferred to a
solitary cell in cellblock 1. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – August 2, 2010)
Details of barbaric torture of social activist
Physical torture is a human rights violation that has been carried out against political
prisoners from a very long time ago and because the media is focused on Tehran‘s
prisons, this inhumane treatment is being carried out much more violently in other
towns especially in Kurdistan. The report below is an example of this brutal treatment
of a Kurd prisoner named Ahmad Bob.
Ahmad Bob, is a social activist from Marivan who was jailed for 195 days in prison
and was under severe physical and mental torture.
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He was arrested on September 27, 2009 after agents of the Ministry of Intelligence broke down his home door and took
him away with blindfolds without an arrest warrant. He was taken to a solitary cell in the Marivan Intelligence Agency.
On the first night of his detainment he was interrogated and tortured without being formally charged…
In the first hours of detention, he had to confess that he was in contact with anti-revolutionary groups and had disrupted
public order by bringing together people against the Islamic Republic. Since he was a civil rights and social activist, he
did not accept any of the charges and did not give into confessing to lies and for this reason was tortured physically and
mentally much more severely.
He was beaten with a military belt, kicked and punched by three people while shackled and blindfolded. His hands were
then opened and while two people held his hands, another person opened his mouth and pulled out three of his front
bottom teeth with pliers.
This was done by first loosening the teeth with pliers and then pulling it out and was continued until Bob passed out.
Broken teeth, teeth that were pulled out, bloody clothes, inability to speak, gum inflammation, a bruised skull as a result
of baton strikes and bruised eyes were the conclusion of Ahmad Bob‘s first day of detention…
Batons, logs, military belts, pliers and vulgar and insulting language were the tools used to torture him. He was usually
interrogated and tortured from sunset until sunrise to force him to make false confessions. In the first 33 days of his
detention, he was not given any kind of medical treatment.
He was forced to sit on his knees and then stand up 1000 times and when he did this 100 times, he would be forced to
do it all over again because he had missed a number. They beat him so much with a military belt that he was unable to
stand on his feet.
He would also be forced to stand up for a long period of time which would sometimes continue for 10 hours. He was
threatened at gun point and was asked to choose which of his fingers he would prefer to be blown off first.
They would keep him in a standing position and would then drop the pliers from over his head on his toes and blood
gushed out on his toenails with every strike. They insisted he confess that he spied for America in these tortures.
They also threatened him with rape saying that raping infidels was lawful. He would be forced to sit on a lit gas stove but
was severely beaten for resisting.
Ahmad Bob spent 33 days of his incarceration in a solitary cell in Marivan where he was under severe torture. He was
kept in a cell which was the size of a soldier‘s army blanket and was allowed to use the restroom three times a day which
was also the only time he had access to drinking water.
His interrogations usually started at noon or in the afternoon and continued until the next morning and he was denied
food in this time. He also was not given anything to wash himself with in these 33 days and was also deprived of bathing
facilities. He was sometimes forced to crawl to the bathroom because of his severe weakened state. After 33 days, he was
allowed to bathe but because of his physical condition and weakness he was only able to wash his hair with the help of a
soldier.
After being transferred to Sanandaj Prison, he was kept in the quarantine section for 14 days where he was treated
because he was suffering from skin diseases, gum infection and hemorrhage. He was then transferred to a solitary cell in
the Sanandaj Intelligence Prison where he was interrogated and once again tortured.
He was tortured for refusing to make false confessions on television. He was laid on a bed and his hands were
handcuffed to the bed along with his legs and toes. Then they started to whip the bottom of his feet while reciting the
Quran.
He passed out a number of times under the strikes but was revived with water and the lashing continued. He could not
control his urine in this time and vomited and was forced to wash the dirty blanket on the torture bed in his cell.
According to his interrogators he was whipped 320 times.
The sounds that were played for him for three consecutive days via a headphone abused and tormented him. After four
months and 20 days they told him to write his will because he was to be hanged.
He was taken to a room that same day which according to his interrogator was used for execution. He was forced to
stand on a chair with wheels under a noose and forced to pull the noose around his neck. He was then handcuffed and
shackled. This political prisoner was interrogated in this position and pressured into making false confessions.
After an hour, he was brought out from the noose. According to Bod at that time his whole body was wet and he was
unable to stand up and fell to the ground like a corpse.
In one of the interrogations, his interrogator put out his cigarette on his elbow and told him that it was a memento to
remember him by.
Interrogators of the Intelligence Agency took him by the tongue with pliers and pulled him around the room which
rendered him unable to speak for four days. He was forced to make animal noises while moving on the ground on his
hands and feet in the interrogation room. When he refused to do this, he was severely beaten again. They drilled holes
in both soles of his feet and the signs of this barbaric torture are still evident on his feet. Being hanged from his legs was
another form of torture carried out on Ahmad Bob.
In the five months of his incarceration, he was only allowed to call his family once. He was told to tell his family to come
to visit him in prison. This is while his family was not allowed to visit him when they came to prison and instead his
pregnant wife was interrogated for five hours. After 155 days, he was taken to the Marivan Public Prison. In this time, he
did not have access to a lawyer.
He cannot easily walk because of the torture and the nerves on the bottom of his feet have been severely damaged. After
165 days of incarceration along with torture, he was released from prison on a 700 million rial (about 70,000 dollar) bail.
His case is currently open in the first branch of the Marivan Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Lotfi. Until now, one
trial was held for him with the presence of his lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, and the next trial is to be held on August 21.
According to Ahmad Bob, he has been charged with being a member of an anti-revolutionary group and spying for
America. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 2, 2010)
Iran violently arrest two Kurds for political reasons
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-25-54/3163-1.html
Two Kurd citizens identified as Kamil Salem and Majid Shafiei from the Divandareh area were arrested at night by
Revolutionary Guards Forces intelligence agents in their homes.
According to reports, RGC SWAT teams entered their homes at about 2 am without arrest warrants and treated the
residents with disrespect. They searched the home and then arrested Salem and Shafiei after beating them.
After three days, Shafiei who had a broken rib as a result of brutal torture was temporarily released but despite constant
appeals by the family of Kamil Salem, they have not received any news on his whereabouts. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Aug. 5, 2010)
Jailed journalist on verge of paralysis denied treatment
Jailed journalist Isa Saharkhiz has been inflicted with general paralysis since Friday
August 6 and is unable to move.
Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison where Saharkhiz was transferred to from last year since
the death of a number of Kurd citizens in Evin Prison has bad conditions and prison
authorities are oblivious to the condition of this political prisoner. This is while
Saharkhiz had been suffering from back pain and heart problems. Despite this, prison
officials were not willing to grant him even a one day medical leave from prison.
According to reports from Rajayi Shahr Prison, his muscle paralysis started from last
Friday which can lead to paralysis in his face, eyes and other organs and he needs
immediate hospitalization. This illness which is a kind of disturbance of the nervous
system comes with severe pain in the face. Transferring Saharkhiz to the hospital can
prevent his complete paralysis but prison officials are still oblivious to his physical
condition.
This journalist has been jailed for more than one year. His trial was held behind closed doors where he was charged with
insulting the leadership and it is not clear if the judge has agreed to grant him a leave.
Saharkhiz was arrested after the elections after being beaten and was transferred to Evin Prison. This journalist was kept
in temporary detention in the whole one year of his time in jail. (Jaras Website – Aug. 7, 2010)
Details of torture of teenager arrested for handing out political flyers
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3250-1.html
Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence agents arrested 17 year old Ali Niknam on November 2, 2009 and tortured
him after detaining him.
Niknam, who opposed the election results, was arrested on charges of carrying anti-government flyers and was subjected
to torture.
―On Monday evening on November 2, I had a number of flyers calling for a march on November 3 and one of my close
friends told me to go out with him to distribute the flyers…‖, he said.
―Agents of the Revolutionary Guards arrested me and threw me into a Pride automobile and constantly gave me electric
shocks (with electric batons), beat me and used very vulgar language in the automobile. They took me to a base near the
Helal Ahmar Square [I realized later that they took me to this location] and started interrogating me while severely
physically and mentally torturing me. They tortured me so severely that the wound of an operation done on my spinal

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cord to remove a cyst opened up one year after the surgery and the signs of electric shocks were still evident on my sides,
shoulders and stomach for a long time afterwards. I also discharged blood for a few days after my release‖. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 9, 2010)
Tehran student sentenced to one year of prison and 74 lashes
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20306
Mehdi Sa‘ad Khosravi, a political law student at Tehran University was sentenced to one year
of prison and 74 lashes by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court. Nine months of his one
year prison term has been suspended for five years.
According to reports, his charges were announced as assembling and conspiring, acting against
national security and disrupting public order by Judge Pir Abbas. He was cleared of the first
charge and sentenced to one year of prison for acting against national security and 74 lashes
for disrupting public order.
He was arrested on December 26, 2009 while going to a mourning ceremony in Jamaran by
security forces and after many interrogations in Evin Prison was transferred to cellblock 350.
He was released on bail in mid March.
Notably, his sentence was issued around last month and Khosravi who did not have a lawyer in
court was not able to appeal the sentence. (Peik-e-Iran Website – Aug. 10, 2010)
Prison guards attack and beat prisoners in Gohardasht prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_9655.htm
On Tuesday August 10, prison guards attacked hall 17 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj and beat a number of prisoners.
They also destroyed the personal belongings of prisoners like telephone cards and food.
Prison guards moved prisoners to the prison yard at about 9am until 11:45 am under the sun. They were banned from
drinking water or using the restroom in this time. Prisoner Yaqub Baqeri Jahed who protested this treatment was
attacked by guards and severely beaten with batons.
The head guard Officer Mirza Aqayi forced Baqeri Jahed to take off his pants etc. in front of other prisoners. He then
tried to force him to bend over while violently beating him with a baton.
Mirza Aqayi rapes prisoners in solitary in cellblock 1 while torturing them or breaks their hands and legs under torture.
Notably, 50 prison guards took part in today‘s violent attacks which was carried out under the command of Officer
Mirza Aqayi. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 10, 2010)
Political prisoner on 28th day of hunger strike in critical condition denied treatment
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_10.html
According to reports, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi is on his 28th day of
hunger strike and in critical health. He is in danger of death.
He is suffering from low blood pressure which has become more severe over
time, a severe decrease of vision, headaches, dizzy spells and his is also unable to
move.
On the other hand, interrogators of the Intelligence Agency and heads of
Gohardasht Prison have increased pressure on this political prisoner and
political prisoners who help him are summoned to the prison‘s Department of
Intelligence and Investigation where they are threatened that if they continue to
help Davoudi, they will be thrown in solitary.
Political prisoner Mansour Radpour is one of the prisoners who was summoned
and threatened by Reza Turabi, the head investigator of this prison, and Kermani
and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the Intelligence Department. They
threatened Mansour Radpour that if he helps Davoudi, he will be transferred to solitary cell in cellblock 1.
Ali Haj Kazem, the head of prison has ordered a ban on medical treatment for Davoudi and it has been a few days that
he has not been treated while in critical condition.
This shows that the heads of the prison and intelligence interrogators intent to physically eliminate this political
prisoner. Especially since one of his demands is that his complaint against Ali Haj Kazem be dealt with.
Political prisoner Arjang Davoudi who is currently jailed in cellblock 3 known as the Worker‘s cell went on a hunger
strike on July 14 in protest to prison conditions and inhumane limitations. Davoudi has demanded his minimum rights
like ending his visitation and phone call ban to his family, medical treatment for his physical condition, ending the
(illegal) confiscation of his home which has made his family homeless and seeing to his complaint against the head of
Gohardasht Prison, Ali Haj Kazem. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 10, 2010)
Political prisoner denied treatment while in critical condition
Political prisoner Reza Jushan has been suffering from a serious eye problem for more than
one week. His eyes are red and very painful and constantly irritated which has also
seriously impaired his vision.
Jushan told a prison guard that he was going blind and asked why he was not being taken
to the infirmary. The guard told him that he had to wait two months for his turn in the
infirmary.
Reza Jushan has been transferred to secondary cellblock 17 in cellblock 6 of Gohardasht
Prison from more than 4 months ago and is kept in isolation and has been banned from
calling or seeing his family in this time.
One of the head interrogators of the Intelligence Agency named Mohebi ordered the
transfer of this political prisoner where he is held incommunicado.
This section is used to put pressure on prisoners. This torturer issues arrest warrants for
student, labor, and political activists, dervishes and those who participated in the post-
election protests. He also interrogates and physically and mentally tortures detainees.
Jushan, 25, was arrested on December 1, 2009 after agents of the Intelligence Agency raided his home. He was taken to a
solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock and after two months was taken to cellblock 4. Intelligence Agents once again raided
the home of this family on December 7 and arrested his mother, Zahra Asadpour Gorji. She was also taken to the Sepah
Cellblock and after weeks of interrogations and physical and mental torture, was transferred to Gohardasht Prison‘s
female cellblock. Gorji and her daughter Fatemeh Jushan were arrested before this for visiting their family members in
Camp Ashraf in Iraq and were detained for 16 months in Gohardasht Prison. They were released after serving their
prison term. Gorji and her son were sentenced to one year of prison to be served in Zanjan Prison and four years of exile
in the Qeilar Village in Zanjan. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 11, 2010)
Doctor and human rights activist sentenced to 6 years of prison and 74 lashes
The second court sentence for Akbar Karami, jailed doctor, writer and human rights activist after eight months of prison
was issued for him and this activist was sentenced to another three years of prison in addition to his current 3 year
prison term. He was also sentenced to 74 lashes and five years of banishment to a desolate town and according to the
court, his medical permit will be annulled in this time.
According to reports, Karami who was trialed on July 13 was charged with ‗insulting the president and members of the
Guardian Council‘ for which he was sentenced to 74 lashes and ‘publishing lies with the intention of creating anxiety for
the public‘ for which he was sentenced to two year of prison. He was also sentenced to one year of prison for
encouraging corruption and prostitution (sexual liberty). The judge of the 10th branch of the Revolutionary Court in
Qom also obligated him to live in the town of Khormouj for five years and ordered that his medical permit be annulled
by the Medical Science University…
This activist was arrested on November 24, 2009 after security forces stormed his home and clinic and he was kept in
prison in an undetermined state despite his constant appeals to judicial officials. (Jaras Website – Aug. 12, 2010)
Political prisoner violently beaten in Evin Prison; psychological pressure on hunger striking prisoners
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3343-1.html
Three guard officers in Evin Prison attacked a political prisoner last night who was detained in a solitary cell in cellblock
240, violently beating him.
According to reports, these three guards were Ziayi, Karabalayi and Mahmoudi who have insulted and abused political
prisoners especially prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison in the past.
The screams of this tortured prisoner who cried and moaned from pain until the middle of the night could be heard in
the corridors of cellblock 240.
This incident put severe mental pressure on 16 hunger strikers who are still in solitary cells in Evin Prison. (Kalameh
Website – Aug. 13, 2010)
63 year old hunger striking political prisoner in critical condition denied treatment
It has been eight days that the medical team in Evin Prison has not checked on jailed journalist
Keivan Samimi who is on his 22nd day of hunger strike.
According to reports, he is being denied treatment on orders of prison officials especially the head
of Evin Prison Sedaqat and Bozorgnia, the head of cellblock 350.

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January – October 2010

Samimi‘s family is very concerned for his health and has asked all judicial officials especially the Tehran Prosecutor to
pay immediate attention to his condition.
This jailed journalist is in his 22nd day of hunger strike and is in very poor health. Samimi is 63 years old and in light of
his age the lack of treatment can be very dangerous for his health. (Kalameh Website – Aug. 17, 2010)
Jailed kickboxing instructor becomes paralyzed in prison as result of torture
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3432-1.html
Hossein Armin, a kickboxing instructor was arrested after police filed a criminal record for him and
was tortured to accept the charges. As a result of the torture, his spinal cord was damaged and he has
become paralyzed.
According to reports, he was falsely charged with murder and rape but with time it was determined
that the charges were made because the police were not able to arrest the real culprits and because of
public dissatisfaction. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 18, 2010)
Political prisoner under torture for more than 90 days
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/92.html
According to reports, political prisoner Reza Sharifi Bukani has been under physical, sexual and mental torture for close
to 82 days to give a confession on television.
This 29 year old prisoner who has a degree in the French language was arrested on May 10 in Tehran by agents of the
Intelligence Department of the Revolutionary Guards Forces. He was jailed in solitary in the 2A cellblock. Sharifi was
physically and mentally tortured in solitary for 22 days. One of the tortures was being placed in a solitary cell for 22 days
which was pitch-black both night and day. He was also tortured with electric shocks.
After 22 days, he was taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison and was tortured there by intelligence agents
for another 70 days.
Intelligence agents of the RGC tried to force him to ‗confess‘ on television to later use against him in court by physically,
sexually and mentally torturing him.
Sharifi did not have any visits or any contacts with his family while in solitary in cellblock 2A or 209. His family was not
aware of his condition in this time.
Reza Sharifi was a member of the RGC Intelligence Agency who was arrested on charges of having email
communications with a Kurd party. He has been charged with espionage and cooperation with political parties.
Sharifi has been transferred to Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison and is kept under medieval conditions. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 20, 2010)
Iran cuts tongue of Kurd political prisoner
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/081662.htm
Evin Prison interrogators cut the tongue of Kurd political prisoner Matin Arjan who is from the town of Batman in
Turkey‘s Kurdistan and he is in danger of death in prison. Arjan suffered two brain strokes in the past year in prison and
is now paralyzed in both legs. Zaki Arjan, his brother, confirmed this report and said that he has gone to Iran four times
to visit his brother.
―Matin is continuously tortured and is kept in solitary most of the time. They have cut his tongue and he has not
received treatment and is close to death‖, his brother said.
―They asked for 20,000 Euros for my brother‘s release but they not only did not release him, they threatened that if I
don‘t leave Iran, I will be killed‖. (Iran Press News – Aug. 20, 2010)
Political prisoner on 39th day of hunger strike in critical condition and denied treatment
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/39.html
According to reports, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi is on his 39th day of
hunger strike and in critical health. He is in danger of death.
He is suffering from low blood pressure, and general weakness. He is almost
unable to move and does his personal tasks with the help of other prisoners and
he cannot stand and his vision has been impaired to a very high degree. He has
also lost more than 15 kilograms and is also suffering from headaches and dizzy
spells.
Davoudi has been deprived of treatment and has not been taken to the infirmary
for close to 3 weeks.
All the evidence shows that interrogators of the Intelligence Agency and the
heads of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj intend to physically eliminate this political
prisoner. Decisions about political prisoners are made by Khamenei and
announced to the Intelligence Agency via his office. Intelligence agents then give the orders to the heads of prison to
carry out the inhumane measures against prisoners.
Political prisoner Arjang Davoudi, who is currently jailed in cellblock 3 known as the Worker‘s Cell, went on a hunger
strike on July 14 in protest to prison conditions and inhumane limitations. Davoudi has demanded his minimum rights
like ending the visitation and telephone ban to his family, medical treatment for his physical condition, and ending the
(illegal) seizure of his home which has made his family homeless. He has also demanded that his complaint against the
head of Gohardasht Prison, Ali Haj Kazem, be dealt with. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 21,
2010)
Former political prisoner hospitalized with suspicious blood poisoning
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_2920.html
According to reports, Hesam Tarmesi who was arrested in last year‘s protests and was
released some time ago is in critical condition in the hospital because of an unknown
blood poisoning.
He was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and sentenced to one year of
prison. Tarmesi was released recently after serving his illegal sentence while suffering
from nervous problems and constant nightmares.
A few weeks ago while going home from work at about 10:45 pm he was followed by
two men on motorcycles. He was then attacked by the bikers in an alley close to his
home without reason. One of his attackers lightly stabbed him with a knife from the
back three times. After he was stabbed he came down with a high fever and small red
spots appeared on his skin. His health eventually deteriorated and his family was forced
to hospitalize him.
Doctors in the hospital realized that his spleen had become overgrown, his liver had
been seriously damaged and his face, hands and feet swelled up.
After numerous blood tests, doctors realized that there is an unknown kind of poison in his blood.
It is likely that the poison in Tarmesi‘s blood is from his time in detention which eventually deteriorated his health or
that his assailants had poisoned the knife before stabbing him. Doctors have not been able to determine the kind of
poison or how it entered the blood stream of this former political prisoner. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – Aug. 18, 2010)
Political prisoner threatened and pressured on 46th day of hunger strike
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_28.htm
According to reports, on Saturday August 28, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi
was taken to the Intelligence Unit of Gohardasht prison in Karaj in a wheelchair
on his 46th day of hunger strike while in critical condition and was interrogated
and threatened for a prolonged amount of time by prison officials to end his
hunger strike. In the end Davoudi stressed that he would not end his hunger
strike until all his demands were met.
Davoudi‘s physical condition has deteriorated and his life is in danger. He is
suffering from severely low blood pressure, severe weight loss and weakness, and
impaired vision. He lays down most of the time and does his personal tasks with
the help of others in prison.
The wife of this political prisoner has continuously tried to visit her husband.
Mrs. Davoudi called the head of Tehran‘s Prison Organization, Sohrab
Soleimani, asking to visit her husband but was told that this issue had to be
coordinated with the head of Gohardasht Prison Ali Haj Kazem and that he will subsequently answer. When she called
Soleimani again he said that ―Ali Haj Kazem says that Mr. Davoudi pretends to be on hunger strike‖.
―Ali Haj Kazem says that he has broken the law in going on hunger strike and you cannot visit him in prison‖, he told
her. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 28, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner denied treatment in prison
Prison authorities refuse to give medical attention to Hamzeh Sobhani, a young Kurd political prisoner in Dizel Abad
Prison in Kermanshah despite his urgent need of treatment.

139
January – October 2010

According to reports, this young political activist was arrested about 2 months ago along with a number of other Kurds
by intelligence agents in this town on charges of cooperating with Kurd parties.
He was transferred to the Intelligence Detention Center in Kermanshah after some time to ‗confess‘ and was under the
most severe mental and physical torture by intelligence interrogators. Two of his nails were pulled out and several of his
fingers broke under torture.
After one month, he was transferred to Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah on a temporary detention order. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 29, 2010)
Political prisoner in coma after 48 days of hunger strike; denied medical attention
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_30.html
According to reports, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi went into a coma last night on his 48 th day of hunger strike. The
life of this political prisoner is in danger.
On Sunday night, august 29, at about 12 am, Davoudi was taken to the infirmary on a stretcher while he was close to a
coma. Before being treated, the medical staff put a paper in front of him and asked him to sign it so that he would take
full responsibility for anything that might happen to him. But this political prisoner refused to sign the paper. The
medics then gave him an unidentified injection and after 45 minutes, left him in the hallway of cellblock 3 even as he
was in very critical condition. They refused to keep him in the infirmary.
He has been on a stretcher from last night until now in the hallway. His health has deteriorated and he is unable to open
his eyes or talk. The life of this political prisoner is in danger. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug.
30, 2010)
Iran tortures two Azeri activists in Tabriz
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3692-1.html
Eunice Soleimani, the former editor of Ildrim student publication in the Bu-Ali Sina
University in Hamedan and Ayat Mehr Ali Biglu were tortured in the Tabriz Intelligence
Detention Center.
Yusef Soleimani, the brother of this student activist said, ―In the visit I had with my
brother on August 25 in Tabriz Prison I realized that he was given electric shocks and
injected with mind altering drugs‖.
According to Eunice‘s brother, he suffered heart problems as a result of the torture and
was hospitalized in the Sepah Hospital in Tabriz for three days.
A number of Azeri activists in the Tabriz Intelligence Detention Center told their families
in visits that Ayat Mehr Ali Biglu was also tortured and that they could hear him crying out
while being tortured by agents.
Biglu has not had any contact with his family in the past month and his family have
requested from the fourth branch of the Tabriz Revolutionary and Public Court to visit him and see his face but Judge
Hashem Zadeh who is seeing to his case has announced that due to the security nature of the case, he cannot allow his
family to see him.
Eunice Soleiman was arrested on June 17, 2009 in Ardabil and Ayat Mehr Ali Biglu was arrested on May 10, 2010 in the
town of Sufian. Judicial sources have not announced their charges. (Savalan Sassi Website – Aug. 31, 2010)
September
Urgent call to save life of hunger striking political prisoner in Gohardasht Prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post.html
According to reports, the condition of political prisoner Arjang Davoudi is very critical and dangerous on his 51 st day of
hunger strike.
There is great danger that his health will reach the point of no return. Davoudi has been taken to the prison infirmary
several times in the past few days with a stretcher and has been returned every time after a short time…
According to other reports, his wife went to the 15th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to see Salavati, the judge
on his case regarding her husband‘s sentence from a trial that has been going on for three years. She was told that the
case had been referred to the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court to be seen to and that she has to go to that town to
follow up his case. This is while Davoudi is a Tehran resident and is jailed in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj and was
arrested by intelligence agents in Tehran. The relevance of his case with the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court is not
clear. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 2, 2010)
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)
Lawyer says Iranian woman could be stoned soon; was lashed 99 times in prison
The lawyer for an Iranian woman sentenced to be stoned on an adultery
conviction said Monday that he and her children are worried the delayed
execution could be carried out soon with the end of a moratorium on death
sentences for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
In an unusual turn in the case, the lawyer also confirmed that Sakineh
Mohammadi Ashtiani was lashed 99 times last week in a separate punishment
meted out because a British newspaper ran a picture of an unveiled woman
mistakenly identified as her. Under Iran's clerical rule, women must cover
their hair in public.
With the end of Ramadan this week, the mother of two could be executed
'any moment,' said her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian.
The sentence was put on hold in July after an international outcry over the
brutality of the punishment, and it is now being reviewed by Iran's supreme
court.
Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of having an 'illicit relationship' with two men
after the murder of her husband the year before and was sentenced at that
time to 99 lashes. Later that year, she was also convicted of adultery and
sentenced to be stoned, even though she retracted a confession that she says was made under duress.
‗The possibility of stoning still exists, any moment,' Kian told The Associated Press. 'Her stoning sentence was only
delayed; it has not been lifted yet‘…
After putting the stoning sentence on hold, Iran suddenly announced that the woman had also been brought to trial and
convicted of playing a role in her husband's 2005 murder. Her lawyer disputes that, saying no charges against her in the
killing have ever been part of her case file.

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In early August, Iranian authorities broadcast a purported confession from Ashtiani on state-run television. In it, a
woman identified as Ashtiani admits to being an unwitting accomplice in her husband's killing.
Kian says he believes she was tortured into confessing.
In the latest twist, authorities are said to have flogged her for the publication of a photo of a woman without her hair
covered in the Times of London newspaper. The woman in the photo was misidentified as Ashtiani.
She was lashed on Thursday, Kian said, citing information from a fellow prisoner who was released last week. Kian has
been allowed no direct contact with his client since last month.
‗We have no access to Ashtiani, but there is no reason for the released prisoner to lie' about the flogging, he said.
There was no official Iranian confirmation of the new punishment.
The woman's son, 22-year-old Sajjad Qaderzadeh, said he did not know whether the new lashing sentence had been
carried out yet, but that he also heard about the sentence from a prisoner who recently left the Tabriz prison where his
mother is being held.
‗Publishing the photo provided a judge an excuse to sentence my poor mother to 99 lashes on the charge of taking a
picture unveiled,' Qaderzadeh told the AP.
The Times apologized in its Monday edition but added that the lashing 'is simply a pretext‘.
‗The regime's purpose is to make Ms. Ashtiani suffer for an international campaign to save her that has exposed so much
iniquity,' the newspaper said…
Ashtiani's two children remain in Iran and her son is a ticket seller for a bus company in the northern Iranian city of
Tabriz. He said he and his younger sister, Farideh, 18, have not seen their mother since early August.
‗We have really missed her,' he said. 'We expect all influential bodies to help to save her‘.
The Vatican on Sunday raised the possibility of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save her life as well (AP –
Sep. 6, 2010)
Political prisoner attacked by mentally ill prisoner; mentally ill prisoners jailed in prison instead of asylums
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3849-1.html
On Sunday September 4, a prisoner in cellblock 4 in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison attacked political prisoner Saleh
Kohandel and tried to choke him by wrapping a shirt around his neck. Kohandel was
saved by other prisoners. There are many prisoners in Rajayi Shahr Prison who are
mentally unstable and jailing them in hard prison conditions deteriorated their mental
illnesses and not separating mentally ill prisoners from other prisoners has led them to
hurt both themselves and other prisoners.
The person who tried to choke Saleh Kohandel has been recently released from an asylum
and instead of being kept in a center for the mentally ill, he was sent to Public Cellblock 2
in this prison.
Prisoners have to be checked in terms of their mental health before being accepted in
prison but unfortunately there are many prisoners who are suffering from mental illnesses
who sometimes inflict severe injuries to other prisoners by attacking them without reason.
They sit without clothes for hours in other prisoner‘s rooms or sleeping places and even
kill other prisoners. There have been many forgotten mysterious deaths in this prison.
These incidents are very common in Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj because usually ordinary prisoners are attacked and
reports of these attacks never find their way to the media. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 8, 2010)
Prison official sends prison gang to take revenge from prisoner in Gohardasht
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_1004.html
According to reports, Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani who is jailed in cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prion in Karaj on charges of
clashing with security forces was attacked by a prison gang which struck him in the left eye and left hand with a knife
severely wounding him.
On September 7 at about 2 pm a number of gang members who work as informers of prison officials in cellblock 6
attacked Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani intending to kill him.
One of the assailants was Sayid Yazdani who says he is a relative of the head of this prison Ali Haj Kazem.
Despite his severe injuries and being wounded in the eye, Abbas Tavakoli has been denied treatment under the excuse
that there are no specialists in the prison. His eye can get infected.
After this attack, Abbas Tavakoli was summoned to the Prison Inspection Unit this morning and was interrogated and
threatened that they would make new charges against him.
His assailants who were also in the Inspection Unit office threatened and insulted him in front of the head of the
Inspection Unit, Reza Torabi. But Torabi backed the assailants and told Tavakoli that he would be transferred to the
notorious cellblock 1 known as the ‗end of the line‘.
Tavakoli had defended and supported jailed teacher Rasoul Badaqi when he was attacked by prison guards. He had also
defended jailed Baha‘i leaders who were brought to this cellblock against the insults of the prison gang and stood up to
the gang.
Because of defending political prisoners who were attacked by prison guards and the prison gangs, he had been
threatened a number of times by Ali Haj Kazem that if he continues defending them or if he even talks to political
prisoners, he would have to face the dire consequences.
Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani was arrested in a raid to his home in 2008 by agents of the Intelligence Agency. His aunt, 50
year old Soudabeh Shadpour was shot in the neck in this attack and was severely wounded. All of his family members
present in his home were arrested and were severely tortured for a long time in the Shahpour Detention Center. His
brother, Amir-Hossein Tavakoli Berezjani, 33, died under the brutal torture. Agents of the Shahpour Detention Center
forced his mother, Mahin Shadpour to sign a paper which said that her son had died from a lung illness and that she has
no complaints.
Abbas Tavakoli was suddenly taken to court on August 17 without his chosen lawyer and was sentenced to death by
branch 71 of the Penal Court headed by Norollah Aziz Mohammadi on charges of clashing with security forces. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 8, 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)
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)...

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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 64th 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 65th 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)
Iran beats human rights activist in prison
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4035-1.html
On the night of September 17, Abolfazl Abedini Nasr, journalist and human rights activist
was severely beaten in Ahwaz Prison.
In this incident, a person named Qoldori who is prison personnel attacked Abedini and
severely abused and harassed him.
According to reports, this journalist was waiting in line to use the restroom in the prison
yard when this person attacked him for no reason and shackled his hands and legs to a pole
in the yard of cellblock 6. He was beaten with a pipe for hours.
The beatings were so severe that Abedini‘s hands and legs were completely blackened and
bruised. None of the prison officials are answering his protests to this issue.
This human rights activist has been sentenced to 11 years of prison and is suffering from a
severe heart problem. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 18, 2010)
Jailed teacher in critical condition in prison denied treatment
Death row political prisoner Abdolreza Qanbari is suffering from bleeding in his kidney and is in poor physical
condition.
Despite his constant moaning at night, prison officials pay no attention to his condition and refuse to give him
treatment.
Qanbari was arrested after Ashura events (December 27, 2009) and was sentenced to death on charges of having links to
the PMOI by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Qazi Salavati. This sentence was upheld by the 36 th
branch of the court of review headed by Judge Zargar and was announced to the Sentence Implementation Department.
This teacher has said that the charges against him were baseless. His wife who is also a teacher has been constantly
threatened by the Ministry of Intelligence that she would be fired. Qanbari is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
Sahel Qanbari, his daughter is in bad spirits after hearing of her father‘s death sentence.
His family did not give any interviews to the media regarding the condition of this political prisoner because of pressures
from the Ministry of Intelligence. (Rouz Website – Sep. 22, 2010)
Female death row political prisoner in critical condition denied
treatment
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_22.html
According to reports, the physical condition of political prisoner Farah
Vazehan who was sentenced to death after being arrested on Ashura
(December 27, 2009) is suffering from a critical heart condition and is in
very bad health. Interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence prevent her
from receiving treatment in a hospital outside of prison.
Farah (Elmira) Vazehan was taken to the emergency room of Modares
Hospital in Tehran on September 9 because of her critical heart
condition.

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She was shacked to the hospital bed while in critical condition and 3 security forces were in her room at all times. This is
while a person suffering from a heart condition should not be put under stress. Doctors were conducting tests to treat
her when interrogators ordered that she be returned to Evin Prison and she was taken back to prison in that condition.
She is also suffering from other illnesses such as a severe lack of iron to the extent that she has to be hospitalized every
month. But since her arrest, she has been deprived of treatment and this has deteriorated her health putting her life in
danger.
This political prisoner is a 49 year old homemaker. She was arrested two days after massive protests on Ashura by agents
of the Ministry of Intelligence in her home along with her husband and two children and was transferred to a solitary
cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison.
Her husband Ali Memari, 58 and her two children (Yansa Memari, 25 and Mehdi Memari, 27) were detained in solitary
for a month and were subjected to physical and mental torture in this time. Her daughter Yansa Memari is suffering
from lymph cancer and was under treatment when arrested. She was temporarily released from prison after one month
because of her deteriorating physical health.
Vazehan was detained in a solitary cell in cellblock 209 under physical and mental torture and was then transferred to
the female cellblock in Evin Prison. She was taken to the 15 th branch of the Revolutionary court and the head of this
court, Salavati, lied to her family and said that she would soon be released and deceived this family in this way. She was
sentenced to death on July 4 by this court branch.
Two head interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence nicknamed Alavi and Saied Sheikhan made fabricated charges
against her such as waging war with God, propagating against the government by having communications with the
PMOI and insulting the leader.
Her lawyer and family have protested this sentence and according to reports, her case is currently being reviewed in the
31st branch of Supreme Court. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 22, 2010)
Political prisoner subjected to brutal torture for over year
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_24.html
According to reports, political prisoner Mohammad Nikbakht has been under mental and
physical torture for over a year in the A-T Cellblock run by the Ministry of Intelligence in
Isfahan Prison.
Nikbakht is serving his fifth year of prison and was transferred from cellblock 3 to
Cellblock A-T in last years post election protests on July 20, 2009. He was detained in a
solitary cell for six months and was subjected to physical and mental pressure on a daily
basis by intelligence interrogators. Some of the tortures he was subjected to were being
hanged for a prolonged amount of time to the point where he passed out, being flogged
with cables or with lead filled hoses, being tied to metal pole for 4 days without any food
or the right to use the bathroom and sleep deprivation. He was also subjected to severe
mental torture. He was tortured to be forced into giving a interview in front of the
cameras which interrogators could use to charge him with enmity with God which carries
the death sentence.
He was transferred to a three person cell after six months of solitary and in this time he was constantly abused and
harassed and kept under intolerable conditions in this cellblock.
Nikbakht was banned from calling his family in this time and his family had no information on his condition and where
he was detained.
This political prisoner was arrested in June 2004 along with his wife and 3 year old child in Orumieh and was brutally
tortured for three months in a solitary cell run by the ministry of intelligence. He was then transferred to cellblock A-T
in Isfahan Prison where he was subjected to mental and physical torture for more than six months in a solitary cell.
Nikbakht was sentenced to 8 years of prison on orders of intelligence interrogators and some time later he was sentenced
to another year of prison for disclosing the crimes and tortures by intelligence interrogators in prison. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 24, 2010)
No news on 15 year old boy one year after arrest
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-25-54/4150-1.html
One year after the temporary arrest of Mohammad Saber Malek Reiesi, there has been no
news of his fate for four months.
According to reports, Mohammad, 15, who is from the town of Sarbaz and was arrested
because his brother was charged with having communications and cooperating with the
armed Baluch opposition, has not contacted or talked to his family for 4 months.
Mohammad was arrested on September 24, 2009 in Chabahar along with his two brothers and after security and
intelligence forces raided his home, they threatened his family that if they did not hand over his third brother, they
would execute all three sons.
Four months after their arrest, two of his brothers were released but 15 year old Mohammad was held as a hostage in
prison and in telephone call to his family, he was forced to say that he would soon be executed.
His family has gone to the intelligence agency, prison and revolutionary court several times in the last four months but
was prevented from visiting their son in prison. This has led to serious concerns over him still being alive.
Mohammad has been subjected to pressure and torture to confess on TV and introduce himself and his brother as
members of the Jondollah group. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 25, 2010)
Security forces beat students at Free Rasht University
At the start of the new academic year and on the first day of the opening of the Free Rasht University, the university
security prevented male students with t-shirts and female students with what they called unsuitable covering from
entering the university without prior notice and beat students who objected and protested this issue on orders of the
university Protection Department.
According to student sources, the actions of the university security forces led students to gather outside the entrance of
this university I protest but security forces beat them with the intent of dispersing them and prevented them from
entering the university. (Jaras Website – Sep. 25, 2010)
Political prisoner beaten on arrival in Ahwaz Prison
Zia-Eddin Nabavi, a student activist who was transferred to the Karoun Prison in Ahwaz
in the last few days is in an unsuitable condition.
Zia Nabavi was severely beaten on arrival in this prison and was kept in a solitary cell for
48 hours.
According to reports, he is currently in the security cellblock of this prison. The food
and hygiene conditions in the Ahwaz Prison are poor.
The spokesman of the Council in Defense of the Right to Education was only given
―one breakfast and one dinner and was allowed to use the restroom only once‖ in the
first two days of his incarceration.
There is only ―one working bathroom and shower in the security cellblock and the
cellblock is extremely hot and lacks ventilation. Prisoners do not have enough water‖.
Nabavi who has been expelled from university was arrested on June 15, 2009 and was
initially sentenced to 15 years of prison.
A court of review lowered his prison term to 10 years of prison to be served in Izeh
Prison which was later changed to the Karoun Prison in Ahwaz. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – Sep. 27, 2010)
Student prisoner put under pressure to deny prison abuse
One of the friends of jailed student activist Zia Nabavi who has been transferred to Ahwaz Prison said Zia talked about
being abused and beaten in prison in a phone call to him. He also said that the head of this prison has forced this
political prisoner to sign a statement to deny he was mistreated. (International Campaign in Defense of Human Rights
in Iran – Sep. 30, 2010)
October
Singer says he was abused and beaten in prison for singing song that „endangered national security‟
Yesterday in a court session, singer Aria Aramnejad read out his
defense detailing some of what he endured in his time in prison
including mental and physical torture by prison agents…
This young singer and musician was arrested in Babol on February
15, 2010 for singing a song named ―Ali Barkhiz (Ali Standup)‖. He
spent two months of his detention in a solitary cell…
―I was arrested on February 15, 2010 after intelligence agents raided
my home. They terrorized us and ransacked our home and did not
even spare our bedroom. All of this was because of a song that was
deemed a danger to national security by the gentlemen!!!!! After
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January – October 2010

that, I was under mental and physical torture for 44 days in a solitary cell and I will detail for the judges on how
humanely I was treated by the agents there:
1- I was insulted [by agents] and my personality was crushed with profane language and even ridiculing my appearance.
2- I was terrorized with threats that my wife, who was not involved in any political activities or in my activities, would be
arrested.
3- My brother [who has been injured in the Iran-Iraq war] was insulted and I was threatened that they would arrest him if
I did not cooperate.
4- I was threatened to death by the Intelligence Agency guard (he would say: I am an intelligent agent and I can easily kill
you with a bullet outside of the agency and I will not be prosecuted for it.)
5- I was threatened to death by Mati Kalay Prison officials.
6- I was kept in a 1.5 by 2 meter cell without the minimum sanitary facilities and it reached the point that after some
time my whole body was filled with infected pimples.
7- {Prison officials} intentionally deprived me of my medicine for my heart condition.
8- I was in a cell next to a HIV positive inmate and I was forced to walk barefoot on his blood which was on the ground
because he had tried to commit suicide.
9- I was given offensive, perverse and incorrect information about my wife.
10- I was stripped under the excuse of a body search while an agent had a camera in his hand. After I constantly
protested he smirked at me and said ‗Are you afraid?‘
11- After I requested to see my doctor, I was brutally beaten by an agent in the Mati Kalay Prison to the extent that the
signs were evident on my body for a long time afterwards.
12- My hands and feet were chained for a long time in Mati Kalay Prison.
These are just small examples of what I endured in my time in detention. (Tahavaole Sabz – Oct. 1, 2010)
Prisoners thrown in solitary for 3 months and banned from family visits after being tortured
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4306-1.html
Two Kurd political prisoners in the Orumieh Central prison who have recently been transferred from the Intelligence
Agency of this city to prison are being kept in solitary cells for three months so that torture signs on their bodies
disappear.
According to reports, Behrouz Aqa Khani from Salmas and Akbar Akbarlou from Khoy were subjected to severe torture
for six months in the Orumieh Intelligence Agency and are now being held in solitary cells in the Orumieh Prison. They
are also denied phone calls and visits with their families until the signs of physical tortures clear off.
The physical condition of these men who have been arrested on charges of acting against national security is very
concerning and prison officials refuse to give them medical treatment. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 2, 2010)
Iran flogs two men in public in Ahwaz
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=22564
Two people convicted of selling narcotics were flogged in public with a court order. These two were arrested during
operations to clean out contaminated areas of Ahwaz which was carried out by the Revolutionary and Public courts.
According to the court orders, the flogging sentence of one of the two prisoners who was sentenced to 12 years and 2
months of prison, 80 lashes and a fine was carried out in the Koye Ramezan region in Ahwaz. Also the flogging sentence
for another man who was sentenced to 5 years and 50 days of prison, 46 lashes and a fine was carried out on the same
day in the Khashayar region in this town. (Qods state-run daily – Oct. 3, 2010)
Political prisoner near paralysis because of lack of medical attention; banned from family visits
Hamed Rouhi Nejad was transferred to a two person cell in a detention center near the Central Zanjan Prison and was
banned from family visits.
According to reports, this political prisoner who has been sentenced to 10 years of prison to be served in exile is
suffering from multiple sclerosis and his condition has greatly deteriorated after being transferred to Zanjan Prison
because of lack of medical attention and facilities.
Hamed Rouhi Nejad and his family have written letters to various judicial officials about his terrible condition including
the Tehran Prosecutor and the judge on his case but have so far not been successful in getting him a medical leave from
prison.
Rouhi Nejad is becoming paralyzed and has so far lost 50 percent of his hearing and vision and has to receive medical
attention.
His family says that after he was transferred to Zanjan Prison, the conditions for visiting their son has become harder
and since last week because he was transferred to a detention center near Zanjan Prison, he has been banned from visits.
It is still not clear why he was taken to a solitary cell but in his last visit with his family, he said that he would go on
hunger strike in protest to the lack of medical attention for his condition. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 5,
2010)
Man sentenced to finger amputation for „picking pockets‟
After a criminal record was filed for a thief in the fourth branch of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Qazvin, the
Qazvin Prosecutor, Sadeqi Niaraki, issued a bill of indictment requesting that the maximum punishment (finger
amputation) be carried out for this man.
Notably, the above mentioned convict is 42 years old, illiterate and married and has had previous criminal experience
(picking pockets) and his case was referred to the Public and Criminal Court in Qazvin with the bill of indictment for
finger amputation. (Qazvin Province Information Network [state-run] – Oct. 5, 2010)
Details of brutal torture of death row political prisoner
Death row political prisoner, Seyed Sami Hosseini who is in the Orumieh Central Prison detailed the tortures he was
subjected to in a letter from prison.
Some sections of his letter are as follows:
I was arrested on June 4, 2008 and it was written in my files that I was interrogated in the first branch of court on June
5, 2008 even while I was detained in the Salmas Intelligence Agency then and was subjected to the most severe torture
for 6 to 7 days by intelligence agents. Due to the torture I lost my speech and was sent to the Khomeini Hospital in
Orumieh. Therefore how could I be present in the first branch of the Salmas court in this condition? I did not go to
court until August 24 and I was completely in the hands of the Intelligence Agency. I was unconscious for 18 days after
being tortured in the Western Azarbaijan Intelligence Agency and was hospitalized in the private intelligence agency
hospital.
My friend Jamaloddin Mohammadi and I never actually saw the claimed evidence of the Intelligence Agency and
Revolutionary Court even while we were sentenced to death based on this so-called evidence…
Interrogation methods by heads of the Intelligence Agency in Salmas and Oruimeh:
I was punched and kicked and beaten for hours… I was hanged with a rope from my wrists and given electric shocks. I
had a 20 cm long gash in my shoulder because of the torture and after 2 years, the signs of the gash are still evident on
my body and judges in the court of review even saw and confirmed this sign of torture. I was flogged on the soles of my
feet and thighs. Because of these tortures, I was unconscious for 18 days and I was unable to eat for a week after I
regained conscious and was nourished through an intravenous drip. My interrogators recorded my inability to eat as
‗hunger strike in detention‘ in my file. I was banned from seeing my family and even from calling them for 3 and a half
months. I was interrogated for a prolonged amount of time and sometimes up to 48 hours and was deprived from sleep
so that my mental state and moral would decrease in order to force me to accept what they pleased.
Political prisoner Seyed Sami Hosseini – Orumieh Prison cellblock 12 (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 5, 2010)
Prisoner becomes paralyzed in both arms in Tabriz Criminal Intelligence Department from excessive torture
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4436-1.html
Hamid Jahangir Vandian who is a resident of Tabriz has become paralyzed in both arms as a result of prolonged torture
in the Tabriz Criminal Intelligence Department.
A person close to him said that Jahangir Vandian was transferred to the Criminal Intelligence Department after being
accused of robbery and was subjected to severe torture which led to his hands being paralyzed from the shoulder down.
He was hanged with handcuffs for a few days by agents of the 3rd Team to Counter Robbery in the Tabriz Criminal
Intelligence Department. These agents also hammered his fingers.
This Azeri citizen went to the doctor after leaving the Intelligence Department and was told that his hands had become
paralyzed and would not go back to their original state.
Jahangir Vandian then filed a complaint against the three agents identified by their last names as Shahi, Atayi and
Aqarbayi and the case was sent to the fifth branch of the Tabriz Judiciary.
Agents of the Criminal Intelligence Department then transferred him back to this department after being informed of
the suit and he is currently under pressure to take back his complaint.
These agents told him that the judge seeing to this case was a former agent in the Tabriz Criminal Intelligence
Department and was their friend and even if these agents killed him, no one would support him. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Oct. 8, 2010)
Prisoner in danger of death under torture in Rajayi Shahr Prison

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http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/1.html
According to reports, prisoner Reza Jalal Shariat who has been transferred to a solitary cell in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht
(Rajayi Shahr) Prison known as the ‗doghouse‘ is in serious danger.
On Friday at about 8:30 pm, a prison guard who is also a torturer in the ‗doghouse‘ attacked Reza Jalal Shariat and
violently beat him…
After other prisoners clashed with the guards (in his defense), the internal manager of prison, Gerami, asked that
prisoners hand over Shariat to them but prisoners in cellblock 1 refused the order. Gerami then threated the prisoners
that they would bring the prison guards to beat them.
Shariat voluntarily gave himself up to prevent guards from beating his inmates. A few moments later Jalal Shariat was
taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 1 and other prisoners could hear his sobbing and cries as a result of the brutal
tortures.
In addition to Gerami, Kermani and Faraji the head and assistant head of the Intelligence Department were also present
for his torture. Head guard Mirza Aqayi and Zinali who are known torturers in this cellblock also participated in the
torture.
This prisoner is in serious danger of death.
Mirza Aqayi and Zinali are in charge of torture in solitary cells in cellblock 1. These men use various torture methods
such as rape, sodomy with batons, breaking the hands and legs of prisoners and other forms of torture.
Shariat, 25, is in prison on charges of murder. He is respected by other prisoners because he stands up to the guards and
always expresses his protest which has angered prison guards. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 10,
2010)
Iran cuts off robber's hand: report
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8907201449
AFP: Iranian authorities have cut off a hand of a man found guilty of two robberies in the northeastern holy city of
Mashhad, the ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
‗This man took part in two robberies along with another man,' Mohammad Zoghi, prosecutor general of Mashhad, was
quoted as saying without naming him.
‗We asked the judges to focus on amputations because we are responsible for protecting life and property of people,' he
said, adding that 'there will be other cases (of amputations) in the future‘.
ISNA said the hand was cut off in front of other prisoners.
Last July, Iran amputated the hands of five other people charged with theft in the northwestern city of Hamedan.
In recent years, cases of amputation have increased due to a rise in robberies on the back of rising poverty in the country.
(AFP, Fars state-run news agency - Oct 12, 2010)
Prison guards brutally attack Rajayi Shahr prisoners
On Monday October 11 at about 9:30 am prison guards raided cellblock 5 in Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison in Karaj
and beat the defenseless prisoners. As a result of this attack a number of prisoners were injured. One of the prisoners
who was violently beaten was Farhangpour Mansouri. He sustained injuries in his hand and feet. Head guard Naser
Zaiem threatened this prisoner to death. The attack continued until 12 pm.
These guards also broke and seized the personal belongings of these prisoners. Close to 30 guards participated in this
raid. This attack was carried out on orders of Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the Intelligence Unit of
prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 12, 2010)
Chocolate robber to have hand chopped off: Iran agency
An Iranian court has condemned a man convicted of robbing chocolates and cocoa from a Tehran pastry shop to have a
hand chopped off, Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
Judge Mohammad Reza Giyuki, quoted in the report, also sentenced the 21-year-old man, whose identity was not
revealed, to six months in prison for damaging the shop and another six months for "disobeying police‖.
Fars said police arrested him on May 29 and found in his possession 900 dollars worth of cash, three pair of gloves,
chocolate and cocoa.
Cases of amputation have been increasing due to a rise in robberies on the back of
growing poverty in Iran. Last week, Tehran amputated a hand of a man found guilty
of two robberies in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad. (AFP - Oct 16, 2010)
Jailed dissident cleric beaten in prison
http://hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4616-1.html
Yesterday evening the head of the Special Cellblock for Clerics in Evin Prison
verbally abused and insulted Mr. Borujerdi once again and struck him with a baton.
According to reports, a prisoner has reported that this violent measure was carried out against Borujerdi because he had
constantly protested the violation of the minimum rights of prisoners.
He had protested the lack of medical facilities, the banning of visits and the transfer of a large number of drug addicts to
this cellblock a number of times in the past two weeks and wrote several letters to Evin Prison officials and Qadiani, the
Special Prosecutor of Clerics.
Evin Prison officials claim that the Special Cellblock for Clerics is under the direct supervision of the Intelligence
Agency and the Special Prosecutor for Clerics. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 17, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner in critical condition
http://www.rahana.org/archives/27841
Two Kurd activists from Marivan who were arrested two months ago by security forces are still kept in solitary cells in the
Sanandaj Intelligence Agency and one of them is in critical physical condition.
Hajir Ibrahimi and Bakhtiar Memari who were arrested about 11 weeks ago by security forces in Marivan and were taken
to the Intelligence Agency for interrogations are still in an undetermined state and under the most severe pressure.
Hajir Ibrahimi who is suffering from kidney and gum infection and also a stomach illness is in critical condition and no
measures have been taken to treat him.
The constant pursuits of the families of these two activists and their appeals to judicial and security systems have had no
results and these institutions refrain from giving any kind of explanation to them especially regarding why their loved
ones were arrested and their current condition. (Kurdish Perspective – Oct. 19, 2010)
PMOI supporters brutally tortured in prison
Political prisoner Afshin Baymani was harassed and violently abused on October 3 and was thrown in a solitary cell in
cellblock 1 known as the ‗doghouse‘ because he protested the violent treatment of prisoners by the head and assistant
head of the Intelligence Unit in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of this prison‘s Intelligence Unit along with head guard Mirza Aqayi
and another guard named Zinali took Baymani to the torture room with shackles and physically tortured him for a long
period of time with batons, electric batons, and shockers. Ali Mohammad, the assistant head of this prison who was also
involved in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners also mentally tortured this political prisoner. After this violent
torture, Baymani was taken to a cell with intolerable conditions.
The guards did not let Baymani bring any personal belonging or clothes with him and since his transfer to this cell, he
has only had the clothes on his back. Prison guards have also lowered his food rations and limited the number of times
he is allowed to use the restroom to 3 times in 24 hours. Guards only answer with batons to the protests of this political
prisoner…
This political prisoner was arrested in 2000 when he was travelling with his brother in Khuzestan. When they stopped at
a checkpoint, security forces opened fire on them. His brother, Mehdi Baymani died on the spot and Afshin was injured.
He was then detained and taken to prison. His pregnant wife was then arrested and kept in detention for a long time.
This political prisoner was initially sentenced to death because he and his brother were supporters of the People‘s
Mojahedin Organization of Iran but after international protests, the death sentence was lowered to prison time.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 20, 2010)
Iran lashes 4 men in public
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-28-00-30-11/4661-1.html
The flogging sentence for four men was carried out on Monday, October 17 in the Central Square of Gonbad Kavous.
According the Kayhan state-run daily these men were Mehdi A., Ehsan R., Abdolaziz A., and Mojtaba Q. who were each
sentenced to 74 lashed in public on charges of ‗disrupting public order, harassing people and citizens, intentional attacks
with knives and destroying stores‘. (Kayhan state-run Daily, Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 20, 2010)
Human rights activist in critical condition denied treatment
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_22.html
According to reports, the physical condition of human rights activist
Mohammad Sediq Kaboudvand is deteriorating but agents of the Intelligence
Agency and Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi prevent him from receiving treatment.
This human rights activist is suffering from severe heart and prostate
problems and also has severe headaches and is in danger. His arteries have
also been obstructed which previously led to a heart attack. Infirmary medics

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January – October 2010

have requested that he be sent to a hospital outside of prison and have made their request in written form to the
Sentence Implementation Unit of the Revolutionary Court.
Kaboudvand has also come down with a severe prostate problem in prison and has severe pain. Prison doctors have told
him that the only way that his problem can be treated is with surgery. Unusual headaches also plague this political
prisoner and he had a brain stroke from the severe pain in the past.
The prison infirmary prescribes strong sedatives to him instead of giving him serious treatment. These sedatives have
caused problems for him. As a result of these unknown pills Kaboudvand is almost always asleep and has side effects
such as dizzy spells, fatigue and sometimes he cannot distinguish his family members in visits.
His family has gone to see the prosecutor and to other centers several times and asked that he be transferred to a hospital
outside of prison but officials have refused their request. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists – Oct. 22, 2010)
Iran chops off hand of another man Yazd Prison
http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/141935
The hand amputation sentence of a professional robber was carried out in the Central Yazd prison.
The convict was identified as 32 year old ‗M‘ and was charged with four counts of theft.
The convict also has other criminal records. His amputation sentence was carried out after it was upheld by the Supreme
Court and after his request for amnesty was turned down by the Judiciary‘s Amnesty and Sentence Commutation
Commission and was carried out in front of other thieves in the Yazd Central Prison. (Asre Iran state-run daily- Oct. 23,
2010)
Election protestor sentenced to prison and lashes
http://www.rahesabz.net/story/25973
According to reports, the 36th branch of the Tehran Court of Review confirmed the 33
month prison term and 75 lashes which was issued by a court of first instance for Seyed
Navid Kamran who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009).
After his sentence was confirmed by the court of review, he was summoned to the court in
Evin Prison and was notified of his sentence.
According to reports, he was mistreated while his final sentence of 2 years and 9 months of
prison and 75 lashes was announced to him.
He was charged with ‗assembling and conspiring with the intention of committing a crime
against the security of the country‘ and ‗disrupting public order‘. (Jaras Website – Oct. 24,
2010)
University professor tortured in detention in Isfahan
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4772-1.html
One of the professors of the Free Isfahan University who will remain
anonymous (for security reasons) has been temporarily released from
prison after being physically and mentally tortured in detention.
According to our sources, this university student was beaten and tortured
after protesting a sentence suspending him from this university. After
paying a 150 million toman (150,000 dollar) bail, he was temporarily
released until his trial. Some of the charges made against him were acting
against national security, creating anxiety for the public, disrupting the
order of the university and cooperating with foreign elements.
These pictures, which were taken after his release, show the torture signs
on his body. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 26, 2010)
Iran arrests and tortures young man for voicing protest over mother‟s stoning sentence
According to reports, Sajad the son of Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani and Houtan Kian, Sakineh
Mohammadi Ashtiani‘s lawyer are under pressure and torture in Tabriz. According to this report,
Houtan and two German journalists were transferred to Tabriz Prison 16 days after their arrest on
October 26 but there is no information on where Sajad is being held. Sajad was reportedly
severely beaten in the first days of his interrogations and Houtan was abused and beaten as well.
The interrogators asked how Sajad and Houtan were in contact with news networks outside of the
country and the global campaign to save Sakineh. The Islamic Republic has banned all visits with
Houtan and Sajad and has tried very hard to prevent news regarding their arrest from leaking and
Sakineh Mohammadi news networks from covering their arrest. It is presumed that Sajad is still being kept in a secret
Ashtiani detention center in Tabriz and is still being abused and harassed. Notably, Sakineh Mohammad
Ashtiani has also been banned from visits for two months. (International Committees against Stoning and Execution –
Oct. 27, 2010)

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January – October 2010
Arbitrary arrests
Political arrests

Social arrests

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January – October 2010
Arbitrary arrests

Political arrests
January
Security forces close down student association office in Sajad University, arrest 10 students
The office of the Islamic Association of a university in Mashhad was shut down and 10 other students were arrested.
After students of the Sajad University in Mashhad gathered on Thursday in protest to a bloody raid by supporters of the
government against students of the Free Mashhad University which led to dozens of injuries, the arrest of 210 students
and the probability of two deaths, security forces came to the campus of Sajad University and shut down the office of the
Islamic Association after which they arrested 10 students.
Currently 30 students of the Free University, 10 Sajad University students and 4 Firdosi University students are detained
in Intelligence Detention Centers in this city. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 3, 2010)
Security forces arrest 14 Kermanshah students
In the past week, 14 Razi University students in Kermanshah were arrested by security forces and imprisoned. Three of
these students are Sa'ad Hayati, Ehsan Hayati and Arash Mohammad Hosseini who were arrested on Thursday,
December 31. (Kurdistan Media – Jan. 4, 2010)
Regime arrests scores of political activists in Iran
Seyed Amir Khoram, and Mohsen Mohaqeqi who are members of the Iran Freedom Movement and Sara Tavalosi
(Mohammad Tavasoli's daughter) were arrested yesterday after answering a summons to the Intelligence Agency in
Tehran.
A member of the Freedom Movement has said that these arrests are to put pressure on jailed members of this movement
to announce this movement's disbandment and the end of its activities.
Reza Najafi, a writer and translator of German literature was also arrested. In the town of Zarand three political activists
were arrested. According to reports, Abdolreza Rahmani, Mohsen Pour-Rashidi and Hossein Shahr Ashub were arrested
by security forces on Saturday.
Mohammad Rof'ati, a member of the Youth Branch of the Participation Front and Mohammad Kiqbadi, member of the
Revolutionary Mojahedin Organization were also arrested in Gorgan.
In Mashhad Mehdi Gilani and Farshad Azizi members of Staff 88 were also arrested. (Rooz Website – Jan. 4, 2010)
Security forces arrest more people in Iran
In the past few days, Alireza Nabavi, the husband of political prisoner Atefeh Nabavi was arrested after security forces
attacked him in Semnan. He was taken to an unknown location. There are currently two members of this family in
prison including Seyed Zia Nabavi, the head of the Council in Defense of Education and Atefeh Nabavi.
On Thursday December 31, Parviz Varmazian, 54, who is a former political prisoner was attacked and taken to an
unknown location by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. Varmazian was a political prisoner in the 80's and was under
violent torture for seven years in prison. His three children are currently in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.
Majid Rezayi was also arrested by intelligence agents and taken to an unknown location. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2010)
Iran Says Several Foreigners Arrested In Protests
Iran said on Monday that several foreigners conducting 'psychological warfare' against the clerical system were arrested in
last month's bloody clashes between opposition supporters and security forces.
'Several foreigners are among those who were arrested on the day of Ashura … they were leading a psychological war
against the system … They entered Iran two days before Ashura,' Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi told state
television, without giving the foreigners' nationality.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused opposition leaders of links to 'foreign enemies,' warning that they will not
tolerate any more anti-government protests after the turmoil that broke out during the Shi'ite ritual of Ashura.
The intelligence minister also said the case of the arrested foreigners would be handed over to the judiciary by
Wednesday...
A representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said opposition leaders were 'mohareb' (enemies of
God), which makes them fit for execution under Islamic law.

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January – October 2010

Hardline officials have accused the opposition leaders of causing tension in the country, urging Mousavi and another
moderate defeated candidate, Mehdi Karoubi, to repent or 'face charges of supporting apostates in defiance of God'…
The government has stepped up a crackdown on the reform movement since Ashura. opposition websites said that
dozens of pro-reform students, activists and journalists have been arrested in the past few days in different cities.
Iran's General-Prosecutor Qolamhossein Mohseni-Ejei repeated the government's warnings on Monday.
'Those who have been arrested during Ashura clashes face various charges, including acting against national security and
will be severely confronted,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Mohseni-Ejei as saying. (Reuters – Jan. 4, 2010)
Iran arrests lawyer of political prisoners in Kermanshah
Farzad Soltani, a lawyer, was arrested on the night of January 5 in Kermanshah.
Security forces searched his home after his arrest. Soltani aided the families of detainees by giving them legal advise after
post election events. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Iran arrests 30 'mournful mothers' protesters: website
Iranian security forces have arrested 30 so-called 'mournful mothers' who were protesting in a Tehran park the death or
disappearance of their children in post-election unrest, an opposition website reported Sunday.
Kaleme.org, quoting witnesses, said the women were rounded up on Saturday in Laleh park.
'Around 4:00 pm (1230 GMT) we were in Laleh park and there were more than 100 police… who were not allowing the
mothers to sit on the benches or gather in groups,' the unidentified witness told Kaleme.org. 'There were around 70
mothers in the park and the security chased them out. A number of them escaped but around 30 were arrested and were
forcefully taken into police vans,' the witness said.
They women were driven to a police station, the website said without giving more information.
'Mournful mothers' are a group of mothers whose children have gone either missing or killed in the aftermath of protests
unleashed following the contested re-election in June of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad.
The women, who dress in black group in sign of mourning, usually gather in Laleh park on Saturday afternoons to
protest against the death or disappearance of their children, according to their website.
The website – http://mournfulmothers.blogfa.com/ -- says that security forces always intervene when the mothers meet
in the park and that some of the women have been arrested in the past.
The group was set up after Neda Agha-Soltan was shot and killed in one of the protests, according to the website.
The mothers demand the prosecution of those who were behind the alleged killing and torture of their loved ones, and
also call for the release of all prisoners of conscience. (AFP – Jan 10, 2010)
10 mourning mothers taken to hospital after arrest
According to the latest reports, about 30 mourning mothers who were arrested yesterday in Laleh Park were taken to
court today. Ten of these mothers were taken to the hospital because they were beaten and there is no information on
their physical health. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 10, 2010)
Iran arrest 3 female photographers at funeral of slain nuclear physics professor
Three photographers were arrested at the funeral of Massoud Ali Mohammadi, an assassinated professor, today in
Tehran.
In this ceremony which was held with a heavy presence of plainclothes agents and Bassij forces, 3 photographers who
reportedly worked for foreign news services were arrested. They were all women and were arrested by female police
officers.
It is still not known why they were arrested and why only female photographers were arrested. (Kalameh Website – Jan.
14, 2010)
Iran arrests cleric close to Montazeri: website
Iran has arrested a cleric close to late dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri amid a fresh crackdown on
opposition supporters, a reformist website reported on Friday.
Mid-ranking cleric 'Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Taghi Khalaji was arrested at his home in the city of Qom on Tuesday,'
Norooznews said.
'The cause of his arrest is not known yet but he had on several occasions backed protests against election results' which
saw President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad returned for a second term amid allegations of massive fraud.
The website described Khalaji as being close to Montazeri and Grand Ayatollah Yusuf Sanei, both strong supporters of
the opposition.
The detained cleric's son, Mehdi Khalaji, is a senior research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and
two members of the US House of Representatives condemned the arrest.
'The regime's intimidation and imprisonment of clerics critical of the current government must cease at once,' Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen and Howard Berman said in a statement.
'We are deeply concerned by reports that the Iranian regime has arrested Ayatollah... Khalaji and confiscated both his
and his family's personal possessions and passports, thereby preventing them from leaving Iran,' they added. (AFP - Jan
15, 2010)
Iran arrests Sunni sheikh
Sheikh Qoreishi, the principal of a religious school and preacher in the Mohammadeih Sunni Mosque was arrested on
January 10 in Talesh by security forces and taken to the Intelligence Agency in Rasht.
After storming his home, security forces gathered and confiscated his books and computer and even his cell phone SIM
cards. He is still in the Intelligence Agency six days after his arrest. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 16, 2010)
Iran arrests 10 students in Sanandaj
Ten students who had attended the second anniversary of the death of Ibrahim Lotfollahi (who was killed by security
forces) were arrested. This is while several arrestees from the first anniversary of the death of this Kurd student have still
not been released and the case of Lotfollahi's mysterious death has been closed. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan.
16, 2010)
Iran arrests 40 Ashura protesters
More than 40 of those who had gathered on Ashura were arrested after being identified with the help of the people. The
offenders have been handed over the State Security Forces for further investigation and interrogations. (Tabnak state-run
website – Jan. 19, 2010)
Iran arrests couple and detains their baby in intelligence agency for several hours
On the evening of January 17, Peiman Chalaki, a political and labor activist and the former secretary of the Free Saveh
University's Islamic Association and his wife Somayeh Alami Pasand a former member of the Participation Front and the
former secretary of the Free Tehran University's Islamic Association and their little daughter were arrested by intelligence
agents and transferred to Tehran from Saveh.
According to reports, security forces called one of the friends of this couple and summoned him/her to the Saveh
Intelligence Agency. They then separated Mana Chalaki, the couple's small child, from her parents and handed her over
to the couple's friend.
Chalaki and Alami Pasand were then transferred to Tehran by the intelligence agency. There is no information on their
exact location in Tehran. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 19, 2010)
53 year old female political prisoner detained in solitary in ward 209
Parvaneh Rad, 53, is a mother of two and a supporter of the Mourning Mothers who attended the weekly protests of
these mothers in Laleh Park. She was arrested on December 26 after her car broke down. She was waiting near the
Choobi Bridge for her husband to come fix the car when she suddenly saw plainclothes agents violently beating women
and girls on the street. She protested this brutal act and was attacked and violently arrested by the plainclothes agents.
She is currently detained in the solitary cells in ward 209 in Evin Prison and her family has still not been allowed to visit
her. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 19, 2010)
Iran arrested 8 lawyers after December 27 protests
The Center of Lawyers is looking into the arrest of 8 members of this center during the arrests after Ashura (December
27).
This issue was brought up in a session of this center on Tuesday. The Center of Lawyer has still not announced the
names of these eight lawyers but according to reports, a number of them were arrested in Tehran while some others were
arrested by security forces in their homes and offices in other cities. (Advar News – Jan. 20, 2010)
Iran arrests man in Semnan because of family ties with Ashraf residents
According to reports, agents of the intelligence agency attacked the office of Hanif Hossein Doust in Semnan and took
him to an unknown location.
Hossein Doust, 28, who is married and is the father of a two-year-old child, was arrested on January 17 at about 8:30 pm
after intelligence agents attacked his office. These forces then violently searched his office and then his home breaking
his personal belongings. They then confiscated some of his family's personal belongings from his home including his
satellite receiver, phone books, family picture albums, books and other things.
His family went to the Revolutionary Court and Intelligence Agency Detention Center in Semnan to pursue his
condition and the reason behind his arrest. But they were threatened by an intelligence agent interrogator named Erfani.
Interrogators also threatened his wife and told her that, 'we will get to you as well and you have no right to follow your
husband's situation'. She was also told that she has no right to leave the city.

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January – October 2010

Erfani who is an interrogator and torturer in the Intelligence Agency in Semnan is active in attacking and arresting
(ordinary) citizens. He is also interrogates and tortures political activists, students, Baha'is and other activists in this city.
Another member of this family, Monireh Rabiyi, who is Hossein Doust's cousin was arrested a few months ago and is
currently in the women's ward in Evin Prison.
Hossein Doust's mother and uncles are in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. In the past few months families of those who are in
Camp Ashraf have been attacked by the intelligence agents, arrested and given heavy sentences only because their
relatives are in Ashraf. These arrests have been made in various cities and after Ashura protests (on December 27), have
become more widespread. Currently a large number of these families have been sentenced to heavy prison terms because
their relatives are in Ashraf. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 21, 2010)
Iran arrests VOA reporter along with family
One of the elements linked to anti-revolutionary (forces) who was active in the Voice of America network and also
cooperated with the anti-revolutionary opposition, escaped some time ago with his family after his associates were
arrested.
According to reports, investigation to find this person was ongoing until one week ago when his hiding place was
discovered. He was arrested along with his wife and daughter in a garden in the Luin Plain near Tehran. (Jahan state-run
website – Jan. 26, 2010)
February
Iran arrests 3 former student activists
Security forces attacked the homes of Vahid Abedini, Navid Abedin and Ismail Izadi Khah in the
middle of the night yesterday and arrested these three former student activists.
These forces also confiscated some of their personal belongings. The reason behind these arrests is not
year clear. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Feb. 2, 2010)
No news on Mourning Mother abducted 4 weeks ago by security forces
According to reports, Farzaneh Zinali, a supporter of the Mourning Mothers was abducted by security
forces more than four weeks ago and there is no information on her whereabouts and condition.
Vahid Abedini Zinali, 53, is married with two children and supports the Mourning Mothers. On January 9, 2009
after she left her home and on her way to join the protest of Mourning Mothers in Laleh Park, she was attacked and
abducted by intelligence agents. From that time on, there has been no information on her condition and even where she
is being detained.
Her family constantly goes to the Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison to pursue her condition and the location of her
detention but (officials) refrain from answering their questions. They only told this family once that she is in a detention
center near Qom but did not give them the exact address of the prison.
This family is under pressure and threats by intelligence agents that if they tell human rights activists and the media that
Mrs. Zinali has been arrested and that they have no information on her whereabouts, Mrs. Zinali and her family will
have to face the consequences. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 3, 2010)
Iran arrests female students
A number of students who were mostly girls were arrested by security forces last night.
Some of the arrestees were Tehran University students and were arrested in their homes.
Nazanin Hassan Nia and Sahar Qasemi, 26, were arrested in this regard in the morning. Sahar Qasemi father was
executed in the massacre of political prisoners in the 80's. (Jaras Website – Feb. 3, 2010)
Three civil rights activists arrested in Yasuj
Three civil rights activists were arrested in Yasuj.
Reza Akvanian, Mohammad Akvanian and Hassan Akvanian were arrested on Tuesday in their home by security forces
and taken to an unknown location.
Their family does not know where they were taken or why they were arrested. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Feb. 4, 2010)
Iran arrests another journalist
Security forces arrested Amir Mehregan, writer, translator and journalist on Wednesday night in his home. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 4, 2010)
Amir Kabir Univ. student arrested after going to intelligence agency
Ehsan Mir Sayidi, a member of Amir Kabir University's School of Computer Student Affairs Council was arrested after
answering a summons to the Ministry of Intelligence. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Feb. 4, 2010)
No news on 70-year-old former teacher after 40 days ago of detention
Forty days after the arrest of a retired teacher, there is still no information on his fate.
Omid-Ali Mehrnia, 70, was arrested 40 days ago and his family still has no clue regarding his whereabouts.
He was arrested in his home on January 2. Security forces said that he would only be taken for questioning and would be
brought back at night but after 40 days, he has not even made a call to his family.
He was arrested on charges of having links to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran and participating in illegal
gatherings. His wife who suffers from high blood pressure is in a poor condition out of stress for her husband.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 6, 2010)
Iran arrests seven ahead of revolution anniversary
Iran said on Sunday it has arrested seven people for allegedly planning to provoke riots on February 11, the day the
nation marks the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic revolution.
'Seven people tied with counter-revolutionary and Zionist satellite networks and the sedition have been arrested,' the
intelligence ministry said in a statement carried by local media.
It said the detainees were linked to Radio Farda – the US-funded, Prague-based Persian radio – and trained in Dubai
and Istanbul, while 'some of them were hired by the US spy service,' which was not named.
The accused had a crucial role in gathering and sending news abroad and 'provoking rioters, especially on Ashura,' the
ministry charged.
'They were due to do the same on February 11 and then leave the country to join the Americans'. (AFP – Feb 7, 2010)
Iran arrests human rights activist
Human right activist, Sama Bahmani, was arrested on Tuesday by security forces and taken to an
unknown location. On Saturday February 2, this human rights activist was arrested by security forces
in Mahabad. (Human Rights Activist in Iran – Feb. 7, 2010)
Female journalist arrested
Somayeh Momeini, journalist and an activist in the One-Million Signature Campaign was arrested in
her home on February 7.
According to reports, she was arrested at 3am by security forces. There is no clear information on her whereabouts.
(Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 7, 2010)
Security forces arrests ex- media editor
Ahmad Jalali Farahani, the editor of the Social Service of Mehr News Agency was arrested and taken to Evin Prison last
night after being fired from Mehr News Agency. (Jaras Website – Feb. 7, 2010)
Khajeh Nasir student arrested outside of university
Alborz Mahboub-Khah, a student at the School of Mechanics at Khajeh Nasir University was arrested by security forces
today while leaving the university and was taken to an unknown location. (Bambad Khabar website – Feb. 6, 2010)
Iran arrests another journalist
Zeinab Kazem-Khah, a journalist for a state-run news agency was arrested at 3 am on Sunday after 9 intelligence agents
stormed her home. She was taken to an unknown location.
These agents showed her a warrant saying that she was charged with attending protests. All her personal belongings were
confiscated. (Human Rights Activists – Feb. 7, 2010)
Iran arrests women's rights activist
Security forces arrested Mahsa Jazini, a student in Isfahan who has been banned from education.
According to reports, she was arrested at 1:30 am for being a 'feminist'. She was transferred to the Dastgerd Central
Prison in Isfahan last night. (Taghir Barayeh Barabari website 'Change for Equality' – Feb 7, 2010)
Another member of human rights group arrested
Ali Kalayi, a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters was arrested in the
morning.
Kalayi who was serving his army time in the Imam Ali Officer's College was arrested by
military judiciary forces in the morning. These forces also went to his home in the
afternoon and confiscated some of his personal belongings after conducting a search.
There are currently 8 members of this committee in prison. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – Feb. 7, 2010)
Nine Iranian journalists arrested: reports
Iranian authorities have arrested nine journalists working for several media networks in the past two days, opposition
websites and Etemad newspaper reported on Monday.

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Etemad named three detained journalists as Akbar Montajabi of Irandokht, a reformist weekly, Mahsa Jazin of the
government-run Iran who works in the central city of Isfahan, and Ahmad Jalili Farahani of Mehr news agency.
Opposition website Rahesabz announced the arrests of Ehsan Mehrabi of moderate daily newspaper Farhikhtegan and
Zeynab Kazem-Khah of the ISNA news agency.
Kaleme.org reported that Hassan Zohouri who works for the information website of the government tourism
organisation was also arrested, as was Amir Sadeghi of Farhang Ashti newspaper.
It said two other journalists Ali Kalehi and Somaiyeh Momeni were also detained, but it was unclear who they worked
for.
The reasons for their arrests were not immediately known but they come just days ahead of Thursday's 31st anniversary
of the Islamic revolution.
Kaleme.org said 55 Iranian media personnel are currently being detained in Iran, while Reporters Without Borders says
more than 40 journalists have been arrested since the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad in June
2009 and the ensuing protests. (AFP - Feb 8, 2010)
Iran arrest female Tehran Univ. student
Hamideh Qasemi, an agricultural engineering major in Tehran University, was arrested on Wednesday by security forces.
This is while her family was not informed of her arrest until today. It is still not clear why she was arrested and what her
charges are. (Bamdad Khabar Website – Feb. 7, 2010)
Lawyer arrested in home on eve of planned protests in Iran
Maryam Qanbari, a lawyer and women's rights activist was arrested today in her home at 3 am by security forces.
These forces initially rang her neighbors' doorbell to enter the apartment building and then knocked on her door. They
confiscated some of her personal belongings including her computer. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 8,
2010)
Iran arrests two children's rights activists
According to reports, in the past few weeks, two children's rights activists were arrested and taken to an unknown
location.
On January 27, 2009, Ms. Sayideh Mirzayi, who is 25 and graduated with a master's degree in chemistry from Tehran
University was arrested by agents of the Intelligence Ministry and taken to an unknown location. She was active in the
Better World NGO which helped children of labor and street children.
Mr. Babak Nazari, 22, who worked in the Suitable World for Children NGO but had started working with the Molavi
NGO after Suitable World was shut down by the intelligence agency, was also violently arrested at about 10 am and was
taken to an unknown location.
In the afternoon, these forces stormed his home in Islam Shahr and conducted a long search. They subsequently
confiscated his computer, CDs and other personal belongings. A similar search was conducted in Mirzayi's home where
her personal belongings were taken by intelligence agents.
The Mirzayi and Nazari families go to the Revolutionary Court in the day and Evin Prison at night on a daily basis to try
to get any kind of information about their loved ones. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 8, 2010)
Another human rights activist arrested
Mohammad Ghaznovian, a children and women's rights activist was arrested on Monday February 8, in the afternoon in
Qazvin.
Agents went to his home and confiscated his personal belongings after his arrest.
These agents did not give any explanations to his family as to why he was arrested. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Feb. 8, 2010)
Head of cleric's office arrested in Tehran
Mohamamd Saleh Noqreh Kar, the nephew of Zahra Rahnavard (Moussavi's wife) who was the head of the Tehran office
of Ayatollah Dari Najaf Abadi was arrested after answering a summons in Evin Prison. (Ayandeh website – Feb. 9, 2010)
Qazvin judicial official: two PMOI activists arrested in Qazvin
The head of Public Relations at the Qazvin Judiciary said that two members of the Monafeqin (PMOI) were arrested in
Qazvin.
Mazaher Mehr Aliyan said, "Two people linked to the Monafeqin who gathered news in the province and gave it to the
Monafeqin were arrested by (security forces). (Fars state-run news agency – Feb. 9, 2010)
More arrests on eve of fresh protests in Iran
Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence stormed a number of the homes of social and student activists and supporters of
Mourning Mothers and arrested them last night. They were taken to section 209 in Evin Prison.
These attacks started on Monday, February 8 at 10:30 pm. The first attack was against the Ahsani
family which led to the arrest of Nader and Elham Ahsani. Intelligence agents used five cars loaded
with agents for this attack. Nader Ahsani is a student activist who was previously arrested in 2007.
Elham Ahsani worked in two NGOs including the Life Flowers Association which aided people
infected with HIV and the Suitable World for Children Organization which helped children of labor
and street children.
At about 11:30pm, intelligence agents attacked the home of 49 year-old Jila Akram Zadeh who is a
supporter of the Mourning Mothers. Five agents forcefully entered her home and after conducting a
long search, arrested Akram Zadeh and took her to a solitary cell in section 209 in Evin Prison. Nader Ahsani
At about 3:30 am, intelligence agents attacked the home of another supporter of the Mourning
Mothers, Mrs Goli, 49, who is married with two children and arrested her. She was taken to section 209 as well. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 9, 2010)
Iran arrests another journalist in Tehran
Journalist Vahid Pour-Ostad was arrested last night. According to a person close to this journalist, he was arrested in his
mother in law's home where he had gone for a party. Security forces went to his home after his arrest and confiscated
some of his personal belonging including his laptop computer and all his personal writings. (Jaras Website – Feb. 9,
2010)
Iran arrests two 'elements of sedition' in Isfahan
Two of the heads of the so-called green movement in a town in Isfahan who were busy mobilizing seditionist forces to
send to Tehran for February 11 were arrested. (Iran state-run daily – Feb. 9, 2010)
Another journalist violently arrested in home
Ali Malihi, journalist, was arrested at 10 am in his home. His family described the agent's treatment (with Malihi) as
unsuitable and violent. (Advar News – Feb. 9, 2010)
Three political activists arrested in Khoram Abad
Three political activists, Siamak Nad-Ali, Kaveh Azadi and Massoud Nasiri were arrested Saturday evening in a street in
Khoram Abad by agents of the Lorestan Intelligence Agency. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb .9, 2010)
Iran arrests activists in Ahwaz
Last night security forces in Ahwaz arrested a number of nationalist-religious activists in this city.
These forces arrested Seyed Reza Tabatabayi and Hesam Kaviari in their homes and confiscated their computers and
other personal belongings. (Neda'ye Sabz'e Azadi website – Feb. 8, 2010)
Several arrested before Iran national day marches: police
Iran's police chief said several people were arrested while making preparations for anti-government protests on Thursday,
when the nation marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam said that some people 'intended to have deviant slogans' on Thursday when state-sponsored
marches take place across Iran to mark the anniversary of the revolution which toppled the shah in 1979.
'There is good intelligence control on their behaviour... and some PEOPLE who were preparing equipment in this
regard (making banners and posters) have been arrested,' Moghaddam told Fars news agency on Wednesday, without
giving numbers or details of what preparations the detainees were making.
He also issued a warning that authorities will crack down on anyone staging demonstrations against the government or
President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad -- the main target of protests since his disputed June re-election.
'If anyone wants to disrupt this glorious ceremony, they will be confronted by people and we too are fully prepared,' the
police chief warned. (AFP - Feb 10, 2010)
Intelligence agents arrest two former political prisoners
According to reports, two former political prisoners Teimour Rezayian and Hossein Niakan were arrested and taken to
an unknown location.
On Sunday February 7, Rezayian, 50 and Hossein Niakan who were jailed in the 80's were arrested after an attack by
intelligence agents. This attack took place in the middle of the night and these agents conducted a search in their home
and confiscated their personal belongings.
Their families have gone to Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison every day since their arrest in an attempt to get
information on their whereabouts and condition but they are not given any clear answers. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 10, 2010)

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20 people arrested in Shiraz


More than twenty people were arrested in Shiraz today. According to reports, people in Shiraz came out on the streets
today like everyone in Iran to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Revolution. Riot police and security forces
attacked the protesters and arrested more than 20 people. (Jaras Website – Feb. 11, 2010)
Widespread clashes and arrests in Tehran
According to reports, there were widespread clashes between security forces and protesters in central Tehran which has
led to dozens of arrests.
At about 11:30 am protesters came out on Central Tehran Streets like Sadeqieh, Enqelab Square, and Karegar Street to
protest. Security forces attacked them with clubs and beat them. In these clashes, a number were injured and more than
20 people were arrested. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 11, 2010)
Iran arrests activists in Varamin
In the middle of the night on February 9, security forces with masks stormed the homes of 5 political activists in
Varamin including the home of Mohammad Kogerlu, Zavareh, Esfandiari, Izadi and Taragheh Jafari and after
conducting a search and confiscating their computer, arrested them all. (Neda-ye Sabz-e Azadi Website – Feb. 10, 2010)
Ministry of Intelligence attacks and arrests Nabavi family in Semnan and Qom
On the morning of Wednesday February 10, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Semnan stormed the home of
Seyed Zuhor Nabavi, 51, while he was asleep and arrested him. This attack was carried out under the command of
Erfani, the head interrogator of the Intelligence Agency and two other agents. Seyed Nabavi was taken to the central
Semnan prison and thrown in a solitary cell.
These agents also searched his home and confiscated his computer and other personal belongings. These agents used
abusive treatment against Nabavi and his family and threatened his wife with arrest. Seyed Zuhor Nabavi was a former
political prisoner in the 80's. He was sentenced to four years of prison for writing a series of articles in the Sarzamin-e
Ariayi Magazine and was released after two years and 8 months in November 11, 2009 because of international pressure.
Agents of this agency also stormed the home of Ali Nabavi on February 9 in Qom and arrested his wife Mehri Nabavi
who is a housewife and mother. She was detained in the Intelligence Detention Center. Ali Nabavi was detained before
this in this detention center.
Intelligence agents summoned at least three other members of this family in Semnan to the Intelligence Agency and
interrogated and threatened them for more than 12 hours. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 13,
2010)
Iran arrests 3 people on charges of selling VPN
According to reports, on February 7, security and intelligence agents cracked down on sellers of VPN in Tehran.
A number of people who sold VPN's (to bypass internet filtering) were arrested by security forces.
So far the identity of three of them has been verified in Tehran but their names will not be disclosed because of requests
by their families. According to the families of one of the detainees, their main offense was cooperating to carry out
seditions for February 11 in the virtual realm. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 13, 2010)
Iran arrests three political activists in Bukan
In the past few days, a number of Bukani citizens including Yasin Moradi, Sadegh Ahangari and Jafar Rahmani were
arrested by security forces in this city.
Bukan officials have not announced the reason behind this arrests yet but according to their families they were arrested
because of their political activities. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 15, 2010)
Iran arrests Russian, Afghan on revolution day: prosecutor
A Russian national and an Afghan are to face charges after having been arrested in Iran last week on the anniversary of
its 1979 Islamic revolution, Tehran's prosecutor said on Wednesday.
'Five foreigners -- two Russians, a French national, a Japanese and an Afghan -- were arrested on the sidelines of the
February 11 marches' to mark the 31st anniversary, Abbas Jafari Dolarabadi told ISNA news agency.
He said one of the Russians 'was arrested for illegal entry into the country and referred to the judiciary,' while the other
foreigners apart from the Afghan were freed after having been found 'ignorant of the offence'.
The Afghan was arrested for 'participation in an illegal gathering in Sadeghieh' Square, where OPPOSITION protesters
clashed with security forces on February 11, and also handed over to the judiciary, the prosecutor said (AFP - Feb 17,
2010)
Tehran University student arrested in Sabzevar
A Tehran University student activist was arrested on Wednesday February 10 in Sabzevar in Mashhad.
Ali Akbar Ajami, a Tehran University student who was constantly put under pressure by the intelligence agency and
threatened with arrest was finally arrested and taken to an unknown location.
In the past few weeks, two other student activists, Mohammad Ghazanvian and Hamid Mafi were also arrested in Qazvin
by intelligence agents. (Iran Press News – Feb. 18, 2010)
Iran arrests 3 other students in Tehran
Three students of the Science and Industry University in Tehran were arrested after answering a summons to the
intelligence agency on Monday and Tuesday of last week. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 18, 2010)
Seven medical students arrested in past week
Seven students of the Tehran University's Medical Science College were arrested during the last week.
These students were all 2004 arrivals at university and were at clinical level and working in hospital.
One the students, Farshad Sheibani, was arrested in his class in the infection ward of the Khomeini Hospital while the
other students were arrested after answering summonses.
These arrests were political but there is no information on the whereabouts of these students and their charges.
(Kalameh Website – Feb. 19, 2010)
Pakistan helped Iran nab top Sunni militant: envoy
Pakistan played a role in helping Iran arrest its most wanted Sunni militant Abdolmalek Rigi who was
seized onboard a flight from Dubai, Islamabad's ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Abbasi said on
Wednesday.
'I must tell you that such action cannot be carried out without the cooperation of Pakistan. I am
happy that he has been arrested,' Abbasi told a media conference at Islamabad's mission in Tehran.
(AFP - Feb 24, 2010)
Former political prisoner arrested by intelligence agents in Tehran
According to reports, Hossein Niakan, a shop owner in the Tehran Bazaar was arrested and taken to section 209 in Evin
Prison after a raid by intelligence agents.
Hossein Niakan, 47, was arrested at about 1:30 am on February 7 after intelligence agents stormed his home. Six
intelligence agents participated in this attack and were led by one of the head interrogators in the intelligence agency
known as Alavi.
This interrogator searched all the rooms of Niakan's home and confiscated his cell phone, satellite receiver, laptop,
telephone book and his personal notes.
Niakan's son was interrogated by these agents for one hour in his home.
Hossein Niakan was a political prisoner in the 80's. He was jailed from 1982 to 1990 and was under brutal torture in
this time.
He was under the control of the intelligence agency and was summoned to the intelligence agency on several occasions.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 25, 2010)
Peaceful protesters arrested in Hamedan
Some of the field elements of the seditions who write messages and slogans on walls in an organized manner in some
provinces were arrested.
Agents were able to identify a number of these people in the province of Hamedan. (Fars state-run News Agency – Feb.
26, 2010)
Recently released female journalist jailed again
Hengameh Shahidi, a journalist and women's rights activists was once again arrested on
Thursday February 25 by intelligence agents.
Mohammad Mostafayi, her lawyer wrote in his weblog that Hengameh Shahidi was summoned
to the intelligence agency yesterday and was arrested today after going to the agency. She was
transferred to Evin Prison and the reason for her arrest is unclear. Her lawyer also said that his
client is not in a suitable mental state. (Kalameh Website – Feb. 26, 2010)
March
Award-winning filmmaker Panahi arrested in Tehran raid: son
Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, a vocal backer of the opposition movement, was arrested along with his
family and guests during a raid on his Tehran home, his son said on Tuesday.
'About 10 on Monday evening, several plainclothes agents broke into the house,' Panah Panahi told Rahesabz opposition
website.

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January – October 2010

Panahi, his wife and daughter as well as 15 guests were


arrested and taken to an unknown location, the son said,
adding that the agents had searched the house and
confiscated personal belongings and computers.
The raid was carried out by security agents, the report
said.
An arthouse favourite, Panahi is known for his gritting
socially-critical movies such as the 'Circle', 'Crimson Gold'
and 'Offside', which have won awards at international
festivals. Alireza Firuzi and Hesam Firuzi
He was briefly detained in summer with his family after
attending a memorial at Tehran cemetery for slain protester Neda Agha Soltan and banned from leaving the country in
February to attend the Berlin film festival. (AFP – March 2, 2010)
Human rights doctor and family arrested
Hesam Firuzi, human rights activist who is also the doctor of a number of political prisoners was arrested last night by
security forces and taken to an unknown location.
Dr. Hesam Firuzi was arrested by 15 agents after going to his house. His wife and child were at the home of the family of
Alireza Firuzi (student activist who was arrested 2 months ago. There is no information on his whereabouts).
After searching his home, these agents went to the home of one his neighbors and after conducting a search, arrested the
daughter of the family identified as Hemaseh Ghafari. Ghafari has not had any political activities and was only arrested
for being the neighbor of Dr. Firuzi.
Alireza Firuzi's mother also came to the home of Dr. Firuzi while the agents were conducting the search, and she was
interrogated on the spot.
Dr. Hesam Firuzi, was released from Evin Prison in May 2009 after serving his 15 month sentence. There is no
information on his whereabouts and why he was arrested. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 3, 2010)
Iran cracks down on members of Human Rights Activists in Iran under
The Human Rights Activists in Iran has been attacked by security forces in an unprecedented manner.
Security forces carried out a widespread operation, which seems to have been executed with security institutions under
the command of the RGC Intelligence, which constituted 29 raids to arrest members of or those who had cooperated
with the Human Rights Activists in Iran. These raids led to at least 15 arrests. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March
5, 2010)
Iran arrests 41 over fear of Fire Festival protests
The social assistant of the Tehran Security Forces said that 694,000 flammable materials were discovered in Tehran
"In light of the measures taken out by the police like mobile and immobile checkpoints, and undercover and non-
undercover patrols, the police have so far found 694,549 flammable materials and 501 kilos of the primary materials for
explosives", Yarandi said regarding the latest measures taken out by police for the last Wednesday of the year (when
Iranians celebrate the ancient Zoroastrian tradition of the Fire Festival).
"In this regard, 41 people were arrested as suspects in Tehran". (ISNA state-run news agency – March 7, 2010)
(Note: these so-called flammable and explosive materials are only used for traditional Fire Festival celebrations.)
Iran arrests prominent human rights lawyer
Mohammad Oliayifard, a lawyer and a former head of Human Rights Activists in Iran was
arrested after answering a summons to the Revolutionary Court. He was transferred to an
unknown location to serve his one year prison sentence.
Oliayifard is the lawyer of many political prisoners and was sentenced to one year of prison on
February 7 by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of spreading propaganda against the
government after protesting the execution of Behnoud Shojayi (minor) and other minors.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 8, 2010)
Iran arrests labor activists in Kurdistan
According to reports from the town of Bukan in the past few days, three labor activists in this city identified as Omar
Minayi, Hadi Tanoumand and Karim Fatehi were arrested by security forces.
Official sources in Bukan have still not announced the charges of these activists but their arrests were reportedly linked
to an International Women's Day ceremony and on charges of being members of the Coordination Committee to
Create Labor Associations. These men are currently jailed in the Central Bukan Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– March 10, 2010)
Qom judicial official announces arrest of PMOI supporters
The deputy Prosecutor of Qom announced that a number of Monafeghin members (literally meaning hypocrite used by
the regime to refer to the PMOI) who had communications with this organization and with Camp Ashraf were arrested.
Mahmoud Talebi said, "In a number of operations a monafegh group that carried out activities against the government
was arrested in Qom".
"These people were carrying out activities against the Islamic Revolution and government and intended to subvert the
revolution and velayate faqih (leadership)". (Fars state-run News Agency – March 10, 2010)
Iran arrests 30 political activists
Iran announced that it has arrested 30 individuals on charges of waging a US-backed cyber war against the country.
A statement issued by Tehran's Public and Revolutionary Court on Saturday said that following a series of complicated
security operations in area of information and communication technology, the country's security forces have identified
the most important US-backed organized networks of cyber war launched by the anti-revolutionary groups and arrested
30 suspects.
The statement added that the networks received US aids and served Washington through such anti-revolutionary groups
as the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), monarchist groups and a number of other opposition groups…
According to the statement, some of the charges leveled against these US-backed networks include establishment of an
intelligence gathering network, specially to identify the country's nuclear scientists, provoking sedition and illegal
demonstrations and rallies through releasing unreal and unfounded news and reports after the June presidential
elections in the country and providing media and news support for the Jundollah terrorist group and the monarchist
opposition groups.
In November 2009, Iran's Police Chief Brigadier General Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam said the force plans to set up a
'cyber police' division to counter 'internet crimes.'
Ahmadi-Moqaddam said the unit would be tasked with monitoring organized cyber crimes on the internet. (Fars state-
run News Agency – March 14, 2010)
Iran arrests another 21 people in Tehran over Fire Festival
A police official announced that 21 people were arrested by the police on the charges of carrying illegal flammable
material (fireworks etc.).
This police official also said that the police were determined in the two days left to the Chaharshanbeh Soori (Fire
Festival) ceremony to come down hard on people who make or smuggle various kinds of dangerous hand made
flammable material. (Roshangari Website – March 14, 2010)
(Note: Iran has started cracking down on so called dangerous flammable material which usually means any kind of firecrackers and
fireworks used in this traditional Iranian ceremony, in fear of popular protests on this night)
Human rights lawyer arrested in Ahwaz
Dr. Vahid Ahmad Fakhroddin, a lawyer in Ahwaz, was arrested on Wednesday March 10 by the
intelligence agency in this city.
The reason behind the arrest of this young lawyer in Khuzestan who was responsible for the legal cases
of labor and media activists in this southern Iranian province is still not clear.
He was the lawyer of members of the Board of Directors of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Factory
Syndicate and human rights activist Abolfazl Abedini. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 13,
2010)
About 50 people arrested for celebrating Fire Festival
The deputy commander of the State Security Forces said that close to 50 people were arrested by the police.
Radan said, "Close to 50 people who caused trouble for the people were arrested". (ISNA state-run News Agency –
March 16, 2010)
An arrest within the regime
The son of senior Revolutionary Guards commander Esmail Gha‘ani has been arrested, according to Green Voices of
Freedom. Ali Gha‘ani is an electrical engineering student at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. GVF speculates
that, as the younger Gha‘ani has no experience of political activity, the arrest is due to his father‘s criticism of
Government action after the June. (Enduring America Website – March 16, 2010)

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126 people arrested on Fire Festival in Semnan


The head of the State Security Forces in Semnan announced that in the events of the last Wednesday of the year, 126
people were arrested in this province. (IRNA state-run News Agency – March 17, 2010)
22 people arrested in Gonbad Kavous on Fire Festival
The head of the Gonbad-e Kavous State Security Forces in the province of Golestan said that 22 people were arrested in
the events of the last Wednesday of the (Iranian) year.
Colonel Ali Akbar Maqsadlou said, "These people were charged with carrying flammable material (firecrackers),
disrupting public order and maneuvering with their automobiles at night". (IRNA state-run News Agency – March 17,
2010)
Iran arrests Rafsanjani's grandson
Hassan Lahuti, the son of Faezeh Hashemi was arrested by security forces after arriving in the International Khomeini
Airport in Tehran.
A source close to the Rafsanjani family said, "Hassan Lahuti, who had left Iran for London 10 days before the
presidential elections in Iran and had resided in Britain since then was arrested by a number of security forces last night
upon his arrival to Iran and taken to prison. (Iran Network Website – March 22, 2010)
Plainclothes agents attack Montazeri mourners
A number of plainclothes agents attacked young people attending the funeral of Mrs. Rabbani, the wife of the late
Ayatollah Montazeri.
These plainclothes agents attacked a number of young people who were chanting intending to arrest them and this led
to clashes between security forces and the people. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 28, 2010)
Iran arrests Fire Festival celebrators in Isfahan
An informed source in the Zarin Shahr Judiciary in Isfahan said that criminal records have been made for 82 people
who participated in Fire Festival celebrations in Iran.
This person who asked not to be named said that from these detainees, 70 have been released while 12 people are still
jailed.
The families of these 12 people have been threatened not to talk to the media.
According to this report, on the Fire Festival, a number of people were celebrating and dancing on the streets when they
were attacked by security forces and plainclothes agents. These forces arrested a large number of the celebrators.
A number of these people were transferred to the Kargaran Stadium in Zarin Shahr and were interrogated until the
morning.
In the days after this event, a number of other people were identified in the films taken from the Fire Festival and
arrested. All the detainees were taken to the Dastgerd Prison and beaten in the section controlled by the intelligence
agency. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 28, 2010)
Iran arrests singer in Kish Island
Sassy Mankan who was in Kish Island for the New Years holiday was arrested by military forces in this island after being
identified in one of the Bazaars. There are no credible reports on why he was arrested. This pop singer performed a few
songs in support of Mehdi Karroubi for his election campaign. (Jahan state-run website – March 29, 2010)
April
Iran arrests and beats hundreds of peaceful environmental protesters in Orumieh
On Friday April 2 on 13 Bedar (Day of Nature) Security forces attacked Azeri environmental activists near the Miangozar
Bridge on Orumieh Lake, beating and arresting a large number of the families present.
Security forces created checkpoints 50 kilometers from the streets leading to the bridge and prevented automobiles from
going to the lake. They arrested the passengers of a number of busses and minibuses going to the lake in Ilkhachi and
Salmas.
More than 100 Azeri citizens were arrested near the lake and roads going to the lake. (Savalan Sassi Webiste – April 2,
2010)
Journalist summoned and arrested in Mahabad
After an attack and assassination attempt against Jalal Mahmoudzadeh, the Mahabad Representative in Iran's
parliament, a number of journalists and civil rights activists in this city were summoned and arrested by security forces.
According to reports, two civil rights activists were arrested. (Kurdnews website – April 11, 2010)
Iran arrests Sunnis in Kermanshah
Security forces in Kermanshah recently arrested a number of Sunni activists and took them to an unknown location.
Abdolhadi, Rostam and Mohammad-Ali Barzegar, Sunni activists in Javanroud were arrested without arrest warrants by
intelligence agents.
These agents also stormed the home of Khalil Hamidi, another activist, and harassed his family because he was not
home. (Sunni News Website – April 13, 2010)
Student activist arrested to serve one year prison term
According to reports, student activist Nader Ahsani was arrested in the morning to serve his one year
prison term. This student activist was arrested before this on student's day in 2007. He was transferred
to the quarantine section in Evin Prison.
He was answering a summons to the Revolutionary Court when he was arrested. The 28 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Moqiseyi aka Naserian who was a member of the Death Commission
responsible for the massacre of political prisoners in the 80's, sentenced this activist to one year of
prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
Student arrested for protesting in university
According to reports from Bou-Ali Sina University in Hamedan, when a film was being shown in the university about
those killed in the Iran-Iraq war, a student stood up and cried out, 'our martyr is Neda'. Bassij forces and agents of the
Protection Department arrested the student and took him away. (Iran News Agency – April 22, 2010)
Iran arrests brother of death row prisoner
According to reports, Mohammad Abdollahi, the brother of Mohammad-Amin Abdollahi a political prisoner sentenced
to death was arrested a while ago in the city of Bukan and taken to an unknown location.
He was arrested for pursuing his older brother's case. His brother, Mohammad-Amin Abdollahi was sentenced to
moharebeh (enmity with God) along with Qader Mohammadzadeh in a court in Orumieh on charges of acting against
national security. They were both sentenced to death. (Iran Press News Website – April 20, 2010)
Iran arrests three teachers before Teachers' Day
Three teachers and activists in the Teacher's Association were arrested by the Intelligence Agency in Hamedan.
The Hamedan Intelligence Agency arrested Ali Najafi, Mohammad Khani and Saied Jahan Ara after asking them over
the phone to present themselves to the Intelligence Agency at 8 am.
They were subjected to long interrogations after going to the intelligence agency and were then taken to solitary cells in
the Agency's Detention Center. There is still no news on their condition. (Kalameh Website – April 25, 2010)
Iran arrests 2 teachers on eve of Teacher's Day
Four days before Teachers' Day in Iran, two teachers and members of the central council of the
Teachers' Association were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, agents of the Intelligence Agency went to the homes of Ali-Akbar
Baghani, the Secretary General of the Teachers' Association and Mohammad Beheshti Langeroudi,
the spokesman of this association and arrested them. Some of the weblogs of the members of this
association has also been filtered.
Baghani and Langeroudi had been summoned to court on April 24. They answered a few questions
asked by the judge and returned to their homes. (Radio Germany Website – April 28, 2010)
Langeroudi Iran arrests another teacher activist in Tabriz
According to reports, Tofiq Mortezapour, a member of the Teachers' Association was arrested after security forces
attacked his home in Tabriz.
These forces searched his home and seized his computer and some of his personal items after arresting him. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
Iran arrests head of Teacher Organization ahead of Teachers' Day
On the eve of Teachers' Day in Iran, Ali-Reza Hashemi, the Secretary General of the Iran Teachers' Organization was
arrested on April 28 by security forces.
Security forces went to his on the evening and arrested him after confiscating his computer and other personal items. He
was taken to an unknown location. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 29, 2010)
May
Iran arrests May Day protesters
On Saturday May 1, a number of people and those who had participated in May Day protests in different parts of
Tehran were arrested and taken to unknown locations. These arrests were made by State Security Forces. There is still no
information on how many people were arrested. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 1, 2010)

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Iran arrests teachers on Teacher Day


According to reports, a number of teachers who intended to commemorate Teacher Day were arrested by security and
intelligence agents in Babvieh at the gravesite of Dr. Abolhassan Khanali. It is not clear how many people were arrested.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 2, 2010)
More than 30 men and women arrested on May Day
On Monday, May 3, a large number of the families of detainees who were arrested on May Day gathered outside Evin
Prison to demand the release of their loved ones.
More than 30 men and women who were arrested on May Day were taken to Evin Prison. A number of these detainees
were passing by or shopping when they were pulled out of shops by security forces and taken to Evin Prison. Only a
small number of them were released because of attempts made for their freedom by their family and most of them are
still detained in Evin. According to reports, at one point in Azadi Street, 12 men and women who had participated in
May Day ceremonies were arrested and taken to Evin Prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 3,
2010)
Iran arrest news website editor for writing about Bassij attack on Tehran Uni. dorm
Maziar Khosravi, the editor in chief of the Ham-mihan News Website was taken to Evin Prison on May 2.
Khosravi, who had been charged with 'publishing lies' after the Tehran University Assistant Head Office sued him for
publishing a report about the attack (by Bassij and plainclothes agents) on Tehran University dormitory last June, was
transferred to Evin Prison in the evening. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 3, 2010)
Iran arrests female university student after protest to Ahmadinejad
After widespread protests by Tehran University students to the unannounced visit by Ahmadinejad to this university,
Maryam Abassi Nejad, a member of the Central Council of the Islamic Association in this university was arrested.
She was reportedly arrested on May 2 at about 10 pm by security forces. There are still no reports on her whereabouts
and her mental and physical condition. (Kalameh Website – May 3, 201)
Iran arrests political activist
Vahid Talayi, a member of Mir Hossein Moussavi's Legal Pursuit Committee was arrested yesterday.
Security forces were able to enter his home under the excuse of identifying a car parked outside Talayi's home at 7 am on
Saturday. He was arrested after they conducted a search and confiscated some of his personal items. These forces
introduced themselves as security police.
There is still no news on his whereabouts. (Kalameh Website – May 5, 2010)
Iran urged to release lawyer imprisoned for criticizing juvenile's execution
Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to release a human rights lawyer who was arrested after speaking
out against the execution of one of his clients during interviews with international media. Mohammad Olyaeifard was
detained on 1 May on charges of 'propaganda against the system' to begin serving a one-year jail term. His lawyers have
not been informed of his sentence, in violation of Iranian law. Before his arrest, Mohammad Olyaeifard said that he had
been convicted because of an interview he gave to Voice of America's Persian Service shortly after his client, juvenile
offender Behnoud Shojaee, was hanged for a murder he committed when he was 17 years old. 'The arrest of Mohammad
Olyaeifard sends a chilling message to lawyers in Iran that if they dare to denounce abuses or miscarriages of justice they
will face reprisals,' said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director.
'All he did was point out to the world that - for the 45th time since 1990 - Iran violated international law by executing
someone for a crime committed when under 18. 'Mohammad Olyaeifard has been imprisoned solely for the peaceful
exercise of his right to freedom of expression and he must be immediately and unconditionally released.' Shortly after his
interviews, Mohammad Olyaeifard was summoned for questioning on the basis of a complaint brought against him by
the Tehran Prosecutor and in November 2010 he was briefly arrested and charged before being released on bail
equivalent to about US$50,000. He was then sentenced to one year in prison on 7 February 2010 by the Revolutionary
Court in Tehran. He was arrested a second time on 8 March 2010 but was released six days later as his lawyers had not
been informed of his sentence. His lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, told Deutsche Welle's Persian service that Mohammad
Olyaeifard was rearrested on 1 May when he went to the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to meet a court official. He is
now held in Section 350 of Evin Prison. Mohammad Olyaeifard, who has defended many prisoners of conscience and
juvenile offenders - those sentenced to death for crimes committed when under the age of 18, has previously been
targeted for his work.
He was once interrogated and accused of 'propagating lies' for condemning the torture of one of his clients, while he has
been a vocal critic of Iran's executions of juvenile offenders. Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to
ensure that while imprisoned, he is granted access to his family and lawyers and to adequate medical care. Mohammad
Olyaeifard requires regular medication for severe migraines and fainted on 4 March. The Iranian authorities have
intensified the already severe restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran since the disputed presidential election last
June, arresting politicians and activists, students, human rights defenders and journalists, as well as lawyers such as
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, Abdolfattah Soltani and Mohammad Mostafaei, although all were later freed on bail. The
arrest of Mohammad Olyaeifard follows attempts by the Iranian authorities to undermine the independence of the
Iranian Bar Association, including by barring candidates from standing for election to senior positions. 'This latest move
of the Iranian authorities is an indication of the expanding realm of repression in Iran.
It shows that no group is immune. The authorities are seeking to silence anyone who is criticizing them.
Human rights organizations and their members, journalists, OPPOSITION figures, students and women's rights
defenders have been targeted.
It is now the turn of lawyers', said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers not only state
that lawyers must be allowed to carry out their work 'without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper
interference' but also expressly recognizes that they are entitled to freedom of expression, which includes the right to take
part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection
of human rights. (US Amnesty International – May 6, 2010)
Iran arrests 4 Kurd teachers
Four Kurd teachers who were members of the Teacher‘s Association in Kurdistan were arrested in the afternoon.
Peiman Navadinian, Maleki, Zare‘e and Zandinia were arrested by security forces. According to reports, teacher activists
all over Iran have been subjected to increasing pressure in the past few days. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – May 19, 2010)
Iran arrest mother and sister of hanged female political prisoner
Security forces arrested the mother and sister of Shirin Almahouli, a Kurd political activist who was
hanged on May 9, 2010. They were arrested on the morning of May 11 in their home in the town of
Maku.
According to reports, they did not know about the execution of Shirin as of yesterday evening.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 11, 2010)
Protester sentenced to 6 years of prison
Puya Qorbani, a prisoner who was arrested in the wave of arrests after Ashura
(December 27, 2009) and before protests on February 11, 2010, was sentenced to Shirin Alamhouli
6 years of prison in an initial court headed by Salavati. (Nedaye Sabze Azadi Website – May 10, 2010)
Iran puts Kamangar family under house arrest
Farzad Kamangar‘s family was put under house arrest by security and intelligence forces after coming
back to Kamyaran.
The family of this executed political prisoner came back to Kamyaran last night following failed attempts at getting his
body for burial. They were threatened by security forces and are now under house arrest.
These forces have cut off their phone lines and have threatened that if they make any phone calls with their cellphones,
they will be arrested. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 13, 2010)
Iran arrests 15 student activists in Marivan
Following gatherings in the Payame Noor University in Marivan in protest to the execution of 5 political prisoners on
May 9, at least 15 student activists were arrested in this town and taken to an unknown location.
According to reports, Aram Veisi, Foad Moradi, Tofigh Partouyi, Dana Lanjavayi and Saman Zandi are five of the
students who were arrested.
Also in the past few days, the intelligence agency has called most of the town‘s activists and threatened them that if they
stage a strike, they will face dire consequences.
According to reports, there are heavy security measures being taken in this town and it is under the complete control of
riot police. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 13, 2010)
Widespread arrest of Sanandaj university students after protests to executions
On May 12 and 13, students of Sanandaj University went on a hunger strike in protest to the execution of 5 political
prisoners (on May 9 in Evin Prison).
These students strapped black wrist bands on their hands in the university cafeteria and refused to eat food.

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They were threatened by the university‘s Protection Department but refused to break their hunger strike. The Protection
Department seized the university cards of the students with black wrist bands and on Wednesday arrested more than 10
of them.
More than 7 other students who continued their hunger strike on Thursday were also arrested. (Kurdistan Media
Website – May 14, 2010)
Kurdistan human rights official arrested by security forces
The family of Ejlal Qavami, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Organization in Defense of Human Rights in Sanandaj
announced today that this human rights activist has not contacted them as of 10 am today and his family was not able to
contact him. We were informed at 10 pm tonight that Mr. Qavami was arrested. (Kurdaneh Website – May 14, 2010)
No news on arrested 15-year-old protester in Sanandaj
During the strikes in Kurdistan (in protest to the execution of 5 political prisoners), Eunice Sheikh Ahmadi, 15, was
arrested by intelligence agents in Sanandaj and taken to the Intelligence Agency in this city on May 13.
This teenager was violently beaten in public upon his arrest. His family‘s constant pursuit of his condition has so far
been without result. (Iran News Agency – May 18, 2010)
Iran once again arrests paralyzed political prisoner
According to reports, Hadi (Homayoun) Abed Bakhoda, who was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was shot by security
forces in the spinal cord upon his arrest was once again jailed in Rasht Prison after a 3 month medical leave.
This 50-year-old political prisoner was taken to Rasht Prison on May 3. He is paralyzed because of his spinal cord damage
and uses a wheelchair. He is not able to do his personal tasks on his own. Bakhoda is kept in the prison infirmary due to
his critical condition next to newly arrested drug addicts and the conditions under which he is kept are inhumane and
medieval.
The head of this prison, the prison doctor and the judge on his case have stressed that this political prisoner can not
tolerate prison conditions but the Ministry of Intelligence and the Rasht Revolutionary Court Prosecutor refuse to
release him. Abed Bakhoda has a urinary sack because he is paralyzed and is also suffering from critical heart and artery
problems.
He was sentenced to two years of prison by the second branch of the Revolutionary court and was arrested on November
8, 2009 and jailed in the Central Rasht Prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 18, 2010)
Iran arrests Moussavi‟s top bodyguard
Ahmad Yazdanfar, who has been Mir Hossein Moussavi‘s bodyguard for 27 years when he was Iran‘s Prime Minister, was
arrested by security forces. Despite the fact that he was arrested two days ago, Kalameh (Moussavi‘s Website) only
announced his arrest a few hours ago. (Jaras Website – May 18, 2010)
Iran arrests six reporters and cultural activists in Azarbaijan
Journalists Ramin Jabari, and Mostafa Jamshidi and cultural activists Mahnaz Karimi, Nader Azizi, Mehdi Zinali and
Hafez Sardarpour were arrested in Azarbaijan.
Those close to the families of Jabari, Azizi and Sardarpour have said that security forces arrested these activists on May 17
in one of the main streets in this city.
Their families have said that a few hours before their arrest, security forces called them and introduced themselves as
employees of the Governor‘s Office inviting them for a meeting with the governor of Pars Abad to the Governor‘s
Office.
These families also said that security forces went to their homes after their arrest and conducted searches without search
warrants. They also threatened their families and confiscated their computers, books and other personal items. (Savalan
Sassy Website – May 18, 2010)
Iran arrests girl student to put pressure on family
Zahra Shams, a law student at the Firdosi University in Mashhad was arrested in her home by security forces on May 6.
According to reports, 13 days after the arrest of this 21-year-old student and in light of the fact that she was not involved
in any political activities, relevant officials have still no explained the reason behind her arrest.
Zahra Shams was only able to make two short phone calls from prison and has been deprived of visits and the right to a
lawyer.
She is the sister of Fatemeh Shams, who is the wife of Mohammad-Reza Jalayi Pour (was in Mir Hossein Moussavi‘s
election staff) and according to those close to Shams, her arrest is a political act to put pressure on her family. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – May 19, 2010)
Security forces arrest student activist in Mashhad
Mohammad Feiz, a student at the Technical School of the Firdosi University in Mashhad was arrested after a gathering
in this university today by security forces.
He has not called his family since his arrest. His family is not aware of his whereabouts. (Daneshju News – May 27,
2010)
Iran arrests third member of jailed family
According to reports, Mohammad Salam Jushan, 52, was arrested on Wednesday May 26 after being attacked by security
agents and was taken to Evin Prison. There is no information on his condition since his arrest.
Jushan was poisoned by chemical gas in the Iran-Iraq war and is not in good health and his left foot was also seriously
wounded in the war.
Two other members of this family (Zahra Asadpour Gorji and her son Reza Jushan) are currently in Gohardahst Prison
in Karaj. They have been denied the right to visits and phone calls for over two months now and are kept under
inhumane conditions. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 28, 2010)
Iran arrests two teachers in Yazd
Mohammad-Ali Shirazi and Mohammad-Ali Shahedi, members of the Board of Directors of the Teacher Center in Yazd
were arrested.
With their arrest, there are now 10 teachers in jail. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 27, 2010)
Iran arrests student in his home
Student activist Massoud Kadkhodayi, who studies constructional engineering at Amir Kabir University, was arrested
this week after security forces raided his home. There is no news on why he was arrested or where he is being kept. (Peik-
e-Iran Website – May 28, 2010)
June
Iran arrests female reporter
Mahboubeh Khansari, a reporter for the social news agency ‗Miras‘ was arrested in a midnight attack by agents of the
Ministry of Intelligence along with Azam Vismeh, another reporter.
They were taken to an unknown location. These agents also searched their homes and confiscated some of their
belonging including their computers. (Jaras Website – June 1, 2010)
Six Kurd University students arrested in Sanandaj
Security forces in the Yazdan Panah Technical and Engineering College in Sanandaj arrested at least six Kurd students
from Kamyaran. These forces also tried to unsuccessfully arrest Azad Kamangar a student at this university who is the
nephew of executed political prisoner Farzad Kamangar.
Security forces raided the home of Farzad Kamangar‘s sister claiming to have an arrest warrant for the son of the family,
Azad Kamangar who is a constructional engineering student at the Yazdan Panah College. These forces searched his
home telling his family that he was to come to the Sanandaj Intelligence Agency to answer some questions when he
comes home. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 1, 2010)
Student activist arrested in Kermanshah
Ashkan Mosayebian, the former secretary of the Islamic Association in the Razi University in Kermanshah
was arrested. Mosayebian was suspended for two semesters before this for participating in student protests in
this university. (Iran News Agency – June 2, 2010)
Two Kurd student activists disappear in Tehran
There is no news on the condition of two Kurd students by the names of Amjad (Hajir) Kurdnejad and Jamal Rahmati
and there are speculations that these students who study at the School of Social Sciences in Tehran University have been
abducted by security forces.
Their friends say that they were last seen at 7pm on Monday around the Valiasr Intersection in Tehran and disappeared
after that.
Security institutions, including the Security Police and the Intelligence Agency, have not taken responsibility for their
arrest.
Amjad (Hajir) Kurdnejad was also arrested on December 3, 2009, raising the probability of his arrest. He was sentenced
to 2 years of prison on charges of ‗acting against national security and participating in the seditions after presidential
elections‘. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 2, 2010)
Iran arrests brother of slain student for second time
Kamran Asa, the brother of slain student Kianoush Asa (killed under torture by regime forces after the
elections) was arrested in the middle of the night on May 12 by intelligence agents in Kermanshah for
the second time in the months after his brother‘s death.
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On the dawn of the day after his arrest, five intelligence agents went to his home and confiscated some of his belongings.
These forces told Kamran‘s crying mother that ‗your crying instigates Kamran‘, instead of giving her explanations on the
situation of her son.
In response to the family‘s constant questions, the intelligence agents only responded that ‗we arrested Kamran so that
he would learn his lesson‘. (Kalameh Website – June 3, 2010)
Iran arrests nephew of executed political prisoner
Ten days after the arrest of a group of students at the Yazdan Panah Technical and Engineering College in Sanandaj, the
Kamangar family has no information on the whereabouts of Azad Kamangar.
Azad Kamangar, a student at this university who is also the nephew of executed teacher Farzad Kamangar, disappeared
on May 27 and after more than 9 days, there is still no information on his whereabouts. His family has gone to all the
intelligence, security and judicial institutions in Sanandaj to get some word of him but has not been successful as yet.
His relatives say that his cellphone was turned off 10 days ago and no security institution is willing to take the
responsibility of his arrest. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 5, 2010)
Iran arrests labor activist
According to reports, on the eve of the anniversary of the presidential elections in Iran which was the scene of major
anti-government protests, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence stormed the home of Saied Torabian, the head of the
Public Relations Office of the Vahed Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Syndicate and arrested him. He was taken to
an unknown location.
On Wednesday June 9, at about 9 am, four intelligence agents attacked his home. It is unclear why he was arrested but
there is speculation that this arrest was made because this syndicate condemned the May 9 execution of 5 political
prisoners in Evin Prison. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 9, 2010)
Three members of political prisoner‟s family arrested
The family members of Kiarash Kamrani who was arrested on December 27, 2009 on Ashura in Tehran were arrested in
their weekly visit with him in prison.
The father, sister and brother of this student who was sentenced to six years of prison were arrested in the visiting hall
for prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and their home was also searched by security forces. The Kamranis were
charged with ‗propagating against the government‘.
Kamrani‘s father and sister were released later on but Mehdi Kamrani, his brother is still detained in cellblock 350.
(Advar News – June 10, 2010)
Iran arrests people in Mahabad for „cooperating with dissident parties‟
A number of people in Mahabad were arrested in the past few days by security forces on charges of cooperating with
dissident parties.
Shirkou Sabili, Salar Shabahang and Ismail Afshin were some of those who were arrested. They were recently transferred
from a detention center to the Central Mahabad Prison. (Mukarian News Agency – June 10, 2010)
Iran arrests 14 Kerman University students
On Wednesday June 9, 14 students of the Kerman University were arrested. At least 35 others were summoned to the
Disciplinary Committee.
This suppression comes after security forces banned students at this university from holding a protest gathering on June
9.
Before this and after a visit by Ahmadinejad to this university, 17 other Kerman University student activists were
arrested. (Advar News – June 11, 2010)
Head of human rights association arrested
According to reports, Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and journalist, was arrested on
the night of June 10 in front of her small children. She had been summoned to court and
interrogated a number of times before this.
Mohammadi is the the Assistant Head and Spokeswoman for the Defenders of Human Rights
Center and the head of the Executive Committee of the Iran Peace Council.
She was laid off from work in 2008 for her human rights activities. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – June 11, 2010)
More than 900 people including 300 women arrested in Tehran protests
More than 900 people were arrested during the protests on the first anniversary of the post election protests in Iran.
According to reports, at least 300 of the detainees are women and their families have no information on their condition.
Officials have told the families of the detained men that they have to go see the security police to pursue the cases of
their loved ones. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 13, 2010)
Son of slain political prisoner arrested in Tehran
According to reports, Babak Saran, the son of slain political prisoner Amir-Hossein Heshmat
Saran was arrested after an attack by plainclothes agents and taken to an unknown location.
At about 8:15 pm on Saturday, this 25 year old constructional engineering student who has
been banned from continuing his education was attacked in Fakhr Razi Street by Bassij
forces on motorcycles and was arrested.
He was attacked without reason and brutally beaten by club wielding security forces. He
sustained injuries in his back and leg.
Slain political prisoner
His father, political prisoner Amir Hossein Heshmat Saran, was killed in Gohardasht Prison
Heshmat Saran
in Karaj in 2008 after years of torture. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
June 12, 2010)
Iran arrests another labor activist
Reza Shahabi, a member of the executive board of the Syndicate of the Vahed Tehran and Suburbs Bus
Company was arrested at 10 am today in his place of work.
After he was arrested, security forces took him to his home and conducted a search. He was taken to an
unknown location afterwards. (Bamdad Khabar – June 12, 2010)
Labor activist taken to Kahrizak death camp
According to reports, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, a labor activist was arrested and taken to the Kahrizak Detention Center
after going to the Revolutionary Court to collect his seized personal belongings.
On June 1, this 50 year old labor activist who is also a teacher went to the 8 th branch of the Revolutionary Court to
collect his personal belongings which were seized on Labor Day upon his arrest but was mistreated by the head of the
court branch. He was then arrested on the bogus charge of ‗disrupting order‘ after protesting this treatment and was
taken to the Kahrizak Detention Center.
His family has pursued his condition since his arrest but has not received any answers and they have been told that his
name has not been registered in the prisoners list.
Hundreds of protesters were taken to the Kahrizak Detention Center last year where they were violently tortured and
abused and at least 4 detainees were killed.
Despite announcements that this detention center had been closed down, its seems that it has once again secretly
become active. Political prisoners and other prisoners who are taken there are at risk of brutal tortures and their lives are
in danger. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 12, 2010)
7 Karaj students arrested on June 12
A student at the Free Karaj University said that on June 12, a number of students intended to gather (for a protest) but
seven of them were immediately arrested.
―Four of them were released after a few hours, but three student activists are still detained in a building in the
university‖. (Iran News Agency – June 14, 2010)
Iran arrests two students in Kermanshah after a call for peaceful protests
Two students were arrested after a call for a peaceful protest by a pro-democracy student association in the Razi
Kermanshah University.
The Protection Department of this university summoned four students and handed over two of them to the
Kermanshah Intelligence Agency.
Aptin Pegah, a physics student and Babak Ghiasi who majors in agricultural engineering were arrested yesterday and
there is no information on their condition and whereabouts. (Daneshju News – June 14, 2010)
Iran arrests two student activists in Tabriz
Sadra Aqasi and Naiem Ahmadi, two student activists in Tabriz University who were also
members of this university‘s Islamic Organization were arrested on June 14.
Naiem Ahmadi majors in geology at the Tabriz University and is the Secretary of the Islamic
Association at the School of Natural Sciences. He had been suspended for two semesters
before this after participating in a three day sit-in in this university in June 2007. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – June 14, 2010)
Arrested labor activist beaten and in poor condition in prison
Naiem Ahmadi Behnam Ibrahim, a labor activist and member of the Committee in Pursuit of Creating Free

175
January – October 2010

Labor Unions was arrested on June 12 in Tehran and taken to Evin Prison.
According to reports, his family did not have any information on his whereabouts until he called his brother today from
the Evin Prison infirmary and said that he was arrested on June 12 by security forces. He said that security forces brutally
beat him upon his arrest and broke two of his rib bones and that he is now in poor physical health in prison. (Socialist
Students Website – June 15, 2010)
Iran arrests two student activists in Shiraz
Sajad and Hamzeh Benam, two student activists in Shiraz were arrested on June 12, on the anniversary of protests in
Iran by agents of the Shiraz Intelligence Agency.
Sajad Benam is a computer engineering major at Shiraz University who was arrested after being summoned to the
university Protection Department and was handed over to the Intelligence Agency. He was arrested once before on
November 4, 2010.
Hamzeh Benam, who studies at the Quran Science University, was arrested after being summoned by the Shiraz
Intelligence Agency. This student activist was also arrested for 3 days last June. (Bamdad Khabar Website – June 16,
2010)
Iran arrests man in Mahabad on charges of cooperating with dissident groups
A man from Mahabad identified as Mohammad-Amin Rashedi was arrested in the past few days in this town. He is
currently in Mahabad Prison and has been charged with cooperating with dissident groups. (Mukarian News Agency –
June 16, 2010)
More than 50 people arrested for going to cemetery to commemorate first anniversary of death of protesters
The families of slain protesters were barred from mourning the death of their loved ones on the first anniversary of their
deaths and they were not even given loudspeakers to use in the ceremony which is against normal procedures. Behesht
Zahra Cemetery was extremely militarized yesterday.
Ramin Ramezani and Sohrab Erabi were two slain protesters whose ceremonies were held under strict security measures
in section 257 of Behesht Zahra Cemetery. Their families were threatened from a few days ago that they would be
banned from holding a ceremony and according to reports, they were not even allowed to use rented loudspeakers for
the ceremony.
Participants in the ceremony were filmed by security forces and about 50 people were arrested after leaving the
ceremony. (Kalameh Website – June 16, 2010)
Azeri journalist disappears in Ardabil
Ibrahim Rashidi, an engineer, blogger and journalist disappeared in Ardabil on Monday June 14.
This Azeri blogger disappeared on Monday evening after visiting one of his friends in the Ardabil Bazaar
while going back to his sister‘s home and he has not contacted his family yet.
Eyewitnesses say security forces were following Ibrahim Rashidi while he was going back to his sister‘s
home and there are speculations that he was arrested by agents of the Intelligence Agency in this town.
Before this, intelligence agents had gone to his home in Meshkin Shahr and after conducting a search
confiscated his books and handwritten notes. (Savalan Sassi Website – June 16, 2010)
Dozens of student and political activists arrested in Shiraz
The Shiraz Intelligence Agency arrested a number of political and student activists on June 10. They are currently
detained in Detention 100 in Shiraz which belongs to this city‘s Intelligence Agency.
Majid Razmjou, their lawyer, said that these students who were members of the National Development Association
intended to hold a seminar on June 10 with legal permits.
―It is still not clear what their official charges are but after their families went to the authorities, they were told that their
children were charged with planning sedition, spreading propaganda against the prophet, advertising the monarchist
state, advertising secularism and distributing CD‘s‖, the students‘ lawyer said. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters
– June 20, 2010)
Iran arrests wife of political prisoner
Shirin Firouzi, the wife of Dr. Akbar Karami, a political activist in Qom was arrested today by security
forces.
Firouzi had given several interviews about her jailed husband but the real reason behind her arrest is
not known.
Dr. Karami, who was arrested in Qom, has been jailed for several months. Recently a court of first
instance sentenced this political activist to 3 years of prison and a 2 million rial (about $200,000)
fine. (Advar News – June 20, 2010)
325 politically active people arrested in one month in Iran
In the 31 days of the month of Khordad (May 22 – June 21) according to evidence, 325 citizens were arrested for
political activities or protesting against the government.
From the beginning of the month of Khordad, arrests have increased and on the first anniversary of the presidential
election (protests), a large number of protesters who came out on the streets were arrested.
According to this report, 206 citizens, 69 students and student activists, 9 Kurd activists, 8 Azeri activists, 5 people who
followed a minority religion, 5 journalists, 4 political activists, one human rights activist, one women‘s rights activist and
13 other people who included a teacher and a head of university were arrested under various excuses. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – June 22, 2010)
Iran arrests mother after a visit with jailed 19-year-old son
The mother of Arman Reza Khani, a jailed 19-year-old genius, was arrested after visiting
her son in prison and was taken to an unknown location.
According to reports, Mrs. Reza Khani who was barred from visiting her son for 6 months
was allowed to see him in person after he was transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison
and was detained for unknown reasons after her visit this morning.
This is the second time that members of a family are arrested after having in person visits
with their jailed family members. Before this one of the family members of political
prisoner Kiarash Kamrani was arrested and detained in cellblock 350 after a visit with him.
Arman Reza Khani is a student protester who has been detained in cellblocks 2A, 7 and
350 in Evin Prison from November 2009. He was in solitary for a few months and was
forced to make fabricated confessions after false promises that he would be released and his
family would not be harassed.
A short trial was held for him on the basis of his confessions in the 28 th branch of the Revolutionary Court on April
2010. He was sentenced to 2 years of prison for insulting the leader, one year of prison for insulting the government and
a fine for insulting the president.
He is currently in poor health in prison. He has severe weight loss and like many other prisoners constantly coughs, a
sign of a chronic illness which prison officials take no heed of and proper treatment is not given to prisoners. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – June 28, 2010)
Iran arrests two teachers‟ rights activists
Mohammad Baqeri, a member of the Teacher Center in Iran was arrested in Tehran.
Mokhtar Asadi, another teacher activist, was also arrested today by security forces in Karaj.
A number of the members of this center were threatened over the phone in the past few days to end their activities for
teachers‘ rights. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 29, 2010)
July
Iran arrests human rights activist
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2537-1.html
Hassan Rahimi Bayat, a constructional engineer, Azeri and human rights activist was arrested on the afternoon of
Saturday July 3 in his place of work.
According to eyewitness reports, four agents of the Ministry of Intelligence went to his place of work, arrested him and
took him to Evin Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 4, 2010)
Iran arrests human rights dentist
http://www.daneshjoonews.com/news/humanrights/1866-1389-04-16-08-46-33.html
Dr. Ali Nazeri, a well known dentist and member of the Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights was arrested last
week in his home in Zafaranieh in Tehran by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.
Two weeks after the arrest of this civil rights activist, security forces and elements of the Revolutionary Court were able
to silence his wife on his arrest by threatening her and giving her promises that he would be released. (Daneshju News –
July 7, 2010)
Iran arrests Kurd teacher and civil rights activist
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-09-08-12-36/2689-1.html
Neimat Asadi, son of Habibollah, a former teacher in Kurdistan who was expelled from work was arrested by security
forces and taken to an unknown location.
177
January – October 2010

According to reports, this civil rights activist was arrested again 20 days ago in his home by security forces.
Security forces searched his home and confiscated his computer, books and notes and threatened his family that if they
talked to the media about the arrest, they would have to face the consequences.
His family‘s pursuit of his whereabouts has been ineffective and they still do not know where he is detained or why he
was arrested. (Human Rights Activist in Iran – July 12, 2010)
Iran arrests Kurd political activists, sentences others to prison terms
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2700-1.html
Azad Khancheh-Zar, a political and civil rights activist who was sentenced to six months of prison and years of probation
was summoned and subsequently arrested on Sunday, July 11.
This is while last May he was released on a 20 million toman (about 20,000 dollar) bail after being jailed for two months
in intelligence detention centers in Marivan and Sanandaj.
According to reports, this political activist and other activists who were detained in these detention centers were under
severe physical and mental pressure.
Also Karevan Darsid, Mozafar Rokhandeh and Najibeh Sobhani, other political and civil rights activists in Marivan were
also sentenced to prison terms by the Revolutionary Court in this city.
Mozafar Rokhandeh and Karevan Darsid were each sentenced to two years of suspended prison. The sentence for
Najibeh Sobhani has still not been announced to her. There are reports that she is suffering from severe depression as a
result of pressure on her while in prison. These men and woman are all well known children‘s, women‘s and labors
rights activists in Marivan and Sanandaj. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 13, 2010)
Iran arrests three lawyers
Three lawyers who are also master‘s degree students at the Beheshti University in Tehran are in detention.
Zubin Nasiri, Kazem Qadiri and Ali Tahami who are also master‘s degree students studying general law, international
marketing and international law were detained from more than 20 days ago by security institutions.
These people have not had any visits with their families and their charges have not been officially announced. (Advar
News – July 18, 2010)
Iran arrests two Kurds in Mahabad for political activities
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079859.htm
In the past few days, two Kurd citizens from Mahabad by the names of Kambiz Ibrahim Zadeh and Nader Darvishi were
arrested by security forces in this city.
Darvishi was arrested on July 13 and was transferred to the Mahabad Prison yesterday while Ibrahim Zadeh was detained
in a detention center for some time before recently being transferred to the Mahabad Central Prison.
Official sources have not announced the reason behind these arrests but according to reports, they have been charged
with cooperating with the opposition. (Mukarian News Agency – July 19, 2010)
Iran arrests writer for criticizing religion
Hojatollah Nikuyi, a writer and translator was arrested on Sunday by plainclothes agents in Tehran and was taken to an
unknown location.
This writer had been fired from his job in the past for his debate with religious scholars.
One of his friends said that this illegal arrest was because of the recent publication of an article in websites in which he
had criticized some religious concepts.
Notably, Nikuyi was fired from work and was later jailed for his opposition to Shiite Islam. He was later released after
signing a written pledge. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 21, 2010)
Iran arrests activist in Tehran
http://www.daneshjoonews.com/news/social/2135-1389-05-02-22-11-56.html
Hoda Saber, a national-religious activist was kidnapped on July 25 after leaving his place of work.
According to reports, Hoda Saber left his office at 5:30 and was to meet his wife at her office at 5:45pm. His wife waited
for him until 7 pm but he did not show up. He was probably kidnapped and arrested. In the past week, security forces
had gone to his office in his absence.
He was summoned by phone to start his prison term but his lawyer went to court and asked that the sentence be given to
them in a written form. He was told that it would be announced to them in written form, but no written sentence was
given. (Daneshju News – July 25, 2010)
Family members of children‟s rights lawyer arrested, no news on lawyer
Fereshteh Halimi, the wife of Mohammad Mostafayi and her brother Farhad Halimi were arrested at 11 pm last night
and there is no news on the whereabouts of children‘s rights activist Mohammad Mostafayi.
Yesterday, Mostafayi went to the court in Evin Prison to answer some questions and was interrogated fro 4 hours.
Subsequently, yesterday evening, security forces went to his office with a warrant for his arrest, but he was not in his
office.
In the end, Fereshteh Halimi and Farhad Halimi were arrested near his office and there is no news on their
whereabouts. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 25, 2010)
Iran takes family of human rights lawyer as hostages
Two days after the arrest of Fereshteh Halimi and Farhad Halimi, the wife and brother in law of human rights lawyer
Mohammad Mostafayi, the lawyer of these two detainees says that his clients‘ family has been told that they have to hand
in Mohammad Mostafayi for their release.
Mohammadi Mostafayi currently represents Sakineh Mohammadi (who was sentenced to death by stoning for alleged
adultery charges).
Mohammad Mostafayi represents a number of human rights cases such as the case of (minor offender) Behnoud Shojayi
and Sakineh Mohammadi. According to his wife‘s lawyer, his wife and brother in law were arrested a few hours after he
was interrogated on Saturday…
―It was announced to Mohammad Mostafayi‘s father in law that his children would only be released if he turns in Mr.
Mostafayi‖, Aqakhani said.
―Unfortunately, me and Ms. Kian Ersi were supposed to represent Mrs. Halimi and Mr. Halimi but in light of the
announcement of the interrogator, the head of the court prevents the power of attorney from being signed‖, he added.
(Radio Farda – July 26, 2010)
August
Iran arrests student activist
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3075-1.html
Hossein Sarshoumi, a student activist at Isfahan University was arrested a few days ago.
There is no news on his whereabouts or why he was arrested.
This member of the Students for Freedom and Equality Association had been arrested three times
before this. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 1, 2010)
Political activist and two sons arrested in Baneh
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/21882
Three members of a family were arrested by security forces.
Jalal Ranjbari, who was active in Mir Hossein Moussavi‘s election campaign was arrested along with his two sons Hazhir
Ranjbari, a sociologist student at Tabriz University and Howzhin Ranjbari who is a shop owner.
There is no report on why they were arrested.
Jalal Ranjbari was also a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was released in 1988. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters
– Aug. 5, 2010)
Young Kurd man disappears after arrest by security forces 3 months ago
Khebat Mohamamdzadeh from the Garmash Village in Sanandaj who was abducted about 3 moths ago from his home
has completely disappeared and no judicial or security institution is willing to accept the responsibility for his arrest and
detention. This is while three months ago in the widespread strike of the people of Kurdistan in protest to the execution
of political prisoner Farzad Kamangar and other political prisoners, security forces stormed the home of Khebat
Mohamamdzadeh in the Garmash Village and after conducting a search, took Khebat away with them.
There is no news on the whereabouts of Khebat and his family and relatives are seriously concerned for the safety of this
19 year old man. His family has constantly gone to various institutions but in these three months, they have not received
any answers from security and judicial institutions. (Roshangari Website – Aug. 14, 2010)
Five Kurd citizens arrested in Marivan
In early morning on August 14, five Kurd citizens from the ‗Ney‘ Village in Marivan were arrested by security forces and
taken to the Marivan Intelligence Agency.
According to reports, these five men were identified as Bahman Fatahzadeh, 35, Bariar Kaveh, 17, Borhan Derakhshani,
18, Borhan Khosravi, 17 and 33 year old Ekhtiar Kaveh. There are no reports on why they were arrested. (PJAK TV
Website – Aug. 18, 2010)
Iran arrests two student activists

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January – October 2010

Hassan Asadi Zeid Abadi and Ali Jamali, two members of the Central Council
of the Office for Consolidating Unity were arrested on August 22 in Tehran.
Security forces arrested Zeid Abadi, the head of the Human Rights Committee
in this organization in his home and Ali Jamali, the head of the Political
Committee was arrested in his place of work.
Currently a number of the top members of this organization including Ahmad
Zied Abadi (Secretary General), Abdollah Momeni (spokesman), and Ali
Malihi (head of Public Relations) are in prison.
Hassan Asadi Zeid Abadi was arrested before this on November 3, 2009 and
released about 40 days later on December 13.
He was trialed on August 3 in the 28th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary
Hassan Asadi Zeid Abadi
Court by Judge Moqiseh on charges of ‗assembling and conspiring against
national security, propagating against the government, disrupting public order and insulting the president‘. This court
has yet to issue a verdict. (Advar News Website – Aug. 23, 2010)

Two abducted Kurd citizens announce their arrest by security forces after 20 days
Dalir Rouzgerd from Saqez who is a geology graduate from Tabriz University and Ghias Naderzadeh from Paveh who is a
Tabriz University graduate were arrested by intelligence agents in Kurdistan.
According to reports, 20 days after their disappearance, a recent phone call indicated that they were detained.
Afterwards, security forces went to the home of Dalir Rouzgerd and confiscated some of his books and personal
belongings.
Notably, these two men were the founders of the Zagros Center in Tabriz University.
There are no reports on their charges and security forces refuse to give information on their condition. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 24, 2010)
Iran arrests former head of university
Dr. Amir-Hossein Shiravi, the former head of the Jondi Shapour University in Dezful who is also a member of the
Science Committee of this university was arrested early morning on August 22 in his home in Dezful in the province of
Khuzestan.
According to reports, forces of the Intelligence Agency in Dezful confiscated his laptop computer and other personal
documents after searching his home and then arrested him.
Shiravi was a political activist in Khuzestan Province and one of the heads of Mir Hossein Moussavi‘s election staff who
was detained one week after the elections and was then released.
There is still no information on why he was arrested or his physical and mental state. (Jaras Website – Aug. 25, 2010)
Iran arrests Kurd poet and writer
http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article10793
Behzad Kurdistani, a renowned poet in Kurdistan was arrested yesterday by intelligence agents near his
home in the town of Marivan.
There is no information on why he was arrested or his whereabouts.
This Kurd writer was summoned several times before this by the Marivan Intelligence Agency where he was
interrogated. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 26, 2010)
September
Iran arrests man and two Kurd teenagers in Kurdistan
On the early morning of August 31, security forces stormed the Ney Village in Kurdistan‘s Marivan and arrested three
Kurd citizens.
According to reports, Amir Kaveh, 22, Mokhtar Afra, 17, and Mosleh Badakhsh, 17 were arrested and immediately
taken to the Marivan Intelligence Department.
Intelligence agents have not announced any charges that would have led to their arrest.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 1, 2010)
Iran arrests lawyer of political prisoners
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-09-08-12-36/3788-1.html
Nasrin Sutodeh, a well-known lawyer was arrested after being summoned to the
Revolutionary Court.
Her lawyer was informed of her arrest after going to the security court on Sunday morning September 5. This is while
Nasim Ghanavi was not allowed to see the interrogator on the case and was told that they would call her whenever
necessary.
She was also not allowed to participate in the interrogation session with Nasrin Sutodeh. After accepting and registering
her power of attorney, judicial officials asked her to leave.
Nasrin Sutodeh is the lawyer of many political prisoners including Esa Saharkhiz and Mohammad Sediq Kaboudvand.
She is also following the case of Shirin Ebadi and several other human rights cases. Security forces went to her office and
home on August 28 and confiscated her files and other personal items and asked her to come to the court in Evin Prison
in one week after which she was arrested.
Nasrin Sutodeh is also active in the One-Million Signature Campaign (advocating for pro-women change in the
constitution) and was also given an award by the International Human Rights Organization in 2008. Judicial officials
have charged her with conspiring against the security of the country and propagating against the government. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 5, 2010)
Iran arrests nephew of executed Kurd political prisoner
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3793-1.html
Azad Kamangar, a student of the Technical and Engineering College of Sanandaj was arrested and
taken to an unknown location two days ago after going to college.
According to reports, Azad Kamangar is the nephew of Farzad Kamangar, a Kurd teacher who was
executed. He was wanted by the police after a memorial ceremony was held for those executed on
May 9, 2010 and attempts for his arrest were futile because he was not in his home at the time.
The family of this student activist was not able to get any news on his whereabouts after going to
the Sanandaj Intelligence Agency and Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep.
5, 2010)
RGC official say 10,000 protesters arrested after elections
While officials have still not announced the exact numbers of arrests of last years protests, a Revolutionary Guard official
said that 10,000 people were arrested in the past year.
Ali Fazli, the commander of the Central Rahian Nour Base said yesterday in Khuzestan that the number of protesters –
or as he called them ‗seditionists‘ – were 10,000 and claimed that 5,000 of them have returned to the bosom of Islam
and the revolution. But the other 5,000 have still not returned.
This is the first time that an official put the number of detainees at 10,000. Before this the highest official number was
announced by the spokesman of the judiciary, Alireza Jamshidi, who put the number at 4,000. (Kalameh Website – Sep.
7, 2010)
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
15th 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)
Political activist arrested again for disclosing secret mass executions in
Mashhad
http://www.kaleme.com/1389/06/23/klm-31879
After the disclosure of secret, mass executions in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, Ahmad Qabel
was arrested for the second time in the past year.
According to reports from Mashhad, Ahmad Qabel, a religious researcher and civil rights activist
who was also a student of the late Ayatollah Montazeri was arrested in the morning after going to
branch 903 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and was taken to Vakil Abad Prison.

181
January – October 2010

It was said that he was arrested for new charges linked to his activities after his arrest. The disclosure of secret executions
in Vakil Abad Prison is the main reason for his second arrest. His other charges are giving speeches in Mashhad, Najaf
Abad and Fariman, his interviews with the media and challenging the policies of the government. (Kalameh Website –
Sep. 14, 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)
Iran summons and arrests student activists in Tehran
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3995-1.html
On the eve of the opening of universities for the new academic year, security and judicial forces have started subjecting
students in the Tehran university dormitories to new pressure.
According to reports, from the beginning of the month of Shahrivar (Persian month starting from August 23) Judge
Gholamhossein Turki the representative of the Larijani brothers and the Special Military Court head interrogator in the
case of the Tehran University dormitories attack, has summoned a large number of dorm residents by phone without
their lawyer to the Judicial Organization of Armed Forces. This illegal summons to an irrelevant institution has led to
protests from students…
According to reports, in the Armed Forces Judicial Organization, students were charged with ‗being present in protest
gatherings after the elections, throwing rocks, torching banks and damaging public and private property, throwing
Molotov cocktails, clashing with security forces, and insulting officials and sanctities to incite Bassij and security forces to
attack Tehran dormitories‘ among other charges.
Also 10 to 50 million toman bails (10 to 50,000 dollars) have been issued for a number of students who were charged
and enough time has not been given to them to provide the money.
The summoning and arrest of these students has so far become evident:
Sajad Akbari from the School of Social Sciences- 50,000 dollar bail
Sina Chegini from the School of Social Sciences- 50,000 dollar bail
Payam Salehi from the School of Management – 50,000 dollar bail
Hosseini from the School of Management
Qeisari from the School of Physical Education
Sharifi from the School of Physical Education- 10,000 dollar bail
But according to reports, a very large number of students were summoned. Also students who were released from Evin
Prison have said that they were kept in a place other than the known security cellblocks in this prison and that they were
put under severe physical and mental pressure to accept charges made against them and to express serious repentance
because of their actions and accept the responsibility of the tragedies that took place in the 2009 attack against their
dormitories such as the beating of students in the dorms by security forces. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 16,
2010)
Iran arrests Sunni dissident cleric
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3990-1.html
Mullah Mohsen Hosseini, the Sunni head of Friday prayers in the town of Kamyaran was arrested by security forces in
the past few days.
This cleric, who was also the judge of a family court in this town was arrested in Kamyaran and taken to an unknown
location.
He said in a sermon two weeks ago to his Sunni followers that his life was threatened by religious fanatics affiliated with
the government and had announced that despite his efforts in uniting Muslims, religious pro-government fanatics are
neutralizing all his efforts with their actions.
This Sunni cleric was arrested before this because of his criticism in his sermons of the abhorrent conditions of Kurdish
regions in Iran and the limitations and prejudices against Kurds. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 16, 2010)
Iran arrests blogger and ransacks home
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post_29.html
According to reports, agents of the ministry of intelligence arrested blogger Mohammad-Reza Pourshajari and transferred
him to a solitary cell in Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison in Karaj.
On Sunday September 22, intelligence agents raided the home of this blogger and arrested him. They violently searched
his home for a long time afterwards and confiscated his identification documents, home ownership documents,
computer, satellite receiver, writings, family pictures and some of his books.
This jailed blogger‘s physical health has deteriorated and he has been taken to the prison infirmary twice since his arrest
because of the pressure and torture he was subjected to.
Pourshajari, 50, has been blogging for a few years now and some of his articles and posts have been published in various
websites. This political prisoner is also suffering from serious a slipped disk disorder. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Sep. 29, 2010)
October
Iran abducts student activist in Tehran
Habib Farahzadi, a student who was denied the right to education in Tehran University was kidnapped by plainclothes
agents on October 2 while going to register at this university.
According to reports, Farahzadi who was suspended for three semesters because of political activities and opposition had
come to the university to register again after these three semesters. After leaving the university through the western door
he was attacked and abducted by plainclothes agents in front of the Tehran University Protection Department forces.
Agents who were waiting in a car violently forced him into the car and immediately left the scene. (Jaras Website – Oct.
3, 2010)
Iran 'arrests 2 Germans who interviewed stoning woman's son‟
Iran has arrested two Germans who interviewed the son of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a woman sentenced to death
by stoning, public prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie told local media on Monday.
‗The initial investigation shows these people had entered the country as tourists' and asked Mohammadi-Ashtiani's son
some questions, the prosecutor was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency, before adding that 'these two foreign
nationals are now in custody‘.
A rights group said on Monday that it feared two German journalists had been arrested in Iran along with Mohammadi-
Ashtiani's son Sajjad and her lawyer. (AFP - Oct 11, 2010)
State run daily says Iran has arrested 4 „Mourning Mothers‟
The state-run Iran daily reported that four members of the ‗Mourning Mothers‘ group were arrested.
―Four members of the Mourning Mothers group were arrested while intending to go to Germany to see an important
contact of the Monafeqin grouplet (PMOI). They were arrested after their contact with this group became apparent‖, this
daily said. (Fararou state-run website – Oct. 13, 2010)
Iran arrests mother and sister of former detained protester
http://www.hra-news.org/00/4538-1.html
The mother and sister of Hesam Tarmasi who was arrested after the election protests and was
detained in Evin Prison for one year were arrested after security forces raided their home on
Saturday night. Hesam Tarmasi was only recently released from prison.
He was arrested in a post-election protest march by security forces. After being released from
prison, he came down with a kidney and liver illness and has been hospitalized ever since.
He was also attacked by unidentified persons and according to his family, the knife he was
stabbed with was contaminated with an unknown poison and he contracted a blood infection.
His mother and sister were arrested while he was in hospital. His family was not involved in any
political or social activities and the reason they were arrested is completely unknown…
Termasi is very concerned about his mother and sister. (Kalameh Website – Oct. 13, 2010)
Iran arrests mother and sister of missing protestor
The mother and sister of Saied Zinali were arrested in their home. Saied Zinali was a political prisoner who went missing
when arrested in the 1988 Tehran student uprising. He never came home after being arrested in June 1999 and
wherever his family followed up his whereabouts, prison officials said they did not know anything about him. It is still
not clear what happened to this student 11 years ago.

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According to reports, the Intelligence Department of the Revolutionary Guards Corps was responsible for the arrest of
this young man. After the post election events, Mother Zinali once again asked that the head of the RGC tell her what
happened to her son.
The Zinali family went to prison every week asking about their missing son. They wanted to know what happed to Saied
and if he is still alive.
Security forces arrested Saied‘s mother and sister after a raid to their home and confiscated their personal belonging
including their computers.
The family and friends of the Zinali family, who were very sad about the painful faith of the son of this family, are now
severely worried about the fate of this mother and sister. (Kalameh website – Oct. 24, 2010)
Iran arrests son of prominent conservative cleric: report
Iran has arrested Mehdi Khazali, the son of a prominent conservative cleric who has been fiercely critical of hardline
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an opposition website said.
Khazali is being held on charges of 'acting against national security and disturbing public opinion' after being
interrogated at the capital's notorious Evin prison, the opposition website Rahesabz reported late on Wednesday.
A medical doctor and veteran of the 1980-88 war with Iraq, Khazali is the son of Ayatollah Abolqasem Khazali, a long-
serving member of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body which oversees the work of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei.
Khazali has frequently poked fun at Ahmadinejad and his allies on his widely read blog, criticism which he intensified
after his disqualification from standing as a candidate in parliamentary elections in 2008.
His father has disavowed his negative commentaries.
Khazali was also arrested last year as part of the government's crackdown on the wave of mass street protests that greeted
official results giving Ahamdinejad victory in a June presidential election. He was later released on bail (AFP - Oct 14,
2010)
Iran arrests another student activist
http://www.rahana.org/archives/27847
Mohsen Vafayi, the head of the student publication ‗Bayane Azad‘ (Free Speech) has been detained for more than 11
days.
There are no reports on where he is being kept or why this student activist was arrested.
Apparently this student activist who has been banned from continuing his education who is also a member of the
Freedom Loving Students for Equality, was arrested after going to university to get his university degree.
Vafayi is an English literature expert who was banned from going to university in the new semester. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 19, 2010)
Iran stoning woman's son arrested with German journalists
Sajad Ghaderzadeh, son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, held after talking to two journalists working without
permission in Iran
Iran is to put the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani , the woman who was sentenced to death by stoning, on trial for
giving an interview to foreign journalists who were working without permission in the country.
Sajad Ghaderzadeh, 22, was arrested on 10 October along with two German journalists who interviewed him in the
north-western city of Tabriz. Mohammadi Ashtiani's government-appointed lawyer, Houtan Kian, who was present
during the interview, was also detained.
According to the Iran's Committee Against Stoning (Icas), Ghaderzadeh was supposed to be put on trial today but the
court session was postponed for further investigations. He has been denied access to lawyers since his arrest and his
family has been unable to communicate with him.
Mina Ahadi, of Icas, who had been in regular contact with Ghaderzadeh since his mother was sentenced to death by
stoning after being convicted of adultery, said: 'Iran is obviously very embarrassed by the world's condemnation of the
stoning sentence of Sakineh, and this is largely because of the courage Sajad has shown in supporting his mother. Iran is
trying to take revenge on him now‘.
Ghaderzadeh, a Tabriz bus conductor, launched an international campaign for the release of his mother in late June
when Iranian officials did not respond to his letters pleading for clemency.
He succeeded in bringing Mohammadi Ashtiani's case into the world's attention by writing an open letter highlighting
the stoning punishment. 'There's no justice in this country,' he wrote at the time.
He gave several interviews to foreign media, including the Observer . 'He knew he would risk his own life by criticising
the Iranian regime for such a brutal punishment but nothing ever stopped him defending his innocent mother,' Ahadi
said.
Amnesty International, which has condemned the arrests, said the Iranian government had not responded to its
enquiries over the issue.
Germany has been seeking the release of the two journalists, who were apparently travelling on tourist visas. Iran said
today it had granted them consular access. (The Guardian – Oct. 19, 2010)

Social arrests
February
Iran arrests 145 sellers of satellite equipment
Colonel Ismail Nuri (regime official) said, "In the implementation of the plan to counter the cultural attack and to
prevent the spread of the foreign perverse culture in the society, the plan to gather satellite equipment was carried out in
the course of one week in the province of Mazandaran".
"Agents arrested 145 people who were active in providing, spreading and installing satellite equipment and confiscated
266 receivers, 1,305 dishes and 2,151 LNBs", he added. (ISNA state-run news agency – Feb. 17, 2010)
20 girls and boys arrested in party
In a night party in Mashhad, 20 girls and boys were arrested by security forces. According to reports, Mashhad police
arrested 20 people in this nightly meeting in the Goldasht Art Center in this city. Some of the participants ran away
from the emergency staircase.
Police investigations into the organizers of such nightly meetings are ongoing. (Cyrus News Agency – Feb. 22, 2010)
March
Iran arrests 70 young men and women in party
According to a state-run website, more than 70 girls and boys were arrested in a party in Fariman. In this party, in
addition to alcohol, and gambling equipment, a large amount of hand made bombs and flammable material were also
discovered. (Peik-e Iran Website – March 18, 2010)
April
50 girls and boys arrested in party in Khorasan
According to reports from the province of Khorasan, 50 girls and boys were arrested in a night party in the Torqabeh
and Shandiz region in Khorasan. The Commander of the State Security Forces in Torqabeh and Shandiz said, "These
people were dancing in a garden near the town and many of them were not in a normal state (drunk)".
"A large amount of handmade alcoholic beverages were discovered in an ensuing search of the area and 25 automobiles
that belonged to these people were confiscated", he added. (Shiite Online state-run daily – April 19, 2010)
May
80 girls and boys arrested in concert
The Tehran Prosecutor announced the arrest of 80 girls and boys in a night party in a villa in Tehran suburbs.
"The people who sold tickets for this ceremony were also arrested", Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi said.
"Last night, the SSF Security Moral Police was informed that a group is secretly and professionally selling tickets for the
price of 30 to 35 thousand tomans for a live concert. Police entered the illegal concert with a judicial warrant and
arrested 80 girls and boys with unsuitable attire who were in an unusual condition (under the influence of alcohol)", he
said.
The Tehran Prosecutor said that the files of these 80 girls and boys and five of the people who sold tickets to the concert,
who were all charged with attending immoral parties, were all referred to the Tehran Guidance Court. (Tabnak state-run
Website – May 7, 2010)
June
20 girls and boys arrested for going on tour together
The prosecutor of the town of Kalaleh announced that 20 girls and boys from Tehran who were travelling on a tour
without a permit to Kalaleh were arrested on charges of providing the grounds for corruption, illegitimate relationship,
the possession of alcoholic beverages and damaging public chastity.
―Agents found a few alcohol bottles while searching the (minibus) they were travelling in and they also realized that the
girls and boys in the minibus were in no way related to each other and only met through the internet‖, he said.
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―These people were released on bail after 2 days and their files in addition to criminal records and a bill of indictment
was sent to the Kalaleh Criminal Court for a verdict‖, he added. (ISNA state-run news agency – June 1, 2010)
Iran arrests 115 „troublemakers‟ in new wave of suppression ahead of anniversary of uprising
Alireza Akbarshahi, the head of the Tehran State Security Forces said that 115 people he called ‗troublemakers‘ were
arrested during the implementation of the social security plan.
‗These people were identified from the beginning of Khordad (Persian month from May 22 – June 21) and arrested‖, he
said.
He said they were arrested in line with enforcing public order and peace. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 8,
2010)
More than 1,500 people arrested for improper veiling and immoral behavior
The social assistant of the State Security Forces announced that from the start of the Chastity and Veiling Plan, 1,524
people were arrested.
―Sixty-seven percent of the detainees were between 16 to 20 years old, 31 percent were between 21 to 25 and 13.8
percent were between 26 to 30 years old‖. (ISNA state-run News Agency – June 23, 2010)
21 girls and boys arrested for attending mixed party
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-51/2438-1.html
Twenty one girls and boys who were mostly students from Tehran were arrested in a party.
They included 13 boys and 9 girls who were participating in a birthday party. They were arrested by security forces and
handed over to judicial institutions. (Jahan News state-run website – June 30, 2010)
August
More than 1000 arrested in three days in new suppressive measure in Tehran
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20588
The Commander of the State Security Forces in the Greater Tehran District said that on the third days of the plan to
deal with those who carry knives, 778 people were arrested in the past 24 hours in Tehran.
―In this plan which started on Saturday in the capital to identify and arrest those who carry knives, 321 people were
arrested on the first day, 121 people on the second day and 778 people were arrested on the third day‖, Hossein Sajedi
Nia said. (Mehr state-run news agency – Aug. 17, 2010)
Iran arrests several people for advertising banned satellite channels
Security forces arrested a number of people working for satellite channels after getting reports that they were using a
secluded pedestrian bridge near Tajrish to carry out advertising activities for this network.
These people, who were carrying placards with foolish love words in English and Farsi, were trying to film the scene from
different perspectives and intended to send the clips to networks outside of the country. (Fars state-run News Agency –
Aug. 21, 2010)
September
Iran arrests 60 girls and boys in party
Sixty girls and boys were arrested after agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided a party in Shahriar in the town of
Karaj. Fifty cars which belonged to those in the party were also impounded and taken to a police parking lot. (Iran News
Agency – Sep. 16, 2010)
October
Iran arrests 20 girls and boys in mixed party in Yazd
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=23259
According to reports, 20 male and female university students were arrested in a mixed night party in Yazd.
The detained students were partying in a coffee shop in a village in the town of Sadough known for its good weather in
Yazd.
Two of the female student reportedly ran away from the agents but were later apprehended. (Akharin News – Oct. 20,
2010)
Iran arrests more than 10 girls and boys in birthday party siege
According to reports, last week security forces and special guards forces attacked a private birthday party in the northern
town of Chalous. According to eyewitnesses, security forces entered the home with guns and broke home appliances
while conducting a search. They also confiscated some of the personal belongings of this family including their computer
case and camera.
These forces also broke down the main entrance of the home and searched all the rooms. Despite their initial claims,
they did not find any alcoholic beverages or narcotics and security forces on the scene admitted this as well. A court in
Chalous found these citizens guilty without substantial evidence and postponed a sentence to later court sessions.
According to reports from civil rights activists in the province of Mazandaran, ten people were arrested in this attack
which was carried out at night. Most of the detainees were students of the Noonshirvani University in Babol. They are
currently out of prison on bail. Security forces announced that they were arrested because they were unrelated to each
other in a mixed party. (Note: The Iranian regime arrests members of the opposite sex in mixed parties under the excuse
that they are not related to each other and have no business being in one party) (Peik-e-Iran website – Oct. 26, 2010)
Iran arrests more than 3,000 people in Azarbaijan province for so-called „public manifestations of corruption‟
http://www.rahana.org/archives/28600
The head of the Azarbaijan security police said that 3,829 people were arrested this year for various charges including
‗participating in mixed gender camping trips‘.
The head of the Public Security Police in Western Azarbaijan said that this year 3,829 people were arrested for having
what he called ‗public manifestations of corruption‘.
―These people who were arrested for the reason I mentioned mostly committed crimes such as participating in mixed
camping trips, being active in gangs smuggling narcotics and satellite equipment, and bothering women on the streets‖,
he said.
―These criminals were arrested so that criminal cases could be made for them and so that could get to the roots of this
issue‖. (Fars state-run News Agency, Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 27, 2010)

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Prison

189
January – October 2010
Prison

Prison Condition
January
Iran ex-prison head found responsible for deaths
A conservative Iranian Web site says a parliamentary probe has found a former
prosecutor responsible for the death by torture of at least three anti-government
protesters following the disputed June elections.
Saeed Mortazavi was the Tehran city prosecutor who was responsible for monitoring
Kahrizak prison, where at least three people were tortured to death.
The Alef Web site, which reported the probe results, is close to conservative lawmaker
Ahmad Tavakoli.
After months of denials, Iran's judiciary acknowledged last month that the three detainees were beaten to death by their
jailers. (The Associated Press –Jan. 6, 2010)
Evin Prison packed with political prisoners
The sports club of Evin Prison has been turned into a detention and interrogation center for Iranian citizens arrested in
the recent protests. A large number of these prisoners are interrogated in groups in the club.
According to this report, the Intelligence Protection Department of Evin Prison has subjected prisoners of the
Quarantine Section 7 to increasing pressure by ordering the prison not to accept anything from the families of political
prisoners including money. These prisoners are not allowed to buy anything and are denied minimum things like
blankets.
Currently wards 24, 241, 209, 2A, Hall 8 of Section 8, Quarantine Section 1 of Section 7, and the sports club of Section
7 have been allocated to detainees arrested in the post election protests. Considering
the above named sections, it is safe to say that most of Evin Prison has been allocated
to political prisoners and dissident Iranian citizens. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Jan. 5, 2010)
Jailed brother of slain protester detained with criminals in Qezel Hesar Prison
despite heart condition
Kamran Asa was transferred to Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj from Evin Prison one
month after his arrest.
During the transfer of a group of prisoners from Evin Prison to other prisoners in
Tehran in the past few days, Kamran Asa, the brother of slain student Kianosh Asa,
was transferred to Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. He is currently in a ward for criminals
with heavy offenses.
He intended to attend a December 7 commemoration ceremony for his brother in the
Science and Industrial University in Tehran when he was arrested by security forces
on his arrival in the university.
Despite the fact that his family has provided documents to the 28th branch of the
Revolutionary Court in Tehran, proving his heart condition, Judge Moqiseh refrains
from releasing him and has confirmed his detention.
The grief stricken mother and sister of Kamran Asa are very worried for his well being
especially after the death of Kianosh Asa. (Kurdistan Human Rights Watch – Jan. 11,
2010) Kamran Asa holding picture of
100 Ashura detainees taken to solitary cells in Gohardasht Prison slain brother in rally
On Wednesday, January 13 at 9 pm, about 100 Ashura detainees were taken to
solitary cells in Gohardasht Prison's ward 5. They have placed 4 prisoners in every cell. This is while these cells were built
for one person. The condition in these solitary cells is inhumane and prisoners are treated violently. These detainees
were transferred to these cells from an unknown location.

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January – October 2010

Gohardasht Prison has been packed with an increasing number of prisoners and the halls which only have room for 90
prisoners are packed with 400 to 500 prisons. Prisoners are forced to sleep on the hallway ground near the restrooms
without any covers (blankets etc). Cells meant for two prisoners are now holding 8 prisoners. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 14, 2010)
Student political prisoner transferred to Kerman prisoners with dangerous criminals
Student prisoner Hassan Tarlani was suddenly transferred from Evin Prison's ward 350 to the
Central Kerman Prison on the night of January 17.
Tarlani, 23, was summoned at night and transferred on the same night to Kerman. He is
currently detained with ordinary and dangerous prisoners in the Central Kerman Prison. The
condition in this prison is more medieval than other prisoners. Addiction is rampant and drugs
are bought and sold on a wide scale. This is while the main elements behind the drug dealers
are prison officials and prison guards. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan.
19, 2010)
Regime puts increasing pressure on jailed peaceful protesters in Evin Prison
On Thursday January 21, a large number of families went to Evin Prison to visit their jailed
loved ones in ward 209.
Interrogators of the Intelligence Agency have shortened visiting hours to put pressure on these prisoners and their
families. Visiting hours are from 9 am to 2 pm and despite the fact that visits have been shortened from 20 minutes to
10 minutes, some families were not able to visit their loved ones in this timeframe.
The detainees have said in phone calls to their families that their names were read out for visits and that they were taken
to the prison exits but prison guards mocked them to put mental pressure on them and told them (at the last minute)
that they were banned from visits.
Intelligence agents interrogate Ashura prisoners day and night while mentally and physically torturing them. The
interrogations sometimes go on for 9 consecutive hours. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 21,
2010)
Female political prisoner only allowed 5 min. visit with husband
Bahareh Hedayat, member of the Office for Consolidating Unity had a visit from behind
a glass partition with her husband.
This visit lasted for five minutes. Amin Ahmadian, her husband said after this visit that
she is being kept in ward 209 of Evin Prison.
Hedayat told her husband that she was charged with participating in gatherings after the
elections, being active in the OCU and writing their statements. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – Jan. 25, 2010)
76-year-old political prisoner with cancer in dangerous condition
Lack of attention for Mohammad Maleki's condition in prison despite constant
warnings regarding his state and also the unsuitable state and crowdedness of prison
has deteriorated his condition and he has repeatedly contracted the flue in the past
few months.
This issue along with his prostate cancer which prison officials deny treatment for,
has caused him constant pain and a burning sensation in his bladder which is a sign
of the deterioration of his cancer.
In light of the fact that he has been jailed for more than 150 days, and despite the
fact that it has been months since the end of his interrogations, it is not clear why
he is being kept in prison and is not even allowed to be hospitalized to receive
medication.
Lack of attention for this 76 year old political prisoner who was the first head of
Tehran University after the revolution and who is suffering from multiple ailments
has led to concerns in his family and that of several human rights activists.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 26, 2010)
Iran detains journalist in one cell with 5 professional killers
Massoud Bastani, a journalist who was transferred to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison is kept with five professional
killers in one cell. This is while one his cellmates has committed three murders.
According to reports which have been confirmed by his wife Mahsa Amrabadi, he announced his transfer in a telephone
call from prison.
"They showed Massoud a verdict which was an order from Mr. Salavati for his transfer to Rajayi Shahr because he was
teaching prisoners of ward 350 in Evin Prison journalism. This is while Massoud did not teach anyone journalism and
we vehemently deny this", his wife said.
Massoud Bastani, journalist and political activist was sentenced to six years of prison without the presence of his lawyer
in a court of first instance. (Nedaye Sabze Azadi Website – Jan. 27, 2010)
Student activist denied due process
Twenty four days after the six year prison sentence for Salman Sima, a member of the
policy making council of the Postgraduate Organization, was announced, this
sentence has still not been officially announced to his lawyer, Mr. Oliayi Far and
Salman Sima in kept in an undetermined state in Evin Prison.
Sima was arrested on November 14 in his home. He has been jailed for more than 50
days, 28 days of which was spent in solitary in section 240. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – Jan. 31, 2010)
February
Political prisoner thrown in cell with professional criminals
Rashid Ismaili, a member of the policy making council of the Office for Consolidating Unity
who has been jailed for more than 40 days is kept in a cell with a number of drug smugglers
and thugs. Ismaili, who was arrested after the Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) events in Isfahan told
his family in a visit that he was kept with a number of dangerous criminal and drug smugglers
in one cell. (Advar News Website – Feb. 1, 2010)
No news on political prisoner after 40 days of arrest
According to reports, there is no information on the whereabouts of one of the managers of Tehran's metro who was
arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009).
Fifty-four year old Reza Azadi, a former engineer in the air force and a current manager in the Tehran metro, parked his
car outside a supermarket in Karim Khan and entered the supermarket. After he came out, he noticed that his car had
been stolen. Azadi called the police and informed them of the incident but after waiting for a long time the police did
not show up and he was forced to walk home. At night, plainclothes agents stormed his home, arrested him and took
him to ward 209 in Evin Prison.
This political prisoner suffers from severe heart problems and is under medication. Lack of medication or being
subjected to torture can be very dangerous for his condition.
His family has gone to the Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison almost on a daily basis to get information about their
loved one, but after more than 40 days, they are still in the dark and are not given any answers on his condition.
Intelligence agents have also threatened his children with arrest. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb.
8, 2010)
Ailing political prisoner denied minimum rights to medical treatment
The family of Dr. Maleki, (76-year-old political prisoner) announced the current physical
condition of this university professor.
'Yesterday, the physical state of Dr. Maleki reached a dangerous point again and he was
transferred to the hospital. In the past three months, Dr. Maleki has been transferred and
hospitalized on several occasions in the prison infirmary and hospital because of minor heart
attacks and sudden drops in blood pressure and has been tested multiple times. Unfortunately he
was quickly transferred back to prison without receiving enough rest and despite being severely
weak. Yesterday, after his condition deteriorated again in prison and after being taken to the
hospital and being tested he was once again brought back to prison at night'. (Neda'ye Sabz'e Azadi
website – Feb. 10, 2010)
Jailed labor activist thrown in solitary for protesting torture
A labor activist who is serving his prison sentence in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj was transferred to a solitary cell on
Wednesday. Mansour Osalu, the head of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Syndicate who is serving his prison
sentence in Hall 10 was thrown in a solitary cell in section 1 after protesting an attack by prison guards to this hall and
the beating of prisoners. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 12, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Political prisoner goes on hunger strike in protest to medication deprivation


According to reports, political prisoner Arjang Davudi has gone on a hunger strike in protest to being transferred to a
solitary cell in section 1 of Gohardasht Prison
known as the 'dog house' and being deprived his
medication.
Davudi was suddenly summoned on February 10
from section 4 in this prison by Kermani, the head
of prison and Faraji, the deputy head of the Prison
Intelligence Department and was then transferred to
a solitary cell in section 1. He has been denied his
medication since his transfer which can have
dangerous consequences for this political prisoner.
Mansour Osalu, the head of the Tehran and
Suburbs Bus Company Syndicate, has been kept in
Osalu and Davudi solitary in section 5 of this prison from February 6
despite his heart problem and there has been no
information on his condition since then. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 15, 2010)
No news on two detained students after 44 days
The families of Surena Hashemi and Alireza Firuzi, two
Zanjan University students who have been banned from
continuing their education, have no idea where these students
have been detained 44 days after their arrest.
These two students who disappeared on January 3 in
Orumieh are still kept in an unknown detention center after
the office of the Assistant Tehran Prosecutor confirmed their
arrest. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 15, 2010)
Children's rights activist detained in Evin Prison for close to
Firuzi and Hashemi 50 days
Mehdi Amizesh, 22, a children's rights activist who worked for
an NGO called the Association in Defense of Children, was arrested at about 9:15 am on January 30 after intelligence
agents stormed his home. He was taken to a solitary cell in section 209 in Evin Prison. Four intelligence agents
participated in this attack. When Mehdi Amizesh asked that they show a warrant for his arrest, they violently attacked
and beat him in front of his mother and other family members. These agents also conducted a long search in his home
and confiscated his computer and other personal documents.
This political prisoner has a severe stutter and completely loses his speech when he is subjected to mental pressure.
His family has no information on his condition since his arrest and has not been able to visit him as yet. They have gone
to the Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison on several occasions but were treated inhumanely every time. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 16, 2010)
Over 65 reporters face spying charges in Iran: rights group
More than 65 journalists, bloggers and writers have been detained in Iran since last June's disputed presidential polls
and could be tried on charges of 'spying' for the foreign media, a New York-based media rights group said Tuesday.
'The picture (in Iran) is pretty gloomy,' Robert Mahoney, deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
told a press conference here as he presented a worldwide 2009 survey titled 'Attacks on the Press in 2009' and
highlighted the detentions in Iran.
Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian correspondent for Newsweek who was jailed in Iran in June and released four
months later, also told reporters that more than 100 journalists, bloggers and writers had been arrested at different
periods since the elections, including the more than 65 who were still behind bars…
And in an alarming development, Mahoney said Iranian authorities were now using online social networks such as
Facebook to target journalists and dissidents.
'The Iranian government is now using (Facebook) to go after and find dissidents and journalists, mining their data,
seeing who their friends are,' he added. 'They are turning the technology that should liberate the press against the press.
This is a worrying trend'. (AFP - Feb 16, 2010)
No news on condition of former political prisoner, 50 days after arrest
According to reports, 50-year-old Majid Rezayi, a former political prisoner in the 80's was arrested in his home by agents
of the Ministry of Intelligence and taken to Evin Prison's section 209. There has been no information on his condition
since his arrest.
Intelligence agents stormed his home on December 31, 2009 at 5:30 am while his wife and children were asleep and
arrested him. Five agents came into his home in this violent attack and several other agents were monitoring his home
from the outside.
When his family asked the reason for his arrest, they were told that he was arrested because his child and brother were in
Camp Ashraf and because his satellite dish was set to receive Simaye Azadi TV (banned TV channel which belongs to the
opposition in exile).
The Rezayi family has gone to the Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison almost on a daily basis to get information on
Rezayi's condition but not only are they not given any answers, they are insulted and threatened as well. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 20, 2010)
Labor leader almost killed in prison
According to reports, on Monday, political prisoner Mansour Osalu, the head of the Tehran
Bus Company Syndicate was almost killed.
Osalu was in the prison yard in section 4 of Gohardasht Prison on February 22, talking to
two other prisoners when he was attacked from behind with a sharp object. He was saved by
other prisoners. This attack was carried out in front of a prison guard named Hassan Pour
and another guards named Moradi Sar. These guards did nothing to prevent the attack and
only confiscated the sharp object from the attacker and then released him after political
prisoners protested the attack and their inaction. The attacker was still trying to attack Mr.
Osalu afterwards shouting, "I will kill you".
This person had tried to physically clash with Osalu before this a number of times outside
the prison shop and even punched him in the chest a few times but Osalu had not reacted.
The assailant who attacked Osalu is Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, a member of the
Revolutionary Guards Corps who is in prison for killing his wife. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 22, 2010)
Jailed labor activist in grave danger
According to reports, in the past few days, political prisoner Mansour Osalu, the head of the Tehran Bus Company
Syndicate has been attacked with a knife several times by a jailed former regime agent.
On Friday night, when Osalu was in his cell with other political prisoners, he was attacked with a knife, but the attack
was neutralized by other prisoners. On Saturday morning, while he was coming back from the Protection and
intelligence Department and while prison guards were watching, the assailer punched Mr. Osalu in the face.
During this time, prisoners have not even tried to defend themselves and have not shown any reaction to these attacks.
Political prisoner Mansour Osalu has complained to prison officials and a number of prisoners have also testified on his
behalf.
Mahmoud Moghnian, the head of section 4 of this prison has given this former agent (who attacks Osalu) certain
responsibilities in this section and this person has complete freedom in prison. He also makes constant trips to the
offices of Ali Haj Kazem and Ali Mohammadi, the head and assistant head of prison and is in constant interactions with
Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the Prison Intelligence Department. Whenever he goes to their
offices, he increases his threats and attacks.
The prime elements behind these attacks are intelligence agent interrogators. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – Feb. 27, 2010)
March
Student prisoner kept in solitary for 3 months
Majid Tavakoli, an Amir Kabir University student who has been serving his third term
of prison since December 7, 2009, was once again transferred to a solitary cell from five
weeks ago in section 240 in Evin Prison.
Tavakoli, who was beaten once again by his interrogators, is kept in solitary illegally
despite the fact that the court issued his sentence.
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This jailed student only called his family once in these three months after his court and has been banned from phone
calls in the past two months. He also once visited with his brother with the presence of security forces.
His trial was held in January without his lawyer in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati.
He has been sentenced to 8 and a half years of prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 8, 2010)
Iran continues suppression of political prisoners and their families
According to reports, Mohammad Banazadeh Amir Khizi, who is a merchant in the Tehran Bazaar and was arrested
more than 3 months ago is under inhumane pressure and held in a state of limbo in section 209 of the notorious Evin
Prison.
This 63 year old political prisoner was kept in a solitary cell for more than 2 months and interrogated for long periods of
time during the night. He was physically and psychologically tortured in the interrogations and has lost a lot of weight as
a result. One of the methods used by the interrogators is to keep political prisoners in a state of limbo for some time and
then start the interrogations again and increase their threats and pressures.
The Banazadeh family has gone to various centers including the Tehran Prosecutor's Office, Revolutionary Court and
Evin Prison, to get information on Mr. Banazadeh but the authorities refrain from giving straight answers to this family
and treat them inhumanely. His family still does not know the reason behind his arrest.
After the arrest of this merchant, intelligence interrogators summoned his wife and daughter to the Intelligence Agency.
They were interrogated for a lengthy amount of time by one of the head interrogators of the intelligence agency
nicknamed Alavi where they were subjected to psychological pressure and threats.
Intelligence interrogators have also pressured other families of political prisoners to completely sever their ties and
friendship with other families of political prisoners and to stop visiting and calling each other. If they do not, they will be
arrested. A number of these families have been summoned to the intelligence agency in this regard and were
interrogated and pressured.
Mohammad Banazadeh Amir Khizi was arrested on November 30 after intelligence agents raided his office. He was
taken to section 209 in Evin Prison. He was also jailed for some time before this. His brother was executed in the 80's for
supporting the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. His wife, Shahla Zarinfar was sentenced to one year of prison
for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and was released after serving her term. His sister, political prisoner Kobra
Banazadeh Amikhizi, is currently jailed in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj for visiting her children in Camp Ashraf. Before
this, his brothers Asghar and Hamid Banazadeh were sentenced to two years of prison for visiting their children in
Camp Ashraf and were released after finishing their prison terms.
Currently, other Tehran Bazaar merchants are also in section 209 and 350 in Evin Prison including Mohsen Dokmeh
Chi, Javad Lari, and Hossein Niakan. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 12, 2010)
Student human rights activist held in solitary cell in Evin
Navid Khanjani, a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters is detained in
a solitary cell which is controlled by the Revolutionary Guards Corps in Evin Prison.
This student activist has only had a few phone calls with his family and there is no
information on the charges against him and why he was arrested.
Khanjani only said in his phone call with his family that he was being kept in a solitary
cell controlled by the Revolutionary Guards Corps
and that he was not kept in section 209 in this prison, which has raised concerns for his
condition.
This student activist was arrested in his home in Isfahan on the night of March 2 and
was then transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters
– March 14, 2010)
Jailed journalist barred from seeing child in visits
Massoud Lavasani, journalist and blogger who was arrested in his home on September 26, 2009 has gone on a hunger
strike.
He was sentenced to 8 and half years of prison by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court and is currently in Evin
Prison.
According to reports, after his telephone calls were cut off, his in person visits in prison were also suspended.
Human Rights Activists in Iran reported in December that he was previously allowed a visit with his family every two
weeks and now he was allowed a visit every six weeks in which he was barred from seeing his child. (Kalameh Website –
March 24, 2010)
Iran deprives Gohardasht prisoners of safe water
According to reports, severe water pollution in Gohardasht Prison has led to the spread of various illnesses which
seriously threatens the lives of prisoners.
From March 11, the drinking water of section 1 and 4 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj became extremely polluted which
has rendered the water undrinkable. The color of the water is a turbid greenish color with a very bad odor and because
of the high amount of chlorine in the water, it tastes and smells very bad and is unusable. Defenseless prisoners are
forced to use this water because it has been polluted for a long time which has led to various illnesses. A number of
prisoners suffer from headaches and stomach aches and other digestive problems.
The water in the pipes of various sections in prison is so polluted that those who use it to bathe have come down with
side effects such as rashes and severe itches.
From three days ago, the water was cut off in these sections and prisoners only have water for 1 or 2 hours a day and
have been deprived of even the polluted water. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 17, 2010)
Female political prisoner in critical condition in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, the physical condition of political prisoner Zahra Asadpour Gorji is so
critical that the medics in the Gohardasht Prison infirmary have requested she be given an
urgent medical leave for surgery.
This 51 year old political prisoner suffers from serious heart problems and her problems have
become critical in the past few days. The medics made their request before the (Iranian) new
year but intelligence interrogators and the supervisor of the prison have not agreed to the
leave and have postponed it until after the new years. The condition of Zahra Asadpour Gorji
in the past few days has deteriorated so much that she needs aid in doing her personal work.
Asadpour was arrested on December 7, 2009, after her home was raided by agents of the
Ministry of Intelligence and taken to a solitary cell in section 8 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj
which is run by the Ministry of Intelligence. She was interrogated and tortured for several
weeks by Mohebi, the head interrogator of the intelligence agency. She was arrested along
with her son once before for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and was jailed for 16
months before being released.
Her 25 year old son, Reza Jushan, was arrested on December 1, 2009 after a raid on her home and was taken to a solitary
cell in section 8 of Gohardasht Prison known as the Sepah Section. He was kept in solitary for close to 2 months and
then transferred to section 4 in this prison.
They were sentenced to one year of prison to be served in Zanjan Prison and 4 years in exile in the Qeilaz Village in
Zanjan on February 8, 2010 by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Asef Hosseini, the head of
this court branch.
According to other reports, due to reparation in the women's section in this prison, female prisoners were taken to hall
20 where prison officials have housed several times more prisoners than its normal capacity. Female prisoners have to
sleep in the hallways and close to the restroom and the lack of space has caused many problems for them. This condition
has been going on for close to a month. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 23, 2010)
40 % percent of prisoners in section 4 of Gohardasht Prison ill from contaminated water
According to reports, the severe contamination of drinking water in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj has caused a large
number of political and ordinary prisoners to become sick.
Close to 40 percent of prisoners in section 4 of Gohardasht Prison are sick. Ill political prisoners include Saleh
Kohandel, Hood Yazerlu, Misaq Yazdan Nejad and Reza Jushan. They have come down with side effects such as
diarrhea, severe headaches, weakness and influenza like conditions.
The prison infirmary only treats urgent cases saying that it is closed for the new years and refrains from treating these
prisoners. This has led to the deterioration of their condition and more prisoners have become sick.
Despite the constant water outage and the severe contamination of the water in the past few weeks, the reason behind
this issue has still not been announced to the prisoners. Reports say that the reason is because sewage water has entered
the prisoner's drinking water. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 24, 2010)
Jailed female civil rights activist's condition worsens in 12th day of hunger strike
Maryam Zia, a children's rights activist was transferred to the infirmary in Evin Prison on her 12 th day of hunger strike
after her physical condition deteriorated. Her condition had worsened since a few days ago but prison officials refused to

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treat her to put increasing pressure on her. She is suffering from very low blood pressure, excessive weakness, and severe
headaches and can barely walk or move.
She has also been separated from other political prisoners and is kept with ordinary and dangerous criminals.
Zia went on a hunger strike protesting the fact that an intelligence agent interrogator named Yaseri refuses to release her
despite a bail which was paid for her release on March 17.
Maryam Zia, 40, is married with two children and is a children's rights activist. She was arrested on December 31, 2009
after intelligence agents raided her home and was transferred to section 209 in Evin Prison and was then transferred to
the women's section after two months. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 28, 2010)
Journalist who revealed Kahrizak scandal suffering from lung infection in prison
Mehdi Mahmoudian, a journalist and member of the Participation Front is in poor condition in prison.
In a recent phone call with his family, he complained that prison officials were oblivious to his condition.
This journalist and human rights activist passed out last week in prison. He has been suffering from lung infection for
two months but prison agents have kept him in cold temperatures with unsuitable clothes despite being aware of his
condition.
Mahmoudian has been jailed for 7 months in Evin Prison and was only recently able to see his little daughter.
He was the first person to reveal the inhumane and illegal treatment of prisoners in the Kahrizak Detention Center two
years ago. (Kalameh Website – March 29, 2010)
Jailed hunger striker thrown in quarantine section of Mahabad Prison
Jafar (Soltan) Afshari who has gone on a hunger strike in protest to not receiving a leave from prison was taken to the
quarantine section of Mahabad Prison.
According to reports, this man who was arrested five months ago is in poor physical health.
He has been sentenced to two years of prison on charges of helping a suspect escape. Afshari suffers from heart
problems.
It seems he was transferred to the quarantine section to be subjected to more pressure. (Mukarian News Agency – March
31, 2010)
April
Jailed labor activist in poor physical health deprived from treatment
According to reports, political prisoner Mansour Osalu, head of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Syndicate is still
held in a cellblock with ordinary and dangerous prisoners and is under pressure from prison officials.
His physical problems have also increased in the past few days and he is in poor health but has not received any
treatment. He is suffering from heart problems and severe back pain. A medical examiner has confirmed and stressed in
more than 3 written reports that he is not able to tolerate incarceration and has to be released. But the intelligence
interrogator in charge of his case has so far refrained from giving him a medical leave from prison. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – April 1, 2010)
Condition of human rights activists in Iranian prisons
The security apparatus of the Iranian government headed by the Intelligence Department of the Revolutionary Guards
Corps have increased their attempts at making 'TV shows' (by getting false televised confessions from political prisoners)
and using jailed human rights activists for their scenarios.
This is while, except for a few detainees, there is no news on the situation of most jailed human rights activists. The few
who were able to make phone calls or have visits with their families were in poor physical and psychological health and
in one instance where a prisoner was seen from up close, the signs of beatings with batons, sticks and shockers were
completely evident on his head and body.
Most detainees, who are in solitary without the right to phone calls or visits, are still deprived of lawyers and their legal
and human rights. In addition to this, because of the fact that their cases are still 'open' in the court in Evin prison, their
families and lawyers have no access to their files and dossiers.
The illegal actions of security forces have led to serious concerns among the families of these prisoners and they have
naturally stepped up their efforts to pursue the cases of their loved ones. But they are threatened by security forces while
trying to get news on their loved ones through lawyers.
In a number of cases, prisoners were forced to call their families and tell them not to get lawyers for them. These
pressures have been so severe that prisoners have been seen to use unusual behavior and words (in their calls). In other
cases, prisoners were dictated to say that the place where they are kept is suitable and without problems.
Security forces have also called a number of families themselves telling them not to pursue the cases of their loved ones
and not to talk to the media. These forces have threatened these families with arrest. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
April 1, 2010)
Political prisoner thrown in RGC solitary cell in Gohardasht Prison because family talked with media
According to reports, political prisoner Reza Jushan was thrown in a solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock after his family
gave interviews to international Farsi media about the critical condition of the mother of this family and the inhumane
condition of political prisoners in this prison. This family was also threatened by Mohebi, the head interrogator of the
intelligence agency.
On Monday March 29, political prisoner Reza Jushan was transferred to a solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock controlled
by interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence. His transfer was ordered by Mohebi. In the 2 months that Jushan was
jailed in the Sepah cellblock, he was under severe psychological and physical torture by intelligence interrogators. He was
tortured with electric batons by Mohebi for a long period of time while handcuffed.
According to reports, after his family talked to the media describing the critical condition of the mother of this family,
political prisoner Zahra Asadpour Gorji and the inhumane condition in which her son, Reza Jushan, was kept in,
Mohebi called this family and threatened them using profane language. He told them that they will 'see the
consequences of their actions'. After this threat, Mohebi transferred Jushan to solitary.
Reza Jushan, 25, was arrested on December 1, 2009 after intelligence agents raided his home. He was taken to solitary in
the Sepah cellblock and was then taken to cellblock 4 after two months. On December 7, agents once again stormed his
home and arrested Zahra Asadpour Gorji, his mother and transferred her to a solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock. She
was taken to the women's cellblocks after weeks of interrogation and physical and psychological torture. Asadpour and
her son were arrested before this for visiting their loved ones in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and were released after 16 months
after serving their sentence. They were sentenced to 1 year of prison to be served in exile in Zanjan Prison and 4 years of
exile to the Qeilar Village in Zanjan on February 8, 2010 by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 3, 2010)
Several journalists held in Evin prison are seriously ill
Reporters Without Borders is extremely worried about the appalling conditions in which Iranian prisoners of
conscience, including many journalists, are being held. The authorities continue to detain them arbitrarily even when
they are ailing and in very poor physical or psychological health.
"The lives of many journalists are now in danger,‖ Reporters Without Borders said. ―Emadoldin Baghi, Badrolssadat
Mofidi, Mehdi Mahmudian and Mohammad Sadegh Kabovand are seriously ill. We call for their unconditional and
definitive release. We appeal to the Iranian authorities to act so that these lives are no longer at risk. We will hold them
responsible for any misfortune".
After visiting her husband, Emadoldin Baghi, in Tehran‘s Evin prison on 30 March, Fatemeh Kamali Ahmad Sarai
reported that he was taken to a Tehran hospital with a respiratory problem on 18 March before being returned to the
prison later the same day.
A journalist and active campaigner against the death penalty, Baghi, 46, has been held since his arrest in Tehran on 28
December. He has been jailed several times since 2000 and was hospitalised on several occasions during his last spell in
prison. Despite paying a large amount in bail, he was not allowed to spend the Persian New Year at home with his family
on 21 March.
The family of Badrolssadat Mofidi, the head of the Association of Journalists and a contributor to several reformist
newspapers, describe her condition as critical. ―She has heart problems,‖ one of her daughters said after a prison visit.
―She is being given very strong tranquilisers as the interrogations are causing her a great deal of stress.‖ Mofidi has been
held in Evin prison‘s Section 209 since her arrest on 28 December.
Mehdi Mahmudian, the journalist who exposed the inhuman treatment of prisoners at the Kahrizak detention centre,
told his family by phone that he has been suffering from acute asthma. He has also suffered other kinds of attacks, losing
consciousness in his cell on one occasion. He has been held for the past seven months.
Held since July 2007, Mohammad Sadegh Kabovand, who heads the Kurdistan Human Rights Organisation as well as
being a journalist, has had several undiagnosed attacks in his cell. His state of health is worrying but he is being denied
treatment and the prison authorities have systematically refused his requests for medical parole.
There are other detained journalists with health problems. They include Henghameh Shahidi, Issa Saharkhiz, Nader
Karimi and Mojtaba Lotfi, a cleric and website editor who was sentenced to four years in prison followed by five years of
banishment on charges of anti-government propaganda and disseminating the views of Hossein Ali Montazeri, a
dissident ayatollah. (Reporters Sans Frontières – April 1, 2010)
NY rights group says 35 journalists jailed in Iran

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The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 35 journalists are in prison in Iran after a nearly
yearlong crackdown on the news media in the Middle Eastern country.
The organization said Tuesday that an additional 18 journalists were free on short-term furloughs granted for the Iranian
New Year and were expected to report back to prison.
They say many of the jailed journalists are under immense physical and psychological pressure to confess to crimes they
have not committed, including crimes that carry the death penalty.
CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon says they will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The organization has been conducting monthly surveys of journalists imprisoned in Iran. (AP- April 6, 2010)
Jailed student activist in critical condition in prison denied medical leave
There are reports that a member of the Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners is in critical condition in
prison. Ali Bikas is suffering from a serious illness because of the pressure and unsanitary conditions in prison and
according to medics, he needs urgent treatment outside of prison.
Bikas was arrested on June 14, 2009, only two days after the presidential elections in Iran by security forces and was
sentenced to 7 years of prison by the 24th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
This human rights activist is currently waiting on the sentence of a court of review and has not been allowed a leave from
prison as yet.
Ali Bikas has a PhD in history and was also active in the journalistic field. He has helped political prisoners who were
less well known in the past few years and has been under severe pressure for cooperating with the Student Committee in
Defense of Political Prisoners. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – April 7, 2010)
Jailed university professor pressured for false confessions, fired from university
The Intelligence Agency of Mazandaran has severely subjected Dr. Ali-Akbar Sorush to torture to force this member of
Moussavi's election campaign in Mazandaran to confess against himself.
According to those close to him, this university professor is in a very poor health and has been held in a solitary cell
under bad conditions but he has so far resisted from giving false confessions.
An official in the Babol Science University who asked not to be named also said that on orders of the Ministry of
Intelligence, Dr. Sorush has been expelled from this university.
Dr. Ali-Akbar Sorush is a history professor on Islam who is also a member of the Science Department at the Babol
Science University. He was arrested about 25 days ago by intelligence agents after answering a summons to the Babol
Prosecutor's Office. Dr. Sorush was taken to the Sari Intelligence Detention Center and his family and lawyer have not
been able to visit him since his arrest. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 8, 2010)
Polluted water in Gohardasht Prison violate minimum rights of prisoners
On Wednesday April 7, the drinking water of prisoners at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj was cut off for a few hours and
after being connected again, it was severely polluted, had a very foul smell and resembled sewage water. Defenseless
prisoners are forced to use this water (out of desperation). According to reports, a number of prisoners have come down
with digestive problems after using the polluted water and have side effects like diarrhea, nausea, headaches and
weakness.
The prisoners' water supply in this prison comes from water wells and prisoners are deprived of using purified water
from the municipal systems of the city. In the past few weeks, the prison sewage has seeped into the water wells and this
condition has continued for a few weeks. Because of the water shortage and cold water, prisoners have also been
deprived of bathing and this has led to skin diseases among them.
Simultaneous with the water pollution and the water shortage, mineral water and other drinks in the prison shop have
been gathered from the shop and prisoners have no way of providing their needs.
The sanitary condition of cellblocks in this prison is very bad. Currently a number of the bathrooms are out of order and
more than 600 people have to use 3 to 4 bathrooms. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 8, 2010)
Death row prisoner taken to unknown location
Hossein Khezri, a political prisoner on death row was taken to an unknown location form the public cellblock in
Orumieh Prison. He was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of cooperating with Kurd
opposition parties.
The transfer of Hossein Khezri has led to concerns among human rights activists. Some believe that this transfer can
raise the probability of his death sentence being carried out. (Mukarian News Agency – April 11, 2010)
Ill jailed journalist denied treatment
The lung infection of Mehdi Mahmoudian, a jailed journalist, has deteriorated as a result of the
pressures and tortures in prison and prison officials have still not given him treatment for his
condition.
According to his mother, she went to see judiciary officials to file a complaint against prison officials.
"They (judicial officials) called me and my son liars and denied that he had any problems in prison", she said.
This is while, Mahmoudian had said in a phone call from prison that he has not received any treatment and according to
a medic in the infirmary, he is losing one of his lungs due to the infection.
Mahmoudian has been detained in Evin Prison for more than seven months. He has been charged with disclosing
(prison abuse) at the Kahrizak Detention Center. (Kalameh Website – April 11, 2010)
Three political prisoners in poor health on 11th day of hunger strike
Behrouz Alizadeh and Vadoud Sa'adati, Azeri activists and Azeri journalist Rahim Gholami who started a hunger strike
on April 1 in Ardabil Prison are in critical condition.
Informed sources in Ardabil prison say that they are suffering from low blood pressure and Behrouz Alizadeh is also
suffering from dizzy spells and abnormal heartbeats. According to this source, prison officials have transferred these
three Azeri political prisoners to solitary cells in the quarantine cellblock in Ardabil Prison.
The Alizadeh, Sa'adati and Gholami families are extremely concerned about the condition of their loved ones in prison.
After these political prisoners announced their hunger strike, prison officials barred them from family visits. (Savalan
Sassi Website – April 12, 2010)
Political prisoner kept in undetermined state for more than 2 months
According to reports, political prisoner Mohammad Baqer Erfani who was arrested in an attack to his home in February
is in an undetermined state in Evin Prison's cellblock 350.
Mohammad Baqer Erfani, 52, who was a political prisoner in the 80's was arrested by intelligence agents and detained in
solitary confinement in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison.
Seven intelligence agents under the command of an agent nicknamed Alavi (known for the brutal torture of political
prisoners in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison) attacked Erfani's home on February 7, 2010. They violently searched his home
for a few hours and treated his family and children inhumanely. Alavi interrogated and threatened Erfani's wife and
children in his home. Erfani was on a trip and was not home when these agents attacked and they were unable to arrest
him. Intelligence agents confiscated some of their personal belongings including their computer, a number of CD's,
satellite receiver, telephone book, books and other items.
Alavi summoned his wife and daughter the next day to the intelligence agency and interrogated them for hours. He took
them as hostages saying that they would stay at the agency until Erfani turned himself in, even while Erfani was on a
business trip.
After Erfani turned himself in, he was arrested and taken to cellblock 209. In this time he was interrogated for long
periods and psychologically and physically tortured. Alavi repeatedly threatened him that they would execute him and
that he was a Mohareb (a term used by the regime against political prisoner meaning enmity with God). The torture and
abuse continued for more than one month until he was recently transferred to cellblock 350 where he is kept in an
undetermined state. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 13, 2010)
Jailed hunger strikers in deplorable condition in Iranian prisons
According to reports and human rights activists, five prisoners in Gohardasht Prison, 17 prisoners in Orumieh Prison
and three prisoners in Yazd Prison are in very poor health because of going on hunger strikes for days in prison.
According to this report, a number of prisoners in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj by the names of Es-haq Surani, Hossein
Karimi, Reza Jalali, Abas Yusefi and Mohammad Ansari have been on a hunger strike for more than 2 weeks in solitary
cells known as the 'doghouse'. They are in a very poor health and their lives are in danger because of horrid prison
conditions. This report concludes that prison official have not taken any heed of their condition.
According to other reports, 17 political prisoners in Orumieh Prison have also gone on hunger strike from last week in
protest to the condition of prison, and the free and systematic distribution of drugs in prison and human rights sources
have expressed concern for their condition.
Three Kurd political prisoners who have been sentenced to serving their terms in Yazd Prison identified as Abdollah
Qasem Zadeh, Bakhshali Mohammadi and Sahand Ali Mohammadi have gone on hunger strike in protest to the prison
conditions and insulting treatment by prison guards and are in very critical condition. (Jaras Website – April 12, 2010)
Intelligence officials prevent young political prisoner from receiving much needed medical treatment
Agents of the Babol Intelligence Agency have prevented the transfer of Iman Sediqi, jailed student
of Noushirvani University in Babol, to the hospital. He is in critical condition.

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After initial checks by medics in the Mati Kalay Prison in Babol, he was to be transferred to hospital because of the
deterioration of his condition, but this decision was met with opposition from the Intelligence Agency.
According to this report, he is in critical condition because of pressures by his interrogators and the intelligence agency
has prevented prison officials from transferring him to hospital.
Sediqi also suffers from allergies. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 14, 2010)
Anonymous prisoners and the charge of relations with PMOI
During the post-elections arrests of 2009, tens of those arrested were citizens who did not belong to any groups or
political parties, or whose names were never mentioned in a social and political context.
These prisoners remain in detention anonymously and their families‘ efforts to learn about their circumstances have
rendered fruitless. One of these individuals is a man by the name of Parviz Varmarzyari who was arrested during the
Ashura Day Protests (December 27, 2009).
Though he was arrested more than three months ago, he has not been informed of his charges, nor have there been any
courts convened for his trial. He is one of the prisoners spending time in Ministry of Intelligence‘s Ward 209 at Evin
Prison.
A human rights source told International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the 55-year-old man had not had any
political activities in the past, but that the Ministry of Intelligence agents have been trying to charge him with ―relations
with Mojahedeen Khalgh Organization (MKO).
Apparently his son is at Camp Ashraf in Iraq and Varmarzyari‘s continued detention in prison is related to this.
The mentioned source said that Varmazyari‘s family and lawyer‘s visits to security and judicial organizations to find out
the reason for his arrest have been fruitless so far.
Over the past few months, some of the detainees have faced the charge of relations with Mojahedeen Khalgh
Organization, even though in most cases they have denied such relations.
Even though those in charge of the cases do not have any evidence to support these charges, their efforts to find the
detainees guilty for these relations continue. (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – April 14, 2010)
Young couple kept in solitary confinement for more than 40 days
Morad Hassan Lu and Nafiseh Mojtahedi, two human rights activists are still kept in solitary confinement more than 40
days after their arrest.
This couple who used to work with the Human Rights Activists in Iran were arrested on March 6, 2010 and taken to
solitary cells in cellblock 2A in Evin Prison. They are still kept in these solitary cells. They have a small child. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – April 13, 2010)
Student activist's health deteriorates in prison; denied treatment
Eftekhar Barzegarian, a jailed student activist from the Firdosi University in Mashhad who has been detained since
September 2009 is suffering from serious illnesses and constantly vomits blood on a daily basis.
Refusing the medical advice of the prison infirmary to put more pressure on this student activist, the Protection
Department of the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad has barred him from receiving medicine in the past few days and has
prevented him from sleeping on a bed.
Despite the fact that his interrogations ended last October and a bail for his release was provided by his friends, this
student activist is still illegally detained in this prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 15, 2010)
Dozens of prisoners taken to infirmary after consuming polluted prison water
According to reports, in the course of yesterday and today, dozens of political and ordinary prisoners who were in critical
condition after consuming polluted water were taken to the infirmary in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
On Wednesday April 14 about 15 prisoners were taken to the infirmary. They include political prisoner Afshin Baimani
and prisoner Reza Pourhassan. Until Thursday afternoon, more than 20 prisoners from cellblock 1 in this prison were
taken to the infirmary including prisoner Akbar Shahbazi. According to reports, the same conditions exist in cellblocks
2, 5, 6 and the women's section.
Prisoners suffer from side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and weakness and subsequently lose their
ability to move shortly after drinking the polluted prison water. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April
15, 2010)
Female human rights activist in poor health in prison
Shole Mansouri, a human rights activist who was arrested on March 8, 2010 in an organized attack against human rights
activists is in poor health in prison.
According to reports, Shole Mansouri who is former colleague of the Human Rights Activists in Iran is suffering from a
blood related illness and severe influenza. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 17, 2010)
Jailed teacher denied medical leave despite critical condition
The Revolutionary Court in Mashhad has refused to give Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher and head of the Mashhad
Teacher Center, a leave from prison. This is while he has served nine months of his two year prison term.
Khastar is currently detained in cellblock 6/1 in Vakil Abad Prison. He is suffering from a heart problem and his family
is very concerned for his health.
(According to the law) prisoners are allowed a leave after serving two months of their sentence if they have no criminal
history. (Jaras Website – April 22, 2010)
Political prisoner taken to hospital after drug overdose
According to reports, political prisoner Ali Mohammadi Moqadam who is jailed in hall 3 cellblock 7 in Evin Prison and
has been sentenced to 15 years of prison by the Revolutionary Court was transferred to a hospital outside the prison
after a drug overdose.
Moqadam had been under severe psychological pressure in the past few days and used too much drugs to relieve the
pressure. He was taken to the infirmary in an unconscious state and then transferred to the hospital. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 23, 2010)
Jailed dissident cleric taken to unknown location for protesting
After Hossein Kazemini Borujerdi, a jailed dissident cleric, protested the wide-spread
violation of human rights in prison, he was taken to an unknown location yesterday on
charges of sedition in prison.
Ayatollah Borujerdi who protested the barring of visits, distribution of rotten food, lack
of warm water and sanitary facilities along with other prisoners was taken to an unknown
location by prison officials.
Borujerdi was arrested in 2006 and was sentenced to 10 years of prison and the
confiscation of his property and belongings on charges of acting against national security
and spreading propaganda against the government. (Radio Koucheh – April 23, 2010)
Ministry of Intelligence steals money from prisoners in special cellblock for clergy
According to reports, the prison accounts of a number of prisoners in the special cellblock for clergy including dissident
cleric Borujerdi were emptied. Though the amount of money in these accounts was very little and was mostly used for
issues like providing telephone cards, the government has now blocked even these minimum facilities to cut off
prisoners from the outside world, preventing news from coming in and out of prison.
Prison officials have said that this issue was taken out on orders of the Special Prosecutor for Clergy. This is while on
Tuesday, an official in the Special Prosecutor's office, Sobhani, told a prisoner's family that they did not know anything
about this matter and that the 'Ministry of Intelligence has probably issued such an order'. (Roshangari Website – April
23, 2010)
Two of three American hikers detained in Iran are in poor health
Two of three American hikers detained in Iran are in poor health and have discussed staging a hunger strike, their
families said Friday.
The three - Sarah Shourd, 31; Shane Bauer, 27; and Josh Fattal, 27 - were detained last July and sent to Evin prison in
Tehran.
Their families said that Swiss diplomats were able to visit them Thursday, the first such visit in five months.
'We thank the Iranian authorities for allowing Shane, Sarah and Josh to receive another consular visit at long last, but we
are alarmed to learn of their physical and emotional state of health and fear their well-being will suffer even more unless
their case is resolved without delay,' the families said in a statement Friday.
The United States, which has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979, has relied on Switzerland to appeal
directly for the hikers' release.
The families say that the three friends, who are all graduates of the University of California and seasoned travelers,
accidentally strayed across an unmarked border into Iran while on a hiking trip in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran has said they will
be put on trial (CNN Website – April 23, 2010)
Two arrested teachers under pressure in Evin Prison
Two jailed teachers in Evin Prison have been under pressure by interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence in the past
few months to prevent the publishing of the news of their arrest.
According to reports, two detained teachers, Qorban Ahmadi and Hossein Bastani Nejad, are under pressure so that
their families refrain from publishing the news of their arrest and condition. Qorban Ahmadi in the principal of a
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Quran school in regions 5 and 2 of Tehran and Hossein Bastani Nejad is a retired teacher. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – April 25, 2010)
Orumieh prisoner denied treatment despite critical condition
A jailed Kurd Syrian national, Ramezan Ahmad Kamal, has not received any medical attention despite his poor health
and need for treatment.
According to this report, Ramezan Ahmad Kamal from Qameshlou in Syria's Kurdistan is unable to cope with prison
because of his many illnesses and has to receive treatment outside prison. Legal procedures for this issue have been taken
many times but relevant officials have deprived him of medical treatment.
He is currently kept in inhumane conditions in cellblock 8 in the Orumieh Central Prison and has been denied the
right to a lawyer. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 25, 2010)
Two political prisoners under pressure and torture in Orumieh Prison
Two political prisoners have been kept in a state of limbo for 75 days in solitary in the Central Orumieh Prison. They
are pressurized and mistreated.
Morad Mahali and Hossein Abdollahzadeh who were arrested on charges of moharebeh (enmity with God) by security
forces are still kept in solitary after 75 days and are subjected to mental and physical pressure. Mahali is from Piranshahr
while Hossein Abdollahzadeh is a political activist from Mahabad. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 25, 2010)
Jailed teacher association head in critical condition
Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher in Mashhad and head of the Teacher's Association in
Mashhad has been denied a medical leave after 8 months of prison despite his heart problems.
In the past few days, his heart problem and high blood pressure has led to damage in his retina
which has severely weakened his eyesight. His friends and family have made many attempts to
get him a medical leave so that he would receive treatment outside of prison but the Mashhad
Revolutionary Court and security institutions have refused to grant him a leave.
Security institutions have said they will grant his leave only if he completely ceases his political
activities.
Khastar has refused to back down and has said that suffering from his illness is easier than
choosing any option put to him by security institutions.
According to the law, all prisoners are allowed to request a leave after two months of prison and the prison is obliged to
agree with the leave. (Jaras Website – April 26, 2010)
10 months without visits; 20 year old man kept in state of limbo in prison
Ayub Qanbarpourian, who was arrested during the post election protests, has been kept in prison for 10 months without
any visits with his family and relatives.
He has been taken to court 3 times in these 10 months but no sentence has been issued for him and he is kept in a total
state of limbo.
Qanbarpourian, 20, is from a village in Lorestan and worked as a construction worker in Tehran. He participated in the
peaceful demos in protest to election results on June 12 and was arrested and jailed. He was the breadwinner of his
family and in the past few months, his family has been suffering from severe financial problems. (Kalameh Website –
April 27, 2010)
Appalling state of political prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison
Credible reports say that the living conditions of prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison are very poor.
The crowdedness and the unprecedented number of prisoners in this cell is way over the capacity of this block and these
prisoners are denied from minimum welfare and hygiene facilities which has made conditions very difficult for them.
According to this report, the sanitary condition and the state of medical treatment have reached a critical point and
many prisoners have come down with the influenza and other contagious diseases.
The very low quality of food, cleanliness and the presence of more than 40 to 45 prisoners in every cell has caused many
problems for the prisoners.
The condition in block 350 is so concerning that in the past few days, the prosecutor and a number of interrogators
from the Revolutionary Court visited this block and were informed of the many problems prisoners were facing, but
nothing has been done to solve them yet. (Advar News – April 27, 2010)
May
Death row political prisoner in critical condition
Hossein Khezri, a Kurd political prisoner who has been sentenced to death is in critical condition and his life is in
danger.
According to reports, Khezri, who was sentenced to death on charges of 'cooperating with dissident Kurd parties' by the
Revolutionary Court, is in very critical condition and has lost 25 percent of his eyesight in one eye. Prison officials refuse
to give him treatment.
Khezri was severely tortured when arrested and his death sentence was upheld by a review court. Orumieh Prison
officials have threatened him many times to carry out his sentence.
This Kurd prisoner from Orumieh who has been denied the right to a lawyer in the whole legal procedure has been
transferred from Orumieh Prison to an unknown location and there are fears that his sentence might be carried out.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 3, 2010)
Iranian regime opens new Kahrizak death camp
Mehdi Khazali, the son of Ayatollah Khazali claimed in an open letter to Larijani, the head of Iran's Judiciary, that a new
Kahrizak detention center had been opened and is active under the name of 'Surosh 111'.
In this letter which was also posted in Mehdi Khazali's personal website, he requested that this issue be looked into.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 2, 2010)
(Note: The Kahrizak Detention Center which was originally used for so-called troublemakers arrested by the Iranian
regime was used as a detention center for protesters after the elections. There were many reports on the inhumane
treatment of detainees and horrid conditions in Kahrizak which resembled Nazi death camps. After a number of people
were killed under torture, namely the son of a former Iranian official, the detention center was reportedly closed.)
3 teacher activists illegally detained in Evin Prison
One week after the arrest of the Secretary General of the Iran Teacher Organization and two high ranking members of
the Iran Teacher Center, these three activists are still detained in cellblock 209 in Tehran's Evin Prison.
According to reports, the detention of Alireza Hashemi, the Secretary General of the Iran Teacher Organization, Ali-
Akbar Baghani, the Secretary General of the Teacher Center and Mohammad Beheshti Langeroudi, the spokesman of
this center is ongoing despite the passing of Teacher Day and the fact that a detention order has not been issued for
them which makes this detention illegal.
They were arrested in their homes on April 28 by intelligence agents. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 4, 2010)
No news on teacher activist since his arrest
According to reports, Mohammad Hashemi, a member of the Teacher's Organization was arrested last Wednesday in his
home.
His family has said that they have no information on him since his arrest and are very concerned for his mental and
physical state.
Their attempts at finding out where he is being kept have not led to any conclusion. Hashemi was arrested once before
in 2006 for participating in a sit in by teachers outside the parliament. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 5,
2010)
Executed political prisoner were under pressure to request amnesty from Khamenei
An analysis of the experience of political prisoners in the last few years in Iran shows that putting political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience under pressure to write letters requesting amnesty from Khamenei has been the policy of
intelligence agent interrogators for years. Despite knowing that many of those on death row are innocent, they do this to
satisfy some officials of the Islamic Republic.
―You get to the point where you are forced to write the letter. If you don‘t, your execution is certain. It is very hard to
know that you will be executed and not write the letter‖, a former political prisoner explained.
Khalil Bahramian, Farzad Kamangar‘s lawyer said, ―Farzad was also innocent. His interrogator had admitted to his
innocence but wanted Farzad to write a letter requesting amnesty from Khamenei something that Farzad refused to do‖.
―If he wrote the letter, it meant that he had actually done something wrong‖, the lawyer of this executed political
prisoner added.
Farhad Vakili, another political prisoner who was executed with him was also pressured to write a letter to Khamenei to
request amnesty. But he refused and told his wife and friends that he would rather be executed than write such a letter.
(Raye Man Kojast {Where is My Vote} Website – May 10, 2010)
Iran disbands political prisoner‟s cellblock in Evin Prison, moves political prisoners in with ordinary criminals
After Farhad Vakili, a Kurd political prisoner was taken from cellblock 350 to an unknown location last Saturday and
hanged along with four other political prisoners on Sunday, political prisoners in cellblock 350 who had lost their
cellmate, mourned their loss which led to reaction from the head of this cellblock, Bozorgnia.

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According to reports, after this reaction, these 180 political prisoners protested and refused to get food, announcing a
hunger strike.
Because of this protest and on orders of the head of Evin Prison, Sedaqat, the process for the disbanding of cellblock
350 has started and political prisoners will once again be transferred to cellblock 7 and 8 in Evin Prison and Gohardasht
Prison in Karaj to be put among ordinary criminals.
A prisoner arrested after the presidential elections who was taken to cellblock 8 said in phone call that at least 50 others
from 350 were transferred since this morning to cellblock 7 and 8 and Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – May 11, 2010)
Female prisoner dies in prison because of lack of medical treatment; disease spreads among female prisoners in Evin
Reports say that the sanitary state of the women‘s cellblocks in Evin Prison is very poor.
In phone calls with their families, some political prisoners have said that all the female cellblocks especially section 4 are
in very poor sanitary conditions and lice, women‘s related diseases and throat infections are on the rise. Many of these
diseases have become so chronic in some of the female prisoners that their bodies have become immune to the
antibiotics.
Warm water has also been cut off and these prisoners are forced to shower with cold water.
According to these prisoners, prison officials do not take any measures to treat the ill women and their constant protests
to this issue have so far been futile.
Prisoners are also faced with a lack of nourishment and the prison shop has put limitations to provide them with food.
This is while the prison food is not enough and lacks quality but they are not allowed to purchase their needs from the
prison shop with their own money. The prison shop usually does not have the prisoner‘s needs.
Female prisoners have weak immune systems because of the lack of nutrition which results in constant illnesses.
According to reports from inside Evin Prison, a few nights ago, a female prisoner in the quarantine section of Evin
Prison died as a result of a ruptured appendix because she was not given medical treatment and not taken to the
infirmary on time.
From 10 pm to 7am when all the cell and block doors are shut, agents have no control over the condition of prisoners
and if they have illnesses or any other problems no one is able to receive medical attention in this timeframe. (Kalameh
Website – May 12, 2010)
Political prisoners forced to do hard labor in Evin Prison
According to reports, the Special Court for Clergy has announced in a new order that prisoners in cellblock 500 in Evin
Prison have to do hard labor including construction work and breaking stones into small pieces. According to this
announcement, those who refuse will be banned from their weekly 15 minute visit and if they protest, they will be
thrown in solitary.
These rules have also been carried out in the Sepah Cellblock where well-known human rights doctor Hesam Firuzi is
detained. Evin officials have refused to accept responsibility for this medieval decision which has led to the injuries and
have stated that ‗the special clerical cellblocks, cellblock 209 and Sepah are not under the control of the Judiciary and
Prison Organizations‘. This is while according to reports, prisoners in other blocks are also forced to do hard labor
including political prisoners in cellblock 350.
In answer to families of prisoners in the special clerical cellblock, Sakhayi, an official in the Department to Implement
Sentences in the Special Court for Clergy said, ―These kinds of punishments are because prisoners supported Kazemeini
Borujerdi (jailed dissident cleric) in the unrest and seditions that were carried out 3 weeks ago in prison‖. (Cyrus News
Agency – May 15, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison‟s cellblock 1 cut off from outside world
From Wednesday May 12, political prisoners in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj were cut off from the outside
world and there is no news on their condition. Their communications have also been cut off with other blocks. No
prisoner has gone to the infirmary since Wednesday and this is a cause for concern.
There are reports that prison guards have attacked prisoners in this cellblock and have beaten and harassed them. Even
communications between the various halls have been cut off leaving prisoners in a complete state of isolation. There are
also reports that more than 80 guards have been dispatched to this cellblock. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 15, 2010)
Blogger tortured and pressured to make false confessions
Hossein Ronaqi Maleki, a blogger who was arrested on December 13, 2009 and is in cellblock
2A in Evin Prison which is run by the Revolutionary Guards Corps is once again under severe
pressure after 5 months of incarceration to make confessions and say that the results of
presidential elections held last year were correct.
According to reports, interrogators who have severely beaten him on several occasions have asked him to cooperate with
them because of his computer and internet skills. But Ronaqi has refused. Interrogators have threatened that if he does
not cooperate and accept their demands he will be kept in prison for years.
According to reports, Ronaqi was under severe physical and psychological pressure until last month to give in to the
demands of his interrogators, but the pressures have once again started from a few days ago. Ronaqi has so far denied all
the charges made against him. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May – 15, 2010)
Political prisoners only have 40 cubic cm of space in Gohardasht Prison
In line with the dissolution of cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and transferring political prisoners in this block to other
prisons, Isa Saharkhiz, a media activist who was detained in cellblock 350 was transferred to Gohardasht Prison along
with a number of other prisoners. According to the latest reports, they are kept in very poor conditions in this prison‘s
praying hall and because of the large number of prisoners, every prisoner only has 40 cubic centimeters of space. (Jaras
Website – May 14, 2010)
Renowned Iranian director goes on hunger strike in prison
Jafar Panahi went on a hunger strike in Evin Prison and published a letter in this
respect.
―After the ill treatment on Saturday night (May 15, 2010) following an attack by prison
agents to cell 56 in Evin Prison, me and my cellmates were kept outside in the cold
without any clothes for one hour and a half.
On Sunday morning I was interrogated and accused of filming the inside of my cell,
which is a complete lie. They then threatened that they would arrest my whole family
and bring them to Evin Prison and that they would detain my daughter in an insecure
detention center in Rajayi Shahr in Karaj.
I have not eaten nor drank anything from May 16 and now announce that if the
demands below are not met, I will continue to refuse to eat and drink:
1- The right to call and visit with my family and make sure they are safe
2- The right to a lawyer after 77 days to consult with him/her
3- My unconditional release until I am tried and receive a final sentence
I will not cease my hunger strike until all my demands are met and my only request is that my body be given to my family
so that they could bury me where they wish. Jafar Panahi – May 18, 2010‖. (Human Rights Activist – May 18, 2010)
Prison officials refuse to treat ailing teacher
Despite requests by medics at the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad that Hashem Khastar, a jailed retired
teacher and civil rights activist, has to be treated by an eye specialist, prison officials have so far refused
to grant him a leave.
In light of the critical condition of this 55 year old teacher from Mashhad, he might lose his eyesight if
he is not treated.
Despite serving 9 months of prison, Khastar has been deprived of a leave from prison. His family‘s
appeals have also been in vain and it is not clear why he is denied a medical leave which is the right of
all prisoners. (Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 24, 210)
Jailed human rights activist thrown in solitary for refusing to „confess‟
Nasour Taqipour, a human rights activist who was arrested in March was once again thrown in a solitary
cell.
According to reports, Taqipour was transferred to a solitary cell from a two person cell which he was
recently been transferred to for refusing to give an interview in front of cameras.
This human rights activist and journalist has been jailed for close to three months even while his two month
temporary detention order expired in May 1. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 25, 2010)
Kurd prisoner beaten and barred from visits in Mahabad Prison
Vahab Fatahi, a Kurd political prisoner, was barred from visits in the past few days by prison officials.
This prisoner is from the Qom Qaleh Village in Mahahabad and was beaten in the past few days in prison.
Fatahai who has been jailed for more than one year was sentenced to 5 years of prison on charges of ‗cooperating with
illegal parties‘. (Mukarian News Agency – May 27, 2010)
Ill political prisoner deprived treatment

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According to reports, political prisoner Reza Jushan who is in very poor health has been told that he would only be
treated if he writes a letter of repentance.
This 25 year old prison has been suffering from severe lung problems and bronchitis but he is refused treatment and will
not be taken to the infirmary. His health is deteriorating on a daily basis.
In the past few days, the judge supervising the Prison went to his cell and said that he can only receive treatment if he
writes a repentance letter. This political prisoner told him that ‗if I wanted to write a repentance letter, I would not be
here‘, which was met with an inhumane response by the judge.
On April, political prisoner Reza Jushan was transferred from a solitary cell in the Sepah Cellblock, which is under the
control of the Ministry of Intelligence, to cellblock 6. This cellblock is used to torture prisoners. A number of criminals
and dangerous prisoners are kept in this cellblock and most of them are suffering from severe psychological problems as
a result of being kept under these conditions for a long time. These prisoners are given addictive medicine and are kept
in inhumane conditions. Prisoners are deprived of visits and phone calls in this section. The medical and sanitary
conditions and food quality is catastrophic. Prisoners are banned from having any kind of communications with other
prisoners when they are taken out for fresh air.
Reza Jushan was arrested on December 1, 2009 after intelligence agents attacked his home and was taken to a solitary
cell in Sepah Cellblock and then transferred to cellblock 4 after two months. Intelligence agents also arrested his mother,
Zahra Asadpour Gorji six days after his arrest. She was also taken to a solitary cell in the Sepah Cellblock and was
transferred to the female cellblock in Gohardasht Prison after weeks of psychological and physical torture. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 30, 2010)
Gohardasht prisoners thrown in solitary after disclosing torture film
A number of prisoners from cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj were thrown in solitary after publishing two films
showing torture and rape in prison.
Political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani and a number of other prisoners were transferred to solitary along with rape
victim Bahram Tasviri.
Prison officials claimed that they were being taken for further investigations to the legal doctor to confirm the torture
but these prisoners were all taken to the solitary section known as the Suite. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 31,
2010)
Labor activists thrown in solitary
On Saturday May 29, political prisoner Mansour Osalu was taken to a solitary cell in the Sepah
Cellblock in Gohardasht Prison. This cellblock is under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence.
Osalu, who is the head of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Union, is under pressure and
constant interrogations by agents of this ministry in solitary. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – May 31, 2010)
Political prisoner completely unconscious on 18th day of hunger strike
Death row Political prisoner Habibollah Golpouri became unconscious on
his 18th day of hunger strike. Habibollah Goulpouri started a hunger strike on May 12 while
jailed human rights activist went on a hunger strike on May 19.
There are reports that Golpouri is in critical condition and is completely unconscious. This
Kurd political prisoner from Sanandaj who was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary
Court in Mahabad on charges of moharebeh (enmity with God) went on an unlimited hunger
strike in protest to this sentence and unsuitable conditions in the Mahabad Prison.
Mahi-oddin Azadi
Mahi-oddin Azadi who is suffering from serious illnesses and went on a hunger strike in
protest to being deprived from treatment is also in poor physical condition. (Kurdish Perspective – May 31, 2010)
June
Political prisoners in unknown condition after being transferred to solitary in Gohardasht Prison
The condition of political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani who is detained in Gohardasht
Prison in Karaj and was transferred to a solitary cell on May 31 is unknown.
According to reports, prison officials refuse to give him some of his necessary belongings
that other prisoners provided for him stressing that in general nothing will be given to
prisoners in solitary cell, especially to Behrouz Javid Tehrani.
Evidence shows that officials have subjected this political prisoner to pressure.
There is also no news on the condition of Bahram Tasviri and Mohsen Bikvand, two
other prisoners who were recently thrown in solitary.
Bahram Tasviri who is suffering from a fractured hand and leg and Mohsen Bikvand, who
has burns on his body, are in poor physical health and are at risk in solitary having been denied medical treatment.
Behrouz Javid Tehrani who is a victim of the 1999 student uprising in Tehran, along with Tasviri and Bikvand and a
number of other prisoners who were under torture in this prison were recently thrown in solitary after publishing
evidence of the rape and torture of prisoners. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 2, 2010)
Student under pressure in Kerman Prison
According to reports, political prisoner Hassan Tarlani who is serving his jail term in
exile in Kerman Prison has been under pressure in interrogations by intelligence agents.
He is taken for interrogations every day, where he is abused and threatened, and is
questioned for hours.
Tarlani, 23, is the only political prisoner who has been exiled to Kerman Prison. He is
kept in the Youth Cellblock with non-political and dangerous criminals who are mostly
addicts. Death row prisoners are also put in one cell with him before they are taken for
execution to put mental pressure on him. He is banned from communicating with
other prisoners and prison officials try to keep him isolated.
He has not had any in person visits with his family since being transferred to Kerman
Prison despite the fact that his family comes a long way just to see him. They are only
allowed to see and talk to him from behind a glass partition for 15 minutes every
month. He is not allowed to talk about his condition in prison with his family.
On the other hand, intelligence agents have confiscated all of his identification papers
in a raid to his home and have not returned them to his family despite their constant appeals. This is while his family
needs his identifications papers to pursue his legal case.
Hassan Tarlani was arrested on February 21, 2008 after intelligence agents raided his home. He was taken to cellblock
209 in Evin Prison and after 88 days of torture by Saied Sheikhan, a head interrogator in the Intelligence Agency, he was
sentenced to 10 years of prison to be served in Kerman Prison by the 22nd branch of the Revolutionary Court. He
received such a heavy sentences because of the political history of his family in opposing the regime. His grandfather, a
well known Tehran Bazaar member was executed by the regime in the 80‘s. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – June 3, 2010)
Political prisoners kept in inhumane conditions in „Worker‟s Cellblock‟ in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, political prisoners who have recently been transferred to cellblock 3 known as the Worker‘s Cell in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj are kept in very inhumane conditions.
About 10 political prisoners from cellblocks 2, 4, 6 and the Kachuyi Pardis Prison in Karaj were transferred to the
Worker‘s Cellblock on May 30. Some of these prisoners are Ahmad Zeid Abadi, Mansour Radpour, Arjang Davoudi,
Massoud Bastani, Alireza Karami Kheir Abadi, Behnam Fidaj (student arrested in the protests), Mostafa Eskandari
(detained protester), Mehdi Mahmoudian, Reza Rafiei and Heshmatollah Tabarzadi.
All these prisoners are detained in the Prayer Hall in this cellblock. They lack minimum facilities and are denied beds
and forced to sleep on the ground. All minimum facilities like blankets were taken out of the Prayer Hall before their
arrival and stored away. Only a very dirty carpet covers the ground. These prisoners have been housed under these
conditions for several days now.
Other prisoners in this cellblock constantly come and go to the Prayer Hall and prison guards hold various ceremonies
which sometimes continue into the middle of the night. These ceremonies are very loud resulting in mental pressure on
these political prisoners and does not let them rest.
The head of cellblock 3 is Gerami who was very active in the massacre of political prisoners in the 80‘s and talks about
the massacre with pride. This person is addicted to mind altering drugs and treats political prisoners inhumanely. A
prison guard named Naderi was also active in the massacre and pulled the chair from under the feet of political prisoners
when they were being hanged. Naderi boasts that he pulled the most chairs. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 4, 2010)
Political prisoner in critical state in 9th day of hunger strike
According to reports, the physical state of political prisoner Hamid Haeri has become
critical. He has been on a hunger strike for close to 9 days refusing to take food and
medicine in his solitary cell.

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This 57 year old political prisoner went on a hunger strike on May 27 in protest to being transferred to solitary and his
condition is reportedly critical. His life is in grave danger.
Interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence ordered his transfer to solitary in cellblock 240 to put pressure on him. He
has been kept in solitary for 16 days.
Since his transfer, his family has not had any information on his condition. The Haeri family went to the 28rh branch of
the Revolutionary Court asking for the reason behind his transfer, but a person identified as Mojtabayi who is the head
of Mohammad Moqiseh‘s office told them that ‗even if you bring a letter from the leader, he will not be brought out of
solitary until the Intelligence Agency allows is‘. Mohammad Moqiseh, known as Naserian, was a member of the Death
Commission responsible for the massacre of political prisoners in 1988.
Haeri is suffering from a severe heart condition and has had two heart attacks. He also sustained injuries such as a
fractured skull and a concussion in a car accident before his arrest.
This accident also left him with an injured pelvis rendering him unable to walk without crutches.
This 57 year old political prisoner was arrested on December 6, 2009 after intelligence agents raided his home and was
taken to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. He was kept in solitary for 74 days under physical and psychological torture and
threats by his interrogators. His interrogators threatened him that they would transfer his wife and daughter to the
notorious Kahrizak Detention Center. He was then taken to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. Haeri was recently sentenced
to 15 years of prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj by the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
He was also a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was detained and tortured for 3 years. His interrogator in the 80‘s was
Mohammad Moqiseh who presided over his recent trial. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 6,
2010)
Ailing political prison in critical condition
According to repots, political prisoner Hamed Roohinejad who is in cellblock 8 had an attack on
June 4 because of the deterioration of his multiple sclerosis and his eyesight in his left eye has
severely weakened.
Because of hi critical health, he has not gotten better after being transferred to the infirmary and
prison officials refuse to allow him to see a specialist.
He has been detained in Evin Prison since May 4, 2009. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters –
June 5, 2010)
Political prisoners kept in inhumane conditions in cellblock 4 in Gohardasht Prison
Cellblock 4 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj in which political prisoners like Dr. Saied Masuri, Ali Saremi, Hood Yazerlu,
Misaq Yazdan Nejad, Saleh Kohandel and Moezi are kept, is very limited on the grounds of sanitary facilities, food and
other minimum facilities which has led to serious problems for prisoners.
The ‗principle of segregation and classification of prisoners‘ has not been implemented in this cellblock and prisoners
with various crimes are kept in one place. There is only one bathroom for every 300 prisoners.
The lack of restrooms and bathing facilities has led to the increase of vermin and prisoners come down with various
diseases.
In this ward and especially in hall 10 where many political prisoners are detained, none of the prisoners have access to
books, radio or television.
Families of political prisoners can only see their loved ones for 15 to 20 minutes after weeks or even months of running
about for a visit. They can only visit political prisoners from behind a glass partition.
Dr. Saied Masuri who was arrested on January 2001 in Dezful is one of the prisoners in Hall 10. He was sentenced to
death in the initial sentence and review court and was on death row for years. In the 10 years of his incarceration, he
spent 3 years in solitary cells in Tehran and Dezful. His death sentence was lowered to a life in prison after
(international) pressure. In the past 10 years, he was not granted even a one day leave. Masuri was mentally and
physically tortured while first arrested and while in solitary. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 6, 2010)

Hood Yzerlu, Saleh Kohandel, Saied Masuri, Misaq Yazdan Nejad, Ali Saremi
Intelligence agents deprive political prisoner of medical attention
According to reports, political prisoner Yadollah Rahmani who was receiving medical attention outside of prison
because of his critical health, was once again arrested and taken to Jubin Prison in Qazvin.
On Sunday, May 30, this 60-year-old political prisoner was granted a medical leave because of his deteriorating health.
He was sentenced to one year of prison and a fine of 300,000 tomans on February 2010 for visiting his child six years
ago in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. He was sentenced without being informed about the trial from before and without going to
court, where he was charged with leaving the country illegally.
This is while he used a credible passport and an Iraqi visa and left Iran legally. He came back to Iran after his visit.
Rahmani was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was jailed in Jubin Prison in Qazvin, where he was subjected to brutal
torture, from 1982 to 1984 on charges of supporting the PMOI. His spine was damaged as a result of the torture which
he is still suffering from and cannot walk properly. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 5, 2010)
More than 700 prisoners in Gohardasht Prison go on hunger strike in protest to rights abuse
On the eve of the anniversary of the uprising of the Iranian people, on Thursday June 10, more than 700 prisoners in
cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison went on a mass hunger strike in protest to group tortures and not being allowed to
contact their families.
In the past few days, prison guards attack prisoners on a daily basis beating them with clubs and other tools. As result, a
large number of prisoners have sustained injuries and the signs of torture can be seen on their bodies. To keep the
torture and other crimes committed against prisoners under wraps, all the communications with their families and
outside of prison has been cut off.
The condition of injured prisoners is very poor and they are not taken to the infirmary for treatment to keep other
prisoners from finding out about the situation in this cellblock. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June
10, 2010)
Jailed student activist threatened for writing and publishing articles
Majid Tavakoli, a jailed Amir Kabir University student was taken to the Prosecutor‘s Office yesterday from Evin Prison
and was threatened for writing articles.
The Prosecutor threatened him and said that ‗we can do whatever we want with you‘.
‗It‘s best that you don‘t forget that you‘re in prison. You still don‘t know what tyranny and injustice is and what it is
capable of!‘ the prosecutor said.
This threat came after Majid Tavakoli wrote two articles in prison which were published titled ‗For Change‘ and ‗We
Make the Future‘. (Daneshju News – June 10, 2010)
Deplorable conditions at Gohardasht Prison in Evin
In the past few days, the water used by prisoners in various cellblocks in Gohardasht Prison has been cut off for hours
and comes in drops from the tap when it is not completely cut off. This has led to intolerable conditions and many
hardships for prisoners.
Prisoners are deprived of drinking water as well. The water is also cut off in the restrooms and showers. The hygienic
condition in the cellblocks is appalling and various illnesses can spread. Prisoners have also been deprived of taking
showers in the past few days.
The normal capacity in every cellblock is about 150 prisoners but currently between 500 to 700 prisoners are kept in
every cellblock.
Prisoners are forced to sleep side by side on the ground and the hallways and restroom corridors are filled with prisoners.
There is a praying hall in each cellblock called the Hosseinieh but it is hard just to move around because of the number
of prisoners in the hall.
The most crowded cellblock in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj is cellblock 4 where a large number of political prisoners are
held. Political prisoners are only allowed visits with their families once in every few months.
Prisoners are only allowed to go to the infirmary once every 45 days and if they are sick they have to wait until their turn.
When prisoners go to the infirmary they are only given sedatives for all kinds of illnesses and are deprived of receiving
adequate treatment. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 11, 2010)
Ailing teacher deprived medication in prison
The physical condition of Ali-Akbar Baghani, the Secretary General of the Iran Teacher Center, is unsuitable in prison
and prison officials have deprived him of treatment.

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January – October 2010

Baghani is in poor condition because of the deterioration of his prostate illness but prison officials refuse to allow him to
receive the necessary medication.
This retired teacher was under medication before his arrest.
Ali-Akbar Baghani was arrested on the morning of April 28 after security forces stormed his home and was taken to
prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 14, 2010)
Iran takes away political prisoners‟ visitation rights
The prosecutor of Tehran has cut off all in person visits of political prisoners in Evin Prison for an unlimited time
period.
According to this order, from now on, the families of political prisoners are only allowed to visit their loved ones in
prison from behind a glass partition, meaning they can talk to them via a telephone.
Ordinary prisoners are allowed in person visits once a month but this right has been taken away from political prisoners.
Families can only have in person visits with a special order from the prosecutor.
The children, sisters and brothers of prisoners will be banned from in person visits even if their families have obtained
the right of in person visits from the prosecutor.
According to reports, these limitations have been put in place to prevent prisoners from giving out messages or notes to
sources outside of prison. (Kalameh Website – June 14, 2010)
400 recently detained protesters taken to quarantine section of Evin Prison
An informed source in Evin Prison said that until now, more than 300 people who were arrested on Saturday in Tehran
were transferred to the quarantine section of Evin Prison.
In light of the numerous security and military institutions that made arrests yesterday in Tehran, this figure is not
definite and only includes those who were taken to Evin Prison.
A number of busses also transferred detained women to the quarantine section of the women‘s cellblock but their exact
numbers are not known. In light of the number of the busses, it seems that the detained women in Evin Prison are
about 100 people. (Kalameh Website – June 13, 2010)
1300 June 12 detainees taken to Evin Prison
According to reports, the number of those (arrested during June 12 protests in Tehran) taken to Evin Prison who have
been registered to receive cards and pictures is 1,300 people. These people were arrested on June 12 and were taken to
the Intelligence Protection Agency. They were transferred to Evin Prison on June 13. (Iran News Agency – June 15,
2010)
Jailed journalist in critical condition
Mohammad Nouri Zad, a documentary maker and journalist is in critical condition in prison. He was transferred to
cellblock 350 in Evin Prison from a few days ago. This cellblock lacks the normal standard conditions of prison.
His wife has announced that in a visit with him yesterday he was not in good condition and repeatedly coughed.
―He has come down with a lung infection and fever after being transferred from cellblock 209‖, she said.
―Unfortunately, his lung infection which started about 20 days ago has still not been treated which is why he repeatedly
coughs and can barely talk‖.
His wife also said that he developed problems in his eyesight after he was attacked and beaten in prison. (Kalameh
Website – June 15, 2010)
June 12 detainees held in unknown state in prison
According to reports, there is no news on the fate of most prisoners who were jailed on June 12 and their families are
very concerned for their safety.
A large number of people were arrested during the June 12 protests and were taken to unknown locations and there is
no news on the condition of most of them. Among those arrested is Yazd University student Ahmad Shah Rezayi who
was arrested near Tehran University after Bassij forces brutally attacked and beat him.
On Monday June 14, agents of the Intelligence Agency stormed Rezayi‘s home in Karaj and conducted a long search.
Ahmad Shah Rezayi is a friend of Babak Saran (who was also arrested on June 12 and is in an unknown location) and
interrogators of the Intelligence Agency have put pressure on the Rezayi family telling them that if they file a complaint
against Babak Saran, their son would be released.
This is a normal and common procedure used by the intelligence agency to create disputes among families and even
inside political prisoners‘ families.
Rezayi has been taken to Evin Prison but his family does not have any information on his condition. He is at risk of
torture by intelligence agents to make false confessions which will be used against him in court. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – June 16, 2010)
Iranian Trade Unionists Held Incommunicado
Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi, leading members of a trade union which is not recognized by the authorities in Iran,
have been arrested and are held at unknown locations. Their arrests may be connected to the anniversary of the disputed
2009 presidential election, which fell on 12 June. The two detained men are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Saeed Torabian, the Public Relations Officer for the Board of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus
Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), was arrested at his home on 9 June, by security officials who also confiscated his computer
and mobile phone. Reza Shahabi, the Treasurer of the Union, was arrested on 12 June. When he arrived at work he was
summoned to the headquarters of the Bus Company, where he was arrested by security officials. They took him to his
house, which they searched, and confiscated his computer.
Amnesty International believes that both men are very likely to be prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of
their peaceful trade union activities and is concerned that they are held in conditions amounting to enforced
disappearance, which facilitates the use of torture or other ill-treatment.
Iran is a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 22 (1) of which states: 'Everyone
shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the
protection of his interests,' and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 8 of
which guarantees the ―right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice.‖ (Amnesty
International – June 14, 2010)
Jailed journalist in poor condition denied proper treatment
According to reports, jailed journalist Hossein Lavasani suffered a nervous attack on Tuesday June 15 in prison.
After this attack, he was taken to the prison infirmary but despite the need for hospital supervision, he was prevented
from being transferred to the hospital.
This journalist lost his eyesight for one hour after the attack.
Lavasani has been jailed since September 26, 2009. He has been sentenced to six years of prison and a 10 year ban on
journalistic activities. (Kalameh Website – June 17, 2010)
Political prisoner denied treatment despite critical condition
Hamzeh Karami, the head of the Jomhouriet (Republicanism) Website and one of the top administrators of the Free
Islamic University is suffering from a heart problem in prison and needs urgent treatment but prison authorities have
refused his request for a medical leave.
Hamzeh Karami, who was arrested after the elections was only allowed a five day leave until now. He was not able to
receive treatment in this short time.
Karami was sentenced to 16 years of prison by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati. His
sentence was lowered to 11 years of prison in a court of review. (Kalameh Website – June 21, 2010)
Iran increases pressure on political prisoners in Evin Prison
Political prisoners in Evin Prison‘s cellblock 350 have been banned from calling their families since yesterday. The
telephone was their only form of communication with their families.
A cell in cellblock 350 used by political prisoners was also evacuated and given to non-political prisoners and authorities
have decreased the number of political prisoners‘ cells. This issue has made the cells crowded because they hold many
more prisoners than their normal capacity. Currently about 30 to 36 political prisoners are kept in every cell and almost
1\3 of these prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor. Despite the severe heat, these cells lack minimum cooling
appliances and because the cells hold more than their capacity, prisoners are subjected to intolerable pressure. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 21, 2010)
Political prisoner barred from going to mother‟s funeral
Taha Ahmadi, a Kurd political activist went on a hunger strike in protest to a measure by prison authorizes which
banned him from going to his mother‘s funeral.
According to the regime‘s own rules, when a family member of a prisoner passes away, he/she can participate in his/her
funeral.
But prison authorities refused to give Taha Ahmadi this right. He went on a hunger strike from June 23 in protest to this
measure.
This political prisoner who suffers from kidney problems has requested a medical leave several times but officials have
not allowed such a leave as yet. He has been charged with cooperating with Kurd parties. (Kurdistan News Agency – June
24, 2010)
Political prisoner under pressure and in critical condition in Ahwaz prison

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January – October 2010

Journalist and human rights activist Abolfazl Abedini who was sentenced to 11
years of prison by the Revolutionary Court in Khuzestan is kept in unsuitable
conditions in Karoun Prison in Ahwaz and is under severe pressure.
According to reports, Abedi is in poor mental health in cellblock 6 of this prison
and his life is in danger because he is kept next to a number of dangerous
criminals including addicts and armed robbers.
His is banned from having access to any kind of books or newspapers and his
family have not been able to have in person visits with him since his transfer to
this prison.
His lawyer, Mohammad Oliayi Fard is currently jailed himself in cellblock 350 in
Evin Prison and Abedini‘s family was therefore forced to get him another lawyer.
Intelligence agents summoned and threatened his new lawyer as soon as they
were informed of this issue and put pressure on him/her not accept the case.
Abolfazl Abedini was arrested in the middle of the night on March 2, 2010 in
his home in Ramhormoz. His home was surrounded by security forces and he
was severely beaten upon his arrest. This human rights activist was then
transferred to cellblock 2A in Evin Prison.
Abedi, who is the former head of Public Relations for the Human Rights Activists in Iran, is suffering from severe heart
problems and was under medication before his arrest. Doctors have warned that he is not to be kept in a closed space
under stress and without access to his medicine for a prolonged amount of time. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June
24, 2010)
Jailed student activist in poor condition in prison denied treatment
Majid Tavakoli, a well known student activist who was transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin
Prison on June 22 is in poor health and officials are oblivious to his condition.
Because of the hard prison conditions and hunger strike in solitary in cellblock 240, Tavakoli
is suffering from lung problems and his condition is deteriorating by the day.
The previous medicine which was prescribed for Tavakoli is not affective anymore and Dr.
Behzadian Nejad, his cellmate, has advised him not to take this medicine anymore because it
will have consequences.
Majid Tavakoli is currently in room 2 in cellblock 350 and since his transfer has only had a
two minute phone call with his family.
It has been some time that despite the construction work and poor conditions in cellblock
350, jailed political prisoners in other cellblocks (especially cellblocks 7 and 8) have been transferred to this cellblock.
Prisoners are subjected to stricter limitations there.
Majid Tavakoli, a student of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran was arrested on December 7, 2009 and has been
sentenced to eight and half years of prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 27, 2010)

Increased pressure on Evin political prisoners


http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1603.aspx
According to reports, the water shortage, increased number of prisoners and other limitations in cellblock 350 in Evin
Prison has made this cellblock intolerable for political prisoners.
On Sunday June 27, the water supply and drinking water used by political prisoners in this cellblock was cut off for a few
hours in the hot summer temperatures and political prisoners who are mostly ill because of the torture were put under
increasing pressure.
In the past few days, a number of political prisoners in cellblock 209, some of whom were detained in this notorious
cellblock for more than six months, and political prisoners in sections 7 and 8 were transferred to cellblock 350. There
are about 40 to 50 prisoners in every cell. Because of the crowdedness of the cells, most prisoners are forced to sleep on
the floor and despite the high numbers of prisoners, the minimum facilities in the cells has not been increased to match
the number of prisoners.
With the overcrowded state of these cellblocks, officials have started construction work in some parts of this cellblock
which has made prison conditions much more severe and prisoners are forced to do hard labor in hot summer
temperatures.
The library which was put together by former political prisoners and all the books were provided by new and old political
prisoners was also destroyed and sealed off. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 28, 2010)
Jailed student activist in poor health in prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2428-1.html
Majid Tavakoli, a well known jailed student activist is suffering from severe gastric hemorrhage. Officials have so far
refused to take him to hospital and as a result his condition has deteriorated.
According to reports, Tavakoli was recently transferred to cellblock 350, which lacks any kind of medical facilities and
because of severe coughing and lack of medical attention, he developed severe gastric hemorrhage.
He has had constant nose bleeds in the past week but prison officials have paid no heed to other prisoners‘ requests to
see to the condition of this political prisoner.
Majid Tavakoli is a shipbuilding student at Tehran‘s Amir Kabir University, who was arrested on December 7, 2009 and
has been jailed ever since. He was sentenced to eight and a half years of prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June
29, 2010)
Political prisoners still denied minimum rights after 10 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2445-1.html
Dr. Saied Masouri, a political prisoner in the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in
Karaj who has been sentenced to life in prison is still denied the right to a leave
after having served one third of his sentence.
According to reports, Masouri was initially sentenced to death for cooperating
with and having contacts with a political organization (PMOI) but his sentence
which was commuted to life in prison. He has been denied the right to a leave
from prison which is the minimum right of a prisoner in the face of the law. His
family announced that last month they went to the Tehran Prosecutor to seek his
acceptance of a leave but Prosecutor Dolat Abadi said he would answer their
request in the future because he was not aware of the state of this political
prisoner‘s case.
Dr. Saied Masouri‘s mother said that her son was arrested on December 2000
upon arrival to Iran but the Ministry of Intelligence informed his family of his
arrest on April 2001. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 30, 2010)
July
Political prisoner‟s detention in solitary extended on orders of Ministry of Intelligence
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2473-1.html
Rajayi Shahr prison officials have extended the detention of political prisoner Behrouz Javid
Tehrani in solitary until after the anniversary of student protests on July 9 for an unknown
amount of time.
According to the reports, political prisoner Behrouz Javid Tehrani who is detained in cellblock
1 in this prison in Karaj was transferred to solitary on May 31 for unknown reasons.
He has been kept in solitary for one month and is kept under severe conditions. Prison officials
prevent him from receiving medical attention and deprive him from minimum sanitary
facilities. He is allowed to bathe once a week and use the restroom once a day. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – July 1, 2010)
Outspoken dissident cleric to be jailed in desolate location
According to reports, officials of the Special Court for Clerics have threatened that they would banish
Ayatollah Borujerdi to a desolate and isolated location which lacks any kind of communicational
facilities.
He was threatened because of two published letters which he recently wrote in Evin Prison. In these
letters he criticized the current condition of the country and demanded the ‗separation of religion and
state‘. According to reports, the heads of the Special Court for Clerics have not talked about the
location of the place he will probably be banished to. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July
3, 2010)
Ill political prisoner denied treatment
Khalil Mostafi Rajab has been suffering from throat infection and constant coughing for four months now.

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January – October 2010

He is in poor condition and coughs up blood. He has requested to be given medical attention outside of prison
numerous times but judges of the first branch of the Revolutionary Court have denied his request.
Mostafi was sentenced to 16 years of prison by this court branch in 2005 on charges of having communications with a
Kurd opposition group. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 3, 2010)
Political prisoner in poor condition denied medical attention
Amir-Hossein Kazemi, a member of the youth branch of the Iran Freedom Movement is
in poor condition in prison.
Kazemi said in a telephone call with his family that he is in poor health and that prison
officials pay no heed to his condition and despite constant requests, refuse to give him
treatment.
His three year prison sentence was announced to him after a 10 minute trial last week
and despite promises by the judge, he is still detained in prison. This blogger and political
activist is still detained in cellblock 209 and has been banned from weekly visits with his
family because of the conditions of this cellblock.
Amir Hossein Kazemi was arrested in March 6, 2010 after being summoned to the
Ministry of Intelligence and has been detained in Evin ever since. (Mizan Khabar website
– July 6, 2010)
Prison officials refuse to give urgent treatment to jailed political prisoner
Khaled Hardani, a political prisoner in Rajayi Shahr Prison in is critical condition because of his
numerous illnesses and gastric hemorrhage and security and judicial officials refuse to treat him in
hospital.
Hardani was sent to Rajayi Shahr Prison from Evin in 2006 for the second time. He is sentenced
to life in prison on charges of disrupting the security of a flight plane, seven years of prison for
political activities in prison, 5 months of prison for disrupting the prison order and insulting
prison officials and six years of exile to Khash.
After 3,500 days of prison, Khaled Hardani has been denied the basic rights of a prisoner despite
his urgent need for medical treatment. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – July 6, 2010)
Prison officials threaten torture witnesses in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj
According to reports, two political prisoners who witnessed the torture of jailed academic Rasoul Bodaqi were
summoned and threatened.
On Tuesday July 6, two prisoners who witnessed the severe beating of jailed academic Rasoul Bodaqi in June were
summoned to the Inspections Department of Gohardasht Prison and were asked to state what they witnessed. The head
of inspections, Reza Torabi and an agent and prison guard by the name of Tork who participated in the torture of Mr.
Bodaqi were also present in the interview.
The first witness was political prisoner Abbas Tavakoli Berazjani whose brother, Amir Tavakoli Berazjani, was killed
under torture in the Shapour Detention Center in Tehran. He detailed the tying up and severe beating of Bodaqi and
the insults that were made against his family. While this political prisoner was detailing the torture, Tork cut into his
sentence and cried out that he was lying. This prison guard then insulted him and Reza Torabi expressed satisfaction and
defended the prison guard.
The second witness, Ahmad Zeid Abadi, was then brought to the Inspection Department. He was also asked to state
what he saw and he said that he witnessed the beating and verbal harassment of Bodaqi. When Zeid Abadi wanted to
greet his former cellmate, Tavakoli, Reza Torabi, pushed him back with disrespect and prevented the greeting.
When Tavakoli was taken back to cellblock 6, prison guard Qasem Mohammadi, aka Uncle Qasem, who was also
present in the torture of Bodaqi, threatened him and said, ―Thank you very much! I will be waiting for you‖.
Then the head of cellblock 6, Shokri, also threatened Tavakoli that he would be sent to cellblock 1 (known for its
horrible conditions and tortures).
Reza Torabi, the head of inspections at Gohardasht Prison has in the past put pressure on a large number of tortured
prisoners to prevent them from filing complaints and has forced them into silence. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – July 6, 2010)
Iran sets heavy bail for human rights activist
http://www.rhairan.in/archives/19174
The Revolutionary Court in Tehran has set a 150 million toman (about 150,000 dollar) bail for the
release of blogger and human rights activist Abdolreza Ahmadi.
Ahmadi is a member of the ‗Iran House of Human Rights‘ who was arrested on March 3, 2010 by security forces and has
been detained in cellblock 2A in Evin Prison.
According to reports, Ahmadi only had 3 visits with his family in these four months. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – July 7, 2010)
Iran transfers jailed academic activist to Evin Prison
http://mukriannews.blogfa.com/post-539.aspx
Mokhtar Asadi, an academic activist and member of the Iran Teachers Center was transferred to
cellblock 209 in Evin Prison on Tuesday.
There is no information on the charges against him which led to his arrest.
Asadi was arrested on June 28 in Karaj and was sentenced to banishment for his academic
activities. (Mukarian News Agency – July 8, 2010)
Political prisoner details violation of prisoners‟ rights in Iranian jails
Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher and member of the Center of Teachers and Academics in
Khorasan published a letter to the head of the Iranian Judiciary detailing the rights of prisoners and the reason behind
their constant illnesses.
Hashem Khastar was arrested on June 15, 2009 and was released on a 35 million
toman (about 35,000 dollar) bail after a month and a half. He was once again
arrested on September 16, 2009 in the Meli Park in Mashhad while taking a walk
and was transferred to the Vakil Abad Prison in this city. He was sentenced to six
year of prison in a court of first instance. His sentenced was lowered to 2 years of
prison in a court of review.
Hashem Khastar‘s letter to the head of the Iranian Judiciary:
Respected head of the Judiciary and its subordinates … to the respected head of
cellblock 1/6 of Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad in which I am detained.
I am Seyed Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher and representative of teachers in
the Center for Teachers in Khorasan and I wanted to let you know that I am now
spending my life in a prison that does not observe the minimum rights of
prisoner.
A. Prison Food
1. A human being has to consume 5 to 6 fruits in the course of 24 hours while
the prison only gives one serving of fruit every two months at best which means
that prisoners do not have a standard consumption of fruits in the course of 24
hours (in reality we only taste the fruit).
2. According to the standards set by the F.A.O, a human being has to consume one gram of protein for every kilogram
of body weight and half of that should be animal protein (there are sufficient Amino Acids in animal protein) but prison
food has less than 2 grams of animal fat put together. On the other hand I saw in the quarantine section of prison that
not only did we not have any left over food, but rather prisoners would borrow bread from each other at the end of the
night and a large quantity of bread would be bought by the prisoners from the prison shop which shows that the
quantity of energy that each prisoner gets is less than the 2,500 calories specified by the F.A.O.
3. Minerals and vitamins are usually provided by fruits and vegetables and as mentioned before, prison food lacks both
fruits and vegetables.
4. In conclusion, prisoners constantly suffer from illnesses and the Prison Origination is forced pay high expenses for
their treatment. Healthy people who are jailed go home with various physical and psychological ailments and handicaps
or they die. If this food ration is given to laboratory mice for a month, they will surely die from mal-nutrition, just as
prisoners have died from mal-nutrition.
B. Stress
1. According to prisoners, there are more than 13,000 prisoners (in this prison) and in many sections of prison, every
person has less than one cubic meters of space and this space is fit for a sheep in a stable. In the Quarantine section and
cellblock 4 and 5, we would sleep on our sides packed next to each other because of lack of space. Twelve of us would
sleep in 3.5 meters of space which means that each one of us had a 30 centimeter tile to ourselves.

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2. The execution of prisoners is carried out regularly and in groups. This is not shown and broadcasted in any
newspaper, radio, television and even the closed circuit TV in prison. This issue has had bad influence on not only
prisoners but on prison employees and will lead to psychological problems and cancer.
3. The severe beatings of prisoners which are carried out by prison guards for various reasons will lead to psychological
problems for all prisoners, prison employees and soldiers (who are on duty in prison). This issue has a serious influence
in the creation of an unhealthy society and the continuity of an unhealthy society.
4. The use of tear gas and pepper spray on so-called troublemaking prisoners while other prisoners are also affected by
the attacks. This has led to severe mental problems for prisoners and prison employees and the effects on their family
and the society is very serious.
5. Seeing and hearing prisoners who constantly hit themselves, attempt suicide or even shut their lips with safety pins or
sow their lips together because of mental pressure has a negative effect on the prison society and the society outside of
prison.
6. Seeing physically and mentally ill prisoners who are supposed to be hospitalized in hospitals, the welfare organization
or their homes. Some of these prisoners have been in prison for close to 20 years of more.
7. Prisoners are banned from using the telephone and banned from visits on Fridays and other weekends. In this way,
prisoners are punished twice as much and the prison turns into a place of mourning for them on holidays and festivals.
8. There are people infected with HIV and hepatitis among prisoners. This is while prisoners are not given the necessary
education for the prevention of the spread of these diseases. Fleas run rampant in prison.
9. Obviously a large number of prisoners, especially political prisoners, are suffering from various illnesses, including
high blood pressure because of stress and psychological pressure. Are prison employees not affected (by these pressures)?
10. I read an article that a French prisoner in a Nazi prison gave his ring to a guard for a few drops of lemon juice every
day which saved his life. Does this prison (in Iran) not remind a person of Hitler‘s prisons in Nazi Germany, even as 70
years has passed since then and the world has immensely advanced?
11. The democratic world has presented a wide array of solutions. Is it not possible to allocate one thousand hectares of
land and 10 deep wells and other installations and facilities 10 kilometers from Mashhad to provide the meat, fruit,
wheat and milk products etc. for prisoners so that healthy people go back to their families?
12. Is this prison Islamic? Is this prison humane? Does this mean that 32 years after the Islamic Revolution the method
with which prisons are run is fit for the Islamic Republic?
13. Political prisoners usually keep diaries. How would you feel if your children or grandchildren read these diaries and
told you that ―father or grandfather, what part did you play in these prisons?‖ Is it enough to say that I just carried out
orders?
14. In a classroom, a teacher is punished or praised for the number of good grades or fails in his/her class. Who should
be punished for being first place in the number of prisoners, executions and the poor management of prisons as
mentioned above? When airplanes crash, dead pilots are blamed. In the (case of prison mismanagement), prisoners are
probably to blame.
Vakil Abad Prison in Shiraz – Retired teacher Seyed Hashem Khastar (Jaras Website – July 8, 2010)
17 civil rights activists in Tabriz Intelligence Detention Center
http://www.rhairan.in/archives/19233
With the transfer of Hassan Rahimi Bayat, a Turk civil rights activist and resident of Karaj, to the Tabriz Intelligence
Center, there are now 17 civil rights activists confined in the solitary cells of this prison.
Hasan Rahimi Bayat is a well known Azeri and human rights activist who was arrested on July 3 in his place of work and
was transferred to Evin Prison. He has been transferred to Tabriz for further interrogations. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – July 8, 2010)
Female prisoners deprived from minimum cooling facilities in Tehran heat wave
While the government has closed everything down in the country for two days under the excuse of excessive heat, the
room which belongs to female political prisoners in Evin prison has no cooling facilities and they are even deprived of
cool water.
According to reports, the lack of water and cooling facilities, though it is not a new issue in this cell, has led to serious
problems for prisoners and they are not able to move about and have become heat stricken and weak, because of the
serious raise in temperatures.
The increase of the number of prisoners in the cell has also increased the heat and has put more pressure on prisoners.
(Jaras Website – July 12, 2010)
Jailed relative of Ashraf residents in undetermined state for more than 7 months in notorious prison
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1621.aspx
According to reports, Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, a jailed Tehran Bazaar merchant,
has been in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison under inhumane conditions and an
undetermined state for several months.
This 63 year old political prisoner was arrested after agents of the Ministry of Intelligence
raided his office. He was transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. Amirkhizi was
detained in solitary for a few months and was physically and mentally tortured in this time
to make false confessions in front of cameras.
He has now been detained in this cellblock for more than seven months. He has lost 17
kilos (37 pounds) because of the pressure and abuse and is still in an undetermined state
after months of detainment.
This political prisoner is kept in a cell without cooling facilities. Prison authorities use
natural elements to put pressure on prisoners in addition to subjecting them to medieval
conditions.
Two head interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence nicknamed Alavi and Saied Sheikhan are responsible for his
torture and interrogations. These two criminals have been acting as torturers for years in cellblock 209. Alavi is also
active in raiding the homes of political prisoners to arrest them. This agent also threatens families of political prisoners
over the phone and in person and sometimes temporarily arrests them to conduct long interrogations.
His family has pursued his case since his arrest but officials refuse to give them a clear answer.
Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi was arrested on November 30 after intelligence agents stormed his home. He was
taken to cellblock 209. His brother, Ali Banazadeh Amirkhizi was executed in the 80‘s for supporting the PMOI. His
wife, Shahla Zarin Far was sentenced to one year of prison for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. She was
released after serving her prison term. Currently political prisoner Kobra Bananzadeh Amirkhizi, his sister, is in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj for intending to visit her children in Camp Ashraf. Before this, his brothers Asghar and
Hamid were sentenced to two years of prison for visiting their children in Ashraf and were released after serving their
time.
Currently in addition to Amirkhizi, a number of other Tehran Bazaar merchants are detained in cellblock 350 in Evin
prison including Mohsen Dokmehchi and Javad Lari who are also kept in a state of limbo despite months of
incarceration. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –July 13, 2010)
Jailed dissident cleric denied visits for over four months
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1627.aspx
Borujerdi, a jailed dissident cleric, has been denied in person visits
for four months. Because he has lost a great deal of his eyesight as a
result of torture, he has also been banned from visits with his family
from behind a glass partition.
A thirty minute a week in person visit for this political prisoner who
has been jailed for four consecutive years without a leave from prison
under various mental and physical torture is very essential but the
Iranian regime denies even these minimum rights to its dissidents to
abuse and harass them even more.
The authorities have not given any official explanation on why his
visits have been halted.
According to credible reports from the Special Court for Clergy, after
the widespread distribution of Mr. Borujerdi‘s ‗resaleh‘ (dissertation)
in rejection of the ‗Velayate Faqih‘ (Islamic leadership system), his
stances in condemnation of the crimes committed by regime officials
and the disclosure of human rights violations in Iranian jails, his limitations have increased in prison. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 14, 2010)
Jailed human rights activist in critical state
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2735-1.html
Mohammad-Sediq Kaboudvand, the head of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization was
taken to the Evin Prison infirmary after he passed out in cellblock 350.

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His family became notified of his condition through one of Kaboudvand‘s cellmates.
Kaboudvand has had two heart attacks in the past four years and his pale complexion and excessive weight loss were
obvious in his recent visits with his family from behind glass partitions but the news of his new condition came as a
shock to his family and they are very concerned for his well being. (Kurdistan Human Rights Organization – July 15,
2010)
Regime elements freely deal narcotics in Evin Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2751-1.html
Drug dealing in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison has led to concerns among political prisoners and their families.
This is while prison officials do not allow families of political prisoners to bring them books and the library and the
small gym in cellblock 350 were both closed down on orders of the head of Evin Prison Sedaqat with the cooperation of
the head of cellblock 350, Mostafa Bozorg Nia. At the same time, drugs are finding their way into this cellblock by
ordinary prisoners.
The families of political prisoners are wondering how drugs are entered into prison without any problems while books
are denied entrance.
According to reports, a prisoner in the financial cellblock who has close ties with the head of cellblock 350 has intended
to sell marijuana and crystal to political prisoners. Political prisoners protested this issue and the prisoner was transferred
to another cellblock. But these protests did not completely stop these measures and drugs, especially marijuana and
crystal are brought to this cellblock through other channels.
Despite the fact that narcotics are very expensive outside of prison, they are sold to prisoners at very cheap prices.
According to an informed source, a person identified as M.N, who is the financial cellblock is the element behind the
distribution and promotion of drugs in prison. What comes as a surprise to political prisoners is that this prisoner is
aware of the file contents of almost all political prisoners and has special limitless facilities at his disposal despite being a
prisoner. (Kalameh Website – July 16, 2010)
Political prisoner thrown in solitary for practicing martial arts
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2788-1.html
Karim Poursamad, a political prisoner in cellblock 350 was transferred to a solitary cell.
According to reports, he was thrown in solitary for practicing and teaching other prisoners martial arts in the prison
yard.
This measure by prison authorities is a violation of Prison Organization laws. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 18,
2010)
Political prisoner goes on hunger strike in protest to inhumane prison conditions
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_5912.html
According to reports, political prisoner Reza Jushan announced in a
letter sent to us that he was forced to go on a hunger strike as of
July 21 because of the intolerable and inhume conditions in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
This 25 year old prisoner was arrested on December 1, 2009 after
agents of the Intelligence Agency raided his home. He was taken to
a solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock and after two months was taken
to cellblock 4. Intelligence Agents once again raided the home of
this family on December 7 and arrested his mother, Zahra
Asadpour Gorji. She was also taken to the Sepah Cellblock and
after weeks of interrogations and physical and mental torture, was
transferred to Gohardasht Prison‘s female cellblock. Gorji and her
daughter Fatemeh Jushan were arrested before this for visiting their
family members in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and were detained for 16
months in Gohardasht Prison. They were released after serving
their prison term. Gorji and her son were sentenced to one year of prison to be served in Zanjan Prison and four years of
exile in the Qeilar Village in Zanjan.
The below letter was written by Reza Jushan to Gerami, Gohardasht Prison‘s manager and has been sent for us as well:
I announce in this way that I, Reza Jushan, son of Mohammad Salam, have been banned from having visits and making
telephone calls in my detainment in cellblock 17 since April 10, 2010.
I have gone on a hunger strike for the below reasons:
My future state has not been determined and I have not been transferred to the public cellblock.
I am banned from making calls and visiting my mother Mrs. Zahra Asadpour Gorji, son of Habibollah, who is currently
in the female cellblock in Gohardasht Prison.
Not having the right to call or see my family outside of prison.
All of these three stated issues are the minimum rights of a citizen and prisoner.
I have not received any answers to my previous letters I wrote to you.
Therefore I announce in complete physical and mental health that as of now I will go on a hunger strike for an
unlimited amount of time.
It is obvious that until all the above mentioned issues are seen to I will not break my hunger strike.
Political prisoner Reza Jushan (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 22, 2010)
Interview with sister and daughter of political prisoners in Gohardasht Prison
Political prisoner Reza Jushan said in a letter to the
internal manager of Gohardasht Prison and
international organizations that he was forced to go on a
hunger strike in protest to being deprived of his
minimum rights as a citizen and prisoner.
Reza Jushan went on a hunger strike on July 21. Zahra
Asadpour, Reza Jushan‘s mother, is also detained in the
female cellblock in Gohardasht Prison.
She served 16 months of prison along with her daughter
Fatemeh Jushan for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf in
Iraq and was once again arrested six months later. Reza
From left to right: Zahra Asadpour Gorji, Fatemeh Jushan,
Jushan was arrested on December 1, 2009. He was
Reza Jushan
sentenced to two years of prison on charges of acting
against national security, spreading propaganda against the government and cooperating with the People‘s Mojahedin
Organization of Iran.
Fatemeh Jushan, his sister talked about her brother‘s condition in prison.
Fatemeh Jushan: After the events of June 20, my brother and I were arrested two times and the last time he was arrested
was on December 1. They arrested me and my brother for leaving Iran and after six days, they also arrested my mother.
My brother was interrogated for two months and we have had not news on his physical health since April 10, 2010,
because he was transferred to the secondary cellblock. He is also banned from visits. He has been sentenced to two years
of prison, four years of suspended prison and five years of exile to the Qeilar Village in Zanjan. He was denied a lawyer
in court and was banned from hiring a lawyer.
Question: Do you know why he went on a hunger strike?
Fatemeh Jushan: It seems he has announced that he went on a hunger strike for not being allowed to call my mother in
prison, not being allowed to call his family outside of prison and for not being transferred to the public cellblock. My
brother announced on July 11 that he would go on a hunger strike because the Judiciary had told them that they would
be transferred to the Public Cellblock after July 9 which was not done. My brother said on July 11 that he would do
something (about this). On July 12, he had short visit with my mother in the Sepah cellblock with the presence of
Mohebi (head interrogator of the Intelligence Agency). After that visit, my brother and mother were allowed to talk to
my father for one minute and were only able to say that they were in good health. I do not know what happened but
suddenly Mohebi took the phone from them and threatened my father that if he says anything or gives an interview he
would be arrested.
Question: How is your mother, Zahra Asadpour Gorji, and why was she arrested”
Fatemeh Jushan: My mother‘s health is not very good. After the 10 day hunger strike in April, she lost a portion of her
eyesight. My mother and I were in prison for one year and four months. My mother was once again arrested about 6
months after her release and has now been sentenced to one year o f prison.
Question: What is your request?
Fatemeh Jushan: I request from the international community to see to my brother and mother‘s state. My brother is in a
poor physical health. He is suffering from heart and lung problems and my mother had a heart attack in prison. It has
been three months that we have had no information on their condition expect for the one minute phone call. I want

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January – October 2010

their state to be determined as soon as possible and for them to be released from prison. (Voice of America TV –Persian
service – July 24, 2010)
Blogger goes on hunger strike in protest to being kept in solitary for 8 months
http://www.hra-news6.info/component/content/article/55-1389-01-14-13-18-46/2977-1.html
Blogger Hossein Ronaqi has gone on a hunger strike. He was arrested on December 13, 2009
and is still in a solitary cell in the Sepah Cellblock 2A.
He went on a hunger strike in protest to his prolonged detention in solitary and also pressure
on him to give an interview on state-run TV. His mother, Zoleikha Moussavi said in this regard,
―Hossein is under severe pressure to confess on television‖.
She also expressed concern about her son being kept in solitary for eight months.
―Hossein called and said that they blindfolded him at night and told him he had to give an
interview. I am very worried. My son is still under pressure to give an interview on TV and I
really do not know what to do‖, his mother added. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 27,
2010)
No news on jailed blogger activist
There are concerns for the condition of blogger, children‘s rights activist and member of a labor rights group.
According to reports, there is no news on the condition of Behman Ibrahim Zadeh. On July 23 his family went to Evin
Prison to visit their son but regime forces refrained from giving them information on his whereabouts.
Ibrahim Zadeh was arrested on June 12 and was severely beaten upon his arrest. His leg and rib cage broke as a result.
Security forces initially told Behnam‘s family that he had been taken to cellblock 7 in Evin Prison but his family was
banned from visiting him. Behnam complained of pain in his rib cage and said that he was in poor health in a short call
to his family. He has been kept in an undetermined state since his arrest. (Committee to Fight for Freedom of Political
Prisoners – July 28, 2010)
Sudden communication cut off of political prisoners with families leads to concerns
According to reports, families of political prisoner especially families of death row political prisoners have expressed
serious concerns for the sudden cut off of all communications with their loved ones in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
All calls of political prisoners with their families have been cut off on orders of Ministry of Intelligence interrogators.
This issue has led to concerns among families of political prisoners. Currently there are a number of death row political
prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. They are Jafar Kazemi, Mohammad-Ali Haj Aqayi, Mohsen Daneshpour
Moqadam, Ahmad Daneshpour Moqadam among others. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 28,
2010)
Political prisoner banned from family visits on 16th day of hunger strike
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post_7913.html
According to reports, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi was banned from seeing his family
in the last minute on his 16th day of hunger strike.
On Thursday July 29 his family came to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj on promises from
prison officials stressing on their visit and they were led to the visiting hall. Political
prisoner Arjang Davoudi was also brought to the visiting hall but in the last minute, he was
denied the visit which is a method for putting psychological pressure on him and his family.
Davoudi is in very poor physical health and is suffering from low blood pressure, headaches,
dizzy spells, lack of vision and other side effects of hunger strike and has been taken to the
prison infirmary on several occasions. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
July 29, 2010)
August
Four hunger striking political prisoners taken to Evin Prison infirmary
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3074-1.html
From left to right Abdollah Momeni, Bahman Amouyi, Majid Tavakoli, Ali Malihi, Majid Dori and Zia Nabavi
Zia Nabavi, Majid Dori, Ali Malihi and Gholam-Hossein Arshi, four political prisoners who went on hunger strikes a few
days ago were taken to the Evin Prison infirmary…
They were returned to solitary after receiving first aid and intravenous fluids and continued their hunger strike.
These four people who are suffering from severe physical weakness were told to break their hunger strikes but they
continued their strikes along with 12 other political prisoners.
Student activist Majid Tavakoli who is also in poor condition was not willing to be transferred to the infirmary to receive
treatment and intravenous fluids. According to reports, his condition and the condition of Bahman Amouyi and
Abdollah Momeni are deteriorating.
The families of these prisoners of conscience and political prisoners are extremely worried about their health and have
requested to visit their loved ones.
Before this, Peiman Karimi Azad, who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2010) and is suffering from diabetes was
taken to hospital. There is no news on his physical condition only that he fainted (after going on a hunger strike). But
according to reports, he is still hospitalized. (Kalameh Website – Aug. 1, 2010)
Evin officials ban the use of vitamins by female prisoners despite widespread malnutrition
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3076-1.html
Even as many prisoners in Evin Prison especially female prisoners in the Methadone Cellblock are suffering from
illnesses as a result of folic acid, iron and calcium deficiency because of the low quality of prison food, the heads of the
Prison Organization have, in a new announcement, banned the use and prescription of supplementary drugs to female
prisoners.
After the circulation of this announcement, vitamins and other necessary drugs like folic acid and calcium capsules will
not be provided by the (prison) pharmacy anymore.
The families of ailing prisoners have also been banned from providing these drugs and giving them to their loved ones in
prison.
The dentist that was once stationed in the prison will also leave and female prisoners of conscience and political
prisoners will only be allowed to see the dentist every two months.
Female political prisoners in Evin Prison are also deprived of minimum facilities like cool water and cooling facilities.
(Jaras Website – Aug. 1, 2010)
Hunger striking political prisoners threatened to be sent to notorious prison
Evin Prison officials visited political prisoners who went on a hunger strike last Monday asking them to end their hunger
strikes else they be transferred to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj.
A number of prison officials along with a number of agents of the Ministry of Intelligence talked to 17 hunger striking
prisoners who have been thrown in solitary for protesting unsuitable treatment by prison guards and told them that ‗if
you continue your protest and not end your hunger strike, you will be transferred to Rajayi Shahr Prison‘.
These prisoners said in answer to this threat that they are all ready to be transferred to Rajayi Shahr and will not end
their strike until their demands are met.
Until now, five hunger strikers were taken to hospital and because others have been striking for a week, their physical
health is quickly deteriorating.
The families of these political prisoners are extremely worried for their loved ones and have announced that if this
process continues, they will also go on hunger strikes. (Kalameh Website – Aug. 2, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Five more jailed hunger strikers in critical condition

From left to right: Keivan Samimi, Jafar Eqdami, Bahman Amouyi, and Abdollah Momeni

Five other hunger striking political prisoners from the 17 that have gone on hunger strikes in cellblock 350 were taken to
the Evin Prison infirmary today. They started their hunger strike last Monday.
They were returned to solitary after receiving first aid care and continued their hunger strikes.
According to the latest reports from Evin Prison, student activist Abdollah Momeni, journalist Bahman Amouyi, civil
rights activist Jafar Eqdami, civil rights activist Ibrahim Babayi who has also been injured in the Iran Iraq war and
journalist Keivan Samimi were among these prisoners taken to the infirmary.
Before this, four other prisoners were taken to the infirmary after going into critical condition.
The families of these 17 prisoners became very concerned after hearing this news and requested that prison authorities
see to their cases as soon as possible. They also asked the Tehran Prosecutor to provide facilities for them to visit their
loved ones. (Kalameh Website – Aug. 4, 2010)
Political prisoner hunger strikers treated inhumanely and insulted in prison infirmary
The personnel of the Evin Prison infirmary and prison officials treat political prisoner hunger strikers who have been
taken to the infirmary because of weak physical conditions unsuitably and insult them.
Instead of giving them treatment, the infirmary personnel started cursing and insulting these political prisoners.
The personnel and nurses in the infirmary shouted at the hunger strikers that ‗you are a bunch of hypocrites‘, ‗you have
disrupted the country and now are disrupting the prison‘ and treated them unsuitably. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – Aug. 4, 2010)
Political prisoner returned to prison despite critical condition
http://www.kaleme.com/1389/05/21/klm-28614
Hamzeh Karami a prisoner who was arrested after the elections and was recently released from the hospital because of
heart problems was once again returned to Evin Prison on orders of the Tehran Prosecutor despite doctor‘s orders that
he has to be under treatment and in an environment away from stress and pressure. Doctors have prescribed that he
receives an angiography as soon as possible.
His family is seriously concerned for his health.
Karami is the head the Jomhouriat Website and a top manager of the Free University. He was sentenced to 11 years of
prison and a permanent discharge from all government occupations.
Websites recently published reports of a letter that he wrote from prison saying that he was severely tortured in prison by
his interrogators. He wrote in this letter that confessions were extracted from him under torture. (Kalameh Website –
Aug. 12, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner transferred to solitary
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3342-1.html
Yesterday, Kurd political prisoner Qader Mohammadzadeh was transferred to the quarantine section of Orumieh Prison
on orders prison officials.
He was transferred to quarantine for having a cellular phone.
Mohamamdzadeh who has been jailed for more than three years was sentenced to 23 years of prison in the Mahabad
Revolutionary Court on charges of establishing an illegal group and clashing with government forces. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Aug. 13, 2010)
Families of hunger striking political prisoners clueless about fate of loved ones
The families of hunger striking political prisoners in Evin Prison say that they have not had any sort of communication
with the 16 hunger striking political prisoners and none of them have been able to make a phone call so far. These 16
political prisoners are still in kept in solitary cells and have not been transferred to the public cellblock.
Setayesh Nouraninejad, the sister of political prisoner Hossein Nouraninejad, one of the 16 hunger strikers, said in an
interview that the families of hunger strikers in Evin have written a letter to the head of the Judiciary expressing concern
regarding the health of their jailed relatives who they have not had any contact with in the last 20 days. These families
say that the continued persistence of officials in banning them from making phone calls and not transferring them to the
public cellblock has raised questions regarding the unsuitable physical health of these prisoners. These families are
wondering if their loved ones have even survived the hard conditions of going of hunger strike. (VOA Website – Aug.
14, 2010)
Five hunger strikers threatened with 6 months of solitary
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3364-1.html
Five hunger striking political prisoners in Evin Prison were transferred to court in Evin Prison from their solitary cells in
cellblock 240 and were threatened that they would be kept in solitary for 6 months.
Prison officials threatened Kouhyar Goudarzi, Bahman Ahmadi Amouyi, Keivan Samimi, Qolamhossein Arshi and Ali
Malihi to six months of solitary even as the maximum solitary time in cellblock under the supervision of the Prison
Organizations is 20 days.
These five political prisoners have also been threatened that they will be barred from telephone calls and visitation rights
with their families in the next six months. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 14, 2010)
Kurd political prisoner in danger of death
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3365-1.html
Kurd political prisoner Rahim Rash who was transferred from the Orumieh RGC Intelligence
Prison to Mahabad Prison has still not ended his hunger strike.
One of his sons who had a short visit with him four days ago said that his father was in ‗very
critical condition‘ and was visited by the prison doctor on that same day.
―The last time, my father continued his hunger strike to the point that doctors said he would die
in three days and they were forced to release him. After his release, his health did not return to
its normal state for several months‖, his son said.
His family has said that their father will not end his hunger strike until they release him and
therefore they are extremely concerned for his health.
This civil rights activist was arrested on July 19, 2010 and went on a hunger strike the day after
his arrest. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 14, 2010)
Jailed labor activist denied minimum rights
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/2_16.html
According to reports, the detention order for jailed labor activist Reza Shahabi, the head of the
financial department of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company was
extended for another two months.
On Sunday, August 15, this labor activist told his family in a very short call that his detention
order was extended for another two months…
Reza Shahabi was abducted by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on June 12 and transferred
to solitary in the notorious cellblock 209 in Evin Prison.
He was deprived from family visits while detained. He only made a number of short and
controlled telephone calls to his family which were each less than 2 minutes long. Intelligence
Ministry agents threatened and subjected him to pressure before he contacted his family. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Aug. 16, 2010)
Hunger striking political prisoners denied family visits and threatened for not fasting on Ramadan
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/16-350.html
According to reports, 16 hunger striking political prisoners who are in solitary cells in Evin Prison were denied visitation
rights for the third week in a row.
These 16 political prisoners who went on hunger strike three weeks ago after being thrown in solitary have been barred
from contacting their family and their state in solitary after three weeks of hunger strike is not known.

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Other political prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison have also been cut off from their families from three weeks ago.
On the other hand, intelligence agency interrogators, Sedaqat, the head of prison, and Mostafa Bozorgnia, the head of
cellblock 350 has put pressure on political prisoners in this cellblock under the excuse that they eat on Ramadan.
Bozorgnia summoned several political prisoners warning them that they would be thrown in solitary for not fasting and
has also put them under pressure saying that they have to pledge not to eat on Ramadan. Most political prisoners in
cellblock 350 are not able to fast because of their poor physical health as a result of torture and a number of them
cannot fast because of old age.
According to other reports, the quality and quantity of food has become very poor since the start of Ramadan and
prisoners are unable to eat the food. This has led to malnutrition among prisoners.
This is while Tehran Prosecutor Jafar Dolat Abadi denied the suppression of political prisoners in a recent interview.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 16, 2010)
Jailed student activist transferred to notorious Karaj Prison
http://www.kaleme.com/1389/05/25/klm-29142
Jailed student activist Majid Tavakoli who is also one of the 17 hunger striking political prisoners in
Evin was transferred to the Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj.
Majid Tavakoli is a member of the Islamic Association of the Amir Kabir University and was arrested
after making a speech in a student gathering on Student Day.
The 15th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced this student activist to 8 years and
six months of prison, a five year ban on political activities and a five year ban on leaving the country.
(Kalameh Website – Aug. 16, 2010)
Death row political prisoner goes on hunger strike in protest to prison conditions
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20588
A Kurd death row political prisoner in the Central Orumieh Prison went on a hunger strike on Sunday August 15.
The family of Mohammad Amin Agushi confirmed this report and said that he went on hunger strike in protest to
limitations in prison and being kept in one cellblock with murderers.
Mohammad Amin Agushi is a retired teacher who was arrested along with Iraj Mohamamdi and Ahmad Poulad Khani
about one year on charges of espionage. He was sentenced to death by the second branch of the Western Azarbaijan
Military Court. This sentence was upheld by the 31st branch of the Supreme Court. (Mukarian News Agency – Aug. 17,
2010)
New limitations for political prisoners‟ family visits in Ramadan
The time that prisoners all allowed visits by their families has been reduced in the months of Ramadan in Evin Prison.
This is yet another limitation which political prisoners have been subjected to in the recent months.
It has been some time that political prisoners have been barred from seeing their families in person without an order
from the Tehran Prosecutor or a written letter. Also, only one member of their family can visit them. On the side of all
these limitations, the time reduction for visiting hours in the month of Ramadan is another obstacle for political
prisoners‘ visitation rights.
In other months of the year, families of political prisoners can go to prison from 9 am to 4 pm to visit their loved ones
for 20 minutes. In the month of Ramadan, the visitation hall closes at 12:30pm and many families did not have enough
time to visit their loved ones. Because of the new time reductions, visits have also been shortened. Notably, some of the
families of political prisoners come from cities around Tehran to visit their loved ones in Evin Prison. (Kalameh Website
– Aug. 19, 2010)
Political prisoner details abhorrent condition of Rajayi Shahr Prison
Letter of political prisoner Saleh Kohandel from Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison: Today,
250 people have to sleep in 100 cubic meters of space and hundreds of prisoners are forced
to sleep compressed next to each other on their sides and sometimes even sleep on top of
each other.
About 40 to 50 people are brought to this prison every day. The new arrivals are left in
prison without the minimum necessary items and it only takes a few minutes for them to
realize that in order to escape the beatings and abuse, they have to become blind, deaf and
mute and to give in to the hell like conditions of prison.
If they have someone on the outside to at least transfer 250,000 tomans a week to their
account, they will be able to buy narcotics or have a place to sleep but otherwise, they have
to give in to the derogatory conditions and it does not take long for them to either commit
suicide or cut their wrists as a result of the pressure. Or they go mad and sit around in the prison yard completely nude.
Every once in a while a young handsome new arrival is hunted down by other prisoners and is group raped on the first
or second night. Afterwards he pounds himself to the walls in a crazed fashion. You barely find anyone who is safe from
the lice and groups of people can be seen sitting under the sun in the yard looking for lice in their underwear…
Only one overflowing bathroom exists for hundreds of people…
There are old men who stink of urine and excrement from meters away and mentally ill young men who urinate on each
other at night or go to the bathroom anywhere they want, whether it is in their own pants, the area where they sleep, or
the praying hall.
This place is filled with young and old men who have lost hope in everything and it is as if they have surrendered to
death and there is no one to save them from torments of life…
I have nothing to say to the regime and its mercenaries whose sole responsibility is to be at animosity with the people of
Iran and other countries, but I have a few words with human rights organizations.
The world that you human rights activists see is completely different from the world of Rajayi Shahr Prison. You talk of
human rights, but here prisoners are even deprived of animal rights. You talk about sanitary facilities but the word
‗sanitation‘ is like a dream for a prisoner and is so unheard of that prisoners easily transmit the most dangerous diseases
to each other. You talk of the lack of fruits and vegetables in prisoners‘ diets while prisoners here have to look in the
trash for a piece of bread…
Your idea of the real pain of prison is much smaller than what I see in prison and if someone has experienced Rajayi
Shahr Prison, they would protest and ask me why I was not able to convey the condition of this prison in these few
sentences. I ask their forgiveness beforehand because they are right. (Campaign for the Release of Saleh Kohandel
Weblog – Aug. 20, 2010)
Two political prisoners banned from calling family in Evin Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3564-1.html
Political prisoners Hengameh Shahidi and Hossein
Marashi have been banned from using the telephone
in prison.
According to reports, Hossein Marashi has only
received one prison leave since March even as
according to the law, a prisoner who is serving his/her
time can go on a leave five days a months after serving
one month of prison and has to have in person visits
with his/her family once a week for at least 20
minutes.
This former vice president only has visits from behind a glass partition which barely last 15 minutes and is banned from
using the telephone to call his family.
According to other reports, Hengameh Shahidi has been banned from using the telephone from 11 days ago.
This jailed journalist was arrested after election events and sentenced to six years and three moths of prison. Political
prisoners in cellblock 350 are also still barred from using the telephone. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 24,
2010)
Jailed political activist kept with drug addicts in Evin Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3606-1.html
Amir-Hossein Kazemi, a member of the Youth Branch of the Iran Freedom Movement,
was transferred to the Quarantine Section of Cellblock 1 in Evin Prison.
According to reports after six months of incarceration in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison, he
was initially transferred to the Quarantine Section in cellblock 350 and subsequently to the
Quarantine Section in cellblock 1. Cellblock 1 is where drug addicts and dangerous
criminals are detained.
Kazemi whose 3 year prison term was recently confirmed expressed surprise in a telephone
call severely objecting the current condition in prison.
Prison officials have also recently announced that an order that was issued one month ago
granting him a leave from prison will not be carried out for unknown reasons.
Amir-Hossein Kazemi who was arrested on March 6, 2010 on charges of instigating public

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January – October 2010

opinion and being on the streets on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to 3 years of prison in a 10 minute trial.
A court of review officially upheld this sentence without reviewing it last month. (Mizan Khabar – Aug. 27, 2010)
September
Prison gang run by prison officials critically wound prisoner in Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, in a bloody clash in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, a prisoner who was severely wounded and near
death was taken to a hospital outside of prison.
On the morning of September 2 at about 2am, a prison gang in cellblock 6 in Gohardasht Prison which acts on the
orders of the heads of prison attacked a prisoner identified as Mohammad-Reza Karimi. This prisoner was stabbed at
least six times. He was stabbed in the lungs, next to his heart and his back and he was reportedly severely injured.
This prisoner who was on the verge of death was taken to a hospital outside of prison.
These gangs work on the orders of Ali Mohammadi, the assistant head of prison, Kermani and Faraji, the head and
assistant head of the prison‘s Intelligence Unit, and the heads of the cellblocks. They play a part in distributing narcotics
and suppressing dissident prisoners.
Despite this clash which led to the injury of this prisoner, none of the gang members have been called in by prison
officials for questioning.
This clash took place in cellblock 6 where currently 5 Baha‘i leaders are jailed. They are Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif
Naiemi, Saied Rezayi, Behrouz Tavakoli and Vahid Tizfahm. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –Sep. 3,
2010)
Dissident Iranian cleric denied medical treatment on verge of going blind
Despite the critical condition of the eyesight of Ayatollah Hossein Kazemi Borujerdi,
officials prevent him from being taken to a hospital outside of prison.
According to reports, in the past four years of his detention he has been suffering
from severe problems in his right eye because of mistreatment and being kept in a
polluted environment.
Last week a medic in Evin Prison‘s infirmary stressed after checking him that he has
lost 80 percent of his vision because of a tear in the retina.
The medic also warned that such a tear will not be treated with medicine and the
only effective way to treat it is by surgery therefore his condition is considered urgent
and he has to be hospitalized in a well- equipped hospital.
The head of the Special Court for Clergy have deprived Borujerdi of treatment and
will not even give his medical file to his family. They have recently told those close to
Borujerdi that until he stops ‗propagating against the government‘ he will be kept in
these conditions. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 5, 2010)
Political prisoners in Evin Prison face new limitations
Cellblock 350 in Evin Prison was renamed the Temporary Security Cellblock as of
yesterday (Monday). Political prisoners believe that this name change is a step towards tightening the security atmosphere
and setting more limitations in this cellblock.
More than 200 political prisoners, half of which were arrested after election events, are kept in this cellblock.
Unlike other public cellblocks in this prison, officials subject prisoners to limitations and it has been more than 50 days
that all phones have been cut off. Under normal circumstances, prisoners in this cellblock are only allowed a 2 to 3
minutes phone call in one day even while prisoners in other cellblocks can use the phones without any limitations.
The restrictions in cellblock 350 are not limited to phone calls and prisoners face limitations in seeing their families.
Under normal conditions, prisoners are allowed one visit per month in this cellblock but now prisoners are only allowed
visits after a written approval from the Tehran Prosecutor. This means that families of political prisoners have to go see
the Prosecutor several times before he actually reviews the prisoner‘s case to finally allow a 30
minute in person visit. (Kalameh Website – Sep. 7, 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)
Pressure and inhumane limitations on political prisoners in Evin‟s cellblock 350
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/350.html
According to reports, Ministry of Intelligence interrogators and Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi use the ban
on telephone calls and limitations on in person family visits to put pressure on political prisoners and their families.
The telephones are still cut off after three months on orders of intelligence interrogators. These interrogators and
Tehran Prosecutor Dolat Abadi have stressed on keeping the phone ban. The families of death row political prisoners
whose loved ones were arrested in the post-election protests are extremely worried over the telephone ban.
On the other hand, political prisoners are denied their minimum rights such as the right to have in person visits with
their children, spouse, father, mother, brother and sister, the right to be granted leaves from prison, and the right to be
released from prison at the end of their terms. These issues have all been stipulated in the law but intelligence
interrogators and especially the Tehran Prosecutor openly violate the law and deny violating these rights when talking to
the media. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 13, 2010)
Ailing dissident cleric denied proper treatment in prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3941-1.html
A prisoner of conscience in Evin Prison is suffering from several ailments and has to receive medical tests in a hospital
outside of prison.
According to reports, Ayatollah Borujerdi who has been suffering from headaches, dizzy spells, nausea, impaired vision
and numbness in his hands and legs and has to transferred to a hospital outside prison to receive a MRI.
The Evin Prison medic has said that without a MRI, he cannot diagnose his illness and because Borujerdi is also
suffering from unsteadiness and lack of balance and has fallen down several times, the doctor has warned that he may be
suffering from a brain illness. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 13, 2010)
Iran transfers another political prisoner to notorious prison in Karaj
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3967-1.html
Political prisoner Hamid Haeri was transferred to Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in
Karaj from Evin Prison‘s cellblock 350.
According to reports, Hamid (Mashallah) Haeri, 57, who was arrested on December 6,
2008 after a raid on his home, was sentenced to 15 years of prison by Judge Mohammad
Moqiseh and was sent to Rajayi Shahr Prison to serve his prison term.
This political prisoner who was also jailed in the 80‘s was sentenced to prison on charges
of waging war with God.
Haeri is suffering from severe heart ailments and has suffered two heart attacks. There
are also two stands in his heart. A short time before his arrest, he fractured his skull and
suffered a brain hemorrhage after a car accident. He was also damaged in the pelvic area
and was hospitalized for a long time. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 14, 2010)
Jailed teacher denied medical attention in Evin Prison
According to reports, the severe kidney ailment of jailed teacher Abdolreza Qanbari has
deteriorated in the past days and his kidney has started bleeding. The infirmary of Evin
Prison refrains from giving him serious treatment which has left him in critical condition.
The infirmary has told him that they are unable to treat him and that he has to receive treatment in a hospital outside of
prison.
Interrogators of the intelligence agency refuse to allow him to be transferred to hospital. Qanbari has been suffering
from severe kidney pain in the past few days.

229
January – October 2010

Abdolreza Qanbari was arrested in January 4, 2010 in his place of work in Hesar Amin High School in Pakdasht after it
was raided by agents of the Intelligence Agency and was transferred to a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. He
was interrogated for several weeks and was violently physically and mentally tortured during his interrogations by agents
of the Intelligence Ministry. This teacher was also jailed in a solitary cell in cellblock 240 for a month after which he was
transferred to cellblock 350. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 14, 2010)
Life threatening gas leak in Evin Prison ignored by prison officials; dissident cleric faces threats in prison
According to reports from Evin Prison, recently in some hours in the Special
Cellblock for Clerics where Seyed Hossein Kazemeini Borujerdi is kept, there
is a strong odor of gas and relevant officials have ignored the constant protests
and concerns of prisoners.
This is while a gas leak not only leads to life threatening poisoning, but can
also lead to a large explosion. The disregard of this issue by officials has posed
a threat to the lives of these prisoners.
According to other reports, in the past few months there have been several
attacks against the life of dissident cleric Borujerdi in the shape of clashes,
suspicious food or other incidents made to look like accidents. These
measures were rendered useless thanks to other prisoners and international
institutions. According to a person close to Borujerdi, he has been threatened
to murder several times by known persons.
Borujerdi‘s case was opened in 1995 in the Special Court for Clerics for the
Borujerdi in prison first time and is still open. He was arrested in his home on October 18, 2005
because of his explicit criticism of the intervention of religious with state and
was under severe physical and mental pressure.
He was transferred to Yazd Prison from Evin Prison on November 23, 2008 and was then returned to Evin Prison from
a solitary cell in Yazd Prison due to his critical physical condition on August 19, 2009. He has not been hospitalized in
this time and has not been granted any leaves from prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 16, 2010)
Prison officials spy on political prisoners even in bathroom and showers with security cameras
Evin Prison officials control the actions of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in cellblock 350 with security
cameras on a 24 hour basis. According to reports, the Tehran Prosecutor and a number of security officials go to Evin
Prison on certain days and sit watch prisoners from the security cameral control room for hours.
According to reports from Evin Prison, these cameras have been installed in all the rooms, hallways and even restrooms
and showers of cellblock 350.
By watching prisoners with these cameras prison officials have prevented prisoners from gathering in groups of more
than two and have even sent prisoners to solitary over this issue. Prisoners are not even allowed to sit next to each other
in prison.
The head of this cellblock, Bozorg Nia constantly calls on prisoners and threatens them that the head of prison, Sedaqat,
and the Tehran Prosecutor, Jafari Dolat Abadi, are directly watching their behavior and have called him in this regard to
warn them. (Kalameh Website – Sep. 19, 2010)
Rajayi Shahr Prison searches political prisoners‟ cellblock with dogs
According to reports, prison guards in cellblock 4 in Rajayi Shahr Prison in Karaj searched room 3 in hall 10 where a
number of political prisoners are kept with two dogs.
This prison which is known as the place of banishment for political prisoners is used by security officials to put pressure
or physically eliminate political prisoners. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – Sep. 19, 2010)
Iran exerts more pressure on its jailed 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)
Ailing jailed protester denied medical leave because he can‟t afford bail
http://www.rahana.org/archives/25890
Mehdi Fatah Bakhsh, a political prisoner who was arrested in the post-
election events has been denied the right to a medical leave because his
family cannot afford to provide his bail.
Mehdi Fatah Bakhsh who was arrested on June 16, 2009 has been detained
for the past 14 months in a solitary cell and cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
His family did not know anything about his health months after his arrest
until they saw his public court which was broadcasted from state-run TV.
He was sentenced to 42 months of prison on charges of ‗participating in the
march, disrupting national security and throwing stones at agents‘ and is
serving his time. He has not been granted even a one day leave in this time.
The Tehran prosecutor recently set a 400 million toman (about 400,000
dollar) bail for a leave from prison for him and after his family said that they
could not afford such an amount it was lowered to 300 million tomans
(300,000 dollars), but his family is not able to pay this amount because of
their financial condition and because they have no personal property.
This political prisoner is in bad physical health and his ankle and shoulder
were dislocated twice in his time in prison and because of the lack of proper
treatment, he now has problems walking. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – Sep. 22, 2010)
Prison officials make millions from narcotics trade in prison
Political prisoner Arjang Davoudi who is detained in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht)
Prison in Karaj wrote a report on the narcotics gangs in prison and their links to
prison officials.
(This letter reads in part):
It has been some time now that the number of prisoners in Rajayi Shahr Prison
has passed the line of 5,000 and at least 4,500 of these prisoner use narcotics. If
we say that from this number 1,500 are recreational drug users and we will not
include them in our calculations, this means that there are at least one thousand
professional drug users in this prison.
If we consider that three people only use one gram of narcotics a day this means
that at least one thousand grams are used daily in this prison and because crack
(kind of chemical narcotic) is used the most because it is cheap, we will use crack
in our calculations.
One gram of crack is at most 8,000 tomans outside of prison.
One gram of crack is at least 60,000 tomans inside of prison.
If we say that drug dealers in prison get 12,000 tomans for every gram, every gram of crack will cost at least a total of 20
thousand tomans for those who import the drugs into prison. Therefore the leftovers of this amount will be 40,000
tomans for every gram and because the daily use of crack in prison is 1000 grams, the daily proceeds of narcotics
amounts to 40 million tomans (about $40,000). This means that entering only one kilogram of crack in prison amounts
to a 1.2 billion toman (about 1.2 million dollar) trade in one month.
The violent and somewhat accurate inspections and body searches of prisoner‘s families on visiting days and also the
inspections of prisoners who have been sent to court which is carried out in several stages are all to prevent the import of
narcotics to prison outside of the narcotics network to keep this million dollar trade under the control and in the grasp
(of prison officials)…

231
January – October 2010

The notorious head of Rajayi Shahr Prison, Ali Haji Kazem, is getting the most profits from all of this and after Karaj
turns into a province which will see him become the General Manager of the Alborz Province Prisons, he will make even
more money because he will get the profits from all other prisons in the province.
Unfortunately, we see that regime elements pocket millions of dollars while many people are desperate for a piece of
bread.
Long live freedom, death to the ruling tyranny, Arjang Davoudi (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 26, 2010)
Political prisoner in critical condition in Evin Prison
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4251-1.html
Political prisoner Gholamhossein Arshi who is detained in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison is in critical condition because
of an internal kidney bleeding.
The physical condition of this political prisoner who was suffering from a severe kidney illness deteriorated in the past
few days which led to an internal kidney bleeding. The prison infirmary refuses to give him serious treatment and he is
in critical condition.
He was arrested on March 7, 2010 in his home b security forces and taken to Evin Prison. He was transferred to
cellblock 350 after a few months of solitary in cellblock 209 and was sentenced to four years of prison in a show trial by
Judge Salavati. This sentence was lowered to one year of prison in a review court.
He was subjected to physical and mental torture while interrogated and intelligence agency interrogators threatened him
with rape.
Notably, seven months after his arrest, he has not been granted a leave from prison and has been denied the right to a
conditional release. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 29, 2010)
Political prisoner in critical condition refused treatment
Mashallah Haeri, a political prisoner who was arrested after the elections in Iran and was recently transferred from Evin
Prison to Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj is in critical condition because of heart problems.
According to reports, Haeri who was transferred from cellblock 350 in Evin Prison to cellblock 4 in Rajayi Shahr Prison
to serve his 15 year prison sentence needs urgent care and special cardiac medicine. Rajayi Shahr Prison officials have
still not provided his medicine and his family has not been able to provide this expensive medicine to send to him in
prison.
Haeri has stands in four of his cardiac arteries and therefore the negligence for his health by prison officials is dangerous.
This political prisoner was arrested on December 6, 2009 and was sentenced to 15 years of prison in exile on charges of
‗waging war with God by communicating with hypocrite groups‘. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners –
Sep. 29, 2010)
October
Jailed Human rights lawyer on hunger strike for 10 days in protest
to prison conditions
Nasrin Sutodeh, a hardworking human rights lawyer stipulated in a
short phone call to her husband that she went on a hunger strike on
September 25.
According to reports, her husband Reza Khandan stressed that after
this short phone call, all communications with his wife were cut off.
This senior expert in International law who is also the mother of two
young children was arrested on September 18.
She had stressed in her last phone call that she would go on a hunger
strike if her rights were violated in prison.
Nasrin Sutodeh was the lawyer of a large number of political activists,
journalists, civil rights activists and minor offenders in the last few
Nasrin Sutodeh and husband Reza
years. (Jaras Website – Oct. 6, 2010) Khandan
Two Kurd activist still kept in solitary after 65 days; families pressured into keeping silent
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4422-1.html
Two months after the arrest of two activists in Marivan, there is still no news on their condition and their families have
been put under pressure by security forces.
These two Kurd activists identified as Bakhtiar Memari and Hajir Ibarahimi who were arrested about two months ago by
security forces are still in solitary cells in the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center. These two activists have been
under severe pressure for 65 days in solitary cells and have not been allowed to contact their families.
A person close to these detainees said that their conditions are a cause for concern because they have been kept in
solitary for such a long time.
This source also said that their families were pressured not to talk to the media about their arrest and therefore no
information has been put out about their condition until now.
Notably, despite the constant visits of their families to the court and intelligence agency in Sanandaj to follow up their
conditions, they have not been able to get any information on their loved ones and relevant officials refuse to give them
information on their charges and condition. (Kurdish Perspective – Oct. 7, 2010)
Political prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison are forced to use polluted water
According to reports, the water that political prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison use has been cut off in the past
few days and when there is water, it is muddy and undrinkable.
To put more pressure and subject political prisoners to more limitations, they have almost been completely deprived of
water in the past few days. The water shortage has also led to serious unsanitary problems for prisoners.
It is notable that the water political prisoners use in Evin Prison is provided from polluted water wells. This has also led
to serious digestive and nephrogenic problems for prisoners.
Political prisoners are also deprived of warm water for bathing and are forced to shower with cold water. This is an
ongoing limitation used to put pressure on political prisoners. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct.
11, 2010)
No news on detained high school student and blogger 25 days after arrest
http://www.daneshjoonews.com/news/student/3493-1389-07-20-13-54-12.html
Twenty five days after the arrest of Navid Mohebi, a senior high school student in Mazandaran, his condition and health
is unknown.
Sources close to his family say that his family is concerned for this student activist in light of the state of the Intelligence
Agency Detention Center in Sari and the way this blogger has been treated.
Navid Mohebi was arrested by security forces on the morning of September 18 in his home in Amol and was then
transferred to the Intelligence Agency Detention Center in Sari.
It is not clear why this blogger was arrested by security forces. He was reportedly brutally beaten upon arrest by security
and intelligence agents in Mazandaran.
Mohebi is a student activist and a member of the One-Million Signature Campaign (advocating change in the
constitution) who was summoned and beaten in the Amol Intelligence Agency after participating in a women‘s day
ceremony in 2009…
Mohebi is a senior high school student and was underage and unable to vote in the 2009 presidential elections.
(Daneshju News – Oct. 12, 2010)
Detained lawyer of political prisoners needs urgent treatment for cancer
Mohammad Oliayi Fard, a lawyer of political prisoners who is detained in Evin Prison‘s
cellblock 350 needs to be urgently sent to special medical center outside of prison.
Today at dawn, this lawyer who has been sentenced to one year of prison and is currently
serving his time went to the prison infirmary because of his deteriorating physical health.
According to reports, the doctor in prison diagnosed a lump in his body as ‗blood cancer‘ and
said that he had to be checked by a specialist.
In light of his critical state, this lawyer who represented political prisoner in court has to be
sent to a medical center outside of prison.
Dr. Mohammad Oliayi Fard was arrested on May 1, 2010 to serve his one year prison
sentence on charges of propagating against the government by giving interviews (to the media)
and is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters- Oct. 23, 2010)
Jailed student activist denied treatment
Jailed student activist Majid Dori needs to see a specialist for the treatment of his illness but Evin Prison officials refuse
to send him to a specialist outside of prison.
Dori is suffering from very severe headaches. The internal Evin Prison doctor told him one month ago that he had to be
sent to a brain and nerve doctor and receive a MRI scan.
According to reports, he has still not been visited by a brain and nerve doctor. He is suffering from severe dizzy spells
which sometimes plague him for up to 48 hours.

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This student was banned from continuing his education and was arrested on June 15, 2009. He was sentenced to 6 six of
prison to be served in Izeh Prison. In the past few weeks, Izeh Prison was changed to Ahwaz Prison. He is currently in
cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 13, 2010)
Juvenile political prisoner arrested at 15 still in prison after 15 years
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4542-1.html
Jamal Amin Zadeh is a political prisoner who has been detained in the Gonbade Kavous Prison without any leaves or
visits for more than 15 years.
According to reports, this prisoner was arrested when he was 15 years old and sentenced to life in prison on charges of
being a member of a Kurd dissident party.
Amin Zadeh does not have any family members to follow up his case after his mother and father passed away.
He has also been denied of a lawyer in all of his trials.
Gonbade Kavous Prison lacks normal facilities and is used to detain non-political prisoners. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Oct. 13, 2010)
Student prisoner banned from family visits and phone calls for expressing solidarity with her detained lawyer
According to reports, the visits and telephone calls of student prisoner Shabnam
Madadzadeh were cut off on orders of intelligence agency interrogators.
On Thursday October 24, her contacts to the outside were cut off because she supported
her lawyers who were arrested and jailed.
Shabnam Madadzadeh went on a hunger strike in protest to the arrest of her lawyer Nasrin
Sutodeh and the ongoing detention of Mr. Oliayi Fard. After her hunger strike, she was
taken to the Intelligence Unit of the Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison where she was
interrogated and threatened for hours.
The head and assistant head of the Gohardasht Intelligence Unit, Kermani and Faraji,
interrogated Madadzadeh while putting her under pressure. They threatened her that they
would add other charges to her case and would issue a heavy sentence for her warning that
they would transfer her to Bandar Abbas Prison or Ahwaz Prison. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 14, 2010)
Labor activist kept in jail after his family paid bail for his release
Reza Shahabi, a member of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company who was arrested on June
12 is still kept in an undetermined state and despite a payment of 60 million tomans (60,000 dollars) by his family as bail
for his release, he had still not been released.
His wife Robabeh Rezayi stressed on the ‗undetermined state‘ of his case and said that he had been charged with ‗having
contacts with foreigners‘ by judiciary interrogators. Shahabi‘s interrogator said in a visit with his wife that he had not
cooperated with his ‗interrogator‘ and ‗judiciary system‘ and will not be released until he does. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – Oct. 18, 2010)
Gohardasht Prison gang beat and stab prisoner in organized attack
According to reports, in a bloody clash in cellblock 1 in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, a prisoner was severely wounded
and was transferred to a hospital in Tehran on the verge of death.
On Sunday, October 24, prisoner Vahid Khodabakhsh who was being brought back from court by prison guards was
intentionally returned to cellblock 1 so that he would be attacked by prison gangs. When this prisoner was completely
surrounded by the gang, prison guards left the scene so that the gang could easily attack him.
The assailers who were about 7 or 8 people attacked him with knives and stabbed him several times. Vahid
Khodabakhsh was stabbed in the stomach, shoulder, lungs and his legs. His lung has been punctured in two places and
his leg artery was also severed.
Khodabakhsh was taken to a hospital in Tehran where he is reportedly in very critical condition. According to reports,
this organized attack was to take revenge over the beating of a prison guard by prisoners a few weeks ago.
Prison gangs who are in various cellblocks in Gohardasht Prison have been organized by Ali Haj Kazem, and Ali
Mohammadi, the head and assistant head of prison and Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of the
Intelligence Unit in this prison. They are active in selling drugs, attacking dissident prisoners and political prisoners.
They have cell phones in prison and are also armed with knives and even swords and daggers. Prison officials and guards
do not interfere while they are clashing with other prisoners and only after the fight is over, they evacuate the slain and
injured prisoners from the cellblock. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 25, 2010)
Judiciary officials treat families of political prisoners with disrespect; refuse to answer concerns on loved ones
According to reports, the families of political prisoners Ali Saremi and Reza Bukani Sharifi, who went to the Tehran
Revolutionary Court to follow up the cases of their loved ones were treated with contempt and mistreated by court
officials and were led out of the court. They were not given a satisfactory answer regarding these prisoners.
In answer to their questions regarding the condition of their loved ones, court officials expressed surprise that they were
even still alive.
―How are they still alive‖, they asked. ―Their sentences should have been carried out by now‖.
Mohammad Ali Saremi, 63, was arrested in 2007 for giving a speech in a ceremony to commemorate the memory of
those killed in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners and last December after 26 months of detention in Rajayi Shahr
Prison and being under the most severe torture in solitary for months, he was sentenced to death in the 15th branch of
the Revolutionary Court by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. He is currently in Rajayi Shahr Prison waiting for his execution
sentence to be carried out.
Reza Bukani Sharifi is another political prisoner in Rajayi Shahr who was arrested by the Intelligence Agency on charges
of ‗espionage‘ and ‗waging war with God‘ on May 5, 2010 in Tehran. He was under pressure and torture to make
confessions on TV. (Student Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – Oct. 29, 2010)

Prison sentence
January
Man sentenced to four years of prison for intending to make documentary about Baha'ism
Kianush Ehsani, a movie maker and actor who intended to make a documentary on the 'Baha'i faith' was sentenced to
four years of prison and a fine of 5,000 dollars after being arrested and tried by the 3rd branch of the Revolutionary
Court in Orumieh. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 1, 2009)
Iran sentences labor activist to five years of prison
Pejman Rahimi, a labor activist in Khuzestan and the head of the Cultural Arts Shadow Association who is also a
member of the Committee for the Coordination and Aid to Create Labor Associations was sentenced to five years of
prison in a court of first instance on charges of conspiring against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Three years of his
sentence has been suspended for five years. Mohammad Ismail Vandi another member of the Shadow Association was
also arrested on these charges and sentenced to five years of prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 2, 2010)
Iran sentenced Sunni cleric to 10 years of prison
The 10 year prison sentence of Mamusta Ayub Ganji, a religious personality in Kurdistan, was confirmed by the 4 th
branch of the Court of Review in Tehran. This court confirmed the Hamedan Special Court for Clergy decree
sentencing Mamusta Ganji to 10 years of prison to be served in exile after about four months.
Ayub Ganji is a writer and the former head of prayer in the Qoba Mosque in Sanandaj. He is currently detained in the
Central Prison in Hamedan. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 2, 2010)
Iran sentences student activist to 6 years of prison
Salman Sima, a member of the Policy Setting Council of the Office for Consolidating Unity was
sentenced to six years of prison by the 15 branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge
Salavati.
His family visited him in prison today. According to them, Salman Sima was charged with acting
against national security by encouraging participation in gatherings and participating in gatherings.
He is currently detained in a solitary cell in ward 209 in Evin Prison with three other prisoners.
In their last visit with him on December 2, his family said that he was severely beaten in his
interrogations to the extent that one his fingers broke and he now suffers from problems in his ribs.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Three people in Sardasht sentenced to prison
Three Sardasht residents named Arsalan Shadbakht, Hezhar Hassan Zadeh and Saman Atashak were sentenced to prison
by a public court in this city.
These three men were each sentenced to one year of prison by branch 102 of this court. They were charged with
disrupting public order by creating 'noise'. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Iran sentenced journalist to 10 years of prison

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January – October 2010

Nader Karimi Juni, a jailed journalist, was sentenced to 10 years of prison by the 28 th branch of
the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
This court presided over by Judge Moqiseh, sentenced Karimi Juni on charges of acting against
national security, conspiring and espionage. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 12, 2010)
Former employee of presidential office sentenced to 10 years of prison
Arash Torabi, a former employee in the presidential office was sentenced to 10 years of prison by
the Revolutionary Court.
He was arrested about 16 months ago on charges of espionage and has been in prison since.
He was charged with espionage for foreigners. He has appealed this sentence. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 12,
2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to 10 years of prison
One of those convicted in the bombing incident in the Rahpuyan Vesal Praying Center in Shiraz was sentenced to 10
years of prison.
The other man convicted in this case who is an American citizen is still in an undetermined state in prison.
Heidar Ali Heidari, a retired teacher in Shiraz who has been in detention for about one and half years was sentenced to
10 years of prison by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of acting against national security.
He has protested and appealed this sentence. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 12, 2010)
Iran jails five for up to six years over post-vote unrest
Iran has handed five people jail sentences of between one and six years after convicting them of involvement in June
protests against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, the Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.
The five were found guilty of 'public order offences, propaganda against the Islamic republic, plotting to damage power
generators and spreading false information,' the report cited a statement from the Tehran public and revolutionary court
as saying. (AFP - Jan. 12, 2010)
Iran sentences 5 post election protesters to prison
The Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran has announced that the case of 5 other seditionists has been sent to the
Department for Carrying out Sentences. These convicts are:
1- Amir Aslani, 5 years of prison
2- Ali Behzadian, 6 years of prison
3- Hesam Tamesi, 1 year of prison
4- Mohammad-Reza Norbakhsh, 3 years of prison
5- Omid Lavasani, 6 years of prison (Channel 1 state-run TV – Jan. 12, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 2 years of prison
The two year prison sentence of Surosh Sabet, a computer science graduate from the
Industrial Sharif University who has been banned from continuing his education, was
confirmed by the 36th branch of the court of review presided over by Judge Zargar.
He was arrested in 2007 along with other students for 45 days. In November a court
headed by Judge Moqiseh sentenced him to two years of prison on charges of gathering
and conspiring to act against national security. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 13, 2010)
Iran sentences protester to 28 months of prison
The prison term of Akbar Ajdadi who was recently arrested in Tehran was issued by the
54th branch of a court of Review in Tehran.
He was sentenced to 28 months of prison.
Ajdadi was arrested along with 25 other protesters by the Revolutionary Guards Corps
and was transferred to ward 2A. He was banned from having a lawyer and was forced in the Revolutionary Court to sign
an agreement for an appointed unidentified lawyer. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 14, 2010)
Student activist in Hormozgan sentenced to 4 years of prison
Ali Shojayi, the former head of the Hormozgan University's Islamic Association and the head of the Student Election
Staff for Karoubi in this province was sentenced to 4 years of prison. 42 months of this sentence has been suspended
while six months of his prison term will be carried out immediately.
He was charged with being a threat against national security by the Revolutionary Court. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan.
14, 2010)
Two political prisoners sentenced to heavy prison terms in Orumieh
Two Bukani prisoners identified as Mohammad Amin Abdollahi and Qader Mohammad-Zadeh were tried on January
16 in the second branch of the West Azerbaijan Court of Review.
These men who have been jailed for more than 3 years have been charged with clashing with security forces.
Mohammad-zadeh and Abdollahi were sentenced to 23 years and 18 years of prison by the Mahabad Revolutionary
Court before this. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 16, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to six years of prison
Mohsen Safayi Farahani was sentenced to six years of prison. The court seeing his case announced his final sentence last
night 37 days after his last trial and 200 days after his arrest. (Parleman News Website – Jan. 17, 2010)
Former head of Iran's Football Federation sentenced to 3 years of prison; student sentenced to 11 years of prison
The lawyer of a prominent reformist who is the former head of Iran's Football Federation said that his client has been
sentenced to six years of prison…
Jaras Website also said that Majed Dori, a student activist was sentenced to 11 years of prison on Sunday on charges of
having links to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, an opposition group outside of the county, and disrupting
national security by participating in illegal gatherings. (Reuters Arabic Wire – Jan. 17, 2010)
Khajeh Nasir student sentenced to 3 years of prison
Ali Parviz, a computer engineering student at Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran was sentenced to
three years of prison.
The last court session of this student ended last week and his sentence was announced to him two
days ago. He was charged with providing and distributing images of student protests especially
Khajeh Nasir University gatherings in protest to the presence of Safar Harandi (regime official) on
November 1. His other charges are acting against national security and conspiring to gather on
November 4.
Currently 12 other Khajeh Nasir University students are jailed. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 19,
2010)
Student activist sentenced to 8 years of prison
Majid Tavakoli was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months of prison.
This member of Amir Kabir University's Islamic Association was sentenced to eight years and six
month of prison, and was banned from political activities and leaving the country for five years by
the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
He was sentenced to five years of prison on charges of gathering and conspiring against the
government, one year for spreading propaganda against the government, two years for insulting the
leader, and six month of prison for insulting the president. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 20, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 5 years of prisoner for answering phone call from uncle in
Camp Ashraf
According to reports, political prisoner Monireh Rabiyi was sentenced to five years of prison by a Judge Pir Abassi, the
head of the 26th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. This heavy sentence was given to her because she contacted
her uncle in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.
This political prisoner suffers from severe lung problems and allergies and has been denied medication since her arrest.
She only has the clothes she was arrested in and despite the cold, has been denied warm clothes. Prison guards refrain
from taking the clothes that her family brings to put pressure on her.
Monireh Rabiyi, 32, is a chemical engineer who was summoned on October 7 to the Revolutionary Court to answer
questions but was arrested by Beigi, the head of the 3rd security branch. She was arrested for answering a telephone call
made by her uncle. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 22, 2010)
Iran sentences Quran singer to 7 years of prison
The 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced Mehdi Eqbal the Quran singer at
the prayer center in Darolzahra who is also a member of the Participation Front to seven years of prison.
Mehdi Eqbal who has been in ward 209 in Evin Prison since late October was sentenced to seven years of prison even
while he did not have a lawyer and refused to defend himself in court.
He was charged with spreading propaganda against the government, conspiring to cause seditions and acting against
national security. (Jaras – Jan. 22, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to one year of prison
Abed Tavancheh, a student activist was sentenced to one year of prison by the 1st branch of
the Revolutionary Court in Tehran presided over by Omran Azizi.

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January – October 2010

He was charged with insulting the leader, insulting the president, insulting officials of the Guardian Council, spreading
propaganda against the government, acting against the country's security and organizing illegal gatherings. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 23, 2010)
Man sentenced to 3 years of prison for participating in Friday Prayers
Ali Parviz, a student at Khajeh Nasir University was sentenced to three years of prison for attending a Friday Prayer
sermon by Hashemi Rafsanjani after the elections.
His lawyer, Nasrin Sutodeh said, "My client was arrested on November 3. His arrest warrant was issued without his name
and it was stated on (the warrant) that this arrest was made 'to prevent incidents'".
"This is a ridiculous reason which has no legal basis and on the other hand is like retribution before a crime", she added.
(Jaras – Jan. 25, 2010)
Kurd sentenced to two years of prison for links to Kurd parties
A man from a village in Baneh was sentenced to one year of prison on charges of cooperating with a dissident party.
Naser Saiedi who was arrested some time ago has been sentenced to two years of prison in another case in the Saqez
Revolutionary Court and Baneh Public Court.
He was charged with cooperating with dissident parties and illegally crossing the border. He is currently in Saqez Central
Prison serving his time. (Mukarian News Agency – Jan. 26, 2010)
Iran sentences man to six years of prison for peaceful political activities
The lawyer of Jahanbakhsh Khanjani said that his client was sentenced to six years of prison by the 15 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
"According to the sentence issued by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, Jahanbakhsh Khanjani was sentenced
to one year of prison for spreading propaganda against the government and five years of prison for gathering and
conspiring to act against national security", Seyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabayi said. (ISNA state-run news agency –
Jan. 27, 2010)
Iran sentences Khajeh Nasir Univ. student to 4 years of prison for participating in protests
According to reports, Soheil Mohammadi, a Khajeh Nasir University student who was arrested by intelligence agents in
his home on November 3 and taken to Evin Prison was sentenced to 4 years or prison in a court of first instance. His
family is currently awaiting the verdict of the court of review. He has been charged with 'acting against national security,
participating in the gatherings, and insulting the president'. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 31, 2010)
February
Iran confirms heavy sentences for Azeri activists
According to a verdict passed by the fourth branch of the Eastern Azerbaijan Court of Review, Fardin Moradpour, an
18-year-old Azeri activist was sentenced to six years of prison on charges of gathering and conspiring against the
government, spreading propaganda against the government and providing and keeping explosives. His brother Fardin
Moradpour was sentenced to three years of prison on charges of gathering and conspiring against the government, and
spreading propaganda against the government. Rasoul Badali was sentenced to two years of prison on charges of
gathering and conspiring against the government while Ali Badali, Amin Pasha Qarebaghi and Arash Eshqi Mulan were
sentenced to six months of prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the government. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – Feb. 8, 2010)
Brother and sister sentenced to 5 years of prison on charges of links to the PMOI
Shabnam Madadzadeh, the political secretary of the Islamic Association in the Teacher Training
University in Karaj and her brother, Farzad Madadzadeh were each sentenced to five years of
prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
Their lawyer Mohammad Oliayi Far, announced this news saying that their sentence was illegal and
that he would request an appeal.
This brother and sister were charged with moharebeh, spreading propaganda against the
government and having communications with the PMOI. Shabnam Madadzadeh (DOB 1988) is
the assistant secretary of the Office for Consolidating Unity Council in Tehran and a member of
the Teacher Training University's Islamic Association who was arrested on February 19, 2009 by
security forces for unknown reasons and was jailed in Evin Prison. (Jaras Website – Feb. 10, 2010)
Iran sentences human rights lawyer to one year of prison for defending executed minor
Mohammad Oliayi Fard, lawyer, was sentenced to one year of prison by the Revolutionary
Court.
Oliayi Fard was sentenced to one year of prison on Sunday February 7 on charges of spreading
propaganda against the government after protesting the implementation of the execution
sentence of Behnoud Shojayi and other minors sentenced to death. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 10, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
Seyed Hassan Ahmadian, the head of the Mir Hossein Moussavi's election staff, was sentenced to 6 years of prison and
barred for life from running any kind of institution of being involved in any kind of political and social activities.
His sentence was announced to his lawyer on February 8. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 12, 2010)
All phones cut off in Evin and Gohardasht Prisons after mass arrests on Feb. 11
Mostly all phones in various halls and sections of Evin and Gohardasht Prison have been cut off by orders of the heads
of these prisons from 48 hours ago.
With this measure, the heads of prisons have cut off prisoners from the outside world. Despite the fact that officials have
not gave a specific reason for this act, informed sources say that this was probably done because of the unprecedented
number of people who were arrested and their transfer to this prison and to prevent events inside the prison from being
published. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 12, 2010)
Mother and son sentenced to prison for going to visit relatives in Ashraf
According to reports, on February 8, political prisoner Zahra Asadpour Gorji, 51, and her son
Reza Joshan, 25, were taken to the first branch of the Revolutionary Court and sentenced to
one year of prison in exile to be served in Zanjan Prison and 4 years of exile to the Gheilar
Village in Zanjan by Asef Hosseini, the head of this branch.
Political prisoner Zahra Asadpour suffers from severe heart problems and high blood pressure
and had an operation before her arrest.
Mrs. Asadpour was arrested on December 7 after an attack by agents of this Ministry. She was
thrown in a solitary cell in section 8 in Gohardasht Prison which belongs to the intelligence
agency. She was under torture and interrogated for several weeks by a man named Mohebi,
head interrogator for the Intelligence Agency. This political prisoner and her son were arrested
before this and imprisoned for 16 months in Gohardasht Prison for visiting their relative in
Camp Ashraf in Iraq.
Reza Jushan, her 25 year old son was arrested on December 1 and thrown in solitary in section
8 of this prison which is known as the RGC section. He was kept in solitary for close to 2 months and was then
transferred to section 4.
Attacks against students, political activists and families are carried out by Mohebi. He is a head interrogator in the
intelligence agency in section 8. This ward is made up of solitary cells like Evin Prison's section 209 and is under the
control of the Ministry of Intelligence. Mohebi, interrogates and tortures political prisoners in this section in addition to
threatening and abusing families (of political activists). (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 15, 2010)
Journalist sentenced to 3 years of prison
Alireza Saghafi, a journalist and editor of the 'Rah-e Ayandeh' Monthly Journal was sentenced to three years of prison.
This civil rights and labor activist was arrested before the elections and was released on bail. He was once again arrested
last week and transferred to Evin Prison.
His son Mohsen Saghafi was also sentenced to two years of prison. (Neda-ye Sabz-e Azadi – Fe. 15, 2010)
Head of website sentenced to 16 years of prison
According to reports, Hamzeh Karami, a member of the Kargozaran Party and head of the Jomhuriat (Republican)
Website who was the former governor of Varamin and member of the RGC was sentenced to 16 years of prison and a
fine of 6 billion tomans. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 17, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
Morteza Semiari, a member of the central council for the Office for Consolidating Unity who was
arrested on January 4, 2010, was sentenced to six years of prison.
Semiari was sentenced to one year of prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the
government and 5 years of prison on charges of gathering to act against national security. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 19, 2010)
Azeri writer sentenced to 5 years of prison
Naqi Ahmadi Moqadam, an Azeri writer and journalist was sentenced to 5 years of prison and a 10 year ban from going
to the Republic of Azerbaijan by the 3rd branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Feb. 20, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Student activist in Rasht sentenced to 3 years of prison


A member of the Office for Consolidating Unity and the head of the Gilan branch of this
organization was sentenced to three years of prison.
Seyed Kuhzad Ismaili who was serving his four months of prison in the Rasht Lakan Prison was
sentenced to three years of prison on charges of insulting the leader and spreading propaganda against
the government. (Advar News – Feb. 22, 2010)
Alameh University student activist sentenced to 4 years of prison
Majid Asadi, a student of Alameh University who was trialed last year on charges of acting against national
security in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court was sentenced to four years of prison.
He was arrested last year and put on trial by Judge Salavati on charges of acting against national security by
organizing gatherings. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 22, 2010)
Kurd journalist sentenced to 31 years of prison
The death sentence of Adnan Hassan Pour, a Kurd journalist, was lowered to 31 years of prison by the
Supreme Court. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 23, 2010)
Ashura protesters sentenced to 8 years of prison
Sina Golchin who was arrested on Ashura was sentenced to 8 years of prison by the Revolutionary Court.
He did not have a lawyer in court and only after his sentence was issued he was able to acquire a lawyer to request an
appeal. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 23, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to four years of prison
Mehdi Khodayi, a member of the Shahre Rey Free University's Islamic Association and human rights activist
was sentenced to four years of prison by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
The announcement of his sentence comes more than one year after his trial which was held in 2008. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 26, 2010)
Student sentenced to 6 years of prison without due process
Omid Montazeri, who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009), was sentenced to six years of prison. Yesterday
morning, this sentence was announced to him by Judge Salavati. This is while his lawyer was not allowed to participate
in any of the interrogation sessions or court and was not even able to examine his case. Omid Montazeri is in his last
year of law school in the Alameh Tabatabayi University in Tehran and is also a poet and journalist. His father, Hamid
Montazeri was executed in the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb.
28, 2010)
March
Amir Kabir student sentenced to 4 years of prison
Mohammad Yusefi, a student studying ship making in Amir Kabir University who has been detained since December 7,
2009 was sentenced to 4 years of prison.
Mohammad Yusefi was charged with assembling and conspiring to disrupt national security even as he has not
participated in any gathering and was arrested before the start of the gathering on December 7 while entering the
university. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 2, 2010)
5 Kurd political activists sentenced to 6 years of prison
Five political activists in the province of Kurdistan were sentenced to 30 years of prison by the 1st branch of the Sanandaj
Revolutionary Court. These men are Hoshyar Ahmadi, Bahman Sayidi, Jahanbakhsh Ahmadi, Sirvan Mahmoudi and
Sivan Rahimi who were arrested last winter in a village by security forces. They were each sentenced to 6 years of prison
on charges of acting against national security. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 5, 2010)
Lawyer of elderly political activist says he was charged with moharebeh
Mohammad Sharif, the lawyer of Mohammad Maleki, who was the head of Tehran University in
the interim government (the first government after the revolution), announced that his client was
released on a one billion rial bail (about 100,000 dollars) last week and said, "According to the
issued bill of indictment, my client was accused of moharebeh (enmity with God) based on article
186 of the Islamic Penal Code on charges of having communications with an illegal organization".
He said that the other charges against Maleki were insulting Khomeini, the leadership and
spreading propaganda against the government. (ILNA state-run news agency – March 6, 2010)
Iran sentences journalist to 5 years or prison
Bahman Ahmadi Amuyi, a journalist, was sentenced to 5 years of prison by the 54th branch of the
review court.
This journalist who has been jailed since June was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months of prison and 74 lashes in a court
of first instance and officials have so far opposed the requests of his family and lawyer for him to be released on bail or
receive a leave. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 7, 2010)
Two student activists sentenced to prison terms
The initial sentence for Mehrdad Bozorg and Ehsan Dolatshah was issued by 26th branch of the
Tehran Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Pir Abassi. These two members of the Liberal
Students and Graduates of Iran's Universities were sentenced to one year of prison on charges
of spreading propaganda against the government. Six months of their prison term is suspended.
(Bamdad Khabar website – March 9, 2010)
87 Ashura protesters sentenced to prison terms
The sentences for 87 people who were convicted in the Ashura (December 27, 2009) protests after the elections have
been finalized and their cases have been referred to the Sentence Implementation Department. According to a report by
the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran these sentences which mostly include prison terms have been referred to
the Tehran Revolutionary Court Sentence Implementation Department. These convicts have been charged with
assembling and conspiring against national security, spreading propaganda against the government, being members of
anti-revolutionary grouplets, participating in illegal gatherings and disrupting public order. (ISNA state-run news agency
– March 16, 2010)
Political prisoners sentenced to 30 years of prison
According to reports from Sanandaj, the Kurdistan Revolutionary Court presided over by Mostafa Tayari issued another
17-year-prison term for political prisoner Farhad Mirzayi.
Farhad Haji Mirzayi was temporarily released on a heavy bail after two years of torture in the Kurdistan Intelligence
Agency, Evin Prison and Qezel Hesar Prison. Farhad was sentenced to ten years and six months of prison the first time
in a show trial in Tehran.
His 17 year prison term was issued for him in his absence and it has been stated in his sentence that the case of Farhad
Haji Mirzayi is open for investigation and trial. (Iran Press News Website – March 16, 2010)
Jailed student sentenced to 6 months of prison
According to reports, the prison sentence of a student activist in the province of Mazandaran was confirmed.
A court of Review in Mazandaran upheld the six months prison sentence for Moshfeq Samandari who has been jailed
for 80 days in a solitary cell in the Intelligence Agency Detention Center in Sari. He was charged with advertising
Baha'ism.
According to report, this student activist is suffering from heart problems due to pressures from unsuitable prison
conditions and interrogations and is currently receiving treatment. (International Human Rights Campaign in Iran –
March 25, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to one and a half years of prison
Amir-Hossein Tavakoli, a master's degree student in the Qazvin Free University was sentenced to one a half years of
prison by a court of review.
His family's request for his temporary release for the new years was not accepted and he is currently jailed.
Amir-Hossein Tavakoli was arrested on November 8, 2009 by intelligence agents and was transferred to Evin Prison's
section 350. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 27, 2010)
Women's rights activist sentenced to 8 years of prison
Shahnaz Gholami, an Azeri activist and women's rights activist was sentenced to 8 years of
prison by the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz.
She was sentenced on charges of spreading lies, spreading propaganda against the government
and being a member of and active in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran by
cooperating with the Homa News Agency.
This sentence was issued even as Gholami has been out of the country for close to a year to get
political asylum and is currently in Turkey with her daughter. She has denied any affiliations
with the PMOI. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 29, 2010)
Female human rights activist sentenced to one year of prison; illegally tried for second time
In an illegal trial, the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad sentenced a former member of the Human
Rights Activists in Iran to one year of prison.

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January – October 2010

Judge Khodadadi, the head of the 1st branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad sentenced Sama Behbahani, a
human rights activist from Bandar Abbas on charges of being a member of the Human Rights Activists in Iran to six
months of prison and to another six months of prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the government.
According to reports, after the finalization of this sentence, her case will be sent to the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj
for her previous sentence of 3 years in prison to be carried out.
Sama Behbahani was illegally tried twice for the same charges. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– March 29, 2010)
April
List of prison sentences of jailed post election protesters in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison
We have obtained a list of the prison sentences of unknown prisoners in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison:
Nasir Asadi – 2 years of prison
Ali Arshadi – 2 years of prison
Iman Azarian – 6 years of prison
Shahab Akbarzadeh – one year of prison and lashes
Hassan Etemadi – one year of prison
Mohammad-Javad Rashad – 2 years of prison
Mohammad-Ali Rabati – 2 years of prison
Sassan Satarzadeh – 1 year of prison
Mehrdad Sepahvand – 2 years of prison
Soheil Mohammadi Nasir Mahaleh – 4 years of prison
Amin Keshavarz – one year of prison and one year of suspended prison
Abuzar Mehrani – 2 years of prison
Hesam Tarmesi – 1 year or prison
Hamid Pirouzfam – one year of prison
Ali Parviz – 3 years of prison
Ahmad Bahrami – 6 months of prison and 6 and half years of suspended prison
Ardashir Fazri – 2 years of prison
Abtin Ghafari – 3 years of prison
Seyed Navid Kamran – one year of prison
Ali Qasemi – one year of prison
Saman Nuranian – 3 years of prison
Sayid Soudmeli – 1 year of prison (Nedaye Sabze Azadi – April 3, 2010)
Human rights activist sentenced to 11 years of prison
According to reports, Abolfazl Abedini, a journalist who worked with the Human Rights Activists in Iran and was
arrested on March 2 after Revolutionary Guards Corp forces raided his home in Ahwaz, was sentenced to 11 years of
prison by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Ahwaz despite the fact that he was acquitted before. (Iran News
Agency – April 5, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to 5 years of prison on charges of assembling
Shahab Tabatabayi was sentenced to 5 years of prison by a court of review.
"The court of review upheld the exact sentence of the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court", he said
confirming his 5 year prison sentence.
Tabatabayi who was arrested after the elections was sentenced to 5 years of prison by the 15th branch
of the Revolutionary Court by Judge Salavati on charges of acting against national security, spreading
propaganda against the government and assembling and conspiring to disrupt national security and
has been on a furlough since February 17, 2010. (ILNA state-run news agency – April 6, 2010)
Former government spokesman sentenced to 5 years of prison
The spokesman of the Khatami government and head of the Participation Front, Ramezanzadeh, was sentenced to 5
years of prison by the 54th branch of the Tehran court of review. (ILNA state-run news agency – April 6, 2010)
Jailed female student activist sentenced to 2 years and 4 months of prison
Mahdieh Golro, a member of the Council in Defense of Education and student activist was sentenced to 2 years and 4
months of prison.
Her trial was held on April 4 in the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Pir Abassi. Because her
lawyer, Amir Reyisian, was not able to defend her for legal reasons, this student activist defended herself in court.
Mahdieh Golro who was expelled from Alameh University was arrested in her home with her husband on December 3,
2009. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 11, 2010)
Kurd political activist sentenced to one year of prison
Massoud Hossein Panahi, a Kurd political activist was sentenced to one year of prison on charges of acting against
national security and organizing protest gatherings. He was sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj
and is currently in the Qarveh Prison. (Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners – April 11, 2010)
Kurd activist sentenced to 4 years of prison
Mahi-oddin Azadi, a Kurd activist from Seqez was sentenced to four years of prison by the first branch of the Kurdistan
Military Court.
This Kurd activist, who has been jailed for more than a year was condemned on charges of espionage by sending
confidential documents to foreigners and gathering news and information from the city and sending it to foreigners.
Mahi-oddin Azadi has spent some of his jail time in a detention center in Sanandaj and the rest in Seqez Prison. He is
suffering from digestive and neurotic problems in jail. (Mukarian News Agency – April 12, 2010)
Two prisoners sentenced to heavy prison terms
The 36th branch of the Court of Review sentenced Ayub Porkar, a pilot in the Iran-Iraq war to 12 years of prison and
political prisoner Reza Khademi to 20 years of prison.
Nasrin Sutodeh, their lawyer said, "Despite the fact that the sentence have still not been announced, these prison terms
were announced to their families when they went to the court of review".
Before this, Sutodeh had told the media that the basis of such sentences was his client's phone conversations and the
contents of his personal emails. According to her, the five page bill of indictment issued for his client concentrated on
his beliefs and not his crimes.
These men were initially sentenced to death by the 15th and 26th branches of the Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 12, 2010)
Protester sentenced to two years of prison
Hossein Vahed charged with participating in the events of Ashura (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to two years of
prison.
This prisoner, who is a master's degree student of management at Kashan University is in Evin Prison's cellblock 350 and
has not been able to obtain a furlough from prison. His two year prison sentence was recently issued because he
participated in the 'Ashura seditions'.
On Ashura and the days after that, a large number of citizens were arrested on bogus charges such as participating in the
seditions and jailed and have received prison terms. Many of these people are in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 13, 2010)
Man sentenced to two years of prison for going to park
Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher from Mashhad who was sentenced to six years of prison by a court of first instance
was sentenced to two years of prison by a court of review.
Sediqeh Maleki Far, his wife said, "On June 15, 2009 he was walking in the park when a Bassij came and told my
husband to come with him and they arrested him in this way".
"His only crime was being in the park. Later, when they saw that they could not pin any charges on him, they said he was
in Mir Hossein Moussavi's election staff", she added.
Prison officials did not give Khastar a new year leave despite his unsuitable health in prison. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – April 14, 2010)
Kurd political activist sentenced to 2 years and 4 months of prison
The prison sentence for Mohammad Qavami, a political activist who was sentenced to two years and four months of
prison by the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj was finalized. He was charged with having links to a Kurd Party and
damaging the territorial integrity of (the country).
This sentence was upheld by the fourth branch of the Kurdistan Court of Review. (Kurdistan Human Rights Watch
News Agency – April 15, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 2 years of prison
According to reports, Hajir Kordnejad, a student activist in the Social Sciences School in Tehran
University who was arrested on December 3, 2009 was sentenced to two years of prison in a court of first
instance. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 17, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Three reformists get six-year jail terms in Iran: agency


Three leading Iranian political reformists have been sentenced to six years in jail and barred from involvement in politics
or journalism for 10 years, the ISNA news agency reported on Sunday.
Mohsen Mirdamadi, head of the Participation Front, the main reformist party, former deputy interior minister Mostafa
Tajzadeh and Davoud Soleimani were found guilty of harming national security and propaganda against the regime…
According to Iranian media reports, 10 protesters charged with taking part in the post-election unrest have been
sentenced to death. (AFP - April 18, 2010)
Iran sentences student activist to 3 years of prison
Arash Sadeqi, a student of Alameh Tabatabayi University in Tehran was sentenced to 3 years of prison.
According to reports, this student used to attend Amir Kabir University in Tehran but was expelled last year because of
political issues. He was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009) and received a new years furlough after three months of
prison. He was once again jailed on April 4.
Arash Sadeqi told his friends while on break that he was severely beaten in prison to the extent that his shoulder was
dislocated two times. (Jaras Website – April 18, 2010)
Three prisoners sentenced to additional prison terms for writing letter from prison
Sahand Ali Mohammadi, Bakhali Mohammadi and Abadollah Qasem Zadeh, three Azeri Ahle Haq prisoners in Yazd
Prison were sentenced to an additional 30 months of prison each.
According to this sentence, the Revolutionary Court charged them with publishing lies with the intention of instigating
public opinion by writing about their condition in Orumieh Prison and insulting the leadership.
Those close to the families of these three prisoners have said that they were each sentenced to 30 months of prison after
Orumieh Prison made these allegations against them. With these additional prison terms, these prisoners now have 15
years and 6 months of prison each. (Savalan Sassi Website – April 20, 2010)
Tehran University student sentenced to one year of prison
Foad Shams, a student activist at Tehran University who was arrested on December 2, 2009 by the
intelligence agency outside Tehran University and has been jailed for 97 days in cellblock 209 in Evin
Prison was sentenced to 6 months of prison and 6 months of suspended prison by the 26 th branch of
the Revolutionary Court. He has been charged with spreading propaganda against the government.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 22, 2010)
Peaceful protester sentenced to four years of prison
Kiarash Kamrani, who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009) has been sentenced to four years of prison.
This student was sentenced to 4 years of prison by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court on charges of
participating in gatherings. His sentence is currently being reviewed.
Kamrani is detained in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. His family has said that they are extremely concerned for his
physical and mental condition.
According to his family, this student only participated in peaceful protests and has not done anything illegal. (Peik-e-Iran
Website – April 20, 2010)
Protester sentenced to 18 months of prison
Mehrdad Aslani, a protester in the post election events was sentenced to 18 months of prison for participating in
peaceful protests. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 22, 2010)
Three Ashura protesters sentenced to prison
Arash Qasemi was sentenced to two years of prison in a court of review. According to this report, Abolfazl Qasemi was
also sentenced to three years of prison by the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
Omid Yavari who was arrested along with Arash and Abolfazl on Ashura (December 27, 2010) was sentenced to 5 years
of prison by Moqiseh, the judge in the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
Abolfazl Qasemi has a master's degree in law from Alameh University in Tehran. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – April 22, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to one year of prison
Student activist Milad Fadayi was sentenced to one year of prison by the 28th branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Moqiseh.
He has been charged with 'spreading propaganda against the government'.
This is while 4 months has passed from his temporary detention and the prosecutor has refused to
turn his detention order to a bail order. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 22, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to 3 years of prison
Political activist Farid Taheri, was sentenced to three years of prison in a court of first instance.
He was charged with assembling and conspiring to commit crimes against the country, spreading propaganda against the
government and disrupting public order in court a session held on April 18, 2010.
This engineer who is also a member of the Iran Freedom Movement was summoned and subsequently arrested on
January 17, 2010. He was transferred to cellblock 350 after two months of temporary detention in Evin Prison's
notorious cellblock 209. (Jaras Website – April 26, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to two years of prison
The 28th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court headed by Moqiseh, sentenced Mohsen Ghamin, a student activist,
to prison.
According to reports, Ghamin, a construction engineer student at Amir Kabir University and member of the Students
for Freedom and Equality was sentenced to 2 years of prison on charges of acting against security. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – April 27, 2010)
Bu-Ali Sina University student sentenced to 2 years of prison
Mohsen Abdi, an agricultural major at Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan who was arrested during the Ashura protests
(December 27, 2009) was sentenced to two years of prison last week by the 28 th branch of the Revolutionary Court
headed by Moqiseh.
Mohsen Abdi is currently detained in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and he has been deprived of going on a furlough.
His family cannot effectively pursue his case because they live in another town and have a bad financial condition.
(Daneshju News – April 28, 2010)
Kurd activist sentenced to 18 months of prison
Sadeq Ahangari who is a resident of Bukan was sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad.
This man was arrested last February by security forces in Bukan and was recently sentenced to 18 months of prison by
the Revolutionary Court.
He has been charged with working with dissident parties and is currently in Mahabad Prison. (Mukarian News Agency –
April 28, 2010)
Labor activists sentenced to prison
On the eve of Labor Day, Homayoun Jaberi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus
Company, was sentenced to one year of prison which has been suspended for three years.
He was charged with assembling and conspiring to disrupt the security of the country, spreading propaganda against the
government and disrupting public order.
Jaberi was arrested by security forces on May 1, 2009 two hours before a Labor Day ceremony near Laleh Park. He was
taken to cellblock 240 after being detained in Police Station 147. Jaberi was released 20 days later on a 50 million toman
(about 50 thousand dollars) bail. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
May
Two protesters sentenced to four years of prison
Two protesters who were arrested in the post-election protests were sentenced to 8 years of prison put together.
According to reports, Saied Hadri and Morteza Layaqi were sentenced to four years of prison each by the 15 th branch of
the Revolutionary Court headed by Salavati. They were transferred to court in the morning and were deprived of lawyers
in the whole legal process. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 2, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
Ali Veqfi, the head of the students committee of Moussavi's election staff in Tehran was sentenced to six years of prison.
He was charged with assembling and conspiring with the intention of acting against national security and disrupting
public order. Five years of his six year sentence is suspended provided he does not participate in any political activities.
(Kalameh Website – May 4, 2010)
Ashura protester sentenced to 6 years of prison
Puria Qorbani, who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to six years of prison yesterday.
He is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and received his six year prison term yesterday from Judge Salavati.
He was sentenced to four years of prison for acting against national security, one year on charges of spreading
propaganda against the government and one year on charges of insulting the leader. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – May 3, 2010)
Iran sentences student activist to two years of prison

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January – October 2010

Massoud Babapour, a student at the Free Garmsar University was sentenced to two years of prison by the 28 th branch of
the Revolutionary Court run by Moqiseh. He is a student activist who majored in industrial engineering at the Free
Garmsar University. (Daneshju News – May 4, 2010)
Iran sentences teacher to prison
The Revolutionary Court has sentenced Hassan Salehzadeh, a member of the board of directors of the
Teacher Association in Kurdistan, to one year of prison which has been suspended for two years.
According to reports, this high school teacher and head of the Ribaz Science Education Center in Saqez
was arrested by security forces on July 12, 2009.
He was under physical and mental torture for 26 days in a prison in the Saqez and Sanandaj Intelligence
Agencies. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 5, 2010)
Iran sentences Canadian-Iranian journalist to 13 years of prison and 74 lashes
The Revolutionary Court sentenced Maziar Bahari, Iranian-Canadian
journalist and filmmaker to more than 13 years of prison.
Bahari, 42, who is a Newsweek reporter went to Iran last year to cover the
presidential elections. He was arrested one day after the elections and held in
a solitary cell for 118 days.
He was then released on a 3 billion toman bail and left Iran.
The 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Bahari to 5 years of
prison for assembling and conspiring with the intention of committing a
crime against national security, 4 years of prison for gathering and having
possession of classified documents, one year of prison for spreading
propaganda against the government, 2 years of prison for insulting the leader
of the Revolution, 6 months of prison for insulting the president ,1 year of prison on charges of disrupting public order
and 74 lashes. (BBC Farsi service – May 10, 2010)
Iran sentences Qazvin University student to more than 9 years of prison
Arsalan Abdi, a Qazvin International University student was sentenced to 9 and a half years of prison.
Arsalan, a master‘s degree student of constructional engineering, was sentenced to 9 and half years of prison by Judge
Salavati in a court of first instance. This student activist was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2010) before the clashes
and even the demonstrations and is still in Evin Prison. Security forces have threatened his family into silence to the
extent that after two months of detention, he is still denied a lawyer and phone calls and visits with his family.
Some time after his arrest, security forces raided his fiancé‘s home in Qazvin and confiscated her personal items. His
fiancé was detained in Evin prison for 17 days without any charges and was interrogated and psychologically tortured to
confess and write against her best friends and university classmates. Abdi‘s two sisters were also arrested and used as a
pressure tool against him. These pressures were to the extent that when faced with his refusal to accept bogus charges,
Abdi‘s interrogators threatened that they would rape and sexually abuse his fiancé and sisters. (Daneshju News – May 12,
2010)
Iran upholds 13 year prison term for student
According to reports, the 13 year prison sentence for Misaq Yazdan Nejad was
upheld by the 36th branch of the Revolutionary Court of Review.
Misaq Yazdan Nejad was arrested in a ceremony to commemorate the 19th
anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. He was recently
sentenced to 13 years of prison by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court
headed by Salavati which was upheld by the 36th branch of the Revolutionary
Court of Review headed by Babayi.
This 23 year old university student who studied translation at the Payame Noor
University was arrested on September 10, 2007 after an attack by intelligence
agents and was taken to a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison where he was
physically and psychologically tortured by intelligence agents for more than 6
months. In the first 3 months of his incarceration he was barred from making calls
with his family. He was then transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and was
then taken to Gohardasht Prison on orders of the head of Evin Prison, Sedaqat
and the head of cellblock 350, Mostafa Bozorgnia.
This student is suffering from serious illnesses and last year while he was
hospitalized for an operation, he was pulled out of the hospital bed minutes before
the surgery and taken back to Gohardasht Prison. He is currently jailed in cellblock 4 in this prison in Karaj. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 14, 2010)
Iran sentences journalist who disclosed vote fraud to 8 months of prison
Mohammad-Reza Nasab Abdollahi, a journalist from Shiraz who published the news and picture of 4 ballot boxes in the
presidential elections was sentenced to 8 months of prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the government.
The first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz sentenced him to prison for publishing this news and giving
interviews to Farsi television stations outside Iran.
The news on the discovery of these four ballot boxes was initially published on July 1, 2009 along with pictures of a visit
by the Fars Governor and the head of the Shiraz Friday Prayers to the Central Shiraz Library which was under
construction. There were four deserted and uncounted ballot boxes in the library. (Kalameh
Website – May 14, 2010)
Iran sentences student activist to 27 months of prison and a 30 year ban from political activities
Mehdi Tajik, a master‘s degree student in Tehran University was sentenced to 27 months of prison
and banned from political activities for 30 years by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
This is while there is no evidence in his file that this media activist participated in the gatherings
after the elections. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 13, 2010)
Iran sentences writer to 6 years of prison
Ali Mahmoudi, a social activist, writer and member of the Marivan Literature Society in Kurdistan was sentenced to six
years of prison by a court of review.
He was charged with acting against national security for supporting the illegal Komala Party of Kurdistan and was
sentenced to six years of prison.
Mahmoudi has denied all the charges. (Kurdaneh Website – May 15, 2010)
Two student activists sentenced to heavy prison terms
The 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Moqiseh sentenced two
members of the Central Council of the Office for Consolidating Unity to 16
years and 6 months of prison.
Bahareh Hedayat was sentenced to 9 year and 6 month prison for:
Spreading propaganda against the government and acting against national
security by issuing statements and giving interviews – 5 years of prison
Insulting the leader – 2 years of prison
Insulting the president – 6 months of prison
Her previous case which led to her arrest on June 12, 2006 in Haft-e Tir Square
resulted to an additional 2 years of prison.
Milad Assadi was sentenced to 7 years of prison for:
Acting against national security and propagating against the government – 5 years
of prison
Insulting the leader – 2 years of prison (Daneshju News – May 19, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to four years of prison
Political activist Amir Khosro Dalirsani was sentenced to four years of prison by the 28 th branch of the Tehran
Revolutionary Court. He was arrested about one week after Ashura (December 27, 2009). (Parliament News Website –
May 19, 2010)
Two female political prisoners sentenced to prison terms
The 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court announced the sentences for political prisoners Massoumeh Yavari and
Zahra Jabari.
Massoumeh Yavari was sentenced to 7 years of prison in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj while Zahra Jabari
was sentenced to four years of prison.
Yavari is a homemaker who was sentenced to moharebeh (waging war with God) and the representative of the Terhan
Prosecutor had requested the death sentence for her. Mrs. Yavari has two children aged 4 and 11 and her husband was
jailed as a political prisoner in the 80‘s.
Zahra Jabari, 36, is married and has one child. She was arrested on Quds Day and has been sentenced to four years of
prison. (Kalameh Website – May 19, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Student activist sentenced to one year of prison


Mohammad Yusef Rashidi, a student activist at Amir Kabir University was sentenced to one year of prison in a court of
first instance.
He was tried on May 2 in the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Pir Abbas. Rashidi was charged with
propagandist activities against the government. (Daneshju News Website – May 19, 2010)
18 year old protester sentenced to 3 years of prison
Arman Rezakhani, who protested the presidential election results in Iran, was sentenced to 3 years of prison by the
Revolutionary Court.
This is while he has been jailed for close to 6 months and is only 18 years old.
He was arrested in protests on Ashura (December 27, 2009) and is currently in cellblock 7 in Evin Prison. (Ham Mihan
Website – May 20, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to 3 years of prison
The three year prison term for Saman Nuranian was upheld by the court of review.
The initial sentence for Nuranian, a graduate of Amir Kabir University‘s School of Medical Engineering, was issued by
the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati.
Nuranian was arrested after protests on December 27, 2009 (Ashura) and is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
(Daneshju News Website – May 20, 2010)
Labor activist sentenced to 5 years of prison
The Ahwaz court of review upheld the 5 year prison term for Pejman Rahimi, a labor activist in Khuzestan. The 5 year
prison sentence for Mohammad-Ismail Vandi, a cultural and social activist in Ahwaz was also upheld by this court. (Iran
News Agency – May 22, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 4 years of prison
Sina Golchin, a constructional engineer student at the Free Central Tehran University who was arrested by security
forces on January 7 in his home on charges of participating in demonstrations on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was
sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of prison by a court of review.
This 20 year old student who was not involved in any political activities before this was forced to participate in a show
televised trial after being subjected to severe physical and mental pressure.
He was deprived of a lawyer in trial and his family was able to get him a lawyer and file for an appeal only after his
sentence was issued.
Despite his family‘s constant requests for him to be granted a leave, he only once received a 10 day leave. During his
leave, interrogators constantly called him and his family threatening and harassing him to give more interviews. At one
point, interrogators stormed his home and threatened him. His refusal to give in to their demands finally led to his
arrest after 10 days and he was sent back to prison. He is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. (Daneshju News
Website – May 24, 2010)
Iran sentences student activist to 2 years of prison
Student activist Ali Salem was sentenced to 2 years of prison. This Amir Kabir University major degree student was jailed
during the widespread arrest of student activist on December 3, 2007 and was later released on bail. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – May 26, 2010)
Elite student sentenced to 3 years of prison
Arman Rezakhani, an IT engineering student, was sentenced to 3 years of prison by Judge Moqiseh in the 28th branch of
the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
He was sentenced to 2 years of prison on charges of ‗insulting the leader‘, one year of prison on charges of ‗insulting the
system‘ and a 100,000 toman ($100) fine for ‗insulting the president‘.
This elite 20 year old student was under torture and pressure in the first 40 days of his arrest in the RGC detention
centers including the Kakhe Javanan (Youth Castle) and 2A detention centers where he was forced to make false
confessions and was sent to Evin Prison on promises of being released.
Rezakhani was arrested on December 18, 2009 in Mirdamad Stree in Tehran. He was jailed in cellblock 350 for three
months and is currently in cellblock 7 Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 27, 2010)
Another protester sentenced to 6 years of prison
Activist Omid Sharifi Dana, 26, who was arrested in the Ashura protests was sentenced to 6 years of prison.
He was arrested on the street a few days after Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) by intelligence agents. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – May 29, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to 5 years of prison
Mohsen Amin Zadeh, a member of the Participation Front who had been sentenced to 6 years of prison in a court of
first instance was sentenced to 5 years of prison in a court of review.
He was charged with assembling and conspiring to disrupt national security and propagandist activities by giving
interviews to foreign networks. (Kalameh Website – May 30, 2010)
Ashura protester sentenced to six years of prison
Kiarash Kamrani who was arrested on December 27, 2009 (Ashura) was sentenced to six years of prison and a (4 million
rial) 400 dollar fine by the 54th branch of the Tehran Court of Review.
This 27 year old man is a physics student at Lorestan University and has a master‘s degree in executive management
from the Payame Noor University in Tehran. He was arrested on the evening of December 27 near the Valiasr
Intersection in Tehran. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 28, 2010)
Brother and sister sentenced to 5 years of prison for having relatives in Ashraf
Shabnam and Farzad Madadzadeh were each sentenced to 5 years of prison to be
served in a prison outside their home town. After protesting Shabnam‘s five year
prison term to be served in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj, and the
five year prison term with the same conditions for her brother which was issued by
the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court, the 54th branch of the Tehran Court
of Review confirmed this sentence with the exact conditions.
Shabnam Madadzadeh, the assistant secretary of the Tehran Office for
Consolidating Unity and a member of the Central Council of the Tehran Teacher
Training University‘s Islamic Association who was arrested on February 20, 2009
on charges of acting against national security was tried on January 26, 2010 on
charges of having links to the PMOI. This student activist was kept in a solitary
cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison for more than 70 days and was under severe
physical and psychological torture along with her brother to force them into false
confessions. They never gave in to these pressures.
Her interrogators constantly told her that she was arrested because of her family
and that she had to pay back for their actions. In the court ruling, this brother and sister were convicted because of
family issues which lacks legal credibility. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 31, 2010)
June
Female political prisoner sentenced to 15 years of prison
Maryam Akbari Monfared who was arrested in the events after the elections was sentenced to 15 years of prison in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
According to informed sources, Salavati, the judge presiding over the 15 th branch of the Revolutionary Court told her
that the sentence was issued ‗with observance of Islamic compassion‘.
Akbari Monfared is the mother of three small children and is a homemaker. She was arrested in her home on December
31, 2009 after a raid by security forces. Monfared was charged with being a mohareb (at war with God) but has
constantly denied these charges.
Several of her family members were political prisoners in the 80‘s. She was kept in a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin
Prison until February 11 and despite being transferred to a public cellblock, is still jailed in Evin Prison without her
detention order being renewed. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters- June 1, 2010)
Father of Ashraf resident sentenced to 15 years of prison to be served in notorious Gohardasht Prison
According to reports, political prisoner Hamid Haeri was sentenced to 15 years of prison to
be served in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj by the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court
presided over by Mohammad Moqiseh, a member of the death commission responsible for
the massacre of political prisoner in 1988.
The Iranian regime tried him without first notifying his lawyer of family.
He was charged with moharebeh (enmity with God), visiting his son in Camp Ashraf in Iraq,
supporting the PMOI and spreading propaganda against the state among other charges.
This ailing political prisoner was transferred to a solitary cell on bogus charges in cellblock
240 and there is no news on his condition after 12 days.

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January – October 2010

Haeri is suffering from a severe heart condition and has had two heart attacks. He also sustained injuries such as a
fractured skull and a concussion in a car accident before his arrest.
This accident also left him with an injured pelvis rendering him unable to walk without crutches.
This 57 year old political prisoner was arrested on December 6, 2009 after intelligence agents raided his home and was
taken to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. He was kept in solitary for 74 days under physical and psychological torture and
threats by his interrogators. He was also a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was detained and tortured for 3 years. His
interrogator in the 80‘s was Mohammad Moqiseh who presided over his recent trial. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – June 2, 2010)
Student sentenced to 5 years of prison
Rajabali Dashab participated in the Ashura (December 27, 2009) protests in Tehran. A film depicting him in the
protests has been constantly broadcasted from state run television.
Dashab was tried by Judge Salavati in the second publicized court for Ashura protesters where he was sentenced to 6
years of prison in the initial sentence on charges of assembling and conspiring with the intention of committing crimes
against the security of the country and spreading propaganda against the state. The 15 th branch of the Revolutionary
court lowered his sentence to 5 years. (Daneshju News – June 3, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to 3 years of prison
Massoud Nour-Mohammadi was sentenced to 3 years of prison by the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
He was charged with assembling and conspiring to commit crimes against the internal security of the country.
His brother, political activist Saied Nour-Mohammadi was sentenced to one year of prison, five years of suspended
prison and a 30 year ban on all political activities. (Parliament News – June 8, 2010)
Iran sentences journalist to 2 years of prison
Hassan Etemadi, the editor of the monthly IT newspaper was arrested on December 27, 2009 on Ashura.
According to reports, he was sentenced to one year of prison and one year of suspended prison by the 28th branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Moqiseh and is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – June 17, 2010)
Children‟s rights activist sentenced to 22 months of prison
Children‘s rights activist Saied Hassanzadeh, was sentenced to 22 months of prison on charges of acting against national
security, spreading propaganda against the government by way of writing articles and acquiring illegal property.
He was arrested on January 1 in his father‘s home and after being transferred to cellblock 209 spent 70 days in very hard
conditions.
According to reports, he was active in an NGO in Shahre Rey and wrote articles on children‘s rights for various
publications. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 17, 2010)
Iran sentences journalist to more than 2 years of prison
Shahin Zinali was sentenced to two years and 91 days of prison on June 16 by the 26 th branch of the Revolutionary
Court headed by Judge Pir-Abbasi.
According to reports, he was sentenced to two years of prison for assembling and conspiring against the security of the
country by being a member of the Pan-Iranian Party and 91 days of prison for propagandist activities against the state by
participating in illegal gatherings which led to sedition and giving interviews to foreign media. He was also sentenced to a
fine of 1 million and 500,000 rials (about $10,000). (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 17, 2010)
Iran jails Getty photographer for three years: website
Iran has sentenced a freelance photographer for Getty Images photo agency to three years in prison for taking pictures of
2009 election protests, an OPPOSITION website reported on Sunday.
‗Majid Saeedi was sentenced to three years in prison,' Kaleme.com, the website of OPPOSITION leader Mir Hossein
Mousavi, reported without providing any more details.
Saeedi, an Iranian, was arrested in July 2009 along with another local photographer for sending pictures of protests
against President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's disputed re-election to foreign media.
He was released on bail after over a month in detention.
Saeedi has been taking pictures for two decades and has also worked as a photo editor for Iran's hardline Fars news
agency and several local newspapers.
Iranian authorities banned reporters working for foreign media from covering OPPOSITION demonstrations on June
16 last year a day after a massive protest march around Tehran's Azadi (freedom) square. (AFP - June
20, 2010)
Baha‟i man sentenced to more than 4 years of prison
Afshin Iqani, a Baha‘i man from Semnan was sentenced to 4 years, 3 months and one day of prison.
He was sentenced to four years of prison for ‗creating groups with the intention of disrupting the security of the
country‘. It has been stated in the sentence that any activity related to the Baha‘i faith is illegal therefore these activities
are only carried out with the intention of disrupting the security of the country. He was sentenced to 3 months and one
day of prison for spreading propaganda against the government and advertising and promoting dissident (Baha‘i) groups.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 23, 2010)
8 political and student activists sentenced to prison terms
Four student activists in Gorgan and four political activists in Mahalat were sentenced to prisoner terms.
The Revolutionary Court in Gorgan issued the sentences for four students in this city who were jailed for 10 days before
this. According to this sentence, Mobin Mir Arab was sentenced to four years of prison, Hossein Matlubi to 18 months,
Alireza Rahnamayi to 15 months and Saman Bozorgi was sentenced to one year of prison. They were charged with acting
against national security and spreading propaganda against the government.
According to other reports, the Mahalat Revolutionary Court sentence four political activists and supporters of the
Green Movement in this city to prison terms.
According to the issued sentences, Mehdi Yar Mohammadi was sentenced to one year and six months of prison, Reza
Alikhani (an activist in Moussavi‘s election campaign) was sentenced to 10 months of suspended prison for five years,
Hesamoddin Alami was sentenced to nine months of prison suspended for four years while Ali Shahbazi was sentenced
to six months of prison suspended for three years.
These political activists were charged with acting against national security.
Mohammad-Ali Elahi, another activist in this city is still in prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 28, 2010)
Labor activist sentenced to 2 years of prison
Khosro Bukani, a labor activist and a member of the Executive Board of the Committee for Coordinating to Help Form
Labor Unions, was sentenced to 2 years of prison.
The first branch of the Orumieh Revolutionary Court announced Bukani‘s two year prison sentence to him on June 28
for his membership in this organization. (Pars Daily News – June 29, 2010)
Human rights activist sentenced to 3 years of prison
Saied Kalanaki, a member of the Committee for Human Rights Reporters in Iran was
sentenced to three years of prison by the 26th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court
presided over by Judge Pir Abbasi.
He was sentenced to one year of prison for ‗spreading propaganda against the government‘
and two years of prison for ‗insulting the leader‘.
According to reports, this human rights activist and former secretary of the Student
Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners was arrested on November 30, 2009 and was
released on a 100 million toman (about $100,000) bail on March 7, 2010 after close to 100
days of detention. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 29, 2010)
Iran sentences Kurd man to prison
http://www.rhairan.in/archives/18095
Naser Saiedi was sentenced to 18 months of prison by the Saqez Revolutionary Court for cooperating with an illegal
(Kurd) party.
According to reports, this political prisoner from Baneh has recently been transferred to Baneh Prison from Saqez Prison
to serve his sentence. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 30, 2010)
July
Student activist sentenced to 2 years of prison and fine
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2467-1.html
Pedram Raf-ati, a former student activist at the Amir Kabir University in Tehran was sentenced to 2 years of prison and a
300,000 toman fine by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati.
He was sentenced to two years of prison on charges of assembling and conspiring to act against national security and
participating in the seditions (June 15, 2009 march in Tehran). Raf-ati was also sentenced to a 300,000 toman fine for
‗using satellite equipment in his home‘. (Daneshju News – July 1, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to one year of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2538-1.html

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January – October 2010

According to a sentence announced by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, Farzad Islami
was sentenced to one year of prison for the crime of ‗spreading propaganda against the
government‘ by participating in an illegal gathering on October 13, 2009 in the Technical School
of the Tehran Free University. This sentence has been suspended for three years.
Before this, Farzad Islami was sentenced to three semesters of suspension from education by the
Disciplinary Committee on charges of inciting and encouraging students to participating in a
gathering. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 4, 2010)
Iran sentences family members of political prisoner to prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2541-1.html
After increased pressure on the family of Anvar Hossein Panahi, a political Kurd prisoner, two of his family members
were sentenced to prison and his father was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence.
According to reports, Afshin (his brother) and Badi Hossein Panahi, were sentenced to one year of prison by the
Revolutionary Court on charges of ‗spreading propaganda against the government by giving out news to sources outside
Iran‘.
Afshin and Anvar‘s father was also recently summoned to the Intelligence Agency in Qarveh on two incidents.
Anvar is currenly in Sanandaj Prison. He was sentenced to death in an initial sentence on charges of ‗waging war with
God and acting against national security by cooperating with Kurd parties‘ but his sentence was commuted to 16 years of
prison after a number of trials.
Interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence Agency intend to try him on new charges. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
July 5, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 8.5 years of prison
Parvin Jamalzadeh who was arrested after post-election events and has been detained in Evin Prison since December 27,
2009 was sentenced to eight years and six months of prison.
She was charged with acting against national security by assembling and conspiring, disrupting public order, insulting
sanctities and insulting the leader. Despite her strong denial of all the charges, Judge Salavati, the head of the 15th
branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to eight years and six months of prison.
This is while only a few weeks ago, Tehran Prosecutor Jafari Dolat Abadi expressed surprise that this political prisoner
was still being detained and promised her that she would be released soon under suitable conditions. The Tehran
Prosecutor also told her that in light of her case, a heavy sentence would not be issued for her. But contrary to what the
Public Prosecutor of Tehran said, she received a heavy sentence.
This sentence was announced to this resident of Tehran yesterday which came as a surprise to her, her lawyer and her
family.
From the beginning of this (Persian) month, Parvin Jamalzadeh who is currently in the female cellblock in Evin Prison
has been in poor physical health but relevant officials refuse to give her medical attention. (Kalameh Website – July 6,
2010)
Iran sentences journalist to one year of prison
Journalist and human rights activist Sasan Aqayi was sentenced to one year of prison by the 28th
branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
He was charged with ‗propagandist activities against the government‘ and the judge gave this
journalist the maximum punishment for this charge.
This sentence which was signed by Moqiseh, the head of this court branch, is indefinite and can be
appealed. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 6, 2010)
Female political prisoner illegally sentenced to 5 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2687-1.html
Nahid Malek Mohammadi, 59, who is a mother of two, has been detained for six months in the female cellblock in Evin
Prison. She was sentenced to five years of prison without reason.
According to reports, she was arrested on December 31, 2009 after Ashura protests. Her husband, Ali-Asghar
Mahmoudian was arrested at 2am on the same day by security forces without an arrest warrant and was transferred to
cellblock 209 in Evin Prison.
He was put under pressure in the interrogations and was forced to announce that he and his wife had participated in the
post election protests. This is while he and his wife did not participate in the protests and this issue was not mentioned
in his wife‘s the interrogation files but agents of the intelligence agency told Mrs. Maleki in the interrogations that her
husband had confessed to participating in the protests even while this was a baseless lie…
Mrs. Maleki was arrested in July 1981 and was detained for 20 days with drug addicts and drug dealers in the Pol-e Romi
Detention Center under the worst conditions. She was subjected to various methods of torture and was severely beaten.
One example of this torture was an artificial execution near the Azadi Complex. This was all carried out while she was
two months pregnant and she constantly told authorities of her pregnancy to prevent further beatings and abuse but this
had no affect on their violent behavior. After being transferred to Evin Prison, she was once again interrogated and
beaten and finally after about 16 months on September 13, 1982 after she gave birth to her baby in prison and after her
husband was arrested she was released without being charged or even trialed. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 12,
2010)
Four Kurd political activists sentenced to heavy prison terms
After increased security measures in Kurdistan and the arrest of a large number of Kurd activists by security forces, four
Kurd activists named Neimat Eshaqi, Poshtivan Asm, Loqman Monfaredi and Sabah Khayat were each sentenced to
long prison sentences.
Neimat Eshaqi was arrested on December 4, 2009 in Kamyaran by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in this city and
was transferred to the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center. He was sentenced to 12 years of prion in a Sanandaj
Court on charges of cooperation with a Kurd dissident party.
Poshtivan Asm from the Haniman Village in Kamyaran was arrested on December 1, 2009 in Saqez by security forces.
There was no information on his whereabouts for two months in the Sanandaj Intelligence Agency Detention Center
where he was under severe torture. Asm was sentenced to 15 years of prison by the Revolutionary Court in this city on
charges of cooperation with a dissident Kurd party.
Loqman Mofaredi was arrested by security forces in Kamyaran and after three moths of severe torture in the Sanandaj
Intelligence Detention Center, the same court sentenced him to 11 years of prison on charges of cooperation with a
dissident Kurd party.
Sabah Khayat from Kamyaran was arrested on December 4 in Kermanshah by security forces in this city and was taken to
the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center and after three months of torture, was sentenced to 11 years of prison on
charges of cooperation with a dissident Kurd party. (Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Rights Prisoners – July
14, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2758-1.html
The 54th branch of the court of review in Tehran upheld the 6 year prison sentence for a member of
the Office for Consolidating Unity.
Reza Zareie, Salman Sima‘s lawyer announced this and said that the 54th branch of the court of
review ―refused our appeal for the initial sentence issued by the 15 th branch of the Revolutionary
Court which led to the 6 year prison term for Mr. Sima‖. (Advar News – July 16, 2010)
Dissident doctor sentenced to 3 years of prison and a 3 year ban on practicing medicine
According to reports, Dr. Ali Asghar Jamali was sentenced to 3 years of prison by the 2nd branch of the Qazvin
Revolutionary Court.
He was charged with ‗insulting the leader and spreading propaganda against the government‘. He was also banned from
practicing medicine in his private clinic. This sentence can be appealed within 20 days.
Dr. Jamali was arrested last July and after two months of detention in the Qazvin Intelligence Detention Center was
temporarily released on a 160 million toman (about 160,000 dollar) bail. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July
20, 2010)
Student prisoners sentenced to 6 years of prison
Arsalan Abadi, a constructional engineering student at Qazvin University who was sentenced to 9
and a half years of prison by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, was sentenced to six years
of prison in a court of review. The six year prison sentence was issued by the 54 th branch of the
Revolutionary Court.
This student was arrested on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2010) and is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin
Prison.
Abdi has been jailed for 210 days and according to reports, his sister and fiancé were detained for
30 days to put pressure on him. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 21, 2010)
Iran jails publisher of reformist newspaper: report

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January – October 2010

Iran sentenced the publisher of a banned reformist daily to 11 months in jail on charges of propaganda against the
Islamic regime and inciting unrest, ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Seda-ye Edalat (Voice of Justice) was shut down in July 2009, a few weeks after Iran's disputed presidential election, over
'insulting the founder of the Islamic republic,' late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, reports said at the time.
Tehran's penal court sentenced the publisher, Mostafa Kazzazi, 'to five months in jail for propaganda against the
establishment and six months for defaming the Islamic republic and encouraging people to act against security,' ISNA
said.
The verdict came several months after a trial that opened in March. It was issued in absentia and can be appealed, the
report said. (AFP- July 28, 2010)
August
Student activist sentenced to 7 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3095-1.html
Yashar Daralshafa, the former secretary of the Reformist Islamic Students Association of the Qazvin International
University was sentenced to seven years of prison.
He is one of the seven members of the Daralshafayi family who were arrested for more than two months and were all
transferred to Evin Prison.
This master‘s degree student of computer programming at Tehran University was sentenced to five years of prison on
charges of assembling and conspiring to commit crimes against the security of the country by intentionally participating
in what the head of the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, Salavati, called ‗street seditions. He was also sentenced
to 6 months of prison on charges of ‗feeding propaganda to the enemies of the revolution‘ and 18 months of prison for
insulting high government officials by gathering and publishing derogatory articles. (Jaras Website – Aug. 2, 2010)
Female political prisoners sentenced to more than 2 years of prison
Civil rights activist Hengameh Soluki who was arrested on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) was sentenced to 2.5 years of prison.
She was jailed for some time in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison and was temporarily released on bail before March 2010.
She was sentenced to 2 years of prison for ‗conspiring and assembling‘ and six months of prison for ‗spreading
propaganda against the government‘.
One of her charges presented in court was ‗sending a large amount of SMS to call for gatherings‘. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – Aug. 2, 2010)
Academic activist sentenced to 6 years of prison and a 5 year ban on social activities
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3126-1.html
The 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati sentenced Rasoul
Bodaqi, a member of the managing board of the Teacher Center of Iran to six years of
prison and a five year ban on social activities.
He was sentenced to one year of prison for ‗propagating against the government‘ and
five years of prison for ‗conspiring and assembling with the intention of disrupting
national security‘.
Rasoul Bodaqi was arrested on September 1, 2009 and was transferred to Rajayi Shahr
(Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj in April. (Bamdad Khabar – Aug. 3, 2010)
Iran gives two Bazaar merchants harsh sentences
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/2.html
On Sunday August 1, political prisoner Javad Lari and Mohsen Dogmehchi were sentenced to harsh, inhumane
sentences by the head of the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, Salavati. Javad Lari was sentenced to death while
Mohsen Dogmehchi was sentenced to 10 years of prison to be served in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
Dogmehchi is a 50-year-old well known Tehran Bazaar merchant who was taken to court from prison on Sunday August
1. He was tried on charges of giving financial aid to the families of political prisoners and the presence of his daughter in
Camp Ashraf in Iraq…
Another Bazaar merchant who is still detained in cellblock 209 since December 2009 is Mohammad Banazadeh Amir
Khizi. He is kept under inhumane conditions and is in an undetermined state.
Notably, Mr. Dogmehchi and Mr. Javad Lari were both political prisoners in the 80‘s who were jailed for a number of
years under torture. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 4, 2010)
Political activist sentenced to more than 4 years of prison for holding prayer ceremony
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/21749
Ismail Sahabeh was sentenced to four and a half years of prison by Judge Salavati for playing a part in holding a Kamil
prayer session (which was held to pray for the release of political prisoners after the elections).
Judge Salavati was not present in Sahabeh‘s court session and issued this prison sentence without hearing his defense.
Sahabeh is a member of the Participation Front who was arrested in the Kamil prayer session and was jailed for two
months before being temporarily released on bail. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 4, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to four years of prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_09.html
On Sunday, August 8, Ali Ajami a law student in Tehran University was taken to the 15 th branch of the Revolutionary
Court where Salavati the head of this branch sentenced him to four years of prison.
This jailed student was sentenced to one year of prison for propagating against the government and three years of prison
for conspiring against the government.
Ali Ajami was arrested on February 9, 2009 after an attack by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and was taken to
cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. After 100 days in 209, he was transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 9, 2010)
Iran sentences labor leader to another year of prison
http://www.roshangari.net/as/sitedata/20100811164828/201008111648
28.html
Mansour Osalu who was trialed while his lawyer was absent was sentenced
to another year of prison which will be carried out after the end of his
current prison term.
According to reports, Mansour Osalu, the head of the Union of Workers
of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company was tried by the first branch of
the Karaj Revolutionary Court.
He was denied a lawyer in the trial and his lawyers were not informed that
their client was even taken to court.
Osalu is suffering from serious illnesses such as heart problems, back pain
and eye problems and a legal doctor has state three times that he cannot
tolerate incarceration and according to the law, he must be released. (Jaras
Website – Aug. 11, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to 3 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3362-1.html
The 54th branch of the Review Court presided over by Judge Movahed upheld the 3 year prison sentence for Amir
Hossein Kazemi.
This sentence was upheld only one week after it was referred to the Review Court and the judge did not allow Kazemi‘s
lawyers to be present in the court to present their defense.
The initial court for this political prisoner only lasted 10 minutes and despite the issuing of the initial and final sentence
he is still kept in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison deprived of the right to contact his family.
According to informed sources, there is no evidence in his case proving his charges and his sentence was written and
confirmed by security agents.
The judge seeing to his case has not accepted his request for a leave from prison. (Human Rights Activist in Iran – Aug.
14, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to 3 years of prison and barred from education for protesting
http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article10704
Hamed Omidi was sentenced to three years of prison based on article 610 of the
Islamic Penal Code.
According to reports from Omidi‘s lawyer, this student activist was sentenced to
three years of prison on charges of assembling and conspiring against national
security. Omidi has been detained for more than 6 months. He was arrested
because of a film showing him in a protest gathering of Kurd students in
Tehran‘s universities and Judge Moqiseh sentenced him to the maximum
punishment saying that he was in the front line of the protest and was carrying a
picture (of Kurd political prisoner Ehsan Fatahian). In addition to his three year

255
January – October 2010

prison sentence he was also sentenced to being expelled from university and a ban on continuing his education in any
university or academic level.
This student who is from the town of Tukab is a educational technology at Alameh University in Tehran who was
arrested on February 10, 2010 after protesting the execution of Kurd political prisoner Ehsan Fatahian and has been
jailed in Evin Prison‘s cellblock 209 ever since. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 28, 2010)
Iran sentences free press activist to two years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3445-1.html
Mohammad Javad Mozafar, the assistant head of the Association in Defense of Prisoner‘s rights, a
member of the Central Council of the Association in Defense of Free Press and head of the Kavir
Publications was sentenced to two years of prison in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court
headed by Judge Salavati.
According to news sources, this writer and cultural activist was arrested after Ashura events and was
jailed in a solitary cell in cellblock 240 in Evin Prison for two months. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– Aug. 19, 2010)
September
Post-election protester sentenced to 6 years of prison
http://www.chrr.biz/spip.php?article11017
Nezam Hassanpour, a political prisoner who was arrested in post-election events, was sentenced to six years of prison by
Judge Salavati in the 28th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
He was sentenced to five years of prison on the charges of acting against national security based on article 616 of the
Islamic Penal Code and one year of prison on charges of resisting government forces based on article 607 of the Islamic
Penal Code.
This 25 year old man is a resident of a village in Kouhdasht and was arrested in his village five months ago by agents of
the Ministry of Intelligence with the help of Bassij forces. This is while he was kept in an undetermined state for four
months in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison and his case was not seen to.
He was arrested for participating in post-election protests last year and his picture was also published in a special edition
of the State Security Forces publication.
Hassanpour‘s brother was initially arrested and security institutions announced that Nezam Hassanpour had to turn
himself in for his brother‘s release. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 10, 2010)
Student activist sentenced to five years of prison
Hassan Assadi Zeid Abadi, a member of the Central Council of the Office for Consolidating
Unity who is also the head of the Human Rights Committee of this student organization was
sentenced to five years of prison and a one million rial (about 100 dollar) fine. According to his
lawyer an interrogator was present in Hassan Assadi‘s trial and made new charges against him in
an illegal measure.
He was sentenced to five years of prison for four charges and about 100 dollars for insulting the
president…
Assadi was arrested on November 3, 2009 by security forces and was released on bail after a
month. He was once again arrested on August 22, 2010. He is currently in cellblock 240 in Evin
Prison. (Advar News – Sep. 12, 2010)
Children‟s and women‟s rights activist sentenced to five years of prison
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/082996.htm
Mohammad Ghaznavian, a women‘s and children‘s rights activist who has a degree in political science was sentenced to
five years of prison. He was released on bail after a few months of prison on a 20 million toman bail which was later
raised to 100 million tomans. Ghaznavian was trialed on July 4 and it was announced to him two days ago that he had
been sentenced to five years of prison. (Iran Press News – Sep. 12, 2010)
Human rights activist sentenced to more than 2 years of prison and 74 lashes
Saied Haeri, a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters was sentenced to two
years and six months of prison and 74 lashes.
This human rights activist‘s sentence was issued today by the 26th branch of the
Revolutionary Court on charges of ‗disrupting public order‘ and ‗assembling and conspiring‘.
Haeri was released on a 100 million toman (about 100,000 dollar) bail after 80 days of
incarceration on March 11, 2010. He was arrested on December 20, 2009 along with human
rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari and Kohyar Goudarzi. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 19, 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 28th 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 sentences Kurd activist to 16 years of prison
http://www.rahana.org/archives/25902
On Monday this week, Mokhtar Houshmand was sentenced to 16
years of prison by the Marivan Revolutionary Court on charges of
espionage, spreading propaganda against the government and
cooperating with dissident groups. His sentence was announced to
him on Wednesday.
According to Kurdish news sources, Houshmand was arrested by
security forces on May 23 in Marivan.
Security forces told the family of this artist not to spread the news of
his arrest or talk to the media.
Houshmand is an artist, cultural activist, the head of the Marivan
Visual Arts Association and the executive manager of the yearly
design festival in West Iran and had set up numerous visual art
presentations in Marivan and other cities in Kurdistan. (Committee
of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 22, 2010)
Iran sentences blogger to 19.5 yrs. of prison
http://www.hra-news.org/00/4227-1.html
The sentence of Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan was announced today to his lawyer.

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January – October 2010

According to a sentence which was issued today by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran headed by
Judge Salavati, Derakhshan who was arrested in October 2008 was sentenced to 19 and a half years of prison, a five year
ban on membership in parties and media activities and returning funds given to him in the amount of 3,750 euros,
2,900 dollars and 22 British pounds on charges of cooperating with hostile countries, propagating against the Islamic
government, advertising for anti-revolutionary grouplets, insulting sanctities and running and managing immoral
websites.
Hossein Derakhshan was one of the first to blog in Farsi and wrote about himself, politics and the Iranian culture in
both Farsi and English in his weblog called ‗My Own Editor‘. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 28, 2010)
Kurd activist sentenced to 10 years of prison without right to lawyer
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-25-54/4235-1.html
A resident of the Salemaneh Village in Marivan was sentenced to 10 years of prison.
Gharib Fatemi, 45, who was arrested nine months ago by security forces, was sentenced to 10 years of prison.
He was charged with cooperating with dissident parties and is currently in the Marivan Central Prison. According to
those close to this Kurd activist, he was denied the right to a lawyer in all the stages of his legal procedure. (Kurdish
Perspective – Sep. 28, 2010)
October
Political prisoner sentenced to 9 years of prison and 74 lashes
http://www.hra-news.org/00/4333-1.html
The 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran headed by Judge Pir Abbasi sentenced
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, a well-known political activist, to 9 years of prison and 74 lashes.
According to reports, Tabarzadi has been charged with ‗assembling and conspiring to commit a
crime against the internal security of the country‘ and ‗insulting the Supreme Leader‘.
Tabarzadi is the spokesman for the Solitary Council for Democracy and Human Rights and the
Secretary General of the Iran Democratic Front and has been detained for more than nine months
now. He has been transferred to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj for the four past months and is kept
under hard conditions with minimum sanitary facilities. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 3, 2010)
Another blogger sentenced to 15 years of prison
Hossein Ronaqi Maleki, student activist and blogger was sentenced to 15 years of prison.
Zoleikha Moussavi, his mother, announced this sentence and said, ―Initially his sentence was to be
announced on September 26 but then they said that it would be announced on October 3. On
October 3 they took him to court without informing us or his lawyer and did not let us see him‖.
―The secretary of the court told Hossein his sentence and did not even let him see the written
sentence. They just told him that he had been sentenced to 15 years of prison‖, she added.
Hossein Ronaqi Maleki was arrested on December 13, 2009 and was taken to a solitary cell in
cellblock 2 in Evin Prison. He was under severe mental and physical pressure in his 10 months of
detention in solitary to make confessions on TV. His interrogators threatened him that if he did
not give an interview, he would receive a heavy prison term. (Daneshju News – Oct. 5, 2010)
61 post election protesters sentenced to prison terms
Sixty Four people charged in the events of 2008 received their sentences in the last month. (Public Prosecutor) Golam-
Hossein Mohseni Ejeie, said in a news conference, ―From these (64) three were cleared of
the charges and 61 people received prison terms from 6 years to 19.5 years‖.
―These sentences are initial and the court of review procedures have still not ended‖, he
added.
―From those who were convicted, one person was sentenced o 19.5 years of prison,
another person was sentenced to 15 years of prison and the rest were sentenced to less
than 15 years of prison‖.
―Some of them were also sentenced to social limitations and flogging‖, Iran‘s Public
Prosecutor added. (IRNA state-run news agency – Oct. 11, 2010)
Political prisoner sentenced to five years of prison
Mohammad Banazadeh Amir Khizi was sentenced to five years of prison to be served in
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by
Judge Salavati.
He was tried on September 26. His court was postponed four times before this. He was
tried without his lawyer, Alireza Tabatabayi.
Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, 63, was arrested in his place of work on November 30, 2009 after an attacked by
agent of the Intelligence Agency. He was transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. His wife, Shahla Zarin was
sentenced to one year of prison for visiting her child in Camp Ashraf. She was released after serving her time.
Currently his sister Kobra Banazadeh Amirkhizi is jailed for intending to visit her children in Camp Ashraf. Before this,
his brothers Asghar and Hamid Banazadeh were also sentenced to two years of prison for visiting their children in the
camp and were released some time ago after they served their sentence.
Mohammad Banazadeh is currently detained in cellblock 240 in Evin and despite receiving his sentence has not been
transferred to a public cellblock. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 16, 2010)
Iran sentences Science and Industry University students to prison terms for protesting
A number of the students of the Science and Industry University in Tehran who were arrested in student gatherings in
the university or in street demonstrations were sentenced to 10 years of prison all together.
These students who were detained in Evin Prison for some time after their arrest were temporarily released on bail until
they were summoned to the Revolutionary Court this summer and their initial sentences were announced to them…
The reason for the arrest of some these students has been stated as ‗being active in the presidential elections in 2009‘
and ‗sending emails‘…
Some of these students who were summoned to court said that their trials did not last more than 6 to 7 minutes.
(Daneshju News – Oct. 26, 2010)
Jailed student activist sentenced to four years of prison
Ali Jamali, a member of the Central Committee of the Office for Consolidating Unity and the head of
the political committee of this student organization was sentenced to four years of prison by the 28th
branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Moqiseh.
Jamali was charged with insulting the leader, insulting the president, propagating against the government
and also assembling and conspiring to disrupt internal security.
This student activist was abducted from his place of work on August 22 and was taken to Evin Prison.
He is currently in cellblock 350 in this prison and is banned from visiting his wife and 5 month old child
in person. The phones in this cellblock have also been cut off for some time now for unknown reasons.
(Daneshju News – Oct. 26, 2010)
Women‟s and children‟s rights activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
Human rights activist Parisa Kakayi was sentenced to six years of prison by the 26th branch of the
Revolutionary Court headed by Pir Abbasi.
She was sentenced to five years of prison for ‗assembling and conspiring with the intention of
disrupting national security‘ and one year of prison for ‗propagating against the government‘.
According to reports, her trial was held on October 18.
Kakayi was arrested on January 1, 2010 after being summoned to the Intelligence Agency and was
released from Evin Prion on February 17. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 28, 2010)

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January – October 2010
Basic freedom and rights abused
Right to education

Right to employment

261
January – October 2010
Basic freedom and rights abused

January
Prisoner whose kidney was taken out and sold without his consent speaks out
'My name is Afshin Karimi and I have been serving time in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj on charges of carrying illegal
arms and participating in a clash since 2004. In 2004, I realized that my left kidney had problems and after going to the
prison clinic, Doctor Changiz Zabin Daftar tested me and said that I have stones in my kidney and requested that I have
surgery.
After the surgery when I regained consciousness I realized that they had removed my left kidney and when I asked the
reason, they told me that my kidney had become infectious and that they were forced to remove it, or else it would have
damaged my other kidney.
After research that was done by my family and a legal doctor, I realized that this was a sheer lie. Doctor Changiz Zabin
Daftar and the head of the prison clinic, Doctor Asgari who work together on these issues and a number of other people
that I do not know, have removed and sold the kidneys of a number of other people in the same way...
From that time on, I have developed problems in my other kidney. It has been six months that I have requested a surgery
but my request has not been accepted, and I suffer from daily kidney pain. I do not what to do and who to talk to'.
Afshin Karimi, ward 1 of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 3, 2010)
Five Iranians facing trial belong to exile group: report
Five detainees that Iran plans to put on trial in connection with anti-government protests last month are members of the
armed People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran (PMOI), a state news agency said on Friday.
The PMOI is an exile group opposed to Iran's Islamic system of government.
It is the main faction of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which has thousands of
followers in Europe and the United states and was the first group to expose Iran's covert nuclear program in 2002.
'The five accused whose files have been sent to revolutionary court under the charge of 'moharebeh' are members of the
counterrevolutionary terrorist group,' Tehran general prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was cited on IRNA as saying, in
referring to the People's Mujahideen group.
Dolatabadi said some members of the outlawed Baha'i faith who were under arrest in connection with the December 27
riots had played a role in organizing the protests.
'These individuals were arrested both for organizing Ashura riots as well as playing an effective role in the dispatch of
pictures of Ashura riots abroad,' he said.
The opposition website Rahesabz said on Wednesday that more than 180 people, including 17 journalists, 10 Mousavi
aides and some members of the outlawed Baha'i faith, had been arrested in the aftermath of the protests (Reuters – Jan.
8, 2010)
Neda Soltan‟s grave defaced as Iran issues new internet restrictions
Neda Soltan has become an icon of the opposition since she was shot dead in protests in June
Supporters of the Iranian Government have for a second time desecrated the grave of Neda Soltan, the student whose
shooting during a street demonstration last June made her a worldwide symbol of the opposition.
Photographs obtained by The Times show that the black marble slab on which her face is engraved has been
pockmarked by bullets even though security agents guard the grave around the clock to prevent it from becoming a
martyr‘s shrine.
Ms Soltan‘s family put the new tombstone in place on December 14 after the previous one was smashed in mid-
November. Her parents discovered the fresh damage on December 31 - five days after The Times named their daughter
its Person of the Year.
They didn‘t just shoot her once. They continue to shoot at Neda to this day by desecrating her grave,‖ Ms Soltan‘s
fiancé, Caspian Makan, said. Mr Makan was imprisoned and beaten after her death caused the regime embarrassment
and fled the country.
The regime has stepped up efforts to suggest that Ms Soltan, 26, was shot not by one of its Basij militiamen but by agents
of Iran‘s Western enemies.

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January – October 2010

A new documentary produced by Iranian state television claims that Ms Soltan was an agent of the US and Britain and
that her death was a hoax. It suggests that she squeezed fake blood over herself as she lay on the pavement but was then
shot dead by her fellow conspirators in the car that took her away - presumably to silence her.
"Neda for a moment realizes their wicked plan and struggles to escape but they quickly shoot her from behind,‖ the
narrator claims, and goes on to name Arash Hejazi, the doctor who tried to save her and has since fled to Britain, as one
of her killers.
Excerpts from the programme were screened by Press TV, the English language television station that is controlled by the
Iranian regime. Dr Hejazi called the documentary outrageous and said that he was considering a formal complaint
against Press TV…
Mr Makan told The Times that during his 65 days in prison "the intelligence ministry people told me several times that
Neda's death has damaged the regime greatly."…
The regime, which on Monday prohibited any contact with 60 Western organisations, continued its crackdown on
dissent by publishing a list of websites banned for being hostile to the Government, the Supreme Leader or Islamic
values.
The prosecutor general announced that it was illegal to use filter-breaking software to access blocked websites, to show
others how to open blocked sites, or to create internet groups designed to undermine national security (The Times- Jan.
8, 2010)
2009 saw Iran's 'most widespread crackdown' in decade: HRW
Iran launched 'the most widespread crackdown' in a decade after its disputed presidential election in June, Human
Rights Watch said on Wednesday. 'Following the disputed June 12 presidential election and the massive protests it
provoked, the government unleashed the most widespread crackdown in a decade,' HRW said in its 2009 report.
President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's June re-election has triggered a string of protests over the past seven months, with
OPPOSITION demonstrators defying official warnings to stay off the streets. 'Security forces were responsible for at least
30 deaths, according to official sources,' said the New York-based HRW, adding that more than 4,000 people had been
detained, mostly in largely peaceful street demonstrations. Dozens of leading government critics, including human rights
lawyers, had also been rounded up, with many held without charge in solitary confinement. The organisation
documented 'at least 26 cases in which detainees were subjected to torture and/or coerced to make false confessions,'
with the use of beatings, sleep deprivation and fake executions. They were forced 'to confess that they instigated post-
election riots and were plotting a 'velvet coup,'' it said. HRW also said the Islamic republic's government had staged a
series of 'show trials,' and jailed journalists and editors for publishing critical views, while imposing strict curbs on the
domestic and foreign media. At least two journalists working with foreign outlets were detained. In a protest on July 9,
Iranian police fired tear gas as thousands of demonstrators defied government warnings and staged a march to
commemorate the anniversary of bloody student unrest in 1999. The march was to mark the 10th anniversary of
violence in which at least one student was killed when hardline vigilantes stormed student dormitories, according to an
official toll. HRW said Iran carries out more executions on an annual basis than any other country except China, and
also leads the world in the execution of juvenile offenders. 'As of October, Iran had executed three juvenile offenders in
2009,' it said, noting the country's law allows death sentences for persons who have reached puberty, defined as age nine
for girls and 15 for boys. At least 130 other juvenile offenders are currently on death row, it said. On the minorites front,
HRW said Tehran continued to deny freedom of religion to members of the Bahai faith. In May 2008, authorities
arrested seven Bahai leaders 'based on fabricated security-related accusations.' (AFP - Jan 20, 2010)
Jailed student activist goes on another hunger strike in protest to undetermined state
Mohammad Yusef Rashidi, a Polytechnic University student activist once again went on a
hunger strike from one week ago.
This student activist went on a hunger strike in protest to the renewal of his temporary
detention order and his undetermined state in prison. He announced this to his family in
his last visit saying that he will continue his hunger strike until his state is determined in
prison.
This student activist has been jailed for more than 50 days and his last interrogation session
ended about 20 days ago but he is still in an undetermined state in a 4 person cell in ward
209 in Evin Prison. His critical physical condition and weakness due to his first hunger
strike has also added to concerns regarding his health. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 18,
2010)
Using anti-filters is crime and punishable by jail
The Police Department to Combat Internet Crimes announced that using software known
as anti-filters is considered an internet crime and can be punishable by jail. (Asre Iran state-run website – Jan. 19, 2010)
No news on condition of 10 arrested university students
Three weeks after the arrest of at least 10 students of the Science and Industry University, none of them have still been
released.
According to reports, six students were arrested on Ashura (December 27) while the rest were arrested on Tuesday
December 29 after an organized attack by plainclothes agents and Bassij forces against the students in this university. On
December 29 and 30, plainclothes agents with the cooperation of the Protection Department of the Science and
Industry University beat and arrested a number of students after identifying them. These forces also arrested a large
number of students outside the university. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 21, 2010)
Heavy sentence of student activist pre-specified by MOIS
Seyed Ziaddin Nabavi, a student who has been banned from education in the Industrial Noonshirvani University in
Babol and the spokesperson for the Council in Defense of the Right to Education announced in a phone call to one of
his friends from prison on January 21 that he denies the charges made against him.
In this phone call with a Babol student, he said that Judge Pir Abassi told him that 'despite the fact that you are young
and that you did not confess to any links with the monafeqin (used by the regime to refer to the PMOI) I am forced to
charge you with having links to the monafeqin because of a written request from the Ministry of Intelligence'.
'There is apparently a letter from the Ministry of Intelligence sent to the Judges of the Revolutionary Court in which the
Ministry has asked that all arrested members of the Council in Defense of the Right to Education should be charged
with having links to the PMOI', Nabavi said.
Nabavi said the reason behind the 11 year prison sentence for Majid Dori (another member of this group) was this letter
and added that a number of other students will also receive heavy sentences in the future. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan.
22, 2010)
Report: Iran unrest 'full-blown rights crisis'
Iran's postelection unrest is a 'full-blown human rights crisis,' a watchdog group said Sunday, calling on Tehran to free
government critics detained during the crackdown.
Thousands of peaceful protesters, including students, lawyers and prominent human rights activists have been detained
following the June presidential election. That has made Iran's reaction to political dissent 'a human rights disaster,' New
York-based Human Rights Watch said in its annual report on violations and abuses worldwide.
Human Rights deputy Middle East director Joe Stork described the 'systematic and brutal targeting' of protesters and
government critics by security forces. He said it marked 'the worst crackdown' in the Islamic Republic in decades, and
called on Tehran to release those who were captured in peaceful protests or otherwise demonstrating their right to free
expression.
'Iran's postelection unrest is now a full-blown human rights crisis,' Stork said.
He called it 'nothing but an attempt to silence voices of dissent'. (AP – Jan. 24, 2010)
Press freedom violations recounted in real time (from 1st January 2010)
Lilli Farhadpour, an Iranian journalist and writer, was arrested at his home on 21 January 2010. His son, Behrangh
Tonkaboni, editor of the cultural monthly Farhangh é ahangh (Culture and Harmony), was arrested on 5 January.
Government warns 15 newspapers
In a continuing crackdown on the media in Iran, 15 newspapers received warnings this week for publishing comments
by former reformist President Mohammad Khatami or former chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani on the way the
authorities have been handling the country‘s crisis.
Mohammed Ali Ramin, a loyal adviser to President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, has repeatedly warned and threatened
media, especially print media, since taking over as deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance in October
A warning is often the first step towards a newspaper‘s definitive closure. A charge of ―insulting the president‖ is the
legal method most often used by Ramin to stop newspapers publishing criticism of Ahamdinejad.
The 15 newspapers targeted by the latest warnings were Tehran Emrouz, Arman Ravabet Omoumi, Farhikhtegan,
Jomhouri Eslami, Asrar, Etemad, Jahan-e San‘at, Poul, Afarinesh, Rouzan Etemad, Etelaat, Tose‘e, Rouzan, Mardom
Salari and Bahar.
Meanwhile, journalist Nassrin Vaziri of the ILNA news agency was released on 20 January subject to a guarantee that she
would be present for her trial. She had been held in the capital‘s Evin prison since her arrest on 28 December. Without

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January – October 2010

saying why she was arrested, Tehran prosecutor Abass Jafari Dolatabadi said: ―The investigation of her case is complete
so she has been freed". (Reporters Sans Frontières – Jan. 22, 2010)
Security forces open fire on civilians, severely injure Kurd man
A Kurd man named Seyed Vahed Hosseini was shot and severely injured.
On Wednesday January 19, security forces in Piranshahr opened fire on a number of civilians and severely injured this
man. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 23, 2010)
Officials refuse to take responsibility for death of female student due to lack of safety precautions in university
University officials refuse to take direct
responsibly for an incident that happed at 2pm
in the Science and Industry University in
Tehran in which a female student was ran over
by a dump truck carrying construction refuse.
Mitra Rezayi was a senior computer software
student who was from the city of Khoy and
lived in the university dormitory.
The official website of the Office for
Consolidating Unity stated these details in its
website:
- This accident took place in the middle of the
main university street in a curve that goes
directly to the computer school. This is the
most crowded area in the
university and this could have
happened to any of the
students.
- Trucks are banned from travelling in Tehran at day. This is while this dump truck
has been moving about in this university for days. Before this, students had
protested this issue to the Protection Department and university officials several
times. The fact that the truck was in the university in at day is the direct responsibility
of the university and the head of the university.
- On Saturday evening, this same truck with the same driver was speeding by the
library and came close to hitting a student. This student protested this issue and even went to the Protection
Department. Despite this, the driver, who did not even have a drive's license was not prevented from continuing his
work.
- University officials have placed the driver in the center of attention to hide their own incompetence.
- In every construction project, there is a monitoring system. The monitor and head of this project was the head of the
university. This means that the person responsible was the head of the university. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan.
26, 2010)
Wife of paralyzed political prisoner hospitalized as result of regime threats and abuse
According to reports, on Sunday January 24 at about 2 pm, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht stormed
political prisoner Hadi Abed Bakhoda's house and searched his home. They subsequently interrogated his wife for
several hours which led to her hospitalization.
In this attack, three agents of the Ministry of Intelligence participated. They violently searched their home and broke
some of their personal items, while confiscating their satellite receiver, and educational CDs that belonged to their
children. These agents then verbally summoned Mehri Javan Mahjoub Doust, Abed Bakhoda's wife to the intelligence
agency in Rasht.
On Monday January 25, Mrs. Mahjoub Doust went to the Intelligence Agency and was interrogated for close to 5 hours.
The interrogation was about her interviews with international foreign media, the dangerous physical state of her
husband in prison and other issues. Two interrogators were present in her interrogation. One of the interrogators
threatened Mrs. Mahjoub Doust saying 'Aren't you worried about your children and yourself?'
They threatened her children to death in these interrogations. Mrs. Mahjoub Doust had a heart attack as a result of the
agents' threats and violent behavior and the interrogators were forced to take her to the hospital. She was hospitalized for
a few hours.
The Rasht prosecutor and Ministry of Intelligence have blocked the financial means of this family and they are in a very
bad financial state. This is while this family has to pay for the medical treatment for Abed Bakhoda in prison. Whoever
intends to give financial support to them is threatened by intelligence agents and they have even told Mrs. Mahjoub that
financial help she receives has to be transferred to the bank account of the Revolutionary Court.
On the other hand, the physical condition of political prisoner Hadi Abed Bakhoda who has spinal cord damage is
deteriorating and he cannot move on his own or attend to his personal work. Several of his organs have lost their natural
function and he has to be hospitalized in hospital. Despite this, he is still imprisoned and (officials) refuse to release him.
The head of the prison, the prison doctor and the judge seeing to his case have accepted that he go on a medical leave
but intelligence interrogators in Rasht refuse to let him go.
Bakhoda was sentenced to two years of prison by the 2nd branch of the Revolutionary Court and was arrested on
November 8 and taken to Rasht Prison. He was imprisoned and tortured in the 80's for supporting the People's
Mojahedin Organization of Iran. Regime forces shot him upon his arrest (in the 80's) which resulted in his spinal cord
damage. He cannot walk and his bladder, kidneys and digestive system have been severely damaged. His brother Hormoz
Abed Bakhoda was executed in the 80's for supporting the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. (Human Rights and
Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 27, 2010)
February
Political prisoner visits with family under watchful eye of interrogator
Morteza Semiari, a member of the central council for the Office for Consolidating Unity visited his with his family.
This jailed activist visited his family on Tuesday night with his interrogator by his side the whole time. He was only
allowed to speak about personal and family matters and was not allowed to speak about the details of his case.
According to his family, his mental and physical state was extremely poor to the extent that his family became more
concerned for his health after their visit.
According to other reports, an unidentified person has called this student activist's father in the past few days saying that
Morteza has been accused of moharebeh (enmity with God, punishable by death in the Islamic Republic). (Amir Kabir
Newsletter – Feb. 5, 2010)
Iran's police vow no tolerance towards protesters
Iranian police will show no more tolerance towards anti-government protesters, the force's chief was quoted as saying on
Saturday, in a warning to the opposition ahead of possible new demonstrations next week. Iran has been rocked by street
unrest since its disputed presidential election last June. Internet messages have circulated about new protests on Feb. 11,
when Iran marks the 31st anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution…
They (the regime) portrayed the election protests as a Western-backed bid to undermine the Islamic establishment. 'Now
that the different dimensions of the sedition are clear, we won't show any more tolerance,' police chief Esmail Ahmadi-
Moghaddam said, the ILNA news agency reported. 'Police will act firmly to defend the society's security and those who
break the law will be dealt with severely,' he said. He said hundreds of people were arrested in connection with protests
that erupted on Ashura – a ritual Shi'ite day of mourning that fell on Dec. 27 – with the help of tip-offs from the public
after police published photographs of them.
He said more such photographs of demonstrators would be issued soon…
Moghaddam also reiterated a warning against the use of emails and sms messages to spread the word of new protests,
making clear police were monitoring such means of communication. 'The new technologies allow us to identify
conspirators and those who are violating the law, without having to control all people individually,' he said. (Reuters –
Feb. 6, 2010)
Iranian mistaken for 'Neda' seeks German asylum: report
An Iranian woman mistaken for Neda Agha-Soltan, who was killed during protests against
her country's disputed0 elections, is seeking asylum in Germany, a newspaper reported
Friday.
Photos of the 32-year-old Neda Soltani, an English literature teacher at the university of
Tehran, were published around the world when media confused her with Agha-Soltan, who
was shot during a June 20 demonstration…
But several media took a picture of Soltani from her Facebook page and mistakenly used it to
illustrate Agha-Soltan. Within days, the photo was printed on t-shirts, posters and in
newspapers around the world.
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January – October 2010

Soltani, who was not politically active, tried in vain to alert the media to their mistake, and left Iran on July 2 after
receiving threats from the regime, the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote Friday.
'Even today in Germany, she does not want to say by whom and how she was threatened due to concerns for her family,'
the paper wrote.
The article has few quotations from the young woman and does not indicate clearly where she is living in Germany,
mentioning only a meeting near Frankfurt, western Germany and a shelter for asylum-seekers where she was staying.
(AFP - Feb 5, 2010)
Family of recently hanged political prisoner banned from holding memorial
Security forces have banned the family of Arash Rahmanipour from holding a
memorial in front of their home and have subjected them to pressure forbidding them
to hold any kind of ceremony for their loved one.
The body of Arash Rahmanipour, who was hanged on Thursday, was handed to his
family for burial on Saturday.
His family is under severe pressure not to hold a memorial service and not to talk to
the media.
Rahmanipour, 19, was arrested in May and was sentenced to death in the second show
trial held for post election protesters. (Roshangari Website – Feb. 8, 2010)

IRAN: Opposition and hard-liners get ready for 22 Bahman confrontations


Iran's hard-line government and the green-themed opposition are gearing up for
another confrontation Thursday, this time on the 22nd day of the Persian calendar month of Bahman, the 31st
anniversary of the Islamic Revolution…
'We oppose hooliganism, disturbing public order and insulting religious sanctities,' police chief Brig. Gen. Ismail
Ahmadi Moghaddam said, according to the Persian-language PGNews.ir. 'I've already said that police will no longer
tolerate lawbreakers. ... Police feel obliged to confront anyone threatening national security, insulting sanctities and
crossing red lines'.
Ahmadi Moghaddam also warned that police have 'highly sophisticated security systems' that allow them to 'identify
anyone calling for rioting through text messaging'.
Iran's prosecutor-general, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, told Fars News this weekend that the Tehran prosecutor's office
is now 'handling the complaint lodged by a group of lawmakers' against opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the
latest in a series of threats to have him and other opposition figures arrested…
Extreme right-wing lawmaker Ruhollah Hosseinian, told ISNA that the critics of the government had no place in the
system. 'They are in no position to be taken into account,' he said.
The extremist cleric Ahmad Khatami told the Iranian Labor News Agency that there was no middle ground in the
current political crisis.
'Today, we have only two fronts and no third front is recognized,' he said. 'The first front brings together the revolution
and people. The second front regroups the United States, Britain, Zionists, hypocrites, monarchists, communists,
fugitive singers and dancers. There is no third way. (LA Times – Feb. 7, 2010)
Former political prisoners threatened not to participate in protests
According to reports, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence has in the past few days summoned a number of former
political prisoners to this agency and has made them pledge that they will not attend the protests on February 11. If they
do, they have been told that they will be trialed based on beings moharebs (being enemies of God which can carry the
death sentence in the Islamic Republic). (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 10, 2010)
Iran bans foreign media from covering national day marches
Iran has for the first time banned foreign media from covering Thursday's street marches marking the 31st anniversary of
the Islamic revolution, amid opposition plans for anti-government protests.
An official coordinating the media told AFP that reporters and photographers were allowed to cover only the speech of
President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad at the historic Azadi (Freedom) Square in southwestern Tehran, and not the
traditional street marches across the city. (AFP - Feb 10, 2010)
Opposition leaders attacked during Iran marches: website
Iranian opposition leaders Mohammad Khatami and Mehdi Karroubi were attacked in their cars during marches
marking the Islamic revolution Thursday, an opposition website and Karroubi's son said.
The website, Rahesabz, also reported that ex-president Khatami's brother Mohammad Reza and his wife were arrested by
security forces.
Karroubi's son Hossein told AFP that his father was 'not injured but his guards who were accompanying him were'.
'They (police and plainclothes men) fired tear gas and were brandishing knives when they clashed with our supporters'
before the cleric reached western Tehran's Sadeghieh square from where he was supposed to join the marches.
Karroubi's other son Ali was also arrested, Hossein said. (AFP - Feb 11, 2010)
Iran accused of jamming British, US, German broadcasts
Three international broadcasters on Friday accused Iran of deliberately jamming their output.
Britain's BBC, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the Voice of America said the interference began on Thursday
as Iran celebrated the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
They accused Iran of broadcasting freely around the world while denying the Iranian people programmes coming from
outside the country.
BBC World News was the latest TV channel to be jammed this week.
We condemn any jamming of these channels,' said a joint statement by Peter Horrocks, Director of BBC World Service,
Erik Bettermann, Director of Deutsche Welle and Dan Austin, Director of Voice of America.
'It contravenes international agreements and is interfering with the free and open flow of international transmissions
that are protected by international treaties.
'The jamming violates article 45 of the constitution of the International Telecommunication Union that prohibits signal
interference and we look to the international regulatory community to take a firmer stance on this deliberate act of
jamming'.
The broadcasters called on satellite operators and regulators to take 'urgent action to put pressure on Iran to stop this
activity.'
'The Iranian authorities are using the same satellite services to broadcast freely around the world including broadcasts in
English and Arabic; at the same time they are denying their own people programmes coming from the same satellites
from the rest of the world,' they added (AFP - Feb 12, 2010)
Iran takes fight to opposition online
Iran‘s clerical rulers, who succeeded in suppressing widespread demonstrations last week by blanketing Tehran with
security, are escalating a cyberwar to combat the increasingly powerful role of the internet in mobilising their opponents.
Visitors to the website of the main challenger in last June‘s disputed presidential election were greeted by an image of the
Iranian flag and an AK-47 assault rifle. ―Stop being agents for those who are safely in the US and are using you,‖ they
were told.
Another prominent opposition site was sabotaged, the internet was slowed down and threats were made to close
Google‘s Gmail system and set up Iran‘s own national email service, a move that would allow government surveillance of
the net.
A group calling itself the Iran Cyber Army has claimed responsibility for hacking into both opposition sites. This is the
outfit that brought down Twitter for several hours last December when huge antigovernment protests were shaking the
regime…
Although there is no admitted link with the regime to prove the Iran Cyber Army is an official group, the type of site
brought down and the language used suggest it is connected to the government.
The opposition suspects it is a subsidiary of Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard, the force that has played the key role in
suppressing dissent.
"We do not know for sure but we all assume it is an offshoot of the guard, which has its own cybercrime unit,‖ one
Tehran source said last week. (The Sunday Times- Feb. 14, 2010)
International community urged to face up to responsibilities during UN Human Rights Council‟s review of Iran
The United Nations Human Rights Council is to review the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran on 15 February.
Until now, Iran has escaped any kind of sanction since the Council‘s creation in March 2006. A firm decision by the
international community, including China and the countries of the Islamic Conference, would help to induce Iran to
respect its human rights undertakings…
Iran is now the world‘s biggest prison for the media with more than 80 journalists and netizens currently detained (48
journalists, 2 media assistants, 18 netizens, 7 other arrests announced by the intelligence ministry and 8 under
investigation).

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"The countries that say nothing about the bloody crackdown that has been taking place in Iran for the past eight months
are accomplices to these crimes,‖ Reporters Without Borders said. ―When the UN Human Rights Council conducts its
Universal Periodic Review of Iran, it must show that it is up to the task. Its credibility must not be eroded yet again".
The press freedom organisation added: ―The Council must demand the release of all the political prisoners, including
the journalists, and must ensure that the Iranian government respects the right to freedom of expression in practice"…
The Islamic Republic has just been celebrating its 31st anniversary but its press freedom record during the past 31 years
has been appalling. Several thousand newspapers have been closed since February 1979, hundreds of journalists have
been arrested, hundreds have been sentenced to long jail terms and dozens have been summarily executed or murdered.
Since last June, the crackdown on criticism of the regime‘s political and religious institutions has created a climate of
terror leading to self-censorship and the flight of many journalists into exile. When journalists are arrested, their most
fundamental rights are flouted and they often subjected to long spells of being held incommunicado or in solitary
confinement.
These periods of being held incommunicado can be regarded as forced disappearances and crimes against humanity and
constitute violations of international law. (Reporters without Borders – Feb. 15, 2010)
Iran stops director attending Berlin film fest: organisers
Award-winning Iranian director Jafar Panahi has been denied permission to leave his home country to attend the Berlin
Film Festival, organisers said on Tuesday.
Panahi, an honorary guest at this year's festival, had been due to participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday on
Iranian cinema with compatriot fellow directors Rafi Pitts and Reza Haeri.
'We are surprised and deeply regret that a director who has won so many international prizes has been denied the
possibility to take part in our anniversary festival and to speak about his cinematic visions,' Berlinale director Dieter
Kosslick said in a statement'
Pitts, who was in Berlin to present his film 'Shekarchi' (The Hunter), said: 'I think that he (Panahi) should be here ... I
think it is ridiculous to think that you can stop people saying what they think'.
All productions and publications are subject to vetting before being released in Iran but film-makers and scriptwriters
have faced tougher censorship under Ahamdinejad.
Iranian news agencies cited Panahi as saying in October than he had been prevented from leaving the country for
France, saying his passport was confiscated at the airport. (AFP - Feb 16, 2010)
Iran rejects calls for UN probes on torture, violence
Iran has rejected western calls to allow in the UN expert on torture and for wider investigations into post-election
violence, a United Nations report showed on Wednesday…
However, it rejected specific calls by Australia, Britain, France and the United States to allow visits by the special
rapporteurs on torture and on the independence of judges and lawyers.
(AFP - Feb 17, 2010)
Iran 'Shows Contempt' for Human Rights by Rejecting U.N. Recommendations, Says Amnesty International
(Amnesty International today criticized Iran for rejecting important recommendations by the United Nations to improve
human rights in the country. The recommendations rejected by Iran include: ending the execution of juvenile offenders,
upholding fair trial guarantees, releasing people detained for peacefully exercising their human rights and investigating
torture allegations, including rape.
While accepting a recommendation to cooperate with U.N.‘s human rights experts, Iran rejected several others to allow
the Council‘s Special Rapporteur on torture to visit the country. The delegation accepted the recommendation to
respect freedom of religion but rejected a recommendation to end discrimination against the Bahai‘s. ―By rejecting
specific recommendations made by dozens of countries the Iranian authorities showed contempt for international
obligations just as they have done in their treatment of their own people,‖ said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and
North Africa deputy director at Amnesty International. ―By promising to consider recommendations to eliminate the
execution of juvenile offenders, the Iranian authorities are cynically camouflaging their existing obligation under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child not to execute juvenile offending,‖ said Hadj Sahraoui. The U.N.‘s Human
Rights Council in Geneva has been reviewing Iran‘s human rights record where the Iran delegation responded to a series
of recommendations put to them by other U.N. member states. The delegation accepted 123 recommendations, reserved
its position on 20 others and rejected 45 recommendations. Amnesty International is perplex by the numerous
contradictions between recommendations accepted and those rejected. Iran has said it is carrying out investigations into
cases of torture and killing that occurred following the unrest that occurred following the presidential election in June
2009. However, despite reports of parliamentary investigations, no one appears to have been brought to justice over the
killing of Neda Agha Soltan, a peaceful demonstrator who was shot in a street in June 2009, or Mohsen Ruholamini,
who died in custody in July 2009. The country‘s authorities also said they would strengthen cooperation with human
rights organizations, yet they have failed to respond to repeated requests by Amnesty International to meet with
members of the Iranian delegation. ‖For human rights to really improve in Iran, the authorities must end the double-
speak and take concrete measures, like ending the execution of juvenile offenders; ensure fair trials; halt torture and end
impunity for all violations,‖ said Hadj Sahraoui (Amnesty International – Feb. 17, 2010)
Security forces cut off phone of families of political prisoners to prevent calls to media
Security forces under the name of the Communication Ministry Protection Department have cut off the telephone lines
in the homes of the families of political prisoners Ahmad Karimi and Hamed Rohi Nejad because of their interviews
with the media.
This measure was taken out without any explanation to the families and only after they pursued this issue through the
Communication Department, the Protection Department in this organization told them that they cut off their phone
lines on the orders of security institutions because of their interviews with the media. The Protection Department also
said that they cannot connect them without permission from security institutions. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Feb. 21, 2010)
Iran: Imprisoned Student Reveals Details of Unfair Prosecution
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has obtained a copy of a
letter by an imprisoned student, sentenced to 15 years, which demonstrates the utter
lack of evidence against him as well as the arbitrary nature of the show trial
convicting him. The letter, by Seyed Zia Nabavi, is written to the head of Judiciary,
Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani from inside Evin prison‘s ward 350, demanding a fair
appeals hearing.
"This document provides significant evidence of how Iranian Judiciary doles out
lengthy and unjust prison sentences for young people, without any evidence against
them,‖ said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign‘s spokesperson…
In addition to Nabavi, hundreds face similar prosecutions or have already been
sentenced.
Among Nabavi‘s colleagues, the Campaign is seriously concerned about the fates of
Somieh Rashidi, Shiva Nazarahari, Saeed Jalaiefar, Mahdieh Golroo, Majid Dari, Peyman Aref, and Koohyar Goudarzi…
Nabavi reveals that he and seven other active members of the ―starred‖ students group are in detention and being
coerced to admit that the group was initiated by the OPPOSITION group Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO),
which has a history of armed struggle against the Iranian government.
The charge of ―communication and cooperation‖ with the MKO is apparently based on the fact that one of Nabavi‘s
relatives is a member of this organization abroad. Nabavi points out that there is no evidence of his cooperation with the
group and he should not be unfairly punished for another person‘s affiliation with the group. (International Campaign
for Human Rights in Iran – Feb. 22, 2010)
Family of murdered prisoner threatened into silence
According to reports, Kermani and Faraji, the head and assistant head of Gohardasht Prison's Intelligence Department
went to the home of the Khodadoust Family whose son was killed under torture in this prison a few days ago and
threatened them to refrain from pursuing his death.
Kermani told this family that Yavar Khodadoust died from a drug overdose. He also threatened the family that 'It's better
for you to stay silent and not to pursue this issue anywhere'.
"Do not talk to anyone regarding this issue under any circumstances, because your other son is also in this jail", he
threatened. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 27, 2010)
March
Security forces pressure family of Kurd journalist to hand over son
Pressures by the Revolutionary Guards Corps and Intelligence Agency in the town of Qarveh have increased against the
family of Aref Naderi, journalist and former member of the City Council, to turn him in to Iran officials.
RGC and Intelligence agents in this town interrogate, summon, and threaten his relatives in addition to constant visits
and searches to his mother's home. They have demanded that she turn Aref in as soon as possible to security
institutions.

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These institutions have also threatened that the only way for Aref Naderi to stay alive is if he voluntarily hands himself
in. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 12, 2010)

Khamenei tells Iranians to shun Fire Festival in fear of popular dissent


Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Iranians should shun next week's Persian fire festival
as it is un-Islamic and creates 'a lot of harm'.
Charshanbe Soori, an ancient Pagan festival, is held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Persian calendar year. This
year the ritual falls on the night of March 16.
Khamenei, Iran's all-powerful cleric, said on his website that Charshanbe Soori has 'no basis in sharia (Islamic religious
law) and creates a lot of harm and corruption (which is why) it is appropriate to avoid it'.
The festival is a prelude to Nowrouz, the Persian New Year which starts on March 21 and marks the arrival of spring.
In the past few years, local municipalities have helped Iranians organise the festival but it is unclear whether they will do
so this year in the wake of Khamenei's remarks…
Some clerics see the ritual as heretical fire worshipping, although it has been marked in Iran for centuries and, like the
Persian New Year itself and some other ancient rituals, has survived the advent of Islam.
Perceptions are that supporters of Iranian opposition leaders could use the ritual this year to stage anti-government
protests. (AFP - March 14, 2010)
Source: Torture not hacking led to the Iranian takedown of hra-iran.org
It was about 7:30 p.m. EST when our cell phone used for security news rang. On the line was Ahmad-Batbi, a
spokesman for HRA-Iran.org. His side of the story relating to the events that resulted in the IRGC led shutdown of 29
websites shocked us. The IRGC said they hacked the sites to take them down, but he said the 30 people arrested were
tortured for their access.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that its cyber teams hacked 29 websites linked to US
espionage. In addition, 30 people were arrested on charges of waging a US-backed cyber war.
The IRGC‘s claims were backed by two state news agencies, IRNA and FARS, who reported that the sites taken down
were linked to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, and other US-backed war networks…
Ahmad-Batbi explained that the 30 people arrested in the takedown operation performed by the IRGC were tortured for
their access to the various websites, and as such the sites were taken down by physical violence, and not hacking.
"They have 30 members of our group held hostage, including the sister of one of our members, who has nothing to do
with this matter. Each of the 30 hostages is a human rights activist and nothing more," he stressed.
Those arrested, Iranian officials say, were linked to efforts to fight against filtering in the country, as well as creating a
secure telephone and data communication ground for making interviews with Radio Farda, Radio Zamaneh, Voice of
America and other western media. Those are just some of the charges, there were others including creating security for
Internet users.
Because of those charges, according to our conversation with Ahmad-Batbi and a report by Reporters Without Borders,
they are dissidents, considered ―mohared‖ or enemies of God, and could face death by hanging.
The Revolutionary Guards is the military group founded shortly after Iran's 1979 revolution. The group includes
Intelligence, Navy, Army, and Air Force units, as well as the Basij paramilitary force. The Basij is touted as the group
behind all of the physical punishment handed out to protestors during last summer‘s elections in Iran.
Recently, a senior commander of the IRCG underlined the force's willingness to confront all types of enemy threats
against the Iranian nation. The unspoken meaning in the statement is that they are willing to go to extremes to do this.
(The Tech Herald – March 16, 2010)
Satellite provider says Iran jams broadcasts
Eutelsat has lodged two complaints in the past nine months for Iran's 'deliberate jamming operations' targeting Persian
broadcasts by the BBC and the Voice of America, the satellite provider said Wednesday.
France-based Eutelsat said the two broadcasters Farsi-language services are the target of 'repeated and deliberate jamming
operations.' However, both have been transmitted 'without disruption or jamming' since the start of the month.
Last month, Voice of America, the BBC and Deutsche Welle condemned what they said was the illegal jamming of
broadcasts.
The disruptions appear linked to political turmoil in Iran. Some Iranians have complained that Tehran authorities have
tried to stop international broadcasts in a bid to isolate citizens amid unrest that began after last June's contested
presidential elections…
Eutelsat said in a statement that it lodged a complaint in May 2009 with the National Agency of French Frequencies and
lodged a second complaint in February 2010, this time aimed at getting the Radio Regulations Board of the
International Telecommunication Union 'to give priority to address the matter' at its March 22-26 board meeting.
It noted that the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany have asked European Union members to denounce
jamming at a March 22 meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.
Eutelsat's Hot Bird satellite transmits the broadcasts to Iran, and Eutelsat said it 'continually carries out technical
operations' to maintain transmission. It also has relied on other satellites 'more resistant to jamming from Iran'. (AP –
March 18, 2010)
Khamenei calls millions of pro-democracy protesters the 'enemy'
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his new year message to the nation on Saturday that Iran had defeated
'enemies' last year who plotted against the Islamic revolution.
'The enemy of the Islamic republic, after a lapse of 30 years, concentrated all its efforts so that it could defeat the
revolution from inside,' Khamenei said in a message broadcast on state television.
'But the Iranian nation, with exceptional resistance, alertness and determination, defeated the enemy's plots'.
Khamenei has regularly blamed foreign powers, especially the United States and Britain, for the deadly unrest which
erupted after the re-election last June of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad. (AFP - March 20, 2010)
Jailed student activist denied new years leave for refusing to cooperate with intelligence agency
Sina Golchin, a student who was released on a very heavy bail to spend the new years with his family was once again
summoned and jailed for refusing to cooperate with the Ministry of Intelligence to confess on radio and for not
cooperating with security forces while on the new years leave.
According to informed sources, this 20 year old student who was arrested after Ashura (December 27, 2009) was initially
charged with being a mohareb (enemy of God) and sentenced to death, but was later sentenced to 8 years of prisoner
after judicial officials claimed that he was subject to 'Islamic clemency'. (Jaras Website – March 22, 2010)
No news on Kurd civil rights activist after 8 months
There is still no news on the whereabouts of a Kurd member of the Mir Hossein Moussavi's election staff who suddenly
disappeared 8 months ago in Orumieh.
Mansour Miri Kalaniki, who has a master's degree in geopolitics, suddenly disappeared on July 17, 2009 and there is
absolutely no news on his whereabouts.
After the disappearance of this Kurd civil rights activist, his father Ali Miri Kalaniki was arrested by the Ministry of
Intelligence and is currently in the Public Orumieh Prison. (Ravanews Website – March 23, 2010)
April
Iran blocks news website: French broadcaster
News channel France 24 accused Iran on Friday of blocking its website to users there, the latest in a series of
international broadcasters to complain of censorship by the Islamic Republic.
'France 24 learned today from various sources that its website france24.com was no longer accessible from Iranian
territory,' the French rolling news station said in a statement, describing the move as 'censorship.'
Iranian authorities have cracked down on the media and arrested scores of journalists since anti-government protests
erupted after President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's disputed re-election last June.
France 24, which is publicly funded and broadcasts in French, English and Arabic, linked the latest blockage to its
online coverage of the OPPOSITION movement.
'This censorship comes as all France 24's editorial teams are following day by day the events surrounding the
OPPOSITION movement... particularly with the help of (online) social networks and amateur pictures sent by the
Internet'. (AFP - April 2, 2010)
Power abuse lands innocent man in prison
Mostafa Nurouzi who passed Enqelab Square on December 7, 2009 (Student's Day in Iran) to receive a dept that was
owned to him, was arrested after police forces raided his home in the middle of the night.
According to reports, he realized in prison that the person that owned him money was a relative of a high ranking police
chief and therefore he was arrested on December 7 for the false charge of being near Enqelab Street (on student's day).
He has been charged with blasphemy and acting against national security by attending a student's day gathering. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – April 6, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Dissident Iranians take refuge in Turkey


Light snow was falling when the two young men set out on horseback for the border to flee Iran. By the time they were
deep in the mountains, it had become a blinding blizzard, the temperature had dropped below freezing, and they were
barely alive.
Hesam Misaghi and Sepehr Atefi were joining what has become an exodus of dissidents fleeing Iran's political turmoil.
For them that meant a harrowing journey through the country's rugged northwest in the dead of winter, with the help of
Kurdish smugglers….
At least 4,200 Iranians have fled their homeland since disputed presidential elections in June, according to a list
compiled by activist Aida Saadat, who herself slipped across the border into Turkey in December. These refugees have
scattered to the United States, Europe and Gulf nations like the United Arab Emirates.
Most of all, they have come to Turkey - around 1,150 of them, according to the U.N. refugee agency - taking advantage
of the porous border and Turkey's policy of not requiring a visa. Most of the new arrivals fled for political reasons,
including those who took part in OPPOSITION protests after the vote. They bring the number of Iranians in Turkey to
4,440, as of February - including 'undesirables' in the eyes of the clerical regime, such as homosexuals or members of the
Bahai religion.
The danger these Iranians face back home is clear. A month after Atefi and Misaghi's January escape, police raided their
homes in the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Among the charges against them: 'moharebeh,' or 'waging war against God,'
a crime punishable by death.
Police arrested their friend and colleague, Navid Khanjani, who was supposed to have fled with them but changed his
mind at the last minute. With Khanjani's arrest, eight people in the independent Committee of Human Rights
Reporters have been jailed, and three remain in prison and could face execution.
In Turkey, the refugees are safer, but they live in limbo. Almost all brought little money and cannot work because of
Turkish restrictions, so they cram into small, coal-heated apartments with minimal furniture.
Political activist Mahdis, 35, who once worked for a dissident cleric in the holy city of Qom, said she fled Iran more than
a year ago after having been repeatedly raped in jail. Mahdis spoke on condition her last name not be used to avoid
public embarrassment.
When she arrived in Turkey she was again raped, this time by a fellow Iranian refugee. She said police would not allow
her to transfer to Kayseri unless she paid $200, which she didn't have.
'I was sobbing, saying 'I swear to God' I don't have the money,' recalled Mahdis. It took her 40 days to come up with the
money that she borrowed from fellow refugees.
Another refugee, Mehrdad Eshghi, was the official singer for the state-run Iranian TV and Radio, known as Seda va
Sima. Then authorities questioned his loyalty because he worked in the election campaign of President Mahmoud
Ahamdinejad's top rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
After he refused to perform for Ahamdinejad's campaign, security forces began harassing him. He was detained and
threatened with worse consequences.
'I was surprised by the way they treated me,' said Eshghi, 40. 'I was one of them. When I had the mike in my hand doing
live programs, it meant they trusted me with their lives,' he said in his apartment in Kayseri.
After security men began staking out his home around the clock, Eshghi went into hiding. He took a bus to Turkey six
months ago, and his wife and daughter joined him a couple of months later
'They could have done something terrible to me. You never know,' Eshghi said of his pursuers. 'The survival of the
Islamic Republic is so important to them that they will not give up at any price'.
Eshghi, a singer, calligrapher, painter and composer, mourns his former life in his homeland…
Some refugees claim they have been harassed by Iranian intelligence agents while in Turkey, with threatening phone calls
or even physical attacks. Human rights officials say Iranian intelligence agents have infiltrated the refugee community
here, leading to widespread suspicion. (Associated Press – April 3, 2010)
Iran threatens Iranian athletes with so called 'feminine appearances'
An informed source in the Physical Training Organization announced that in coordination with other organizations and
centers, this organization has identified 436 male athletes who have female appearances…
"The Physical Training Organization is looking to deal with transgressors as they did last year and based on the Moral
Sports Charter, if they continue their unconventional actions they will be prevented from participating in that sport", he
said.
According to reports, 30 male athletes have so far been fined or expelled for their appearance.
The kind of appearance that the Physical Training Organization considers illegal is the way men wear their beards, long
fingernails, their hairstyles and thinning out their eyebrows. (Madreseye Feministi/Feminist School Website – April 7,
2010)
Iran charges 3 American mountaineers with espionage
The Iranian Minister of Intelligence said that there is credible evidence that shows that the 3 American mountain
climbers detained in Iran worked with American intelligence services.
The Iranian government says that the detained Americans are spies and that their trials will soon start.
According to the Kurdistan Autonomous Government in Iraq, Joshua Fetal and Sean Bower, both 27 and Sara Shourd,
31, were lost last summer and were arrested on the border by Iranian forces. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 9,
2010)
Student activist kept in state of limbo in prison
Two months after the arrest of Shahin Fazli, this student activist is still kept in a state of limbo in prison.
He has been charged with cooperating with groups outside of the country, spreading propaganda against the
government, disrupting public order and instigating public opinion. He has not accepted any of the charges in his
interrogations.
According to those close to him, he has only been able to visit with his family once and twice with his lawyer in this
time. This civil rights activist and film critic was arrested in his home in Tabriz in February. Despite the expiration of his
temporary detention order, a bail order has still not been issued for him. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 11,
2010)
Jailed lawyer and human rights activist in unknown condition after 40 days
Dr. Vahid Ahmad Fakhroddin, lawyer, university professor and human rights activist who was arrested by security forces
is in an unknown location.
According to reports, 40 days after the arrest of Dr. Vahid Ahmad Fakhroddin, a former colleague of the Human Rights
Activists in Iran, there is no information on his where he is kept and his condition and there are increasing concerns
regarding his condition. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 12, 2010)
Security forces storm home of human rights activist in Tehran
A number of plainclothes agents stormed the home of human rights activist Hesam-oddin Bahman
Abadi last night for the second time.
According to reports, 4 plainclothes agents came with an arrest warrant to the home of this activist
at 9:30 pm only to find that he was not home.
Before this, in coordinated attacks against human rights activists on March 2, 2010, security forces
searched his home and confiscated his computer, CDs and some of his other personal belongings.
A few days later, they started threatening his family to turn over their son.
The Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence has announced that Bahman Abadi has committed
internet crimes and has acted against national security. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 23, 2010)
Family of slain protester harassed and threatened by Iran officials
Nima Namdari, the nephew of slain protester Behzad
Mohajer who was shot on June 15, 2009 in post
election protests said, "The interrogator (on his) case
has advised us not to continue (to pursue) his case
saying that the main reason is because many officials
believe that (the slain protesters) are mahdorodam
(religious decree meaning that it is acceptable to kill
that person or even necessary to kill that person) and
that they are being too kind already in paying a blood
money for them".
Behzad Mohajer disappeared after making a short
phone call with his family during the June 15 protests
and his body was returned to his family 40 days later
with a bullet in his left chest.

Gravesite of Behzad Mohajer 275


January – October 2010

"It seems that they have threatened Mr. Mohajer's family. As far as I know, Mr. Mohajer's sister was summoned to the
intelligence agency. My mother was also summoned to the Hamedan Intelligence Agency several times and she was also
threatened over the phone", he added. (Rooz Online Website – April 15, 2010)
Iran arrests two human rights artists; families notified of arrest more than one month later
More than one month after the arrest of two human rights activists, the judicial and security apparatus in Iran finally
confirmed their arrest because of their families' constant pursuits.
Security forces arrested Amir Ehsan Tehrani Sekhavat and Nima Golzari, two students and artists who were active in
producing music concerning human rights issues, on March 8 and March 9 without the knowledge of their families.
They were taken to an unknown location.
Finally on April 17, the families of these two activists were notified by the Tehran Prosecutor that their sons were
detained in Evin Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 17, 2010)
Iran suspends two leading reformist parties: report
Iran's political watchdog has banned all activities by two leading reformist parties which backed OPPOSITION leader
Mir Hossein Mousavi in June's presidential poll, a state-owned daily said Monday.
The watchdog also recommended to the judiciary that both the Islamic Iran Participation Front and the Islamic
Revolution Mujahedeen Organisation be dissolved, the government newspaper Iran said in its online edition.
'Their licenses have been suspended and it has been decided that their cases be referred to the judiciary,' the newspaper
quoted the watchdog's secretary, Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini, as saying.
'You are prohibited from conducting any activities until the cases are dealt by the judiciary,' the newspaper quoted a
letter from Meshkini to the two parties as saying.
He said the parties had been accused of 'violating the sovereignty of the country, spreading accusations and lies,
undermining national unity and planning the break-up of the country.'
The two political groups had strongly supported Mousavi, the main challenger to President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad in
the June 2009 presidential election. (AFP - April 19, 2010)
Still no news on young man beaten and arrested on Fire Festival
There is no news on the whereabouts and condition of Rasoul Hardani, a young man who was severely beaten and
arrested on the Fire Festival (March 16, 2010).
Rasoul Hardani, 27, was arrested on the Fire Festival along with two of his friends and after being taken to the Shapure
Detention Center, was tortured with electric clubs and electric shocks.
According to one his cellmates who was recently released, Rasoul, who had severe injuries because security forces had
pulled his body on the asphalt, was taken to an unknown location after 24 hours.
His family has no information on his whereabouts since his arrest. Despite their constant appeals to the Revolutionary
Court, the Tehran Prosecutor's Office, Evin Prison and other centers, officials refrain from giving them a clear answer.
This has caused serious concerns for the Hardani family.
Rasoul Hardani and his family had tried in the year 2000 to divert a plane in order to seek asylum outside of Iran but
they were unsuccessful. Rasoul and his family were subsequently arrested. A number of his family members were
sentenced to death which was then lowered to long prison terms. According to his family, Rasoul Hardani was given a
medical leave last year after 10 years of prison and received two surgeries at the Golestan Hospital in Ahwaz. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 21, 2010)
7 human rights lawyers banned from leaving Iran
With the barring of Hadi Ismailzadeh, a member of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, the number of lawyers and
their colleagues in this human rights institution who have been banned from leaving the country has reached seven.
Some of the members of this center who have been banned from leaving the country are Abdolfateh Soltani,
Mohammad-Ali Dadkhah, Nasrin Sutodeh, Mohammad Seifzadeh, and Narges Mohammadi. (Kalameh Website – April
21, 2010)
Regime official systematically sells confiscated property of prisoners
According to reports, the home of political prisoner Arjang Davoudi was sealed off and then
sold on the order of Hassan Zare Dahnavi aka Hassan Hadad who has been accused in the case
of the Kahrizak death camp (Kahrizak Detention Center where a number of post-election
protesters where killed under torture).
The home and the Parto Hekmat education complex is the personal property of political
prisoner Arjang Davoudi which was sealed off by the orders of Hassan Zare in 2007 and then
sold. When the home was sealed off, the Davoudi family was not permitted to even take out
their personal belongings and they were only allowed to leave their home with the clothes they
were wearing. In this time, Arjang Davoudi's wife lived in very hard conditions and did not have anywhere to go. This
family constantly pursued the freedom of Arjang Davoudi and getting back their home but officials did not answer their
appeals.
After a while it became clear that Hassan Zare Dahnavi had established a group which registered the confiscated property
of people under false names to sell. All the people in this group are members of the Revolutionary Guards Corps,
Ministry of Intelligence, and the Protection Department of the Judiciary. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in
Iran – April 23, 2010)
Security forces raid home of student activist
Agents of the Arak Prosecutor's Office entered the home of Abed Tavancheh, a former student
activist, and threw out the residents intending to seal the house shut.
Abed Tavancheh is a former member of the Islamic Association of Amir Kabir University who
was sentenced to one year of prison by the Revolutionary Court last December. But the
Revolutionary Court refrained from giving him his written sentence and as a result, Tavancheh
and his lawyer Naser Zarafshan did not sign the sentence which was orally announced to them.
The judge presiding over the case then illegally sent this sentence to the Prison Sentence
Implementation Department without first referring it to a court of review.
After this illegal measure, Dr. Zarafshan immediately filed a complaint against the judge but
with pressure from the Arak Intelligence Agency, the Prosecutor's office considered the
sentence confirmed and the agents of the Prison Sentence Implementation Department raided
this student's home in an attempt to arrest him (even on the countdown to the New Iranian
Year).
Finally, today, these agents came to his home, (the ownership document of his home had been pledged for Tavancheh's
temporary release from prison) and gathered the home belongings to seal it shut. These agents temporarily ceased their
action after they were met with resistance from the residents of the house but they threatened that they will seal the
house as soon as possible because they had an evacuation warrant.
The Tavancheh family is currently in a poor mental state and security forces constantly call their home demanding that
they hand over their son to security forces. (Student News – April 24, 2010)
Political prisoners denied minimum rights
Agents of the Ahmadinejad government's Ministry of Intelligence are not satisfied with the legal procedures taken by the
prosecutor's office. They are also not satisfied with the sentences issued for political prisoners and the measures taken for
their freedom or granting them leaves. Political prisoners who had been granted furloughs have been summoned by the
Intelligence Agency and asked to give interviews to 'break' them. They are threatened that they will be jailed if they
refuse. (The Intelligence Agency) is also making new arrests and sends prisoners who are on leave to prison. (Kalameh
Website – April 26, 2010)
Jailed labor leader gets charged with communicating with dissidents in prison
According to reports, on the eve of International Labor Day, a new case was filed against the head of
the Tehran Bus Company Union, Mansour Osalu.
On April 25, this political prisoner was taken to the 6th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj
with shackles and a new case was filed against him. His complainants were Ali Haj Kazem and Ali
Mohammadi, the head and assistant head of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj (where this labor leader is
detained). Osalu was charged with being in contact with government dissidents in prison. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
May
Labor associations banned in Iran
Majid Mohammadi (sociologist) – The main prohibition that Iranian workers have is being deprived of independent
labor associations… Many of the problems workers face in Iran has increased in Ahmadinejad's government.
The difference between democratic governments and undemocratic governments is that in democratic regimes, because
of the intermediary figure of the government, workers can assemble and convey their voice to others or in some instances
get their rights in part by way of strikes or other forms of protests. But workers in undemocratic governments are denied
such an instrument and voice. What is the current state of labor associations in Iran?
Syndicates
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January – October 2010

Syndicates have been and are the most independent of labor unions in Iran and therefore are under the most pressure.
All labor syndicates were banned after the rulers of the Islamic Republic consolidated their power in 1981 and were
eliminated from the official political and social scene. Members of the syndicates who wanted to continue their activities
were prosecuted and some of the most active members like Mansour Osalu, Ibrahim Madadi and Ali Nejati are jailed.
Organizations like the Syndicate of the Drivers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of
the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Factory and the Iran Free Labor Union are some of these organizations.
Islamic Labor Councils and Labor House
At the same that syndicates were banned, the Islamic Republic and its supporters created a state-made rival in the labor
environment named Islamic Labor Organizations and Labor Houses were tasked with coordinating their activities. The
ILNA (Iran Labor News Agency) is the official news agency of these organizations and the only thing it does not do is
report and cover the violation of workers' rights by government institutions. The Labor House has branches in provincial
capitals and Islamic Labor Organizations are active in provinces. From the very start, the main function of the Islamic
Labor Councils was to rob labor organizations of their labor identity and instead give them a religious and ideological
identity.
According to article d and e of law 2 of the creation of Islamic Labor Councils, only those who believe in and are
obligated to Islam and the theory of the leadership (Khamenei) and those who have no tendency towards illegal parties,
organizations and groups and/or dissident groups of the Islamic Republic will become members of this council. Also,
according to a footnote in this law, the determining of the qualification of membership candidates in the Islamic Labor
Councils in the framework of the noted conditions in the aforementioned law lies with a group made up of the
representative of the Labor Ministry, the representative of the respective ministry and the elected representative of the
Employees Assembly. With these two articles and the footnote only (regime) elements can become members of these
councils…
Islamic Labor Councils have no direct links to workers' issues and only play the part of a controller in working
environments.
The Islamic Republic has created fake instances of (independent) organizations to front independent institutions.
Other than the Islamic Labor Councils made to counter syndicates, there is a long list of such fake state-made
institutions created to counter independent institutions: The Islamic Student Society or Islamic Student Associations
(with appointed central councils) to counter Islamic Associations or independent student organizations (with elected
central councils), the Association of the Moviemakers of the Holy Defense to counter the Cinema House, the Muslim
Journalists Association to counter the Journalists Association, the Muslim Publicists Union to counter the Publicists
Union and the Pen Association as opposed to the Writers' Center. In many cases the fake institutions have been created
with the same name as the independent association or institution to decrease the popularity of the independent
association. (Like the Office for Consolidating Unity or the Journalists' Association which have been made by the state
to marginalize the independent associations of the same name). In some cases, internationally used names without the
Islamic provisions are used to give the state-made institution the appearance of a popular association (such as the Pen
Association).
Labor Bassij
In the past two decades, even the Labor House was not always trusted by the leadership and the Ahamdinejad
government because of some of its reformist tendencies and the leadership and government started empowering the
Labor Bassij. The Labor Bassij has militarized the atmosphere much more than Islamic Labor Councils and only accepts
militia and fascist groups as representatives of laborers. The purpose of such organizations is not to demand labor rights
for workers (main duty of syndicates) and not even to carry out Islamic rules in working environments (main purpose of
the Islamic Labor Councils) but to carry out the demands of the leader.
The government is the main employer
The reason the government's interference in labor unions is affective is because the Iranian government is actually the
biggest employer in Iran. The government in Iran does not stand between the employer and the laborer as a mediator
and impartial judge with specific principles which represents the people, but as an employer and wherever it is faced with
opposition, it uses its forces to suppress and quell protests.
Iranian factories are directly run by the government (Quds Institutions run by the leader and state-run companies) or are
given to semi-government elements that are indirectly under the control of people with close ties to the government
(mainly military and security institutions). In such a state, the chances of the growth and fertility of independent labor
organizations are very low.
Divine official confronts demands
Khomeini dissolved independent labor organizations with only one sentence: "God is also a worker". The government
has given workers the status of God, teachers the status of the prophet and has told women that heaven is under their
feet so that they would ignore their rights and not make any demands enabling their rulers to divide the country's
resources among themselves and those loyal to them.
The representatives of God on earth play the part of employers and capitalists and rob the people of their wealth and
resources while 'peasantry' have to be happy that they have Godly status given to them by the representative of God. If
they receive barely enough bread to survive by, it is out of the kindness of their rulers and not because it is their right.
(Radio Farda Website – April 30, 2010)
Iran bans 'illegal music' in taxis
Rasoul Abassi, the head of the Municipal Organization's Coordination Department of Transportation said, "Taxi drivers
have no right to put on illegal music and CDs in taxis".
"No driver is allowed to put on illegal music even if passengers request it, and if they do, it is considered an offence and
they will be legally dealt with", he added.
Abassi said that the drivers' permits of offenders will be made void and their cars will be impounded. (BORNA state-run
news agency – May 7, 2010)
Kamangar‟s family did not know about execution
The family and lawyer of Farzad Kamangar announced that they were informed
of his execution from the news that was published.
―These people (government) are full of lies and I hope that the news on my
brother‘s execution is also a lie‖, his brother said adding his regret that he had to
hear the news of the execution of his loved one from news agencies.
Mehrdad Kamangar announced that he had no news on his brother and said
that since yesterday he had not received any calls from Farzad.
―We were informed today from news published by Fars (state-run news agency)
and other websites that they have executed Farzad, but I hope the reports are
wrong‖, he added.
―From this morning that we heard the news, we have called everywhere but no
one gives me any answers‖.
Farzad‘s brother cited his calls to those in charge of his brother‘s case in the
intelligence agency and said that the Provincial Intelligence Agency said that
they had transferred his case to the Prosecutor‘s Office.
Farzad Kamangar's mother ―If our country had laws, Farzad would not have been executed, if there was
justice, they should not have executed Farzad or at least someone should have
holding his picture
told us where he was. It is close to an hour that everyone is calling us from
Tehran, but we don‘t know where out Farzad is. Is he alive, has he been hanged, I don‘t know. I don‘t know what is
going on in this country or where the law is‖?
According to the latest reports, Evin Prison officials cut off all phones in this prison from two days ago and executed
political prisoners Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian, Farhard Vakili, Shirin Alamhouli, and Mehdi Islamian.
These sentences were carried out even while the cases of three of these political prisoners were being reviewed and none
of their lawyers or families knew of their execution. (Jaras Website – May 9, 2010)
Prison officials refuse to hand over bodies of executed political prisoners to family in fear of protests
Evin Prison officials refused to hand over the bodies of five political prisoners who were executed yesterday in this
prison, to their families.
According to reports, the families of these prisoners went to the Revolutionary Court and Evin Prison requesting the
bodies of their loved ones but Prison and Court officials brought up security reasons not to hand over the bodies saying
that they have to consider the circumstances. Officials said that until further notice and until it is determined that the
bodies can be handed over without any problems they will not give the bodies for burial.
Prison officials told Farzad Kamangar‘s family to only take his personal items but his family refused and stressed on
receiving his body.

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January – October 2010

The family of Shirin Alamhouli, another executed political prisoner, have also not been able to receive their daughter‘s
body despite being referred to the Behesht Zahra Cemetery and the Kahrizak Coroners. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– May 10, 2010)
Intelligence agency threatens mother of hanged political prisoner
According to reports, interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence have subjected the
family of Mehdi Islamian (hanged on May 9, 2010 along with four other political
prisoners in Evin Prison) to pressure and threats to prevent them from disclosing their
plight.
A Ministry of Intelligence interrogator called Mehdi Islamian‘s mother on the evening
of Sunday May 9, only a few hours after the execution of her son while she was
mourning the loss of her loved one at home. He threatened her and said that she was
not to answer her telephone and was not to talk to the media and human rights
organizations. The interrogator told this mourning mother that she should not call
any organization and should not cry over the phone. If someone from Iran or outside
of the country calls her, she should not talk and no one else should talk either.
According to this report, Islamian‘s mother has still not been able to get the body of
her son for burial and has only received empty promises.
Mehdi Islamian was hanged even while his case was still being reviewed and his death sentence has not been confirmed
by the court of review. His lawyer, Mr. Bahramian, never received a court order confirming his death sentence from this
court. They even denied him a last visit with his mother.
Mehdi Islamian is the second son of this family to be executed. His brother Mohsen Islamian, 21, was hanged in Shiraz
in May 2009. Their mother was banned from holding a mourning ceremony for him and she was not even allowed to
engrave his real name on his grave. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 11, 2010)
Iran refuses to give death sentence court order of political prisoner to lawyer for appeal in Supreme Court
According to reports, the Revolutionary Court refuses to give the written court order sentence of death row political
prisoner Jafar Kazemi to his lawyer and family to appeal at the Supreme Court.
The death sentence of political prisoner Jafar Kazemi was upheld in a court of review on April 26, 2010 without it first
being referred to the Supreme Court. From April 26, Ms. Ghanavi, his lawyer and his family constantly visit this court
branch to receive the written confirmed sentence to appeal to the Supreme Court but they are told to come back the
next day or to request an appeal from the Supreme Court without the written order. On the other hand, the Supreme
Court refuses to accept their appeal without the written order. This is while the time they have to appeal the sentence is
nearing its end.
One of the head interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence nicknamed Alavi told Kazemi in an interrogation before he
was sentenced to death that ‗a number of people are supposed to be victimized for the government and your name came
out of the hat and its not important for us if it is you or someone else‘. One of the main reasons behind the death
sentence for Jafar Kazemi is the presence of his son is in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and his interrogator, Alavi, has constantly
reminded him of this.
Jafar Kazemi was arrested on September 18, 2009 after an attack by intelligence agents and was transferred to cellblock
209 in Evin Prison where he was kept in a solitary cell under severe physical and mental torture for more than 74 days.
He was then transferred to cellblock 350 in Evin Prison. Kazemi was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was jailed from
1981 to 1970 and subjected to brutal torture. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 12, 2010)
Iran attempts to arrest Kamangar family
According to reports, three days after the execution of Farzad Kamangar (political prisoner), judicial
officials still refuse to hand over the body of this teacher and other executed political prisoners to
their families. On the third day that the Kamangar family gathered outside Evin Prison, security
forces attempted to arrest Saltaneh Rezayi (mother), Mehrdad Kamangar (brother), Suror (sister in
law), Shirin Kamangar (sister) and Javid Kamangar (15 year old nephew). But attempts for their
arrest were met with resistance from the people on the scene and the members of the Kamangar
family were removed from the scene by these people. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 12,
2010)
Security forces tell family of executed female prisoner that she cannot be buried in Muslim
cemetery
Four days after the execution (of five political prisoners in Evin Prison), security forces refuse to
hand over their bodies to their families. One of the family members of Shirin Alamhouli (executed
female political prisoner) said that Shirin‘s home is under siege by security force and friends and other relatives are not
allowed to go to her home.
―Four days after the executions, security forces have confiscate the cellphones of (Shirin Alamhouli‘s) family in Tehran
and they have been told that these people (executed political prisoners) were moharebs (wagers of war with God) and
have to be buried somewhere far away from cemeteries where Muslims are buried‖, this person added. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – May 12, 2010)
No news on Azeri civil rights activist 43 days after arrest
There is no news on the whereabouts of Hossein Nasiri, a civil rights activist who was arrested by
security forces in Orumieh. He was arrested 43 days ago.
He has not made a phone call to his family since his arrest which has led to serious concerns for his
well being and there is high chance that he has been tortured.
His family says that judicial officials refuse to answer their questions on why he was arrested and have
denied them visits with their son. (Savalan Sassi Website – May 14, 2010)
Family of executed female political prisoner under pressure by security forces
Security forces have been stationed on a hill which has a view of the home of Shirin Alamhouli
(executed political prisoner) and in her neighborhood to control her home. They also search her
home every few hours.
These forces attacked her home and threw out mourning women and shut all the doors. They prevent mourners from
entering her home and only allow her father and mother inside their home. They also record the license plate number of
mourner‘s cars.
In the past few days, Shirin‘s mother, sister, uncle, nephew and grandfather were arrested and released on bail.
Intelligence agents have threatened her grandfather to take Shirin‘s mother out of the house to prevent her from
mourning her daughter‘s death. These forces have also told them that they are not to leave their lights on at night.
Despite all these pressures, a large number of people have come to their home to express their condolences. (Taghir
Baraye Barabari {Change for Equality} Website – May 14, 2010)
Parents of 3 detained students in Marivan not aware of their whereabouts
After the arrest of 15 Kurd students in Marivan by security forces, 12 of them were released on bail after signing written
pledges and three others by the names of Tofiq Partouyi, Dana Lenj Abadi and Aram Veisi are still jailed.
According to reports, after their families went to the Marivan Intelligence Agency, they were threatened by agency
officials and told that they had no right to follow up their cases for another 15 days.
These students were summoned and arrested after protests in Kurd regio
ns in Iran to the (May 9) execution of political prisoners. (Daneshju News Website – May 16, 2010)
No news on student activist one week after arrest
There is no news on the condition and whereabouts of Bahman Khodadadi, a student activist
in Isfahan. Khodadadi who is a member of the Freedom Loving Students for Equality was
summoned to the intelligence agency in Isfahan and arrested but there has been no news on
why he was arrested and what he was charged with.
His family is worried because they have absolutely no news on his whereabouts and condition
and the Revolutionary Court in this city has even stated that they are not aware of his arrest.
(Daneshju News Website – May 18, 2010)
Iran bans diplomat‟s children from studying abroad
According to the head of the Affairs of Students Studying Abroad Department of Iran‘s Science
Ministry, until last year, more than 200 children of Iranian diplomats studying abroad were
returned to Iran to continue their studies. Before this, a member of the parliament had said that the Iranian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has banned children of Iranian ambassadors from studying in European countries, including Britain.
(Radio Germany – May 18, 2010)
Shiraz University bans laughing on university grounds
According to a disciplinary regulation order issued by the Medical Science University in Shiraz, ‗loud‘ laughing, joking
and talking is banned in the university campus.
This is the first time such a regulation has been announced in a university in Iran.

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January – October 2010

In this announcement in addition to issues like obligating students to wear long sleeve, and loose clothing, banning men
from wearing t-shirts and women from wearing immodest colored tunics, it specifies that nails should not be long,
students should take showers on a regular basis, men should have short hair and pointed shoes with heels higher than
3cm should not be worn.
In section 6 of this order under the title of ‗behavior‘ other things have been banned including loud laughing, talking
and joking in the elevators, coffee shop and other places.
Students have been warned in the end of the announcement that if they repeat their offences, they will be summoned to
the Disciplinary Committee. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 26, 2010)
Amnesty on Iran human rights
Human rights group Amnesty International released its 2009 annual report on 'The State of the World's Human Rights'
on Thursday. Following are excerpts from the report on selected countries.
IRAN - 'An intensified clampdown on political protest preceded and, particularly, followed the presidential election in
June ... The security forces, notably the paramilitary Basij, used excessive force against demonstrators; dozens of people
were killed ... The authorities suppressed freedom of expression to an unprecedented level, blocking mobile and
terrestrial phone networks and internet communications. Well over 5,000 people had been detained by the end of the
year. Many were tortured, including some who were alleged to have been raped in detention, or otherwise ill-treated.
Some died from their injuries‘. (Reuters – May 27, 2010)
June
Iran bans music classes in schools
The head of the Private School Organization announced that music classes in schools are banned as extracurricular
activities.
―If a school is seen to teach music it will be seriously dealt with to the extent of closure of the school‖, Ali Baqerzadeh
said.
According to Baqerzadeh, ‗what is meant by music classes are classes that use musical instruments such as pianos or
guitars‘ (considered western musical instruments). (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 1, 2010)
Bodies of hanged political prisoner buried without consent of families
On May 9, 2010, regime officials hanged 5 political prisoners in Evin Prison. Despite their families‘ constant appeals,
their bodies have still not been handed to them for burial.
Twenty-six days after the hanging of Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alamhouli and Mehdi
Islamian, regime officials have still not handed over their bodies. According to the latest reports, on Wednesday the
mothers of Farhad Vakili, Farzad Kamangar and Ali Heidarian and a number of their relatives, went to see Ismail Najar,
the governor of Sanadaj and ask for the body of their children.
Najar told them that the bodies had been buried in Tehran but did not say where in Tehran.
Last Monday, Mohammad-Saied Vakili, Farhad Vakili‘s father passed away. According to his doctors, Mohammad-Saied
Vakili suffered a shock after his son‘s death and was waiting for his body until his last breath. (Nouroz TV – June 4,
2010)
Iran Kurds buried in secret location after execution: lawyer
Iranian authorities refused to hand
over the bodies of Kurdish militants
executed last month to their families
and buried them in a secret location,
their lawyer told an OPPOSITION
website on Sunday.
‗Our search shows the executed
Kurds have been buried secretly and
they (the authorities) refuse to
disclose the burial site,' lawyer Khalil
Bahramian told Rahesabz website
‗It is about a month that the
mourning families have been looking for the bodies of their dear ones and have not heard any responsible comments,'
he said.
Bahramian represented Shirin Alamhouli and Farzad Kamangar, hanged in May along with two other Kurds and
another man, after convicting them of armed OPPOSITION to the Islamic republic. (AFP - June 6, 2010)
Trade unions: rights violations worsened in 2009 in Iran
At least 100 trade unionists were killed defending workers rights in 2009 - up from 76 the previous year, the
International Trade Union Confederation said in its annual survey Wednesday.
Thousands of workers demonstrating to claim wages, denounce harsh working conditions or the harmful effects of the
global financial and economical crisis have faced beatings, arrest and detention, including in Algeria, Argentina, Belarus,
Burma, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey, the confederation's report said.
(AP – June 8, 2010)
Security forces shoot at young activists for writing political slogans on wall
According to reports, at about 1:45am on June 13 in Malayer, two young people who were busy putting up (political)
announcements and writing on walls were met with a hysterical reaction from security forces and were shot at.
Fortunately they were able to quickly leave the scene. (Iran News Agency – June 14, 2010)
Intelligence agents storm home of slain political prisoner, harass and threaten family
According to reports, agents of the Intelligence Agency stormed the home of slain political prisoner Amir-Hossein
Heshmat Saran, conducted a search and interrogated and threatened his family.
On Monday, June 14, at about 12 pm, six intelligence agents stormed the home of Saran. They checked this family‘s
phone book and asked questions about the names of the people in the book.
These agents also asked Elahe Nazju (Amir-Hossein Heshmat Saran‘s wife) about the whereabouts of her son Babak. This
is while Babak Saran was arrested on Saturday in Tehran by security forces and taken to an unknown location. There has
been no news on him since his arrest.
These agents tried to put mental pressure on this family and told Elahe Nazju, Babak‘s mother that, ―A person who is
against the revolution deserves all this‖. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 14, 2010)
Son: Iran closes office of late dissident cleric
The son of a renowned Iranian dissident cleric says authorities shut down his late father's office after it was stormed by
hard-liners.
Ahmad Montazeri says the office of Hossein Ali Montazeri in the holy city of Qom was sealed on Monday.
The son says hard-liners earlier on Monday morning stormed the place. He says no one was hurt but there was damage
to property.
He says the raid came just a day after OPPOSITION leader Mahdi Karroubi visited the adjoining office belonging to
Ayatollah Yosef Sanei on Sunday.
The late ayatollah was a sharp critic of Iran's leadership. His death in December, at the age of 87, drew tens of thousands
to march in his funeral procession that turned into an anti-government protest. (AP- June 14, 2010)
Blogger Sayeed Valadbaygi who alerted world to Iran‟s brutal crackdown flees to London
The blogger who sent the image of Neda Agha-Soltan, the dying protester, around the world a year ago said yesterday he
was so overwhelmed by the brutality of Tehran‘s crackdown that he had no idea she would become an icon of
OPPOSITION to the Iranian regime.
―In those days after the election so many more awful things happened,‖ said Sayeed Valadbaygi, a 28-year-old graduate
engineer, who has just arrived in London after fleeing Iran via Turkey.
―On the day that Neda died we were blogging, tweeting live, on Facebook, doing everything to get the story out. Violent,
brutal things were happening almost every moment,‖ he said.
Valadbaygi‘s father was executed by the fundamentalist regime in 1989. In his own short life, Valadbaygi has been
imprisoned three times and had his fingernails pulled out during torture.
A year ago, in the aftermath of the disputed election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, Valadbaygi mounted a
campaign via his improvised network of OPPOSITION supporters to get news of the repression to the outside world.
Thousands of men, housewives, angry young women and teenagers spontaneously took to the streets, marching in
protest at the election of Ahamdinejad, saying, ―I want my vote back‖.
―I have been asked many times: how do you know the election was rigged?‖ said Valadbaygi. ―The closest I have come to
explaining is to say: how would you feel if you woke up and Gordon Brown had won 88% of the vote‖?
That day I was in Tehran and watched basiji militia men in black clothes on motorbikes drive into the crowds throwing
stun grenades. Some of the crowd chased one of the basiji, threw him off his motorbike and set it on fire. It felt like the
start of a revolution…
The machinery of oppression went into overdrive. The internet and mobile phone systems were taken down. Security
forces poured onto the streets

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January – October 2010

, beating up anyone who wore green or just looked wrong. They were back on the streets in huge numbers again
yesterday.
In the year since Ahamdinejad was re-elected, more than 100 protesters have been killed, including Agha-Soltan, the
music student who became a symbol of the regime‘s brutality through the graphic film of her shooting.
Amnesty International has stated that 5,000 people have been arrested since the election, many of them beaten, raped
and tortured.
Valadbaygi thinks the UN sanctions are not enough. Ahamdinejad and his colleagues should be ostracised by all
governments, he believes.
―We need change in Iran,‖ he said. ―We want a proper system of government, elected by the people, for the people. I
want to breathe, to speak freely. I want to be able to walk down a street holding my girlfriend‘s hand‖. (The Sunday
Times - June 13, 2010)
Iranians involved in 1988 massacres remain in public life
GEOFFREY ROBERTSON
The anniversary at the weekend of Iran's rigged election turned the spotlight on the man who approved it - the Supreme
Leader, Ali Khamenei - and the man who was cheated of the presidency, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
If there was justice in the world, both men would be still be serving prison sentences, along with Ali Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani and a number of the nation's top judges and politicians. All were complicit in one of the gravest crimes
against humanity since World War II, the mass slaughter of political prisoners at the close of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988.
Then, Mousavi was prime minister, Khamenei was president and Rafsanjani commanded the Revolutionary Guards.
They implemented a secret fatwa which ordered the mass murder of left-wingers in prisons nationwide.
The victims were mainly student protesters who had been arrested and sentenced for leafleting and demonstrating
against Khamenei's revolutionary republic in the early 1980s. They sympathised with the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, an armed
Islamic group with Marxist leanings, or with communist and socialist organisations that did not believe in God and
certainly not in the ayatollah's theocracy.
As the war with Iraq ended in 1988, the regime decided it was too dangerous to let these dissidents live, so its leaders
plotted a 'final solution'. On July 28, a week after the ceasefire, the secret fatwa was issued, at first decreeing death for all
who remained 'steadfast' in their Mujahideen sympathies.
They were hauled from their cells and were paraded before a death committee - a religious judge, a prosecutor, and a
man from the Intelligence Ministry - and hung from cranes, four at a time, or in groups of six from ropes hanging from
the stage of the prison assembly hall. Their bodies were buried by night in mass graves, the locations of which are still
withheld from their families. Between July 28 and August 13, several thousand Mujahideen-e-Khalq members were killed
in this manner.
After a short break for a religious holiday, the death committee began to kill the left-wingers. All prisoners who were
Marxists, communists and members of other political groups and had been born Muslim but who did not believe in the
official version of Islam, were deemed apostate. If male, they were sent straight to the gallows after a brief trial with no
notice or right of defence. Women were sentenced to torture (severe whipping five times a day) until they repented and
prayed or died from the lash.
The second wave of killings also claimed several thousand victims and was accompanied by the same secrecy. Eventually,
several months later, relatives were called to the prison and handed a plastic bag with their children's effects. By October
many thousands of prisoners had been killed without trial, appeal or mercy.
When word of the mass murder began to leak out, Iran's diplomats and politicians began a cover-up. They pretended the
victims were few and were planning to take over the prisons by violence. Mousavi played a particularly shameful part,
urging 'Western intellectuals' to see him as an Allende-like victim, who had acted in time against encircling enemies. His
election meetings last year were interrupted by shouts to explain his role in 1988; he has never come clean about his part
in this international crime.
Nor, of course, have the other perpetrators. Most notably the present Supreme Leader, Khamenei, who passed it off at
the time with a brutal remark: 'Do you think we should give them sweets?'. Rafsanjani, still politically active, played an
important part: he dispatched the Revolutionary Guards to carry out the slaughter.
The death committee members remain in senior positions in the judiciary and several are government ministers. They
cannot hide behind a defence of ''superior orders'' - not even a fatwa can protect them from legal responsibility for an
international crime. (I exclude the President, Mahmoud Ahamdinejad: although he was a Revolutionary Guard and one
witness claims to identify him as a torturer, this has not been corroborated.) Khamenei, as head of state, has some
immunity but, as Charles Taylor discovered, this does not fully protect sitting heads of state from indictment for
international crimes.
For the past year, I have conducted an inquiry into the 1988 massacres for a Washington foundation and my report sets
out the evidence justifying the international law indictment of a number of Iranian leaders. Those who conducted the
prison massacres in 1988 are not only guilty of directing torture and murder but of implementing a plan to exterminate
a group on the basis of its religious belief (the Mujahideen prisoners who believed in a different form of Islam) or, in the
case of the Marxists, its non-belief.
That amounts to genocide and there is an international obligation on all nations under the Genocide Convention to
bring them to book.
The men who implemented the fatwa did so knowing they were committing an international crime. They were well
versed in the Geneva Conventions because they were always complaining about Saddam Hussein's breaches. By refusing
to explain the fate or identify the burial places of the victims, Iran's present leaders perpetuate the crime.
The Security Council would be entitled to use its power to set up an ad hoc international court to indict the Supreme
Leader and others in his government. This may be a better way to deal with a theocracy whose inability to punish, or
even admit, the barbaric behaviour of 1988 provides the greatest reason for concern over its future access to nuclear
weaponry. (Sydney Morning Herald - June 14, 2010)
Iran must bring Neda's killer to justice: Amnesty
The killer of Neda Agha-Soltan, whose shooting death during
a street protest against last summer's Iranian election was
flashed around the world on the Internet, must be brought to
justice, Amnesty International demanded on Saturday.
‗One year after the killing of Neda Agha-Soltan, the failure of
Iranian authorities to bring her killer to justice is a damning
example of the culture of impunity that has widened since
the 2009 election protests,' Amnesty said on the eve of her
June 20 death.
‗Neda's unlawful killing is emblematic of not only the
numerous human rights violations committed against
Iranians over the past year -- which are still continuing today --
but also of the government's steadfast refusal to bring to
justice those responsible for torturing and killing its critics,'
the London-based group's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said in a
statement.
Agha-Soltan, 26, became an icon of the post-election uprising against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad after a
mobile phone video of her bleeding to death during a protest in Tehran was posted on the Internet.
Dozens of people were reportedly killed in street battles between security forces and protesters, especially in Tehran,
following an election that reformist leaders charged had been rigged.
The regime crushed the protests, rounding up pro-reform politicians and journalists and unleashing the feared Basij
militia on those who dared to demonstrate…
‗Despite the wealth of video-taped evidence and witnesses, the Iranian authorities have not carried out any independent
investigation into Neda's death, nor the apparent deaths of scores of others at the hands of government forces between
June and December 2009,' Amnesty said.
‗They have denied allegations that the paramilitary Basij caused Neda's death and blamed, instead, a range of people and
organisations including the BBC, CNN, the CIA, and even the doctor who rushed to Neda's aid when she was shot,' the
rights group said.
‗The government's response to Neda's killing has been a cynical face-saving exercise,' said Sahraoui
‗It is all too typical of the wider failure of the Iranian authorities to observe the rule of law, and to ensure accountability
for the crimes that continue to be committed in its name‘… (AFP - June 19, 2010)

285
January – October 2010

Iran increases pressure on Osalu family


http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2414-1.html
The youngest son of Mansour Osalu, the head of the Union of
Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, was summoned
to court branch 1027 today.
Parvaneh Osalu, Mansour Osalu‘s wife said in an interview, ―My son
was arrested on June 23, 2009 and was released after 18 days‖.
―His case was closed but I do not know why he was summoned
again‖, she added.
―They called us again yesterday and said that my son has to present
himself to court for that same case. Mr. Osalu has been in jail for
four years and now they are pressuring his family in this way. The
incident with my daughter in law (who was arrested and severely
beaten by security forces) has still not ended and they have caused
this new problem for us‖.
Parvaneh Osalu stressed that all these measures were taken to put
pressure on her husband in prison. (Rooz Website – June 29, 2010)
Student activist tried without lawyer
Javid Haj Hemati, a student activist in the Khajeh Nasir University
in Tehran was tried in the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court
Osalu with wife and youngest son headed by Judge Moqiseh on June 30.
According to reports, this is while he had not received a summons
to be present in trial and was called and told to go to the Revolutionary Court to complete his case. He defended himself
without a lawyer in this trial.
Haj Hemati was arrested on December 7, 2009 after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence and was detained
for 70 days in cellblocks 240, 209 and 350 of Evin Prison. (Jaras Website – July 1, 2010)
More than 90,000 married children in Iran
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-29-40/2434-1.html
A children‘s rights activist said that according to official statistics, there are 950,000 married children in Iran and 85
percent of them are girls.
―Official sources say that there are 900,000 to 950,000 married children in Iran even as this is against the International
Children‘s Rights Convention‖, Mohammad Banazadeh said.
―The law considers children to be under 11 and considers them mentally incompetent to participate in the elections and
choose a candidate but the marital age in the country is between 9 to 13 years. (ILNA state-run News Agency – June 30,
2010)
July
Education official: only pro-regime student associations are free to exist
Kamran Daneshju, the Minister of Higher Education said, ―Our general view of student associations is that if they are
active in the framework of rules and regulations we will support them… unless they have political leanings which are
against the Islamic Republic of Iran and unless they attempt to encourage anti-Islamic ideas‖.
―Student associations are free in their cultural, social and political programs and we only prevent the promotion of
secularism and activities against Islam and the Islamic Republic in universities‖, he added. (ILNA state-run News Agency
– July 5, 2010)
Javad Moghimi's story reveals the peril of being a journalist in Iran
Javad Moghimi in effect ended his career in his own country at the age of 23 after taking a photograph of a defiant green
clad woman in front of Azadi Tower in central Tehran.
The picture came to symbolise resistance to the Ahamdinejad regime and appeared on the cover of Time almost exactly a
year ago.
Moghimi fled Iran shortly afterwards. He now lives on a dusty back street in a small town in Turkey, where he has been
granted asylum status.
Recounting those events to the Guardian as part of a Guardian Films and Bureau of Investigative Journalism
investigation last month, Moghimi says many of his friends and former colleagues have been arrested and in some cases
tortured.
Afraid to hire
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), also known as Reporters Without Borders, a non-governmental organisation defending
journalists, estimates that about 3,000 media workers in Iran are out of work after the post-2009 election crackdown by
the regime. Many editors are now afraid to hire anyone who has worked for the dozens of pro-reform publications that
have now been shut.
Last month, the organisation began to receive information that journalists were being summoned by the Iranian
intelligence ministry to promise, in writing, that they would not participate in or cover protests during the anniversary of
Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's re-election.
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists ranks Iran as the world's No 1 jailer of journalists, with 170 journalists
and bloggers arrested in the past year while 37 remain in prison. RSF estimates at least 100 journalists have been forced
to flee Iran since last June.
At the time of the Iranian election, Moghimi was working for the Revolutionary Guard-run press agency, Fars News.
He was assigned to follow President Ahamdinejad on the campaign trail, and it was made clear to him that he could only
cover the election result. As the protesters took to the streets, he was stunned to be ordered to stay at home by his bosses.
‗They told us we can't go out and take photographs. They did not issue us with permits … They said that we are not
going to be responsible if anything happens to you, we will not back you up and we will even testify against you and
claim that you are spies‘.
Despite these warnings, Moghimi went out and took photos of protests that became known as the green movement.
'When my photos were published I was delighted for a few moments‘.
But his euphoria was short-lived. 'I was frightened and was wondering: 'What does the future hold for me?' because of
these photos‘.
Moghimi describes how the managing director summoned all the staff to a meeting, announcing that they knew that two
photographers from Fars News had taken photos and sold them abroad, and that the culprits would be dealt with
severely. With the pressure mounting, he decided to flee a few weeks later. Since the June elections and following the
demonstrations in December after the holiday of Ashura, two of his colleagues have been arrested, Moghimi says. His
immediate boss, Majid Saidi, is on bail awaiting trial, charged with activities against national security and taking
photographs of protesters. He says his close friend Masoud Lavasani, a political correspondent for Fars News, is in prison
on hunger strike.
‗He is going through hell,' says Moghimi. 'When I hear his news I get very upset and I get a lump in my throat, because ...
I don't know what the future holds for news reporters and my friends in Iran.
‗Their crime was to take photographs of the protesters and the demonstrations. If the Islamic Republic of Iran is able to
arrest a photojournalist charged with activities against national security or taking photographs of the protesters, it is a
joke to say we have freedom of speech, because there is no freedom as long as they arrest people for the crime of taking
photos of demonstrations‘.
Imprisoned journalists
He has been in contact with some of his former colleagues via the internet, and what he has learned is disturbing. He has
heard stories of torture, beatings, even one case of rape.
Tina Carr, of the Rory Peck Trust, which provides grants to injured or imprisoned journalists, says: 'It's incredible how
tight the crackdown is on the media in Iran … It's difficult for us to even make contact to provide assistance because
media workers are in danger just from talking to us‘.
Moghimi is still coming to terms with the restrictions on press freedom in his country: 'I don't want to see that our
young men and women are murdered or executed or to be imprisoned. I want to see the freedom that we want and
deserve in Iran, so that we can return to our homeland … [I want] a photographer like me to be able to have his
profession, to be able to work freely so that they don't have to resort to living in America or Europe in order to pursue
their media work‘.
The film can be seen at www.guardian.co.uk/news/guardianfilms or www.thebureauinvestiGates.com (The Guardian –
July 5, 2010)
Laborers in Qazvin factory have not received wages for six months
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8904140837
A number of the laborers of the Naznakh Textile Factory in Qazvin gathered outside the Islamic Council (Parliament) in
protest to not receiving their wages for 6 months.

287
January – October 2010

―We gathered outside the Presidential Offices several times in the past without any results and we have not received our
wages for 6 months‖, one of these laborers said. (Fars state-run news agency – July 5, 2010)
Iran MP: the names of convicted Kahrizak guards, affiliated with death of post-election prisoners, will not be
announced to media
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2577-1.html
A member of the special parliamentary committee for the pursuit of post-election incidents said that announcing the
names of those who have been sentenced to death in the Kahrizak case at this time is against the law. (The two men were
convicted of affiliations in the death of post-election protesters in Kahrizak in an Iranian court)…
In answer to a question on whether the names of these convicts would be announced when their sentences are finalized
Farhad Tajari said, ―That depends on the decision of the authorities and if relevant authorities think it suitable, the
names of the convicts will be given to the media but publishing them at this time is against the law‖…
It is not clear why Farhad Tajari says that Kahrizak convicts‘ names cannot be announced when their sentences have not
been confirmed while the names of many people who are accused of fabricated charges by the Judiciary are not kept
hidden. (Khaneh Melat state-run website, Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mehr state-run News Agency – July 6, 2010)
Prison leave subject to submission to Islamic Republic for political prisoners
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2597-1.html
While the lack of news on the condition of a number of political prisoners and the severe illnesses of other prisoners has
caused concerns for their families and public opinion, the Tehran Prosecutor has asked political prisoners to write letters
of remorse.
A number of the families of political prisoners and jailed journalists have said that the Tehran Prosecutor has told
prisoners and their families in visits he had with them three weeks ago that they have to write letters of repentance.
According to these families, the Tehran Prosecutor puts pressure on families not to give interviews to the media
promising them that prisoners would be granted leaves from prison while on the other hand he tries to force prisoners
to write letters of repentance. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 7, 2010)
Taxi drivers only have right to turn on radios!
http://www.ilna.ir/newstext.aspx?ID=134068
The assistant head of the Municipal Transportation and Traffic in Tehran said, ―Taxi drivers are banned from using all
musical equipment except the radio‖.
―New limitations have not been placed for drivers (in the Chastity and Veil Plan) but using images, CD‘s and tapes in
taxis was banned from the past‖.
―In the periodic controls, inspectors will check that drivers are obligated to these rules and if there are complaints, those
drivers will definitely be dealt with‖, he added. (ILNA state-run News Agency – July 7, 2010)
Interrogators pry into personal lives of detained women arrested for „improper veiling‟
A few months after the Veil and Chastity Plan and the widespread arrest of women, the State Security Forces
Organization has published statistics on the state of the arrested women which includes their age group, occupation,
their relationship with the opposite sex and how their parents view their clothing style.
This report which was published by the state-run Jahan News Website shows that 80 percent of the arrested people were
between 16 to 30 years old…
Fifty-two percent of the detainees said that they are friends with the opposite sex. Sixty percent said their mother was
aware of their relationship and 31 percent said that both parents were aware of their relationship. The average age for
the start of their relationship was 16 to 17 years old.
Fifty-one percent of the detainees stated that their families agreed with their style of clothing.
The SSF did not state how many women were arrested in the Veil and Chastity Plan. (Shahrzad News Website – July 8,
2010)
Iran tries to clear itself of Neda‟s murder
Abbas Javid Kargar, a member of Iran's Basij force accused of having shot dead Neda Agha Soltan at a peaceful protest
in Tehran on June 20 of last year, claims he wasn't armed on that day and that he played no role in her death.
Kargar
makes the
claim in a
new
documentar
y on
Iranian
state television. The film 'investigates' Neda's killing without explaining the context or mentioning last year's protests. It
appears to be another attempt by Iranian authorities to place the blame on elements outside Iran.
A graphic video showing Neda's last moments of life was quickly posted on YouTube and viewed by millions of people
around the world, turning her into one of the main icons of Iran' Green Movement.
Neda Agha Soltan
Arash Hejazi, a doctor who attempted to save Neda's life, has said that some witnesses to Neda's death briefly detained
Kargar on that day. A video was later posted on YouTube that appears to show Kargar being detained by protesters, who
undress him and confiscate his Basij identity card.
Witnesses reportedly said they had heard Kargar shouting, 'I didn't want to kill her‘.
In the documentary, Kargar denies ever saying that and says instead that he had shouted that he wasn't armed.
‗If I had a gun, what happened to it?' he asks.
The new documentary, titled 'Crossroads,' suggests that the OPPOSITION Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) was
behind Neda's murder. Iranian authorities have described Neda's death as 'suspicious' and called her murder a pre-
planned scenario aimed at defaming Iran.
Kargar first appears in the new documentary wearing a green surgical mask (similar to those protesters in Tehran and
other cities used to wear to protect their identity from security forces), but later removes it. He says he had to move out
of his house after his ID card and personal information were posted on the Internet . He says he is forced to appear in
public with a mask to protect himself.
Also interviewed in the documentary are Neda's music teacher, Hamid Panahi, who was with her at the time of her
death; Setareh, a woman who says she was Neda's best friend; and the driver of the car who took Neda to the hospital.
No one from Neda's family appears in the documentary.
In one scene, the reporter asks Setareh to call Neda's sister, Hoda, and tell her that Kargar is with them and that she can
ask him whatever she wants. Hoda says she doesn't have any questions. She simply thanks Kargar in a sarcastic and angry
tone for sending her sister to heaven. She also tells him he has to deal with 'your God and your conscience‘.
Arash Hejazi
Amnesty International calls the Iranian government's response to Neda's death 'a cynical face-saving exercise‘.
‗Neda's unlawful killing is emblematic of not only the numerous human rights violations committed against Iranians
over the past year -- which are still continuing today -- but also of the government's steadfast refusal to bring to justice
those responsible for torturing and killing its critics‘.
The rights organization renews its call on the Iranian government to allow an independent inquiry into the deaths and
abuses that took place during and after the demonstrations, including an investigation into Neda's killing.
Many Iranians and other people around the world have said they will honor her memory and the memory of other
protesters who were killed in Iran's postelection crackdown by holding candlelight vigils. According to the
OPPOSITION, more than 70 people were killed in Iran following the disputed reelection of President Mahmud
Ahamdinejad.
In January, a documentary was aired > on Iran's English-language Press TV claiming Neda was a foreign agent who staged
her own death.
The hard-line and pro-Ahamdinejad Fars News Agency said last week that 'political experts' believe a meeting that took
place more than two months ago between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Neda's fiance, Caspian Makan, who was
visiting Israel, is further evidence that foreign countries were involved in Neda's death.
In his blogHejazi says the new documentary is a 'step forward' that proves his version of Neda's death.
‗On one side there is the account of Arash Hejazi and on the other side are the accounts of the Iranian government. The
accounts of the Iranian government have been changed several times already. But the account of Arash Hejazi remains
the same, and as each day goes by the truth about his comments is becoming more obvious‘.
For telling the truth about Neda's death, Hejazi says he has lost his publishing house and his security and that he cannot
see his family in Iran anymore. After Neda's death, he left Iran to study in Britain.
Despite all the difficulties he's been facing, he says he has stood by his testimony. (Radio Free Europe - June 20, 2010)
Iran levels graves of 1980‟s slain political prisoners to cover crime
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/07/60.html
In the past few weeks, the Iranian regime has destructed a number of the graves n the Tazeh Abad Cemetery in Rasht
which belong to political prisoners who were killed in the 80‘s, especially those killed in the 1988 massacre, to cover the

289
January – October 2010

evidence of its crimes. The destructed graves have been divided into new sections and are being sold. Also, new graves
have been placed on top of some of these graves and the graves below, which belong to slain political prisoners, are
hidden from view.
The operation for leveling, sectionalizing and selling the graves is being carried out by agents of the Ministry of
Intelligence. They intend to cover up their crimes in this way.
Intelligence agents have threatened families that they have to stay silent in the face of the leveling and reselling of the
graves of their loved ones else they will be arrested.
The families of massacred political prisoners have protested this inhumane act and demanded that these measures be
halted. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 14, 2010)
Iran puts pressure on dissident singer and wife
According to reports from Babol, the
Judiciary in this town has banned Adeleh
Ziayi, the wife of singer and musician Aria
Aramnejad, from leaving the country after
she wrote a post in a weblog titled, ‗I am
sorry‘. This source said that this measure
was taken to put more pressure on
Aramnejad.
Ziayi is a writer and poet who lost her
publishing permit a long time before this.
She wrote a post in Aram Arianejad‘s
weblog in protest to her husband‘s arrest in
April. This post reads in part:
‗I am sorry that I have to say that dear Aria
was wrong in thinking that law, freedom, dignity and justice are more than just words in his dear country; He was wrong
because of not knowing that this is Iran, a place where anything can happen and whoever has the power can do anything
he wants!
This source also said that a some time before this, after a song by Aria Aramnejad entitled ‗Ali Stand Up‘ was published,
Adeleh Ziayi‘s bank account was closed by the Saderat Band in Babol. The Bank‘s officials have not taken responsibility
for this measure but the Babol Saderat Bank Protection Department has said that it was done on orders of security
officials.
Aria Aramnejad was arrested on February 14, 2010 on charges of acting against national security for publishing the song
‗Ali Stand Up‘ and spent his 50 day detention in a solitary cell in the Sari Intelligence Detention Center and the Mati
Kalay Prison in Babol. His trial was held on July 6, 2010. He was not able to present his defense because was not allowed
access to his files from before. (Roshangari Website – July 14, 2010)
Labor activist tried twice on one charge
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-29-12/2815-1.html
The sixth branch of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj once again charged Mansour Osalu, the head
of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, with spreading propaganda
against the government.
This is while Osalu was tried on these charges and sentenced to prison before this. He was arrested
in July 2007 and was sentenced to five years of prison on charges of acting against national security
and spreading propaganda against the government. (Human Rights Activist in Iran – July 18, 2010)
Iran tries bazaar merchants in sham trial
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/079927.htm
On Wednesday July 14, Javad Lari and Mohsen Dokmeh Chi, two well known Tehran Bazaar merchants who have been
jailed in Evin Prison in an undetermined condition for months were taken to the 15th branch of the Revolutionary
Court and tried by Salavati, the head of the court. Salavati treated them inhumanely and violently during the trial much
like interrogators of the Intelligence Agency.
Javad Lari is 51 years old and married. After close to a year of being kept in an undetermined condition in Evin Prison
he was trialed on Wednesday in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
Salavati trialed him based on charges made by the Intelligence Agency such as moharebeh (enmity with God), acting
against national security, spreading propaganda against the government, managing trips (family trips in holidays to
various Iranian cities), forming an organization, giving financial support to the PMOI and other charges. The judge did
not allow the Lari and Dokmeh Chi families to attend the trial.
Mohsen Dokmeh Chi, 50, is a well know and popular Tehran Bazaar merchant who has also been kept in an
undetermined state in Evin Prison. He was also tried by Salavati in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court. Dokmeh
Chi was charged with giving financial support to families of political prisoners and the presence of his daughter in Camp
Ashraf in Iraq.
Lari and Dokmeh Chi were detained for several months in solitary cells in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison under mental
and physical torture by intelligence agency interrogators to make false confession against themselves and give interviews
on state television. They were then transferred to cellblock 350 in this prison and are still kept under inhumane
conditions with other political prisoners.
Another Tehran Bazaar merchant who has been detained since December is Mohammad Banazadeh Amir Khizi. He is
kept under inhumane conditions and an undetermined state.
Notably, Mr. Dokmeh Chi and Lari were political prisoners in the 80‘s and have served years in prison where they were
violently tortured. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 20, 2010)
Children‟s rights lawyer interrogated for trying to save minor offenders from death
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-29-40/2910-1.html
Mohammad Mostafayi, lawyer and children right‘s activist was summoned today to the second
branch of the Evin Prison Court.
Mostafayi wrote in his weblog that he was asked questions about the method he helped minor
offenders on death row and giving out a bank account number to receive financial aid to pay
blood money to the victim‘s families and the plaintiffs.
Mostafayi has represented about 40 death row prisoners who committed crimes under 18 years
of age in the past few years. From these 40, he was able to save the lives of 18 minors. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – July 24, 2010)
Lawyer Says No Evidence To Support Harsh Sentence For Student
Student activist Zia Nabavi‘s lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, told the International
Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that despite her client‘s denial of relations
with the Mojahedin Khalgh Organization (MKO) and a lack of evidence in this
regard, the appeals court upheld his ten-year imprisonment and Nabavi was
ordered to be exiled to the southern city of Eezeh to begin his sentence.
Seyed Zia Nabavi is a student at Noshirvani Industrial University of Babol. He was
unable to enter graduate school because of the educational policies of the
Ahamdinejad administration, even though he passed the graduate school entrance
exam with the highest grade. Nabavi was arrested on 15 June 2009 and continues
to remain in Ward 350 of Evin Prison. Since his arrest, he has spent 98 days in
solitary confinement in Wards 209 and 240, which are managed by the Ministry of
Intelligence. Nabavi is a member of the Council to Defend the Right to
Education. He was charged with participating in protest gatherings in defense of
those rights. He was also charged with cooperation with the MKO, as well as
cooperating with a reformist candidate‘s elections campaign.
Nasrin Sotoudeh told the Campaign that Nabavi told his interrogators almost 15
times that he has no connection or contact with the MKO and that he does not support the organization.
In an open letter written from prison, Nabavi told the Prosecutor that he will accept any punishment relating to his
activities with the Council to Defend the Right to Education. But, in regard to the other charges relating to support for
MKO, he absolutely does not believe in this organization and he did not have any kind of activities with this group, and
that he will not accept any of those charges.
―But in the appeals court, despite all documents, evidence, and testimonials, Nabavi was acquitted from all other charges
except for the charge of moharebeh, enmity with God, and support for the Mojahedin. He was found to deserve ten
years in exile. This court ruling is not in line with the charges brought against him and the documents in his case file.
This gifted Iranian student has to endure such heavy punishment due to his distant relatives‘ association with MKO, and

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January – October 2010

also due to objecting to his and his classmates‘ dismissal from education. He has to enter prison at the age of twenty-two
and leave it at the age of thirty-two,‖ added Sotoudeh.
According to the issued sentence, Nabavi will be transferred to the city of Eezeh in Southern Iran. Nabavi‘s physical and
mental condition have been reported as unfavorable in the last few weeks (International Campaign for Human Rights in
Iran – July 26, 2010)
August
US hikers' mothers say Iran using them as bargaining chips
The mothers of three American hikers detained in Iran for a year
said Monday that the latest comments from Tehran show Iranian
officials are using their children as bargaining chips.
In a statement, the parents of Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31,
and Josh Fattal, 27, said Iranian officials have no evidence to back
up new claims that the three Americans had threatened Iranian
security.
‗We wonder how many more times Iran is going to say that our
children's case is a judicial issue without doing anything at all to
resolve it,' said the statement from Cindy Hickey, Nora Shourd
and Laura Fattal.
The mothers said their three children are being held 'in almost
complete isolation without any semblance of due process in violation of Iranian and international law‘.
‗If Iran believes it has any reason to charge our children, it should do so without delay and give them a fair trial in a
public court of law,' the mothers said.
‗If it does not have any evidence against them -- as we know to be the case -- it should release them immediately‘.
‗Iran should stop dragging its feet and act according to its own laws or finally come clean and admit that it is holding our
children as bargaining chips‘.
The statement came a day after an Iranian official was quoted on state television as saying a probe was underway of the
hikers' 'possible actions and intentions against the security of the Islamic Republic‘. (AFP - Aug 2, 2010)
Security forces suppress worried families of political prisoner hunger strikers gathered
outside Prosecutor‟s Office
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_04.html
According to reports from Iran, security forces attacked families of political prisoners
gathered outside the Prosecutor‘s Office, ripped up pictures of their jailed loved ones and
treated them with violence.
On Wednesday, August 4, at about 10 am, the families of political prisoners in cellblock
350 in Evin Prison gathered outside the Tehran Prosecutor‘s Office in protest to the
transfer of their loved ones to solitary cells which forced them to go on hunger strikes.
From the very beginning of the gathering, security forces were stationed around the
Prosecutor‘s Office and threatened the families of political prisoners with arrest. When
these families insisted on their rights, they were attacked by security forces. Security forces
ripped up pictures of political prisoners held by their families and insulted and verbally
abused these families. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 4, 2010)
Iran stoning case lawyer requests asylum in Turkey: UNHCR
The lawyer of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery is in Turkey
and has requested asylum, the UN refugee agency said Wednesday.
The lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaie, had been missing since July 24 when Iranian police
went to his office to execute an arrest warrant and failed to find him.
‗He is in custody in Turkey. We have met him and he has lodged an asylum request with
Turkey,' Metin Corabatir, the spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) in Turkey, told AFP.
‗The request will now be evaluated in cooperation with Turkish authorities,' he added.
The liberal Turkish daily Radikal reported Wednesday that Mostafaie had been detained
due to a problem with his passport as he was entering Turkey. It gave no indication of
when, where and how the lawyer had been detained.
Mostafaie, who is a well known human rights activist, has been representing Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a 43-year-old
mother of two, who was sentenced to death by stoning after she was found guilty of adultery.
Her sentence, which sparked an outcry in Western countries, has been temporarily halted by judiciary chief Sadeq
Larijani. (AFP - Aug 4, 2010)
Brother of hunger striking political prisoner pleads for one phone call with brother
Majid Tavakoli is still continuing his dry hunger strike refusing to drink or eat to demand
that prisoner‘s rights are not violated and is in a very poor condition.
―They have made everything very hard‖, Ali Tavakoli, Majid‘s brother said.
―They have forced families to sign written pledges that they would not gather outside Evin
Prison or the Prosecutor‘s Office. If they do, they will be arrested. They even make
threatening phone calls and my mother is suffering and is in critical condition as a result of
these threats‖.
―Unfortunately, we have no news on Majid. There is no way to communicate with him. His
physical condition has made us very worried. This is the third time that Majid has gone on a
dry hunger strike. All we say is that at least let us call Majid to convince him to end his
hunger strike but they do not allow this‖.
―If they do not have a religion, they can at least be noble men‖, he said, addressing prison
officials. (Daneshju News – Aug. 8, 2010)
Hunger striking political prisoners are banned from visits for second straight week
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3242-1.html
Hunger striking political prisoners in Evin Prison were banned from family visits for the second consecutive week which
started 15 days ago after they protested the unsuitable conditions in cellblock 350 in this prison and were transferred to
solitary cells. These prisoners are still on hunger strike.
A number of these prisoners have been banned for the second week while some have been banned for the third week
from seeing their families. This is while Tehran prosecutor authorities and prison officials in Evin had given promises to
their families who persistently came to follow up the conditions of their loved ones. They had promised these families
that they would be able to visit and call their loved ones in prison; promises which have not been kept.
The lack of news on the condition of these prisoners has raised concerns for these families. They say that they do not
know what has happened to their loved ones and that they have been without food for 15 days and left in their cells
being banned from the smallest contact with their families.
The families of three political prisoners who are reportedly on dry hunger strikes are more worried about the condition
of their loved ones.
Jailed journalists Bahman Amouyi and Keivan Samimi and student activist Majid Tavakoli have refused to drink water
or tea (along with food) in their sixth day of dry hunger strike. There is no information on the condition of these three
prisoners.
Reza Maleki is another political prisoner in cellblock 350 who was transferred to solitary from 5 days ago and joined the
hunger strike of these 16 prisoners.
According to reports, Ehsan Abdeh Tabrizi, another prisoner in 350 is also on hunger strike. (Kalameh Website – Aug.
9, 2010)
Families of jailed hunger strikers gather outside Evin Prison demanding news on loved ones
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/3254-1.html
The families of jailed hunger strikers in Evin Prison gathered outside this prison today (Monday) after their visits with
their loved ones was cancelled again. The families of these prisoners were told that ‗your prisoners are banned from
visits‘ when they went to Evin today to see them.
These families asked to see Evin Prison officials but no one answered their requests. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Aug. 9, 2010)
Family of slain student threatened not to talk to media
According to reports, the intelligence agency has made threatening phone calls to the mother of Mohammad-Javad
Parandakh, a slain student of Isfahan University, not to give any interviews with the media over his death.

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January – October 2010

―Despite the fact that we are nearing the anniversary of the death of this student, the circumstances of his death are still
unclear one year after his death and his family‘s pursuits to identify the killer (of their son) has not had any results in the
judicial system‖, a source said.
The Parandakh family has been threatened several times not to hold a ceremony for this slain student and not to follow
up his obscure case.
Many political sources believe that the death of this student who was tortured and abused in detention is linked to the
elimination of witnesses of torture and rape in prison. (Jaras Website – Aug. 24, 2010)
Jailed human rights lawyer denied due process
The sentence of Mohammad Oliayi Far has not been announced to him and therefore
his case cannot be seen to in a court of review.
The wife of lawyer and prisoner of conscience Shohreh Taqati, said, ―My husband has
been jailed for close to five months for giving interviews to foreign media on charges of
propagating against the government and currently the number of phone calls from
prison are very few‖.
―In our opinion this charge (propagating against the government) is wrong because there
has not been propagation against the government. After my husband had a number of
interviews on the execution of children under 18, especially in the case of Behnoud
Shojayi, they filed a complaint against him and made a criminal record for him even as
he had expressed his views about his profession‖.
Mohammad Oliayi Far, lawyer and former head of the Research and Education Unit of
the Human Rights Activists in Iran, was arrested on March 8, 2010 after he was
summoned to the Tehran Revolutionary Court to serve his one year sentence on charges
of propagating against the government by giving interviews to foreign media and
insulting the judiciary. He was sentenced to one year of prison on February 7, 2010 by
the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of propagating against the government after protesting the execution of
minor offender Behnoud Shojayi.
Shohreh Taqati also expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that her husband‘s sentence was not announced to him and
said, ―My husband‘s sentence was not announced to him and therefore there is no way for his case to be reviewed in
court‖. (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Aug. 26, 2010)
Higher Education Minister threatens crack down on liberal universities
―If there is a university in which people of religion and the Bassij culture are ridiculed, if there is a university in which
the sound of the noon prayer call is not heard (from loudspeakers) under the excuse that classes would be disturbed, if
there is a university in which clerics cannot enter, if this university exists, the people of Iran, students, and university
employees will tear that university down‖, the Minister of Science (Minister of Higher Education) said on Sunday in the
opening ceremony of the Architectural Plans of the Science and Industry University in Tehran. (Daneshju News – Aug.
29, 2010)
September
Iran police will deal with those who walk dogs in public
The head of the Isfahan state security forces stressed that dog walking in streets is an apparent crime and said, ―This
phenomenon has to be seriously dealt with‖.
―The people expect the police to deal seriously with apparent crimes and be resolute in this regard and when these are
dealt with on time and quickly, this can result to the power of the police in the society‖, said Brigadier Hassan Karami.
(Kayhan state-run daily – Sep. 12, 2010)
Jailed lawyer‟s husband and lawyer threatened with arrest
The husband and lawyer of jailed lawyer Nasrin Sutodeh were threatened by the Ministry of Intelligence that if they talk
to the media about Sutodeh‘s case, they will be arrested.
―Yesterday, the Intelligence Agency called Ms. Ghanavi (Sutodeh‘s lawyer) and said that they have an arrest warrant
issued for her and me and that if we give interviews they will arrest us both‖, Sutodeh‘s husband Reza Khandan said.
―Today when she went to court to look into Nasrin‘s case, they confirmed this issue and once again reiterated this‖, he
added.
The husband of this jailed lawyer said that Sutodeh stressed in a phone call from prison that she is being kept in a
suitable place and does not have any problems but that she is in a solitary cell.
Nasrin Sutodeh also told her daughter that she will be detained for a long time.
Sutodeh was arrested on September 4 and has only been allowed one short phone call with her family since her arrest.
(Deutsche Welle – Sep. 13, 2010)
Iran puts more pressure on executed teacher‟s family; nephew‟s whereabouts unclear after arrest
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/3960-1.html
Ten days after the arrest of Azad Kamangar (the nephew of
executed teacher and human rights activist Farzad Kamangar) his
family‘s pursuit of his whereabouts has had no result and there is
still no news on this student‘s whereabouts.
According to reports, the Kamangar family has been under
constant pressure in the past four months and in their last
measure, security forces tried to prevent the First Eid ceremony (a
Sunni tradition held on the first Eid after the death of a person).
Notably, the main request of the families of executed political
prisoners on May 9, 2010 (Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian,
Farhad Vakili, Shirin Alamhouli, and Mehdi Islamian) is to be
given the bodies of their loved ones for burial. (Human Rights Farzad Kamangar and Azad Kamangar
Activists in Iran – Sep. 14, 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.
Political prisoners Reza Jushan and Zahra Gorji 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)
Jailed lawyer not allowed to attend father‟s funeral
Despite efforts by Nasrin Sutodeh‘s family for her to attend a mourning ceremony for her father, who
passed away two days ago, security and judicial officials seeing to her case refused to grant this lawyer
a leave from prison.
Nasrin Sutodeh who has been detained for about a month was also not allowed to attend her father‘s
funeral and now despite the fact that her family paid the announced amount of bail, made legal
follow ups on this issue and talked with security and judicial authorities seeing to her case, in the end
she was not granted a leave. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 26, 2010)

295
January – October 2010

October
8 political prisoners kept in state of limbo after 50 days
Fifty days after the arrest of a number of Kurd citizens in Marivan by intelligence and Revolutionary Guards Corps forces
in the Ney Village, these prisoners are still kept in a state of limbo in solitary cells in the Marivan Intelligence Agency.
According to reports, Bahman Fatahzadeh, Borhan Derakhshani, Bariar Kaveh, Barian Kaveh, and Borhan Khosravi
were arrested on August 14 after armed intelligence and RGC forces attacked their homes in Marivan. These forces also
insulted and harassed their families while searching their homes.
A few days later, three other young men in that village identified as Amir Kaveh, Mosleh Badakhsh and Mokhtar Efra
were arrested by intelligence and RGC forces. Another young man identified as Mahmoud Mardani was also arrested
after being summoned to the Marivan Intelligence Agency.
Despite their families constant pursuits, they still have not received any clear answers regarding their loved ones and it is
still not clear why they were arrested and what their charges are. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 4, 2010)
No news on detained Kurd teacher after one month
There is no news on the fate of a Kurd academic activist in Marivan who was arrested about one month ago by security
forces in this town. According to reports in Marivan, Aziz Naseri is the principal of Marivan‘s high schools and a former
member of the Kurdistan Teacher Association who was taken to an unknown location after his arrest. Despite constant
pursuits by his family, officials have not said why he was arrested and what his charges are.
Naseri has more than 12 years of experience teaching Farsi literature in Marivan‘s high schools. (Mukarian News Agency
– Oct. 4, 2010)
Iran‟s public prosecutor warns political prisoners against publishing statements from prison
‗If someone commits the same crime after receiving a sentence for the previous crime and is serving his/her sentence or
has finished serving his/her sentence, he/she will be prosecuted and punished and this punishment will definitely be
more severe‘. Public Prosecutor Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejeie said regarding a letter by political prisoners sent outside
of prison and a number of statements by political prisoners (published in websites). (Mehr News Agency – Oct. 11,
2010)
Wife of jailed lawyer banned from talking to husband in hospital; attacked by plainclothes agent
Mohammad Oliayi Fard, a
jailed lawyer and legal
consultant of the Student
Committee in Defense of
Political Prisoners who was
taken to a hospital outside
of prison today because of
his deteriorating physical
condition was mistreated
and harassed by a
plainclothes agent.
According to reports, this agent who had entered the hospital with a gun clashed with Oliayi Fard‘s family who intended
to see him and insulted and mistreated them.
Oliayi Fard‘s wife intended to talk to her husband when she saw him in the hospital but the above mentioned agent
verbally abused her and then attacked her with the gun in his hand. When Oliayi Fard tried to defend his wife, he was
also attacked. The hospital‘s Protection Department unarmed the plainclothes agents after seeing this scene and then
transferred Oliayi Fard back to prison…
There is a high chance that Oliayi Fard has cancer because a tumor was found in his body. He was sentenced to one year
of prison by Judge Pir Abbas in the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. (Student Committee in Defense
of Political Prisoners – Oct. 15, 2010)
Iran takes 15 year son of labor activist hostage as ransom for father‟s arrest
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_15.html
According to reports, labor activist Gholamreza Gholam Hosseini was forced to leave his home after agents of the
ministry of intelligence raided his home in his absence.
On Monday October 11, at about 9 am intelligence agents raided the home of Gholam Hosseini in Karaj intending to
arrest him but he was not home.
These agents then took his 15 year old son hostage until 8 pm. In this time, they threatened and interrogated 15-year old
Amir. In calls to Gholam Hosseini‘s wife, they said that she had to turn her husband in for her son‘s release.
These agents searched his home for a long time and then confiscated his computer, legal documents, telephone book,
books, CDs and other things…
Gholamreza Gholam Hosseini, 44, was arrested in 2005 during the strike of bus drivers of the Vahed Bus Company in
Tehran and was subsequently suspended from work for 4 years. About 8 months ago he went back to work but on July
24 he was once again suspended under baseless pretexts. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 15,
2010)
SSF: watching satellite channels is like using narcotics
The assistant head on Social Affairs of the State Security Forces, Bahman Kargar, stressed in a news conference that
buying and selling satellite equipment is illegal and said, ―Satellite equipment is considered a crime like narcotics‖.
―Narcotics endangers the mental and physical health of people while satellite (channels) leads to vulgarity, licentious
behavior and destroys families therefore they are both equally dangerous‖, he said.
The assistant social head of the State Security Forces said that satellites are an example of the ‗soft war‘ and stressed that
the SSF would seriously deal with the buying and selling of satellite equipment. (Daneshju News – Oct. 15, 2010)
Jailed lawyer with blood cancer not allowed to see family
The physical condition of jailed lawyer Mohammad Oliayi Fard is very concerning
because he has been inflicted with blood cancer.
One of his family members said that tests conducted on Oliayi Fard confirm his
blood cancer and expressed concern over his health.
Mohammad Oliayi Fard has been hospitalized for a few days because of his
deteriorating conditions but his family members are banned from visiting him in
hospital.
According to his family, several armed agents stand next to his bed day and night
and mistreat this cancer patient who is in critical condition…
Mohammad Oliayi Fard is the lawyer of a number of political prisoners. He was
sentenced to one year of prison for giving an interview about the condition of a death row minor offender. He was
transferred to Evin Prison‘s Cellblock 350 on May 1 to serve his sentence. This lawyer was hospitalized a short time ago
after his blood cancer was confirmed. (Kalameh Website – Oct. 19, 2010)
Jailed female student banned from visiting jailed brother
On Monday, the officials of Rajayi Shahr
(Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj where student
activist Shabnam Madadzadeh is jailed
banned her and her brother who is also
jailed in this prison from seeing each other.
According to reports, prison officials
summoned Farzad Madadzadeh for an
internal prison visit with his sister which
usually takes place on Mondays but then
cancelled the visit for unknown reasons.
Shabnam who was the political secretary of
the Tehran Teacher Training University
Student Association and her brother have
been sentenced to five years of prison to be
served in Rajayi Shahr Prison. A short time
before this, in an illegal order by Ali
Mohammadi, the assistant head of this prison, Shabnam was banned from all visits and telephone calls. These two
political prisoners have not been allowed to use their right to a leave from prison since their arrest.
Shabnam and Farzad were arrested in March 2009 and after a year of temporary detention were finally sentenced to five
years of prison to be served in Rajayi Shahr Prison by the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge
Mohammad Moqiseh who is known for issuing heavy sentences for political activists. (Student Committee in Defense of
Political Prisoners – Oct. 21, 2010)
No news on condition of jailed student activist and sister of Ashraf residents

297
January – October 2010

According to reports, it has been eight days since Shabnam Madadzadeh contacted her family from Gohardasht Prison
in Karaj and her family‘s constant appeals to get information on their loved one has had no conclusion.
This jailed student issued a statement and condemned the arrest of one of her lawyers and the continued detention of
jailed lawyer Mohammad Oliayi Fard.
She was taken to the Intelligence Unit and the office of the assistant head of Gohardasht Prison on October 14 and after
being threatened with a transfer and pressured, she was banned from contacting or seeing her family. From that day on,
no one has any information about her condition. There are unconfirmed reports that she has gone on hunger strike in
protest to the inhumane limitations against her. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 22, 2010)
(Note: Shabnam Madadzadeh has several sisters and brothers in Camp Ashraf in Iraq)
Intelligence agency refuses to release acquitted political prisoner
According to reports, political prisoner Teimour Rezayian is still in detention two weeks after he was cleared of all
charges and his release sentence was issued by a court of review.
This 50 year old political prisoner was acquitted two weeks ago in a court of review and was only sentenced to pay a
300,000 toman fine for having a satellite receiver in his home. But interrogators of the Intelligence Agency refuse to
release him and are trying to keep him in detention under false pretexts.
Rezayian, who was a political prisoners in the 80‘s, was arrested on February 7 when he was taken to a solitary cell in
cellblock 209 In Evin Prison. After a few months he was transferred to cellblock 350 in this prison.
Rezayian was sentenced to 3 years of prison in a show trial on August 9 but was then cleared in a court of review. He was
under torture in prison while innocent for close to year but despite all the pressures, they still refuse to release him.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 21, 2010)
Political prisoner on hunger strike in protest to violation of rights
According to reports, Mehdi Khazali has been on a hunger strike since Monday in protest to his arrest and being
subjected to pressure in a solitary cell.
Khazali was summoned to the Evin Prison Revolutionary Court on October 13 and was then arrested and taken to a
solitary cell in cellblock 209 in this prison. He was arrested for writing his views in his weblog.
According to an informed source he was arrested with the request of his father (a cleric in the Iranian regime) and has
been under extreme pressure from his father not to write in his weblog. He cut off his contacts with his family because
he refused to stop writing.
Khazali went on a hunger strike on October 18 in protest to the interrogations and inhumane pressure. An intelligence
agency interrogator nicknamed Saiedi is in charge of his interrogations. After Khazali‘s hunger strike, this interrogator
took him to another cell and has placed an intelligence agent who pretends to be a prisoner in his cell so that he can
mentally harass him. This method has been used from a long time ago by intelligence interrogators to force political
prisoners to give in to their demands.
According to reports, Mehdi Khazali‘s son had a car accident after his father‘s arrest and he is reportedly in poor physical
condition. Intelligence interrogators have notified Mehdi Khazali of his son‘s accident to put him under mental pressure
but do not allow him to contact him or get information about his son‘s condition. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Oct. 24, 2010)
Intelligence interrogator threaten to pin new charges against political prisoner in notorious Gohardasht Prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_1613.html
According to reports, interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence intend to pin new charges against political prisoner
Afshin Baimani.
After new criminal records were filed for Afshin Baimani by his interrogators, he was transferred from his solitary cell in
cellblock 1 known as the ‗doghouse‘ for its inhumane conditions to the assistant prosecutor‘s office in prison on
Monday October 25. The assistant prosecutor charged him with insulting sanctities and threatened that he would be
sentenced to 5 additional years of prison.
This political prisoner was violently thrown in solitary while being mistreated on October 3 and was physically tortured
in solitary.
Interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence have in the past filed additional charges against political prisoners Mansour
Radpour and Mansour Osalu and sentenced them to 5 years and 1 year of prison. This is one of the methods used to
suppress political prisoners who are serving their prison time. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Oct. 26, 2010)
Political prisoner thrown in solitary in Gohardasht Prison
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-27-21/4793-1.html
In an attack against prisoners in cellblock 4 of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, political prisoner
Mohammad Ali Mansouri was thrown in a solitary cell.
According to reports in line with the plan to deal with the letters and statements written by prisoners, the prison guards
raided cellblock 4 in Gohardasht Prison and conducted a search of all the prisoners‘ personal belongings. In this search,
Mansouri‘s diary was seized and he was transferred to a solitary cell in the Sepah Cellblock.
Ali Mansouri was arrested on September 2, 2009 and was sentenced to 17 years of prison for having contacts to a
dissident group. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 27, 2010)
Intelligence agency to press new charges against political prisoner to retaliate his complaint against prison official
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_9956.html
According to reports, interrogators of the Intelligence Agency intend to press new charges
against political prisoner Arjang Davoudi in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
On Monday October 5, Davoudi was taken for a trial to the Revolutionary
Court but was returned back to prison on his way there for an unknown reason and his
trial was postponed to a later date. While coming back from the Revolutionary
Court, the secretary of the head of the Gohardasht Prison, Ali Haj Kazem, told
Arjang Davoudi that ‗the fact that you filed a complaint against Ali Haj Kazem has
consequences‘.
Interrogators of the Intelligence Agency intend to press new charges against him to
increase his prison term. He has been charged with insulting officials and Arjang Davoudi in disrupting prison
order. Gohardasht Prison cell
This political prisoner went on a 74 day hunger strike in protest to the mistreatment and
limitations imposed on him by prison officials. One of his demands was that his complaint against Ali Haj Kazem be
looked into. After his demands were met including his complaint against the head of Gohardasht Prison, he ended his
hunger strike. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 27, 2010)

Right to education
January
Dezful Free University punishes student protesters
Eighteen Dezful Free University students were sentenced to suspension from education or expulsion from university and
exile to another university by the Disciplinary Committee in this university. Students in this university had in the past
staged gatherings on various occasions against the government. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 2, 2010)
50 Kerman students suspended from education
After large gatherings held by Bahonar University students in Kerman on November 4, 2009 and December 7, 2009 in
protest to post-election issues and the denial of freedoms in the country, more than 150 students of this university were
summoned to the Disciplinary Committee and received their punishments.
According to this report, about 50 students have received initial punishments sentencing them to 'suspension for one
semester and a ban on using university facilities'.
According to this report, these summonses and suspensions are still going on with full force in this university. (Amir
Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 6, 2010)
More than 15 Karaj Free University students suspended from education
Fifty students of the Karaj Free University have been summoned to the Protection Department and then to the
Disciplinary Committee after student gatherings in this university on October 20 and December 7 and more than 15
students were suspended for one semester. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 7, 2010)
Tehran University student activist commits suicide because of university officials' pressures
Reza Negahdari, a student activist in Tehran University who was suspended from education
for three semesters in the past two years cut his left wrist on January 6 in the dormitory. He
became unconscious after cutting his vein but dormitory officials called the police instead of
calling for an ambulance and this led to the deterioration of his condition. He was taken to
the Khomeini Hospital after a long delay and his bleeding was stopped so that after the
surgery expenses were paid, his vein could be operated on. Two day after his transfer to the
hospital he is still in an unsuitable condition. Security forces and agents of the Tehran
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January – October 2010

University Protection Department have banned his friends and fellow students from visiting him in the hospital to keep
this issue from finding its way to the media.
Reza had been threatened with expulsion from the Quds Dormitory after he protested the problems in this dorm. A few
days before this, he had been threatened to be expelled from university by Farhad Rahbar, the head of Tehran
University. Before he committed suicide, Reza said that Farhad Rahbar has caused him to reach a dead end. (Iran News
Agency – Jan. 10, 2010)
Qazvin University students expelled and suspended from education
Five students of the International Qazvin University were expelled for 'participating in the seditions' and have been
banned from participating in all university exams for the next five years. Twenty five other students of this university
have also been sentenced to between 3 to 4 semesters of suspension from university. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
Jan. 9, 2010)
Tehran Science and Industry Univ. students banned from education
After students of the Science and Industry University in Tehran protested the events on Ashura and the organized attack
of plainclothes agents and the beating of university students, a number of these students were summoned to the
Disciplinary Committee. After the summoning of dozens of students, at least 13 of them have been suspended for two
semesters. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 14, 2010)
18 Dezful students banned from education
Eighteen students of the Free Dezful University were sentenced to half a year of suspension, two half years of suspension,
exile to a university in the region and exile to a university outside the region by the Disciplinary Committee for
participating in the November 4, December 7 and December 16 student protests in this university. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Jan. 14, 2010)
Mashhad University expels student activist
Farshad Azizi, a member of the Free Mashhad University Islamic Association was expelled from this university.
Farshad Azizi was arrested for nine days after Bassij and military forces attacked this university and was expelled from
university after being released from prison. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 18, 2010)
Qazvin University students banned from education for peaceful political activities
The International Khomeini University in Qazvin which was the center of student protests in the past year has been in
turmoil for some time because of heavy disciplinary sentences (handed down to students).
Amongst the students who were summoned (to the Disciplinary Committee) 10 have received their sentences which are
as follows:
1- Farzam Moini- expelled from university and banned from taking part in university entrance exams for next five
years
2- Hamed Honar Khah- expelled from university
3- Seyed Rohollah Torabi- expelled from university
4- Farshid Azarniosh- expelled from university
5- Saied Sakakian- suspended for 4 semesters
6- Farhad Kiashmeshki- suspended for 4 semesters
7- Seyed Danial Keranian- suspended for 3 semesters
8- Mohammad Reza Aqayari- suspended for 3 semesters
9- Kazemi- suspended for 2 semesters
10- Payam Heidar Qazvini- suspended for 2 semesters (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 19, 2010)
February
Tehran student deprived of education because of peaceful activities
On the verge of the new university semester, students of the Free Tehran Central Unit University were suspended from
education and exiled to other units.
These students were initially sentenced to 3 semesters of suspension but in a strange measure, they were sentenced to
exile in the Review Committee in addition to their suspensions:
Salman Sima – 3 semesters of suspension and exile to Kharsagan Unit
Hossein Masumi – 1 semester of suspension and exile to Takestan Unit
Farzad Islami – 1 semester of suspension and exile to Islam Shahr Unit
Armin Sharifi - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Islam Shahr Unit
Mohammad Shurab - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Roudhen Unit
Amir Manshari - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Roudhen Unit
Hesam Nasiri - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Parand Unit
Ali Mazlum - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Shahriar Unit
Milad Pour Esa - 1 semester of suspension and exile to Karaj Unit
Salman Sima, economics student in this university has been jailed for 86 days and was recently sentenced to six years of
prison . Mehrdad Rahimi, law graduate from this university has been jailed for one month in section 209 of Evin Prison.
In the past few days Peiman Mahdian, computer major at this university and arts student Golnaz Tavasoli, were also
arrested by security forces. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 10, 2010)
30 students in Qazvin suspended and expelled from university
The head of the Khomeini University in Qazvin told Mehr (state-run) News Agency that 10 students were expelled while
20 other students were suspended from education in this university. They were charged with participating in the post
election protests. (Radio Germany Website – Feb. 12, 2010)
Three Mashhad students banned from education
The suspension sentences for Arsham Damghani, Hossein Qabel and Fatemeh Vatan Doust, three student activists in
the Firdosi University in Mashhad have been finalized.
One of the student activists in this university said that this finalization came despite the fact that more than 3,000
students of this university requested that their suspension be revoked. (International Human Rights Campaign in Iran –
Feb. 25, 2010)
March
Female Tabriz student tries to commit suicide after being suspended from education
On Wednesday at about 3:30 am, Astreh Moludi, a cultural science student at Tabriz University committed suicide after
her suspension from university sentence was finalized.
After breaking the dorm window, she cut her vein with a piece of lass but was taken to the hospital and operated on and
lived.
After protesting election results last year and holding a sit-in on November 4, 2009, 10 students of this university were
suspended from education while Moludi was sentenced to one semester of finalized suspension, one semester of
suspended suspension and a university transfer was also suggested for her.
Tabriz University officials, have threatened her close friends to refrain from publishing the suicide. These officials have
also threatened the friends of this Kurd student not to inform her family regarding this issue yet. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – March 3, 2010)
Female Shiraz University student gets prison term
According to reports, Razieh Jafari (Shiraz student activist) was sentenced to 6 months of prison and 6 months of
suspended prison while student activists Kazem Rezayi, Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Saied Lotfi and Saied Khosro Abadi
were summoned to the Revolutionary Court.
Students believe that Hossein Karparvar Fard, the assistant head of Shiraz University and Mohammadi, the head of the
Protection Department in this university are behind the (suppression) of student activists. It seems they are direct
elements of the Shiraz Intelligence Agency. (Jaras Website – March 10, 2010)
April
Student activists in Mazandaran suspended from education
After a students of the Nunshirvani Babol University held a session and protest march to escort two students activists
who were suspended from university, Iman Sediqi (former political secretary of this university's Islamic Associaiton) and
Mohsen Barzegar (former cultural secretary of this association), this university's Disciplinary Committee issued heavy
sentences for five students.
In addition to suspending these students, Qorbani, the head of this university has banned these five students from
entering the university grounds therefore preventing them from going to the Disciplinary Committee to protest their
initial sentences.
According to this report, the issued sentences for these five students are as follows:
1- Jalaloddin Sadeqi - suspended for one semester
2- Mohamamd Asgari - suspended for one semester
3- Moien Islami Jam (former Organizational Secretary of the Islamic Association) - suspended for one semester

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January – October 2010

4- Farshid Satari Far - suspended for one semester


5- Mohammad Elmi (former member of the Islamic Association) - suspended for one semester (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – April 4, 2010)
Iran expels 14-year-old daughter of jailed human rights activist from school
On Saturday, April 10, 2010, the principal of the Norolhoda School for
Gifted Students in Bandar Abas gathered the students and asked them to cut
off their relations with Athena Bahmani, the 14 year-old daughter of jailed
human rights activist Sama Bahmani.
The principal of the school made accusations against the Bahmani family and
Sama Bahmani.
In a phone call by the Bahmani family to the school principal to object this
issue, the head of the school said that this was done on the request of higher
officials and said that because she interfered in this issue, Athena has been
permitted to take her finals exams without participating in any classes and
after that, despite the fact that she has excelled in this school in the past three
years, she will be expelled. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 15, 2010)
40 Amir Kabir University students suspended, 5 expelled from university
From the beginning of the new academic year in the Polytechnic University
Human rights activist Sama Bahmani in Tehran, the students in this university have witnessed strict disciplinary
treatment from university officials.
According to news websites, from October 2009, 170 students in this university were summoned to the Disciplinary
Committee. They were mostly charged with participating in the Student's Day ceremonies and boycotting exams.
About 40 of these students received suspension sentences from this university.
Most of these sentences have not been finalized but some of the students whose sentences have been finalized have been
banned from entering the university.
Five of these students are: Vahid Dolat Abadi, Saman Shah Mohammadi, Lida Mahvadi (F), Farzaneh Sharifi (F) and
Mehrdad Farnoush (Aftab state-run Daily – April 17, 2010)
74 dissident Mashhad students receive disciplinary sentences from university
According to reports, another 74 students of the Teacher Training Sabsevar University in Mashhad received heavy
disciplinary sentences from this university without being summoned. Their only crime was participating in student
ceremonies.
TheDisciplinary Committee in this university summoned some of the students intending to identify student leaders by
threatening and enticing them.
Before this, this committee had issued sentences for 160 other university students. (Human Rights Activists in Iran –
April 17, 2010)
4 other students suspended from Kurdistan University
The Disciplinary Committee in Kurdistan University suspended four other students by the names of Houshang
Shanvazlou, Farzad Ali Soltani, Kazem Kazemi Nasab and Sharvin Asadi. (Iran News Agency – April 22, 2010)
8 Ahwaz University students barred or suspended from education
At least eight students of the Chamran University in Ahwaz were denied the right to education on orders of the head of
this university and were banned from entering university grounds.
They are Javad Alikhani, suspended for two semesters, Arman Momini, Mohammad Moussavi Rahimi, Mohsen
Jafarpour, Faranak Osulian, Fatemeh Taqvazadeh and Ahmad Koshtkar who were each sentenced to one semester of
suspension.
These are students whose sentences were finalized but there are many other students who are waiting for their final
sentences. (Student News – April 24, 2010)
5 Yasuj students suspended from education for attending political gatherings
According to reports, five students in Yasuj University were suspended from 1 to 2 semesters from this university.
They are Amir Khosravi, Daryoush Jalali, Ali Aminian, Sajad Jafari and Farajollah Tavousi. They were summoned to the
Disciplinary Committee and Protection Department and then suspended for participating in university gatherings last
November and December. (Daneshju News – April 29, 2010)
May
Shiraz University expels student activists
A number of Shiraz University students have received heavy disciplinary sentences including expulsion from this
university. On the eve of the anniversary of the 10th presidential elections of the Islamic Republic which was the scene of
widespread protests, well known students activists Kazem Rezayi, Abdoljalil Rezayi, Hamdollah Namjou, Ismail Jalilvand,
and Eunice Mirhosseini, were expelled from Shiraz University. Alma Ranjbar, Hadi Alamli were also sentenced to exile
from this university by the Disciplinary Committee of the Ministry of Science (Ministry of Higher Education). University
officials have illegally refused to allow Arash Roostayi and Mohsen Zarin Kamar to graduate despite having finished all
their courses. The reason behind the expulsion of all these students is political and they did not have any academic
related problems. (Roshangari Website – May 12, 2010)
Four student activists in Tehran‟s Science and Industry University banned from education
The sentence for four students of the Science and Industry University in Tehran was increased after it was referred to the
Central Committee of the Science Ministry 9 months ago.
These sentences are as follows:
Puya Sharifi, expulsion from university and a 5 year ban on studying at any university in the country
Hamid-Reza Sahrayi, four semester suspension from university (which will lead to his expulsion)
Ali Asadollahi, four semester suspension from university (which will lead to his expulsion)
Sajad Darvish, four semester suspension from university (which will lead to his expulsion)
(Iran News Agency – May 17, 2010)
Jailed student activist expelled from Bu-Ali Sina University
The expulsion sentence for Mohammad Sayadi, a jailed student and the former political secretary of the Islamic
Association in Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan was issued .
This is while he is currently serving his 2 year and six months of prison. (Daneshju News – May 25, 2010)
15 students suspended after protesting Ahmadinejad‟s visit to Beheshti University
After a visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the Beheshti University in Tehran and ensuing student protests, the
Disciplinary Committee in this university has so far suspended 15 students.
While Ahmadinejad denies punishing dissidents in interviews with international media, the unprecedented waves of
confronting students in various universities is on going. After the arrest of 17 students and the summoning and
threatening of over 30 students in the Bahonar University in Kerman before a visit by Ahmadinejad to this city, there is
now news on widespread disciplinary confrontations with Beheshti University students. (Daneshju News – May 30,
2010)
June
Student activist banned from entering university after attending protest gathering
Maqsoud Karami, a philosophy student at Alameh University in Tehran, was banned from entering this university.
According to reports, he was expelled for his participation in a gathering with other students in protest to the expulsion
of Morteza Mardiha, a philosophy professor at this university in the beginning of this semester. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – June 1, 2010)
Iran suspends student from university on orders of Ministry of Intelligence
Ten days before receiving his degree, Mohsen Saqafi was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence and informed that
he would not be allowed to continue his education to get a master‘s degree. In this degree, it was stated that he had to go
to the Evaluation Organization on Tuesday June 1 because of a ‗deficiency in his file‘.
‗File deficiency‘ is a new way of suspending students from education and is used instead putting a ‗star‘ in students‘
records.
Saqafi went to the Evaluation Organization on June 1 bur was mistreated and was not even allowed inside to follow up
on his file. (Daneshju News – June 8, 2010)
Qazvin University expels three students and suspends 6 others from education
With only a few days left to June 12 (anniversary of the post election unrest in Iran) and the start of university exams,
pressures on students and professors at the International Khomeini Qazvin University have reached their highest point.
The new sentences issued by the Disciplinary Committee are as follows:
1- Hamed Honarkhah – his expulsion sentence was confirmed by the review committee
2- Payam Heidar Qazvini – he was expelled and banned from all universities for three years
3- Farzam Moini – suspended for two semesters

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January – October 2010

4- Farshid Azarniosh – suspended for two semesters


5- Saied Sakakian – suspended for two semesters
6- Farhad Kiashamshaki – suspended for two semesters
7- Mohammad-Reza Aqayari - suspended for two semesters
8- Daniel Keranian - suspended for two semesters
Seyed Rohollah Torabi, an elite student at this university, left the university last semester after being expelled. (Daneshju
News – June 8, 2010)
Scores of students suspended and summoned after holding memorial for slain classmate
After a memorial ceremony on the anniversary of the death of Kianoush Asa (an elite student at the Science and
Industry University who was shot and killed during peaceful protests in Tehran on June 15, 2009) on Tuesday June 1 by
students of this university despite widespread threats and security measures, university officials summoned a large
number of students to the Disciplinary Committee and banned more than 15 girls and 16 boys from entering the
dormitory and from receiving other university facilities. (Student News – June 9, 2010)
Mazandaran University expels female student activist
Sara Khademi, a student of sociology at the Mazandaran University was banned from continuing her
studies to get her master‘s degree.
She was summoned by the Evaluation Organization‘s Intelligence Department and after a long
interrogation it was announced that she has failed the selection process.
Sara Khademi was arrested in 2007 along with a number of other student activists and was detained in
an intelligence detention center. She was later summoned to the Revolutionary Court twice.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 15, 2010)
Student activist banned from continuing his education for „lack of political
qualification‟
Cyrus Benegazi, a member of the Office for Consolidating Unity in Bushehr was banned from
continuing his education to get his master‘s degree.
Cyrus Benegazi who had participated in the political science exam to continue his education for a
master‘s degree went to the Evaluation Organization after being told that there was a defect in his
file. The Evaluation Organization then announced that he was not able to continue his education
because his political qualifications had not been confirmed. (Advar News – June 17, 2010)
35 Qazvin University students receive disciplinary sentences for political activities
Thirty five Qazvin University students were given heavy disciplinary sentences by the Disciplinary Committee in this
university.
Details of the sentences are still not known. This is while a large number of students from this university were suspended
from education and a number of others were arrested and sentenced to heavy prison terms last June.
According to reports, four professors and five students in this university were arrested after June 2009. It seems they
were arrested for participating in protest gatherings after the presidential elections last year and in protest to the killing
of protesters. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 23, 2010)
Qazvin University expels 9 students because of political activities
Nine student activists at the International Qazvin University were expelled from this university. According to reports,
Payam Heidar Qazvini and Farzam Moieni are two of these students who were expelled after participating in student
gatherings in this university. (Iran News Agency – June 29, 2010)
July
University bans three student activists from education
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2551-1.html
Three student activists in the Khajeh Nasir University were banned from education and using dormitory facilities.
On Sunday, Avat Pourabdolahi, Kianoush Suri and another student who did not want to be named were suspended for
one semester and have been banned from using the dormitories, even as guests, until they receive their degrees.
These students have been charged with leading the strikes and gatherings in the university, attempting to postpone
university exams, cooperating with student publications and encouraging students to chant slogans in June 12
demonstrations. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 5, 2010)
Student activist denied master‟s degree after release from prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2761-1.html
Amir Kabir University in Tehran refused to hand over the master‘s degree of a student who was recently released from
prison.
When Kaveh Amin-ollahi went to collect his master‘s degree, the university refused to give him his degree and said that
he was given fails in all his classes because of an unexcused absence.
Amin-ollahi was a master‘s degree student of medical engineering at the Amir Kabir University in Tehran who was
released from prison on February 18, 2010. He was cleared of all charges on May 23. (Advar News – July 16, 2010)
Students summoned to Tehran University Disciplinary Committee, three students expelled for peaceful protests
A large number of Tehran University students have been summoned to the Disciplinary Committee from the beginning
of Tir (Persian month from June 22 – July 22).
Because of the half closed state of universities, exact numbers of the summonses are not available but a student said that
more than 50 students have been summoned after protests on May 1, June 12 and June 14.
Notably, three students have so far been expelled from this university according to initial sentences issued by the
Disciplinary Committee. Students have also been told that films and pictures were taken (showing their participation in
protests). (Daneshju News – July 21, 2010)
August
3-year ban on education for Kurd political prisoner
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3072-1.html
A Kurd student was sentenced to three years of prison and a three year ban on education after more than 5 months of
prison.
Hamed Omidi a student of educational technology at Alameh Tabatabayi University in Tehran who was arrested for
political activities and cooperation with a Kurd Party was sentenced to three years of prison and a ban on continuing his
education. He had been detained for a long time in solitary in Evin Prison.
According to Kurdish websites, he was arrested on February 10, 2009 in the Tukan terminal on his way to Tehran
University after protests to the execution of Kurd political activist Ehsan Fatahian on and was then taken to cellblock
209 in Evin Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 1, 2010)
Students punished for commemorating death of slain student
After a large number of Science and Industrial University students participated in the first anniversary of the death of
slain student Kianoush Asa on June 1, the Disciplinary Committee of this university recently sentenced 18 students to at
least 25 semesters of suspension overall after more than 30 students were summoned. The other students have been
threatened to keep the information about their files secret. A number of students were also summoned to the
Intelligence Agency and were interrogated after gatherings on June 1. (Daneshju News – Aug. 2, 2010)
September
Two student activists banned from continuing education
Student activists Siamak Mirzayi and Hafez Sardarpour who had participated in the master‘s degree exams were denied
the right to continue their education.
After final results of the master‘s degree exams for public universities were announced on August 30, it was said that
Hafez Sardarpour who had received acceptable grades to continue his education, had failed his exam.
Siamak Mirzayi, who graduated with a degree in engineering from Rasht University, realized that he had problem in his
educational file after going to the Evaluation Organization Website to check his exam results. After following up his
case, this student activist was told by officials at the Evaluation Organization that he does not have the political
qualifications to study for his master‘s degree.
In addition to this, Sima Didar, Hajar Kabiri and Majid Makouyizad are other Azeri activists who were denied the right
to continue their education for their master‘s degree after participating in the university exams. (Savalan Sassi – Sep. 7,
2010)
8 Babol University students suspended from education
A new round of pressures has started against student activists in Mazandaran University in the start of the new academic
year.
The management and Protection Department of the Babol Science University have issued illegal disciplinary sentenced
for student activists in this university. This is while these students were not summoned to the Disciplinary Committee
and these sentences were announced to them when they came to university for the new semester.

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January – October 2010

Until now, five students have been suspended for a semester, three have received suspended suspensions and 10 other
students have received written reprimands in their educational files. (Daneshju News – Sep. 12, 2010)
Iran expels 5 student activists from university
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/3952-1.html

The heads of the Mazandaran and Babol Industrial universities sentenced five student activists to expulsion from
university.
Emad Bahavar, Sara Khademi, Ashkan Zahabian, Siavosh Salimi Nejad and Iman Sediqi received their final sentences
for expulsion from the Babol and Mazandaran universities in the past two weeks. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep.
14, 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)
New disciplinary sentences issued for student activists in Babol; Babol University official bans student association
In the beginning of the new academic year, the Disciplinary Committee of the Science and Technology University of
Babol has issued sentences for a number of student activists in this university. These sentences were announced to the
students without them being summoned to the Disciplinary Committee a few days before universities opened for the
new academic year.
According to reports, the Disciplinary Committee suspended five students for one semester and sentenced 12 others to
suspended suspensions for one semester or a written reprimand in their files.
Also Dr. Sheikhol Islami, the head of the Science and Technology University of Babol dissolved the Islamic Association
of Students in this university according to a new verdict and announced that its activities were illegal. (Daneshju News –
Sep. 25, 2010)
October
Gifted student banned from continuing education to get master‟s degree
The Intelligence Agency has decided that Farzaneh Jalali, who scored sixth place in the nationwide
master‘s degree exams in Iran, does not have the right to continue her education to get her master‘s
degree.
Farzaneh Jalali, an anthropology major in Tehran University‘s Social Sciences School was a student
activist in this university and a member of the student‘s Islamic Association. She was also in charge
of the Sobh (Morning) student publication in this university for one year.
Jalali was summoned to the Revolutionary Court and Intelligence Agency after security forces
attacked the university dormitory during post election events.
This student activist was banned from continuing her education even as the head of the Evaluation
Organization announced last month that they did not deprive anyone of education because of their
political activities. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 11, 2010)
2 university students suspended for 2 semesters for political activities
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-26-23/4497-1.html
After several large gatherings were held in Tehran‘s Science and Industry University following the
2009 presidential elections in Iran, the Disciplinary Committee in this university sentenced Hamid
Bidar, a fifth year computer engineering student and Navid Atayi, a fifth year constructional engineer
student to two semesters of suspension from university. Their sentences were upheld by the Appeals
Council of the Science Ministry‘s Central Committee. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Oct. 11, 2010)
Iran bans student activist from education
The Selection Committee of the Evaluation Organization announced that Saied Moradi Naqdeh, a law student at Gilan
University who is also a student activist and the former head of the student publication, ‗Qupouz‘, was banned from
continuing his education.
According to reports, Moradi Naqdeh was active in the reformer‘s campaign in the 2009 elections. He is also a member
of the Editorial Council of the Chagheri publication and the Secretary of the Shahriar Association. (Daneshju News –
Oct. 12, 2010)
Birjand student refused university degree for participating in post-election protests
Birjand University refused to give student activist Himan Khoshvaqt his university degree after he graduated last year.
Khoshvaqt finished his units in this university in 2009 and went to the university in 2010 to get his degree.
He tried in vain to receive his university degree but the heads of the Protection Department in this university announced
that they would not give his degree because he participated and was active in the post election protests in 2009.
This is while Khoshvaqt says that all his activities which were related or unrelated to protests to election results were
carried out outside of university and in all this time, he did not even set foot in his university. (Rava News website –
Oct. 14, 2010)
Iran expels student activist from Qazvin University for his political activities
Payam Heidar Qazvini was expelled from university and was banned from continuing his education in all universities for
three years.
Qazvini, who was in his last semester in the International Khomeini University in Qazvin, is the former head of a
reformist student association in this university. His expulsion sentence, which was recently issued by the University
Review Committee, is the heaviest sentence that has been issued in this university after the events of the 2009
presidential elections.
This is while this student activist was banned from entering this university since last semester and had not even gone to
university for the last 9 months.
Payam Heidar Qazvini had been arrested twice in post-election events by security forces in Qazvin and is currently
waiting for his court sentence. (Committee of Human Right Reporters- Oct. 28, 2010)
Student activists expelled from Isfahan University
In the past few days, Arsalan Sadeqi and Maziar Massoumi, two student activists in Isfahan University were expelled
from this university.
They were expelled on the direct orders of the Isfahan Intelligence Agency…
No evidence or documents were presented showing that they were guilty of the charges brought against them and the
University Disciplinary Committee has not even announced why it issued such sentences. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – Oct. 29, 2010)

Right to employment
January
Kian Tire Factory fires 9 labor activists
The Management Board of the Kian Tire Factory fired nine labor representatives in this factory and prevented them
from entering this factory.
These nine laborers who have been fired were elected in a large Public Council by the workers last year after labor
protests in this factory. (Human Rights Activsits in Iran – Jan. 13, 2010)
Iran fires man because of his religion
Ali Hashemi Tangestani, a Neimatollahi Dervish was fired from the Education Department in Bushehr. He had been
employed (as a teacher) in this department in 2006 and was fired because of reports from security institutions for being a
Dervish. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 14, 2010)
Iran bans women's activist from teaching at university
Saba Vasefi, researcher, human rights activist and women's right activist who had been teaching at the
Beheshti University in Tehran since 2006 was banned from teaching and expelled from this university
on January 20.

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January – October 2010

Vasefi is the third women's right activist who has been fired from her job in the past few months. (Amir Kabir Newsletter
– Jan. 21, 2010)
Iran fires philosophy professor from Alameh University in Tehran
Seyed Morteza Mardiha, a philosophy professor at Alameh Tabatabayi University in Tehran was banned
from continuing his work at this university.
He was transferred from the school of law and political science to the literature department after pressure
by the head of the university Sadrodin Shariat in 2007 and has now been banned from teaching after
tolerating severe pressure. (Amir Kabir Newsletter – Jan. 21, 2010)
Iran fires university professor for participating in Montazeri funeral
Dr. Abbas Kazemi, a professor in the Social Sciences Department was fired from this university for participating in
Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral.
His contract with Tehran University was until September 23, 2010 but the university wrote in a letter that his contract is
void as of January 21, 2010.
In this letter, it has been stated that the reason for his expulsion is that Dr. Abbas Kazemi attended Montazeri's funeral
and it has been claimed that he was chanting slogans in the funeral procession. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan.
25, 2010)
February
Iran fires teacher because of political activities
Fakher Abdollah Zadeh Fard, a teacher at a school in a Western Azarbaijan village was fired because of his civil rights
and political activities.
This Kurd teacher was fired from the Education Department because of his political and social activities and because of
the history of his family and was later summoned to the Orumieh Intelligence Agency.
His father was killed in 1994 by intelligence agents because of his political activities and links to Kurd parties and three
of his brothers have been forced to leave Iran because of pressures by the intelligence agency. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Feb. 15, 2010)
Iran forces law professor into early retirement
The salary of Dr. Mohammad Sattarifar was cut by the head of Alameh University in Tehran. The retirement order for
Dr. Sattarifar, the former head of the Managing and Scheduling Organization of Iran was hastily issued without the
usual ceremonies and this university professor was announced retired as of February 4.
Until the time that his pension starts which is about 4 months from now, officials have blocked his salary. (Nurooz
Website – Feb. 20, 2010)
Iran expels Greek steward over 'Persian Gulf' row: report
Iran on Sunday expelled a Greek steward working for a domestic airline after he argued with flight passengers over a
'Persian Gulf' naming row, Fars news agency reported…
According to Mehr, another Iranian news agency, Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani has said the entire 'foreign crew
of this flight must be prevented from continuing to work in Iran'.
Behbahani also warned foreign airlines of Arab nations against the 'use of such a term while flying over Iranian airspace',
Mehr said. 'If you use this wrong term, you will be prevented from flying'.
Mehr said Behbahani has asked Iran's civil aviation authority to 'reprimand' Kish Airline officials. (AFP Feb 21, 2010)
March
Worker laid off for not participating in elections
Amir Tavakoli, a contract laborer in the Isfahan Iron Factory was laid off for not participating in the presidential
elections.
Tavakoli, who was previously a worker in contractor companies and was directly contracted last spring went to the
factory Selection Department to complete his files but was told that since his identification papers were blank (without
the election stamp) and because he has not participated in any elections, the Iron Factory will not close a contract with
him. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 4, 2010)
April
University professor fired from Alameh University in Tehran
Morteza Mardiha, a philosophy professor at the Alameh University was fired from this university.
He received his expulsion sentence yesterday morning.
Mardiha was previously banned from teaching at this university by the Sadroddin Shari'ati, the head of this university.
(Tabnak state-run website – April, 6, 2010)
Iran fires 2 dissident university professors
Seyed Ali Asghar Beheshti Shirazi and Mohammad Shahri, two Science and Industry University professors were expelled
from university after receiving written expulsion orders.
These professors were signatories of a letter in protest and in support of students who had received disciplinary sentences
(for political reasons). (Aftab Website – April 13, 2010)
Father of human rights activist fired from university because of son's activities
Security forces barred the father of Keivan Rafiei, the former Secretary General of the Human Rights Activists in Iran,
from continuing his work in an attempt to increase the pressure on human rights activists.
His father worked in a university in the province of Golestan in Northern Iran. This illegal measure was carried out even
while they have made no charges against him and he has no history of political or social activities.
Keivan Rafiei's sister has also been detained since March 2, 2010 in cellblock 2A in Evin Prison because of her brother's
activities despite the expiration of her detention order. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 16, 2010)
Regime official: secular university professors should be fired from universities
A representative of the Iranian Parliament cited the statement of Ali Khamenei on Islamizing universities and said, "To
produce science on the basis of divine principles, the Ministry of Higher Education should put the issue of expelling
secular and dissident professors as a priority".
Zohreh Elahian stressed that professors have to abide by the framework of the constitution and the system of the Islamic
Republic in the university. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 17, 2010)
State run news agency fires female journalist for participation in demo
Zeinab Kazemzadeh (ISNA reporter) who was arrested in her home at 3 am on February 7, 2010 by 9 agents of the
Intelligence Agency went to the ISNA offices after her release from prison, but Saied Pourali, the former head of this
news agency, called her a 'traitor' and said that they cannot accept her as a employee in ISNA.
This is while this journalist had received a letter from prison officials to the head of ISNA upon her release saying that
she was innocent of the charges made against her and she was told that she could continue her work as a professional
journalist. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 24, 2010)
May
Man barred from teaching after release from prison
Ali Anjam, a member of the Gilan Office for Consolidating Unity was barred from teaching on
orders of the Personnel Committee of the Ministry of Education after his release from prison.
This journalist and blogger in Gilan was arrested in his home on February 27 after an attack by
intelligence agents. He spent three weeks in a solitary cell in a special prison in the intelligence
agency located in the Navy Square in Rasht. In the past weeks he was interrogated two times after
being officially summoned to the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht,. (Bamdad
Khabar Website – May 5, 2010)
Iran fires Ahwaz Free University professors
According to reports from the Free Universities in Ahwaz, all professors who taught at various
levels, especially master's degree and Ph.D levels that have been educated in western countries have been laid off under
various excuses. (Iran News Agency – May 7, 2010)
Head of Tehran Bus Company denies wages to labor activists
A number of syndicate activists of the Tehran Bus Union who gradually came back to work from November 2009 have
not been paid their salaries after months of work and in some cases, have even been threatened with expulsion.
The head the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Hossein Bijani refuses to pay their wages. The real name of this
person is Ardashir Moghimpour. He is a colonel in the Revolutionary Guards Corps but uses the alias Hossein Bijani for
business work. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 13, 2010)
June
Another labor activist suspended from work
According to reports, labor activist Amir Qaneie, was suspended from work at the Vahed Tehran and Suburbs Bus
Company by the Disciplinary Committee.

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January – October 2010

Qaneie who had more than 15 years of working experience was interrogated for the bogus charge of instigating workers.
He was informed on June 7 that he has been suspended from work and on the morning of June 8, he was prevented
from starting work. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 9, 2010)
July
Iran agents continue harassment of Tehran Bus Company unionists
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1613.aspx
On Wednesday June 30, a bus which belonged to labor activist Amir Kharazi was suspiciously set on fire in the middle of
the night and completely burned in the flames in Islam Shahr. Kharazi had bought this bus on a loan and when he was
suspended from work because of his unionist activities, he used the bus as a means to support his family.
Three other drivers in the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company who were also unionists and suspended from work used
the bus as a source of income for their families.
Before this, intelligence agents had prevented the suspended bus drivers from being hired in private companies and
threatened companies to refrain from hiring suspended drivers.
Amir Kharazi was arrested in 2005 after widespread strikes by the drivers in the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company and
was detained for several weeks in Evin Prison. He was also suspended from work two times. The first time he was
suspended for six months for participating in a strike in 2005 and the second time he was suspended for a year for his
unionist activities. He was denied his wages and other benefits in both incidents. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – July 6, 2010)
Iran puts more pressure on labor activists
Iran has increased pressure against labor activists and is carrying out security measures against them to the extent that in
the past two months several members of the Central Council of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus
Company and other labor activists including Mr. Saied Torabian and Reza Shahabi were arrested. There is no news on
the condition of Saied Torabian and in light of his heart condition and the fact that he has not contacted his family
since his arrest, there are growing concerns for his physical health…
Three members of the Bus Union named Davoud Nourozi, Ata Babakhani, Amir Takhiri who have received
authorizations to go back to work from judicial sources and other commissions have been banned from going to work by
the managing board of the Vahed Company which acts as if it is above the law.
Two members of the Bus Union by the names of Abdollah Hosseini and Seyed Reza Neimati Pour were once again
expelled from work.
These pressures are mounting while the government claims that it is obligated to respecting the rights of laborers
according to international treaties in the ILO. The latest reports from the yearly session of the ILO say that (Iran) made a
promise to release Mansour Osalu and Ibrahim Maddadi but this was not only not carried out but new charges have
been issued against Mr. Osalu and there is mounting pressure on his family. Recently Reza Shahabi‘s wife was
summoned to the Intelligence Agency over the phone.
In the five years that the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company re-established itself, its members
and their families have been under severe pressure and have been faced with widespread arrests, numerous threats,
expulsion from work and being deprived of social and medical rights.
With all these pressures and the security like atmosphere of labor activism, the Union of Workers of the Tehran and
Suburbs Bus Company still continues its defense of labor rights and will not halt any of its efforts for the defense of
labor interests. We request more help and support from all civil and human rights institutions and organization and
labor unions especially the ITF. (Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company – July 19, 2010)
August
Human rights activist expelled from job
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-29-12/3137-1.html
Human rights activist and journalist Nasour Taqipour was fired from his job. According to reports, he
worked two shifts in the Alborz Tile and Ceramics Factory in Qazvin and after being arrested and
spending 110 days in detention for his human rights activities, he was fired from the factory.
The managers of the Alborz Tile and Ceramics Factory did not state the reason for this measure.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 4, 2010)
Man fired from government job because of religion
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3393-1.html
Mehdi Mirzadeh, a Neimatollahi Dervish who is a resident of Bidokht was fired from the municipality on Tuesday
August 14 after working there for five years.
According to his expulsion letter, he was expelled for going to the gravesite of Soltani Bidokht on August 10 and
preventing (security forces) from putting up a sign which bans Dervishes from burying their dead in that location.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 16, 2010)
September
Labor activist laid-off from work
Sediq Amjadi, a labor activist in the city of Sanandaj was made unemployed by the public places department in this city.
Amjadi who worked as a taxi driver before being fired was arrested in 2007 for participating in a Labor Day ceremony.
He was sentenced to three months of prison and 10 lashes. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 27, 2010)
Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company drivers forced to pledge not to talk to media
According to reports, the Protection Department of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company are trying to force the
employees of this company to sign pledges that they will not talk to internal or external press about company problems.
In the past few days, under the orders of the Protection Department, it has been announced in all districts that
employees in Tehran have to sign a pledge which says that all drivers are committed not to talk about the issues of the
company including the condition of detained union activists, the expulsion of employees, not receiving their wages and
bonuses, inhumane treatment of the Protection Department with drivers, hard working conditions and other issues.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 28, 2010)
October
Iran fires 4 labor activists from sugarcane factory
The Dispute Solving Committee of the Labor Department in the town of Shush ruled for the expulsion of four of the
workers of the Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Factory.
Reza Rakhshan, a labor activist in this factory said, ―The Dispute Solving Committee of the Shush Labor Department
confirmed the expulsion of Fereidoun Nikofar, Jalil Ahmadi, Qorban Alipour and Mohammad Heidari in its latest
sentence‖.
―These people were members of the Haft Tapeh Labor Union who were expelled over labor protests and other activities
for laborers by the head of the factory‖, he added. (ILNA state-run News Agency – Oct. 1, 2010)
Iran throws „secular‟ minded professors out of free universities
The assistant head of the Free University said that a number of the members of the Science Committee of the Free
University who have been proven to be secular minded have been identified and expelled.
―These members of the Science Committee who we had reports of were given notices but when they did not change
(their attitude), we asked them to leave‖, he said. (Mehr state-run News Agency – Oct. 20, 2010)

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January – October 2010
Suppression of religious
and ethnic minorities

313
January – October 2010
Suppression of religious and ethnic minorities

January
Security forces crack down on Tehran Baha'is
From the early hours in the morning on January 3, security forces arrested a number of Baha'is in Tehran in their
homes.
Until this moment the arrestees who were identified are Lava Khanjani, Babak Mobsher, Payam Fanayian and his wife,
Jinus Sobhani, Artin Ghazanfari, Farid Rohani, Mehran Rohani, Nasim Bigleri and Negar Sabet.
According to reports, security forces announced that the reason for their arrest was attending Ashura protests in Tehran.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jan. 3, 2010)
Iran court sentences Christian woman to 3 months of prison, takes away custody of her child
According to reports, the trial for Hamideh Najafi, a Christian who was arrested in her home by security forces on
December 16 was held on December 30 in the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.
Hamideh Najafi, who is a Christian convert was arrested because of her faith and beliefs. She was kept under the control
of intelligence agents for 14 days because of what was called 'extracting confession and carrying out investigative
procedures' in the Mashhad Detention Center. She was finally sentenced to three months of prison and the transfer of
her child's custody to the Welfare Organization in a court without a lawyer.
Security forces arrested and beat her husband in front of her, because she persisted on keeping her faith. After this issue,
Mrs. Najafi signed a paper saying she lacked mental stability.
According to this confession and because of the fact that (she) is not mentally stable and is not a fit guardian, the right to
the custody of her 10 year old child was taken away from her and transferred to the country's Welfare Organization.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 4, 2010)
Eleven Baha'is receive heavy prison terms
The prison terms of 9 Baha'is in Mashhad who were trialed in November were announced.
According to these sentences, these Baha'is have been sentenced to five years of prison and have been banned from
leaving the country for 10 years on charges of 'spreading propaganda against the government, acting against national
security, being a member of and being active in the Baha'i cult and having contacts with foreigners'. In the past few days,
the sentence of two other Baha'is in Mashhad indentified as Babak Rohi and Ezatollah Ahmadian who were trialed in
September was also announced to them. They were sentenced to 3 years of prison which has been suspended for five
years. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 10, 2010)
Iran puts seven Bahais on trial for spying
Iran on Tuesday put on trial seven members of the banned Bahai religion on charges of 'spying for foreigners' and
cooperating with Israel, the ISNA news agency reported.
''The first hearing for seven leaders of the illegal group of Bahais who were arrested in May 2008 was held today in the
presence of their lawyers in Tehran revolutionary court,' ISNA said.
The charges include 'spying for foreigners, cooperation with the occupier regime of Qods (Israel), holding meetings with
the aim of action against domestic security and corruption on earth'.
Under Iran's Islamic law, 'corruption on earth' is punishable by death.
'All the activities of the outlawed Bahai's sect in Iran is being led by its global centre based in Israel,' ISNA cited the
revolutionary court as saying in a statement. (AFP - Jan 12, 2010)
Iran arrested 80 Baha'is in Ashura protests
On Thursday January 9, security forces stopped 34 motorists in Tehran because of their unconventional Hijab (covering)
in addition to arresting 8 people who had completely taken off their Hijab (scarves and…). These people were taken to
prison.
Despite the fact that it was announced that 16 Baha'is were arrested during the seditions on Ashura, initial investigations
regarding detainees has shown that there are at least 80 Baha'is amongst the detainees. (Ayandeh state-run website – Jan.
12, 2010)
Iran arrests several Christians in Shiraz
At least six Farsi speaking Christians were arrested in Shiraz.

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January – October 2010

On Friday January 8, intelligence agents in Fars Province attacked a home in Shiraz and arrested a number of people
who were reportedly Christians.
They were apparently taken to detention centers in the Fars Intelligence Agency.
According to informed sources, in interrogations, these people said that a Tehran resident identified as Behrouz
Khanjani, and five others taught and directed them. In a phone call to these people, intelligence agents in Shiraz asked
these men to come to the Shiraz Agency to answer a few questions.
According to reports, on January 11, Behrouz Khanjani, Metias Haq Nejad, Parviz Khalaj, Iman Farzad, Petrus Forutan
and Mahyar went to the Shiraz Intelligence Agency thinking this would lead to the quick release of those arrested on
Friday.
But there has been no information on the fate of these men since, and it seems that all of them are kept in an unknown
location. Those who were arrested on Friday were also not released as yet.
According to other sources, two other people linked to the above mentioned people were previously arrested in Rasht
and another person was arrested in Shiraz, therefore there are currently nine (Christians) detained in Shiraz and Rasht.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 15, 2010)
Iran sentences Baha'i man to three years of prison
A Baha'i man was sentenced to three years of prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the government and
promoting and advertizing the Baha'i faith.
The sentence for Siamak Iqani was issued by the Semnan Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan.
16, 2010)
February
Security forces arrest Baha'is in their homes
A number of Baha'is were arrested in the early hours on Wednesday February 10 by security forces.
Niki Khanjani, Ashkan Basari, Maria Jafari and her son Houman Sisani and Romina Zabihian were among the arrestees.
Lava Khanjani, the daughter of Niki Khanjani and Babak Mobasher were previously arrested on January 3 when a large
number of Bahai's were arrested in Tehran. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 10, 2010)
Iran detains 5 more Baha'i
Iranian authorities detained five more members of the Baha'i minority, a hardline newspaper reported on Sunday.
The daily Javan newspaper, which has ties to the elite Revolutionary Guards, reported that the five included Niki
Khanjani, who is the daughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of seven Baha'i leaders jailed since 2008 on charges of
harming national security.
The report did not describe the current charges, but said many Baha'is have escaped to neighboring countries and the
remote border areas of Iran after allegedly fomenting postelection unrest…
In January, the Tehran prosecutor said several followers of the Baha'i faith were detained in December protests for
'organizing the riots and sending pictures of the protest abroad'…
Previously there had been reports that as many as 48 Baha'is were imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious
beliefs. (AP – Feb. 14, 2010)
No news on condition of jailed Baha'i woman
Jinus Sobhani, a Baha'i who worked with the Human Rights Activists in Iran has not contacted
her family after being incarcerated for more than one month in a solitary cell.
She was arrested along with her husband, Artin Ghazanfari, in their home and has not
contacted her family after more than a one. Being deprived of a lawyer, the obscurity of her case
and lack of information on her condition has led to worries for her family and husband.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 19, 2010)
Iran arrests Kermanshah's head priest in Isfahan
According to the News Network of Christians in Isfahan, on February 2, intelligence and
security forces in Isfahan arrested Father Wilson Isavi, the head of the Assyrian Church in Kermanshah in his friend's
house in Shahin Shahr. This arrest was carried out without a previous warning and there is so far no information on his
whereabouts or any legal order for his detention. (Iran Press News Website – Feb. 21, 2010)
March
5 Baha'is sentenced to 10 years of prison
Five Baha'is in Shiraz were each sentenced to 10 years of prison in the 1st branch of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court on
charges of spreading propaganda against the government.
They were Haleh Houshmandi, Keivan Karami, Farham (Hadi) Masoumi, Afshin Ehsanian and Vahdat Dana.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 1, 2010)
Azeri citizens beaten and detained for cheering Turk wrestlers
During a wrestling tournament in Qom, two fans of Turk wrestling were arrested and several others beaten.
Rahim Hossein Zadeh (employee of the Qom Water and Sewage Organization) and Rohollah Heidari, an Azeri activist,
were arrested on February 26 during an international wrestling tournament in Qom.
Security forces attacked and beat Azeri citizens in the Heidarian Stadium in Qom and subsequently arrested these two
men.
Iran has stepped us its suppression (of Azeri citizens) and has prevented Azeri sentiments in the society and sports arenas
in the past few months. Azeri citizens are arrested, abused or beaten for cheering their favorite sports teams. (Savalan
Sassi Website – March 1, 2010)
Wife of jailed Christian priest: husband was tortured and in danger of death sentence
Madeline Nazanin, the wife of Wilson Isavi, a priest in the Assyrian Church of Kermanshah who
was arrested on February 2, 2010, said that his situation was 'appalling' after visiting him in prison.
Nazanin said that there were torture signs on her husband's body and according to security
officials, there is a chance that this elderly priest would receive the death sentence.
According to his wife, he is currently detained in an undercover detention center in the Shahin
Shahr Street in Isfahan and has only been able to visit with his wife once. The head of this
detention center has said that Wilson has been charged with 'baptizing Muslims and converting
them into Christians' and has announced that he is 'awaiting trial to receive the death sentence'.
(Jaras Website – March 3, 2010)
Christian couple arrested in Isfahan
Two well-known leaders of the Persian Christian church in Isfahan were arrested.
On Sunday, February 28, Isfahan security forces raided the home of Hamid Shafi'ie and his wife Reihaneh Aqajeri in
Nazar Street and confiscated all their books, magazines and CDs along with their computer, cell phone and even framed
picture on their walls after arresting them. They were taken to an unknown location.
When these forces wanted to take Mrs. Aqajeri out of the house, she was insulted and physically attacked and then
forced out with pepper spray because she constantly requested that her handcuffs be taken off before being taken out of
her home. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 2, 2010)
Iran charges two Baha'i human rights activists with 'moharebeh'
On Wednesday morning, a number of security forces went to
the homes of Hesam Misaqi and Sepehr Atefi in Isfahan and
confiscated their personal belongings after searching their
homes. There were not able to arrest these two human rights
activists because they were not at home.
These agents carried an arrest warrant issued by the
Revolutionary Court. According to their families, these
members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran
were charged with 'having communications with the Monafeqin
(which literally means hypocrites and is referred to the PMOI by
the regime)' and 'moharebeh' (enmity with God).
Security forces arrested Navid Khanjani, another member of this
committee, last night in Isfahan. Currently 7 members of the
Committee of Human Rights Reporters are in prison.
Misaqi and Atefi, are also members of the Society to Counter
Educational Prejudice. They have been banned from education for following the Baha'i faith. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – March 3, 2010)
Iran forces young Baha'i social workers to participate in insulting classes for three years
The Shiraz Intelligence Agency has forced 50 young Baha'is to participate in Islamic propaganda classes. These 50 young
men and women have also been banned from leaving the country.
They were arrested in May 19, 2006 for giving social services to deprived villages around Shiraz and despite carrying
permits to teach children in this area, the Shiraz Intelligence Agency has forced them to participate in these classes for
three years.

317
January – October 2010

The (instructors in these) classes insult and harass these Baha'is and their beliefs. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – March 29, 2010)
Jailed innocent Afghans get heavy sentences for w
atching Tehran demos
More than 12 Afghan immigrants who were arrested by security forces in Iran during post-election events are still jailed.
Most of these people were watching the peaceful post-election demos on the streets and did not carry out any other
activities in the protests.
In the past 10 months, these Afghan nationals who worked in construction sites in Tehran have suffered tremendously
and they have been abandoned (by the media etc.)
They have been charged with acting against Iran's national security and a number of them have received heavy charges in
Revolutionary Courts. Most of them are illiterate but were forced to state in numerous interrogations by intelligence
agents the name of the presidential candidate who paid them to participate in events after the elections.
These immigrants were arrested in the protests but have stated many times in their interrogations that they are only
paying for being curious and for watching the protests on the streets. They only wanted to know what was going on in
Tehran streets and what all the noise was about but they have been jailed for close to 10 months for their curiosity.
(Kalameh Website – March 30, 2010)
Prisoner of conscience sentenced to 6 years of prison
Payam Fanayian, a Baha'i who was arrested after popular protests on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to 6
years of prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
He was arrested on January 3 along with 10 others in Tehran. He has still not received his sentence in a written form but
it has been announced to his lawyer who was appointed for him by the court. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March
30, 2010)
April
Iran shoots and injures man in border region
Iranian forces opened fire on a group of men carrying goods on the border region of Baneh on April 8. One of the
border tradesman identified as Mohammad Vakili was severely injured as a result. Vakili is currently in critical condition
in hospital. (Kurdnews Website – April 11, 2010)
Three Baha'i students expelled from Bojnourd University
The Payame Nour University in Bojnourd announced in its official website that on March 17, three Baha'i students in
this university were banned from education.
Shayan Sanayi, Mona Sharifi Mohebati and Anush Sharifi Mohebati were three Baha'i students who were studying in the
Payame Nour University in Bojnourd.
These three students went to the university after the Iranian new years break but were prevented from going to class and
were subsequently expelled on orders of the head of the university. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 10, 2010)
Christian man harassed by security forces in Tabriz
The Tabriz security system is exerting constant pressure on a Christian Azeri citizen.
According to reports, Saied, an Azeri Christian convert who was arrested on March 7, 2010 and was released on an 80
million toman bail after 9 days in solitary confinement is still threatened by security forces.
Security forces refrain from returning his confiscated belongings such as his identification papers, bank documents,
educational degrees, his automobile and cell phone.
He has been charged with participating in religious ceremonies and promoting Christianity. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – April 12, 2010)
Iran arrests recently released Baha'i
Artin Ghazanfari, a Baha'i resident who was recently released from Evin Prison was arrested again.
According to reports, he was arrested in February and was released after three months on bail. He was
arrested again after answering a summons to the Revolutionary Court.
According to reports, he has been charged with participating in protests by the Ministry of Intelligence.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 12, 2010)
Iran arrests 19-year-old Christian in Isfahan
According to reports, on Sunday April 11 a Christian man by the name of Daniel Shahri was
arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Isfahan with an arrest warrant issued by the
Islamic Revolutionary Court. He was taken to an unknown location.
Intelligence agents went to his home which is located near the Loqa Church in Isfahan on April 11 and arrested this 19-
year-old Christian man. They also confiscated some of his personal belongings.
His family's appeals and pursuits of his case have led to nowhere. He was only allowed one short call and said that he
had been transferred to cellblock AT in the Dastgerd Central Prison in Isfahan. He also said that he had been accused of
publishing lies and sacrilege. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 17, 2010)
Iran attacks church in Karaj, beats and arrests protestant priest
On April 14, a number of plainclothes agents who introduced themselves as agents of the Ministry of Intelligence
attacked a home used as a church by Christians in Karaj. These agents threatened those in the church and beat and
insulted father Behnam Irani. They subsequently arrested him and took him to an unknown location.
These forces were armed with guns in the attack. They interrogated all those in the church asking them to fill out forms.
They were forced to answer questions such as who converted them to Christianity, how they were converted, why they
had converted and who baptized them.
They were also threatened and told that they had participated in a ceremony in an illegal church. These agents also
stressed that they would be called in the next few days and had to come to the Intelligence Agency to answer further
questions.
These 10 young Christians in the church were only participating in a religious ceremony. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – April 19, 2010)
Iran sentences Baha'i woman to prison and exile
Shole Ta'ef, a Baha'i resident of Semnan, who was arrested last November and was later released, was sentenced to one
year of prison in Tehran and two years of life outside of Semnan by the Revolutionary Court.
According to reports she has been charged with acting against national security and spreading propaganda against the
government in favor of Baha'ism. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 23, 2010)
Plainclothes agents beat and arrest Dervish in Fars Province
On Sunday April 25, plainclothes agents raided the home of Bahiar Rajabi, a Neimatollahi Dervish in Fars Province at 7
pm.
During this attack, agents broke his home window and beat Rajabi. He was arrested by security forces and transferred a
few hours later to the Abgarm Base in Kovar Town. (Majzubian Nour Website – April 26, 2010)
Mashhad Baha'is receive heavy prison terms
The court of Review in Mashhad issued heavy sentences for 9 Baha'i residents in this city.
According to these sentences, five of these men and women by the names of Sima Eshraqi, Rozita Vatefi, Davar Nabil
Zadeh, Jalayer Vahdat and Nahid Qadiri were each sentenced to 5 years of prison on charges of spreading propaganda
against the government, acting against national security by membership in and illegal activities for a Baha'i organization,
advertizing on behalf of and being in contact with outsiders, holding illegal gatherings, and publishing and distributing
CD's and books related to the Baha'i faith.
Four other Baha'is by the names of Nasrin Qadiri, Kaviz Nouzedhi, Houman Bakht Avar and Sima Rajabian were
sentenced to two years of prison.
Qadiri and Vatefi have been jailed for more than 40 days. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 26, 2010)
Iran arrests another Baha'i
On the evening of April 27, Foad Khanjani, a Baha'i man, was arrested by security forces.
Foad Khanjani is the grandson of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha'i leaders in Iran. (Human Rights Activists
in Iran – April 27, 2010)
Iran shuts down shop of Baha'i man in ongoing harassment of religious minorities
According to reports, the shop of a Baha'i man in Birjand by the name of Siavosh Deimi was shut and sealed off by
agents of the Public Places Department. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 28, 2010)
May
Baha'i man sentenced to six months of prison
Moshfeq Samandari, a Baha'i from Babol, was sentenced to six months of prison.
Samadari, who was arrested last May for 'advertizing Baha'ism', was sentenced to six months of prison by the Mazandaran
Review Court.
He introduced himself to court on May 1, 2010 and was arrested and taken to Babol Prison. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – May 4, 2010)
319
January – October 2010

Baha'i man sentenced to two years of prison


Ali Ehsani, a Baha'i man from Semnan was sentenced to two years of prison and two years of exile. According to reports,
the Semnan Review Court upheld the two year prison term of Ehsani.
He has been charged with 'spreading propaganda against the government' and 'acting against national security'. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – May 5, 2010)
Prisoner of conscience goes on hunger strike in protest to religious abuse
Eunice Aqayian, an Azeri follower of the Ahle Haq faith (followers of Imam Ali), went on a hunger strike on May 4 in
Orumieh Prison.
His wife said that Aqayian told her in a phone call from prison that he has gone on a hunger strike in protest to the
insults and abuse against his Ahle Haq beliefs.
According to reports, the Internal Manager of this prison humiliated Eunice Aqayian in front of other prisoner and
insulted his faith. After Aqayian protested the insults, he was beaten by guards and transferred from cellblock 12 which
is for political prisoners to cellblock 1 where drug addicts and murderers are detained. (Savalan Sassi Website – May 7,
2010)
Seven Baha'i leaders kept locked up
Two years ago to date, the top leaders of the Baha'i movement in Iran were enjoying the last peaceful morning they
would see in a long time.
While in their homes, four men and two women - a seventh leader had been arrested previously - were dragged off by
government officials to one of the world's most notorious prisons: Evin prison in northwest Tehran.
The seven were known as the Friends, a leadership cadre that provided for the needs of Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i
community. With no access to an attorney, they were charged with spying for Israel, insulting 'religious sanctities' and
propaganda against the Islamic republic.
‗These charges, particularly of espionage, are absurd,' said Joseph Grieboski, president of the Institute of Religion and
Public Policy in a statement after the arrest. 'The arrest of Iran's top Baha'i leaders has simply been another move to
intimidate and undermine the faith's followers‘.
The leaders: Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli
and Vahid Tizfahm are married with children. They were optometrists, teachers, engineers and industrialists.
They have had three court appearances since their imprisonment two years ago, including a closed hearing on April 12
that their families were prohibited from attending.
Because of the presence of military interrogators in the courtroom, the seven Baha'i leaders refused to answer any
questions.
‗The judge ended the hearing at that time and did not set a future date,' said Kit Bigelow, director of the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of the United States.
With no promise of a new trial, the seven leaders remain at Evin, a complex known as Iran's Bastille. Set next to a large
park and an upscale restaurant, the grounds include an execution yard.
For the first six months of their imprisonment, each of the seven members were placed in solitary confinement,
interrogated by police and pressured - without success - to make false statements.
The two women were then moved to a 12-foot-by-15-foot cell. The five men share another cell. They all sleep on a
cement floors with no pillows, and their cells have neither fresh air nor natural light. They are only allowed to shower
and wash their clothes three days a week, and they have limited exercise time outdoors. The two women stay connected
to the outside world by sending a guard once a week to buy fresh vegetables for salads…
‗The Baha'i have no protections. Their blood can be spilled with impunity,' said Dwight Bashir, deputy director for
Policy and Research for the United States Commission of International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). 'They are
considered an illegal organization or sect and can be sent to prison for apostasy. This is a classic case of a disfavored
minority over a long period of time, and the policy of the Iranian government has made it very clear that they want to
destroy them‘.
The Baha'i are not the only religious group who are being arrested and killed for their faith. According to Abe Ghaffari,
executive director of Iranian Christians International, pastors have been executed as well and their churches closed.
Some Christians are also imprisoned in Evin.
‗We hear that Christians have been killed but we only hear about these facts until years later,' he said.
Although the Islamic revolution in 1979 resulted in human rights violations of minority religious groups, the current
presidency of Mahmoud Ahamdinejad has intensified persecution, according to human rights groups.
The USCIRF, which released its eleventh annual report on religious freedom in April, recommended that Iran be placed
under the category of 'countries of particular concern,' which includes the worst violators of religious freedom in the
world. (Washington Times - May 14, 2010)
Iran arrests two Baha‟is in Hamedan
Two women who follow the Baha‘i faith by the names of Sahba Khademi and Suror Surorian were arrested. According
to reports, they were sentenced to one year of prison on charges of ‗advertising and promoting Baha‘ism‘ by a court in
Hamedan. They went to court on May 23 and were arrested and taken to Hamedan Prison. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – May 25, 2010)
June
Baha‟i female student expelled from university
Negin Siahi, a second semester student at the Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University in Sari in the
province of Mazandaran was expelled from this university.
Negin Siahi who was an outstanding student of Agricultural Engineering at this university was expelled because of her
Baha‘i faith.
Before this, two other Baha‘i students in Sari were expelled from this university.
Sona Qolinejad and Naiem Kamali were expelled in January 2010 from this university for following the Baha‘i faith.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – June 7, 2010)
University official: followers of „sham‟ religions have not right to education
Morteza Nourbakhsh, the head of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Student Selection Organization said
in a speech in Kurdistan University, ―Students with sham religions and those who are part of the unofficial minorities in
the country have no right to study at universities and if a they are studying at university, their files have to be sent to the
Central Committee of the Student Selection Organization for a qualification check‖. (Fars state-run News Agency – June
19, 2010)
Baha‟i man taken to prisoner to serve two year prison term
Houman Bakht Avar, a Baha‘i resident of Mashhad was summoned to serve his prison term.
It was stated in his summons that he has to turn himself in within three days for his sentence to be carried out.
He was sentenced to 5 years of prison but his sentence was lowered to 2 years in a court of review. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – June 28, 2010)
Iran tears down homes of Baha‟is in Northern Iran village
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/078871.htm
The homes of close to 50 Baha‘is were demolished to force its residents out of an isolated village in northern Iran…
Most of the Baha‘i homes in Eival were evacuated because of previous violent attacks against its residents by local
authorities. For example, six Baha‘i homes were torched down in 2007.
Members of the Baha‘i society have on many instances filed complaints to government officials including the Sari
Provincial Governor but in all the instances, authorities denied being notified of the demolitions or the motives behind
it.
According to the latest reports, 90 percent of all Baha‘i homes in this area were demolished. (Iran Press News – June 29,
2010)
Lawyer: apostasy charge against Christians on rise in Iran
The pressure on Iranian Christians has increased in the past few years. The charge of apostasy especially endangers the
lives of Christians converts. A number of the priests from the ‗Church of Iran‘ and their wives were arrested and jailed
on these charges. According to reports, last week six members of the ‗Church of Iran‘ (Church of Pentecostal) were
arrested. Three priests of this church (Behnam Irani, Behrouz Sadeq Khanjani and Yusef Nadrkhani) and the wives of
two of them were arrested and jailed in the past months and weeks. According to their lawyers and human rights
activists, the arrest of and pressure on Christians, especially Christian converts, has increased.
―The case of Mr. Behrouz Khanjani is in the Shiraz Court and unfortunately it has been about 10 days that his release on
bail order turned into a temporary detention order and he has been taken to the General Intelligence Department of
Fars Province for interrogations. His wife was also arrested in Tehran at the same time and is currently in cellblock 209
in Evin Prison‖, Mahmoud Taravat Roy, Khanjani‘s lawyer said.

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January – October 2010

―The main charge of my clients is apostasy, although they have been accused of two or three other charges including
‗acting against national security‘, ‗insulting Islamic sanctities‘ and ‗spreading propaganda against the government‘‖, he
added. (Radio Germany Website – June 29, 2010)
Iran arrests 5 Christian converts in Tehran
One of the relatives of five Christians arrested on June 18 in Tehran said, ―Our meetings are religious but are thought to
be political‖.
Five Christian converts by the names of Afshin Vafadari, Mehdi Karbalayi Ali, Omid Keleydar Nejad, Alireza Seyedi and
Fatemeh Tork Kajuri, wife of Behrouz Sadeq Khanjani (arrested before this), were arrested on Friday June 18 in Tehran
in Khanjani‘s home. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 30, 2010)
July
Baha‟i man sentenced to one year of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/2544-1.html
Artin Ghazanfari, a Baha‘i resident who was arrested after the events of Ashura (December 27, 2009)
was sentenced to one year of prison by the Revolutionary Court.
His trial was held on June 20. He was arrested on January 3, 2010 along with 9 other Baha‘i citizens
and was detained and kept under hard conditions until April 3, 2010 in Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht)
Prison in Karaj and Evin Prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 5, 2010)
Iran arrests two Dervishes in Karaj
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/2603-1.html
Two Dervishes in Karaj, Saied and Ehsan Dashti were arrested.
Security forces entered the home of a Dervish in the town of Karaj and in addition to conducting a search, arrested his
two sons and took them to an unknown location.
Some time ago, these two people along with four others were summoned by the Intelligence Department of the
Revolutionary Guards Corps in this city.
There is no information on why they were arrested and where they are being kept. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July
7, 2010)
Lawyer of Dervishes: the principle of equality in the Iranian justice system is an obsolete issue
http://www.rhairan.in/archives/19256
Farshid Yadollahi, a member of the Center in Defense of Human Rights in the Fars Province and a lawyer in charge of
the case of Gonabadi Dervishes in Iran said, ―In the Dervishes‘ legal case, the criteria of the courts is generally based on
putting their beliefs on trial and an inquisition style trial‖.
Some time ago, plainclothes agents who introduced themselves as employees of the Revolutionary Guards Assistant
Intelligence Department conducted a search in the Praying Hall of Dervishes in Karaj and also summoned six Dervishes
to this agency…
―The (principle) of being equal under the law is a theoretical discussion in academic centers and in practice, it is an
obsolete issue in the Iranian justice system. In dealing with activists and even in ordinary cases, this issue in not taken
into consideration‖, Yadollahi said.
(Jaras Website – July 8, 2010)
Iran expels Baha‟i student from Qazvin International University
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2660-1.html
Vesal Momtazi, a student of the Qazvin International University was expelled from university for following the Baha‘i
faith.
He was expelled from this university in June 2010 during the finals exams after studying for seven semesters and passing
124 units on the subject of agricultural engineering.
He has gone to various centers including to the Qazvin MP and Ministry of Science (department of higher education)
but has not received any answers. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 10, 2010)
Iran arrests Christian man in Mazandaran
Mr. Stephan, a Christian resident of Mazandaran was arrested after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence.
Some time ago, security forces in this province went to the home of Mr. Stephan and confiscated some of his personal
belongings. They also summoned him to the Intelligence Agency for the next day.
He went to the Intelligence Agency as asked and after long interrogations, returned home. He was told to come to the
intelligence agency whenever ordered.
On Saturday, July 3, he was once again summoned and was arrested.
According to this report, on that day, 10 other Christians were also summoned in Rasht but were released after a few
hours of interrogations. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 11, 2010)
No news on detained Christian couple
There is no news on the condition of a detained Christian couple, Behrouz Sadeq Khanjani and his wife Fatemeh
Kajouri.
Security forces have banned them from calling their families. These forces went to their homes and told their landlords
that they had ‗security problems‘.
Fatemeh Turk Kajouri‘s father, who went to Evin Prison several times to see his daughter was told that he could visit her
on Thursday, but was prevented from visiting her when he came back to the prison on Thursday.
Father Behrouz Sadeq Khanjani, who is the head of the Iran Bamdad Church, was arrested on June 16, 2010 when he
was in Shiraz to hand over his last defense to the intelligence agency. After a long interrogation session, he was
transferred to the Intelligence Detention Center.
Fatemeh Turk Kajouri, his wife, was arrested on June 18 in Tehran and taken to Evin Prison. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters – July 12, 2010)
Baha‟i man arrested to serve five year prison term
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/2703-1.html
Davar Nabil Zadeh, a Baha‘i resident of Mashhad was summoned to the Sentence Implementation Department of the
Mashhad Revolutionary Court and was arrested on arrival to serve his 5 year prison term in the Vakil Abad Prison in
Mashhad.
According to reports, he was tried last year with eight other Baha‘is in this city in a case that was closed in 2005 and was
sentenced to 5 years of prison in a sentence issued by a court of first instance and confirmed by the court of review.
He was detained for one year in 1983 for being a member of a Baha‘i organization and his 22-year-old son, Nura Nabil
Zadeh has been detained in the Mashhad Intelligence Detention Center for two weeks. (Human Rights Activists in Iran
– July 13, 2010)
Organized violence in the Zahedan Bazaar
http://www.hra-news6.info/component/content/article/55-1389-01-14-13-18-46/2813-1.html
A number of plain clothes agents attacked the shops of Baluch residents last night and set them on fire after vandalizing
them.
According to reports, after explosions in the Jame Mosque in Zahedan on RGC Day, a number of the elements of
plainclothes agents who according to eye witnesses were young Shiites attacked the businesses of Baluch residents.
This violence continued until this morning and the Salman Bazaar and Rooz Bazaar which is run by mostly Baluch
Sunnis were attacked. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 18, 2010)
Baha‟i man arrested in Sari
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/2814-1.html
Qavamoddin Sabetian, a Baha‘i man in Sari was arrested today by agents of the Intelligence
Agency in his home.
Before this, on June 9, 2010, his home was searched by intelligence agents who first introduced
themselves as employees of the Estates Department, and his Baha‘i books, CDs, pictures and
personal belonging including his computer were confiscated.
In light of the recent actions against activists fighting for the right to education of (Baha‘is) in Sari,
it seems that the arrest of Sabetian is because of his cooperation in the activities of those who have
been banned from education. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – July 18, 2010)
Security forces attack innocent Baluch residents after mosque explosion
One week after the Zahedan explosions, sources report the atmosphere in Baluchistan as volatile with clashes in this
town. According to informed sources in Baluchistan, after the explosion plainclothes agents with knives and batons
attack Baluch residents on streets and alleys.
This source said that a number of these residents were injured in the past few days.
―Close to 100 people were taken to hospital for their injuries and hospitals have problems in providing the necessary
blood (for their patients)‖, the source said.
Security measures have been carried out in most towns in Baluchistan especially Zahedan and a large number of forces
have been deployed to the region from other towns. A large number of plainclothes agents are among these forces.

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January – October 2010

An eyewitness said that plainclothes agents show no mercy and freely go about in town beating whoever they deem
suspicious without any excuse.
―Plainclothes agents attacked my car damaged it. They have no mercy as if all the people of Baluchistan are murderers‖,
he said.
―There were reports that some of those who were stabbed by plainclothes agents have passed away‖, he added. (Rooz
Website – July 21, 2010)
Baha‟i female prisoner in poor physical health in Mashhad Prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-27-21/2874-1.html
The physical condition of Rozita Vaseqi, jailed Baha‘i resident in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad
has been reported as critical according to a recent visit with her family.
She has been in solitary for the last 125 days and in this time has become thin and weak which has led
to a low blood pressure and severe pain in the soles of her feet and hands.
She has trouble moving her hands and feet and suffers from severe pain. This is while Intelligence
authorities have said regarding her condition that Vaseqi is not willing to cooperate and until she
does, her condition will not change.
Notably, her family were asked to pay a 50 million toman (about 50,000 dollar) bail on June 27 for
her release but no measures have been taken for her release and officials seeing to her case do not give
her family clear answers. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 21, 2010)
Baha‟i children‟s rights activist still detained
Afshin Heiratian, a children‘s rights activist and Baha‘i resident of Tehran who was arrested
on June 3 is still detained.
According to informed sources this civil rights activist was arrested in a park and security
forces than entered his home without a search warrant.
Heiratian was a member of a group active on children‘s rights and it seems that a number of
other group members were also arrested though their names are unknown.
After two months of detention, Afshin Heiratian only called home once and his family was
only able to visit him on two occasions…
He is currently detained in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – July 27, 2010)
August
3 Christians detained for months for practicing religion
Three Christians who were arrested on March 8, 2010 who were on their way to participate in a religious ceremony in
Bojnourd were arrested and despite the release of 8 other jailed Christians, three are still detained.
According to reports, Ehsan Behrouz along with a person identified as Reza who is a caretaker of a home church in
Mashhad and his wife are still detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in this city.
Ehsan Behrouz who recently had a visit with his mother told her that he was under pressure to sign a written pledge to
deny his faith. He also said that he is kept in a solitary cell in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – July 31, 2010)
Iran arrests Dervish in Lorestan
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post.html
On Saturday July 31, Parviz Malekshahi who is a Neimatollahi Dervish in the town of Alshatr in Lorestan was arrested
and taken to an unknown location.
On 11am on Saturday, the Alshatr Intelligence Agency summoned Malekshahi to the intelligence agency but he told
them that because these kinds of summonses were illegal, he would not show up.
After an hour, security and intelligence agents entered his home without a warrant and after searching his home and
confiscating his religious books, they arrested Malekshahi and took him to an unknown location. There is no
information on his current location.
Parviz Malekshahi is an experienced teacher and academic in this town and the Dervishes‘ religious ceremonies were
held in his home.
In the past few months, Dervishes have been constantly summoned illegally and threatened by agents of the Ministry of
Intelligence that they would be expelled from work. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
August 1, 2010)
Iran arrests another Baha‟i resident
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3149-1.html
Behnam Mote-arefi, a Baha‘i resident of Semnan was transferred to Semnan Prison to serve his prison term.
He was jailed for some time last year on charges of ‗propagating against the government and being a member of a Baha‘i
organization‘ and was sentenced to 18 months of prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 4, 2010)
Iran arrests 3 Baha‟is in Isfahan
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3226-1.html
Security forces went to the home of Faraz Rohi (M), Zhinous Jushian (F) and Nasim Rohi (F), three Baha‘i residents of
Vilashahr in Isfahan and arrested them after conducting a search.
These people were active in fighting illiteracy and according to reports, and went to the Qale Mosa Khan Village located
50 kilometers from Isfahan since May 2009 for about a year and four months and educated the children in this area with
books that were approved by the Guidance Ministry.
These people taught literacy to about 8 women and 15 children and had set up computer classes for them as well. They
had transferred 200 scientific and story books for the children and teenagers to this village. Notably, because of the lack
of a doctor and medical services in this village, they also took a number of villagers who needed eye care to town for
treatment.
The villagers were not aware of the religion of these social activists and their activities were only for social services.
According to the latest reports, the detainees were taken to the Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan and have not visited their
families since their arrest. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 8, 2010)
Baha‟i leaders sentenced to 20 years of prison
Dian Alayi, the representative of the society of Baha‘is in the United Nations said on Sunday that seven leaders of the
Baha‘i society in Iran were sentenced to 20 years of prison each. Their trial ended in mid June.
Fariba Kamal Abadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saied Rezayi, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakoli and Vahid
Tizfahm are seven Baha‘i leaders in Iran who have been jailed from about two years ago.
The Judiciary of the Islamic Republic has charged them with ‗spying, acting against national security and waging war
with God‘.
Ms. Alayi stressed that these people were only arrested for being Baha‘i and said, ―The legal procedure was wrong from
the very beginning because these seven people were kept in solitary confinement for a long time without even knowing
their charges‖.
According to Ms. Alayi, the arrested leaders were only allowed to see their lawyers for one hour in the whole two years of
their detention. (Radio Farda Website – Aug. 9, 2010)
Another Baha‟i man sentenced to prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-24-07/3258-1.html
In the ongoing suppression of religious minorities in Iran, another Baha‘i citizen was sentenced to three years of prison
by the Babol Revolutionary Court.
According to reports, Moshtaq Samandari who is a resident of Babol was sentenced to three years of prison on charges
of disrespecting Islam by advertising Baha‘ism.
He was arrested by security forces last June and his sentence was issued based on this case. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Aug. 9, 2010)
Security forces attempt to illegally arrest Dervish
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/081446.htm
On Monday August 16 at 10 pm, four security forces went to the home of Kazem Dehqan, a Neimatollahi Dervish, and
attempted to arrest him.
Dehqan asked the agents to show an arrest warrant but was shown a document without a stamp and signature. He then
told them that his arrest was illegal and refused to cooperate with them. The agents then resorted to violence and beat
him and even threatened his wife at gun point. This incident ended after other Dervishes intervened and the agents left
the scene. (Iran Press News Website – Aug. 17, 2010)
Christians under pressure in Tabriz
Security and intelligence forces in the Eastern Azarbaijan province threaten Christians in this province by prosecution,
summoning and interrogation. According to reports, in one of the last measure by security forces on Wednesday July 28,
four agents of the Intelligence Agency went to the home of converted Christian Jamal Zarin Kamari, after showing a
search warrant from the Ministry.

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These agents confiscated his personal belongings while Zarin Karimi and his wife were out of the house. On their way
out of the house with the confiscated belongings, they gave a summons without a stamp and signature issued by the
Tabriz Intelligence Agency to Jamal and told him he had to go the address on the summons on August 1.
Before this, two newly converted Christians in Tabriz were accused of participating in Christian ceremonies in home
churches, teaching Christian sacraments to Muslims who have converted to Christianity, attempting to baptize converted
Christians and establishing and cooperation in the establishment of home churches. Initially a 200 million toman bail
was set for the release of these Azeri Christians by the Tabriz Islamic Revolutionary Court but since they could not
afford such a bail, they were temporarily released after the bail was lowered by the Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights
Activists in Iran – Aug. 21, 2010)
Iran arrests another Christian in Rasht
http://www.rahana.org/archives/23509
Hamed Pishkar, a Christian living in the town of Rasht, was arrested on August 16 n his home for holding a session to
answer questions (on Christianity) and carrying out religious rites.
Security forces initially conducted a search in his home and then took this Christian citizen to an unknown location.
In the past few months, there has been increased pressure on Christians in Rasht. Davoud Nejat Sabet and Shahin Taqi
Zadeh who were both caretakers of the Church of Iran in Rasht were sentenced to one year of suspended sentence which
can be carried out within five years.
Yusef Nodrkhani, another Christian has been jailed in the Lakan Prison in Rasht since last September waiting for his
sentence to be issued. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug. 21, 2010)
September
Iran brutally suppresses Iranian Sunnis in Saqez
According to reports, Special Guards Forces, Security Forces and plainclothes agents attacked Sunni residents of Saqez
and followers of Alameh Mofti Zadeh (Quran Academy) and arrested at least 10 Sunnis.
On Thursday and Friday night, August 19 and 20, Special Guards, Intelligence, and Security Forces, and plainclothes
agents attacked a Sunni Ramadan ceremony which was being held in the homes of the followers of Ahmad Moftizadeh
(Quran Academy). They were attacked and punched and kicked and beaten with clubs and six people were arrested and
taken to unknown locations.
Also at 2 pm on Thursday, August 19, security and intelligence agents entered the homes of these people without a legal
warrant and confiscated personal belongings of the detainees including their CDs, books, booklets, pictures,
construction documents, national cards, medical services booklets, id cards and car ownership documents among other
things.
On August 21 intelligence and security agents once again stormed the homes of the detainees and arrested another 4
people taking them to unknown locations.
For the third time from 5 to 11 pm, at least 1000 Special Guards Forces, plainclothes agents, traffic police and even
female riot police surrounded the homes of these people and terrorized the women and children and other defenseless
persons. They stormed the residential buildings and broke the windows and doors.
On August 26, from 5 to 8:30 pm, security forces once again surrounded the area where these people were holding their
religious ceremony and prevented the ceremony. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 1, 2010)
Sunni prisoners insulted and beaten in Gohardasht Prison
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/09/2.html
According to reports from Iran, cellblock 2 known as the Dar al-Quran in Gohardasht Prison is very tense after prison
agents insulted Sunni prisoners. These prisoners who are mostly Kurd political and non-political prisoners protested the
insults which were being broadcasted from the cellblock loudspeakers.
Prison officials Kermani and Faraji and other prison guards threatened the Sunni protesters that if they do not end their
protests, prison guards will beat them and transfer them to solitary cells…
On Sunday September 5, when they see that the protests of political and non-political Sunni prisoners were ongoing,
Karami, Faraji the head and assistant head of the Prison Intelligence Unit and prison guards attacked a Sunni prisoner
identified as Ata-ollah Azizi and beat him, subsequently taking him to cellblock 6 in this prison.
The Prison Intelligence Unit instigates and encourages other prisoners to clash with Sunni prisoners and there is a high
chance of widespread religious clashes in this cellblock. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Sep. 6, 2010)
Families of detained Christians threatened in Mashhad
The Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mashhad has threatened the families of detained Christians and has told them that
if the jailed Christians do not turn back to Islam, they will be charged with apostasy.
According to reports, three of these converted Christians identified as Reza (Stephan), his wife Maria and Ehsan
Behrouz were arrested on July 8, 2010 on charges of converting to Christianity. Branch 901 of the Revolutionary Court
in Mashhad asked the families of these three Christians on August 29 to participate in their trial.
According to reports from a source close to this case, in the above mentioned session, court and security officials told
these families that despite 50 days of attempts by guidance agents to convert these prisoners back to Islam, these people
have still not given a positive answer and are not willing to leave their Christian beliefs…
Judicial and security officials in Mashhad have also said that if their families are not able to force them back to Islam,
they will charge them with apostasy and they will be tried on these charges.
The official meaning of apostasy in Iran is execution. (Iran Press News – Sep. 6, 2010)
Sunni Muslims banned from holding prayer ceremony
According to reports from Tehran and other cities in Iran, security forces have prevented Sunni Muslims from holding
their Eid Fetr (a celebration at the end of the month of Ramadan which marks the end of fasting) prayers and Friday
prayers. There were clashes between security forces and the Shiite heads of the Abuzar Mosque in Tehran in support of
Sunni Muslims. This mosque was made ready for the Eid Fetr Prayer ceremony of Sunni Muslims with the agreement of
the head of Friday Prayers at this mosque. In the end, this mosque was the only place among several other locations in
which Sunni Muslims were able to hold their Eid praying ceremony.
Sunni Online website which is affiliated with the Maki Mosque in Zahedan quoted credible sources and said that
‗security police in this town went to the homes of Sunni Muslims in which the Eid Prayers were to be held and
threatened them. They were forced to pledge not to hold the prayers in their home and told that they had to pray behind
the leader‘.
This website said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was behind these measures. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep.
13, 2010)
Jailed Christian couple threatened to death and life in prison
Jailed Christian couple Fatemeh Pasandideh
and her husband Yusef Nordkhani have been
banned from seeing each other in prison since
two weeks ago and have been threatened by
security forces to life in prison and execution if
they do not turn back to Islam.
Converted Christian Fatemeh Pasandideh said
in a short phone call with one of her relations
that she and her jailed husband were being put
under increased pressure in the past two
weeks.
On Saturday September 11, she made a call
from Rasht Prison and said that she was barred
from seeing her husband in the past two weeks
and that she was under pressure to turn back
to Islam by her interrogators. she said she was
threatened that if she does not become a
Muslim, she would be sentenced to life in prison according to Islamic laws.
On the other hand, her husband Yusef has been threatened with execution under similar circumstances if he does not
become a Muslim.
They are both detained in the Lakan Prison in Rasht. According to unverified reports, Behrouz Sadeq Khanjani another
jailed Christian was sentenced to death by two judges in the past few months but the third judge did not vote for his
execution. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 14, 2010)
Plainclothes agents attack and beat Dervish
Ali Moravi, a Neimatollahi Dervish in Gonabad was attacked and beaten by a number of masked plainclothes agents.
According to reports at about 11 pm on September 21, while Moravi was on his way home he was attacked and beaten
by plainclothes agents armed with knives and (pepper) spray.

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January – October 2010

Ali Moravi is the elder brother of Mohammad Moravi who was arrested some time ago on orders of the Gonabad
Prosecutor. His hair was shaved off and this led a large number of Gonabad Dervishes especially in Bidokht to rise in
support and solidarity with him to shave off their hair in protest to the illegal measures of the Gonabad Prosecutor.
(Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 23, 2010)
Iran sentences Baha‟i woman to two years of prison
http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/4237-1.html
Lava Khanjani, a Baha‘i who has been banned from continuing her education because of her faith
and was arrested on January 3, 2010 was sentenced to two years of prison.
According to reports, Khanjani was released on bail from Rajayi Shahr Prison in March 1, 2010.
Notably, she is the granddaughter of Jamaloddin Khanjani, one of the seven Baha‘i leaders who
were recently sentenced to 10 years of prison. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 28, 2010)
Iran increases pressure on Baha‟i female prisoners in Mashhad
http://www.rahana.org/archives/26449
With new limitations for four Baha‘i female prisoners in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, these
women have been put under increased pressure.
The heads of Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad have limited their visiting rights, phone calls and
even the time that prisoners have for fresh air during the day.
According to reports, after Rozita Vaseqi joined the other three Baha‘is in this prison after over
Rozita Vaseqhi six months of solitary, prison officials subjected these women to harder conditions by limiting
their visits and phone calls. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sep. 29, 2010)
October
Iran expels student over faith
Baha‘i student Rohollah Qodrat was expelled from the Medical Rafsanjan University in a letter from the Ministry of
Hygiene, Treatment and Medical Education and was banned from continuing his education because of his Baha‘i faith.
The Education Administrator said that he was expelled because of his faith in the Baha‘i religion and stated that they are
tasked with identifying all Baha‘i students and immediately expelling them from university. (Pars Daily News – Oct. 3,
2010)
Baha‟i man sentenced to one year of prison and banned from work
http://www.rahana.org/archives/26969
Hossein Shaygan, a Baha‘i resident of Karaj was sentenced to one year of prison, one year
of exile and a complete ban on working.
Shaygan, a longstanding and well-known merchant in the Shahin Villa Bazaar, was arrested
on August 24. A court sentenced him to one year of prison in Gohardasht Prison, one year
of exile to Saravan Town and a ban on continuing his work (in the Bazaar).
Despite the fact that his court session was held on October 2, his sentence was only
announced today.
On August 24, he was asked to bring his work permit and submit it to court so he could
open his shop, but when he came to court along with his lawyer, they were both arrested
and taken to Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct.
6, 2010)
Sunni clerics banned from leaving Iran
Security forces seized the passports of a number of prominent Sunni clerics in the International Tehran Airport and
prevented them from going abroad.
According to reports, on Thursday the passports of a number of Sunni Clerics who were leaving for Turkey to participate
in an international Islamic Conference were seized. (Sunni Online – Oct. 22, 2010)
Suppressive maneuvers

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January – October 2010
Suppressive maneuvers

January
IRAN: Chinese-made armored anti-riot trucks, equipped with plows, may arrive in Tehran
An opposition news website is reporting that Iran has imported high-tech armored anti-riot vehicles equipped with water
cannons that can douse people with boiling water or teargas.
The U.S.-based Persian-language news website Rahesabz, or Green Path , posted a photograph of what it described as a
photograph of two of the trucks arriving at the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas in the south.
The website said the vehicles were a rush order from their manufacturers in China, Dalian Eagle-Sky, according to the
blogger Sohrebestan.
With an alleged price of $650,000 a unit, the 25-ton trucks each hold 2,640 gallons of water, which can shoot hot or
cold water at a distance of up 220 feet.
They can also shoot tear gas, burning chemicals or paint stored in three 26-gallon containers.
It includes a plow, which can presumably demolish makeshift barriers placed on streets by protesters, or even the
demonstrators themselves. (LA Times – Jan. 1, 2010)
Interior Minister threatens peaceful demonstrators with 'immediate arrest'
The Minister of Interior said that the enemy has targeted the main pillars of the system including Islam, the leader and
the people, stressing that 'we have ordered police forces not to show any leniency towards the seditionists and if a person
attends a gathering to cooperate with the seditionists, he will be immediately arrested'. (IRNA state-run news agency –
Jan. 3, 2010)
Khamenei backs crackdown on opposition protest
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the authorities on Saturday to carry out their 'duties against the
corrupt ones and the rioters,' after a December 27 anti-government protest in which eight people were killed.
The ensuing pro-government rally 'was a last warning for everyone,' he told a number of Iranians from the Islamic
republic's clerical nerve centre of Qom.
He was referring to a December 30 rally in which hundreds of thousands of hardliners took to the streets calling for the
punishment of the protestors and opposition leaders.
'The authorities of the three powers of the system (executive, legislative and judiciary) saw what people want.They should
fully carry out their duties against the corrupt ones and the rioters,' he said.
On Friday, opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi's armoured car was hit by gunfire in the northern town of Qazvin, his
party's website reported, but only the windows of the car were damaged. (AFP - Jan 9, 2010)
Iran's top prosecutor wants action against opposition
Iran's top prosecutor called on Monday for firm action against those behind street unrest after the Islamic Republic's
disputed election in June, in a clear warning that senior opposition figures may face trial.
General-prosecutor Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei made the call for measures against 'elements behind the recent
sedition' in a statement to Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the ISNA news agency reported.
Referring to a petition signed by clerics in Tehran, he said, without giving any names: 'It is expected that the demands ...
that those who were leading the post-election sedition are put on trial, are met'.
Hardline clerics and authorities have urged the judiciary to punish opposition leaders for igniting tension in Iran, saying
they were 'mohareb', an Islamic term meaning warring against God which carries the death penalty. (Reuters – Jan. 11,
2010)
Regime official: presence of women in stadium is unfortunate
The assistance head of the Isfahan Seminary School said, "the presence of a woman in the Folad Shahr Sports Center is
unfortunate and the heads of the Zob Ahan Club have to answer for this measure they have taken'.
On January 16, in a football (soccer) game between the Zob Ahan club and the Kerman Mes Club, Fereshteh Samoui,
the head of the Zob Ahan Club and the head of Women's Affairs at this club attended the game which surprised a group
of people in the stadium. (Fars state-run news agency – Jan. 18, 2010)
Hundreds threatened and summoned to MOIS before anniversary of revolution

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January – October 2010

On the eve of the 40th day after the passing of Ayatollah Montazeri and February 11 (anniversary of Iranian Revolution
which overthrew the Shah), there have been waves of summonses to the intelligence agency in Najaf Abad and about 200
to 300 people in this town have been summoned to the intelligence agency in a week.
Those who have been summoned include religious personalities and young people who were active in Ayatollah
Montazeri's ceremony. After being summoned, interrogated and subjected to pressure, they are forced to promise not to
participate or do anything suspicious in the February 11 ceremony and are told to 'be cautious of what they do'.
These interrogations have taken anywhere between 2 hours to one full day and have included prominent clerics and high
school students as well. (Nurooz Website – Jan. 29, 2010)
Iran warns protesters as post-vote trial starts
A trial began on Saturday of 16 opposition protesters charged over unrest connected with Iran's disputed June
presidential election, with the Revolutionary Guards warning against further demonstrations.
Five of the defendants were charged with the capital offence of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) while the
remainder were accused of public order and national security offences, a court website said.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on Saturday warned opposition groups not to stage protests on Feb. 11, the
anniversary of the 1979 revolution that created the Islamic republic.
'Under no conditions will we let the 'green movement' show up ... Certainly, we won't witness such a thing and even if a
minority wants to do something, it will be firmly confronted by us,' Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani, commander
of Tehran Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying on semi-official news agency ISNA.
On Friday a conservative cleric urged the judicial authorities to execute more opposition protesters.
Fars also said security forces had obtained films and photographs from the 150 people detained which will help the
identification of and arrests of 'a large number of additional rioters'. (Reuters – Jan. 30, 2010)
Judiciary warns of tougher crack down on dissidents
The head of the judiciary said, "The Judiciary will deal severely with mohareb (enemies of God) grouplets and those who
try in vain to disrupt the security of the country and weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran and will never back down from
this issue. (Mehr state-run news agency – Jan. 31, 2010)
February
'Moral' police patrols to start work in Tehran shopping centers
An official in the Tehran police has said that from now on (units) called moral security patrols will patrol the areas
around Tehran shopping centers because of the public's sensitivity to (the names) of the (former units called) 'Guidance
Patrols'.
This official said that moral security was one of the duties of State Security Forces and was part of their daily routine. He
also said that the activities of this SSF department cannot be ceased. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 3, 2010)
Internet down in Iran ahead of demos
Iran said on Sunday its Internet connections will remain slow this week due to technical problems, ahead of anticipated
protests by OPPOSITION supporters.
Connections have been slow since last week and some email accounts have been unavailable for several hours each day.
'The cause of the reduced Internet speed in recent days is that part of the fibre-optic network is damaged,'
Communications Minister Reza Taghipour told Iran's state broadcaster.
'The breakage will be repaired by next week and the Internet speed will be back to normal,' he added.
The Iranian week runs from Saturday to Friday.
He also acknowledged that text messaging in Iran had been disrupted, blaming it on 'changing software'.
Iran's anti-government protesters have effectively used the Internet and SMS services to organise rallies and spread news
and pictures of the demonstrations.
Internet connections have slowed to a crawl on past protest days and mobile phone networks been disrupted (AFP- Feb
7, 2010)
Iran to monitor children of those executed in the 1980's massacre of political prisoners
Intelligence and military institutions and systems have a widespread plan to identify and monitor the children and
relatives of those executed in the 1980's.
Security institutions believe that one of the main elements in the persistence of protests is the activities of the children
and relatives of those who were executed in the 1980's especially those who were executed in 1988 (during the massacre
of political prisoners in all Iran prisons on orders of Khomeini).
Currently, a number of intelligence institutions have prepared complete lists of the occupational, and social conditions
and also the activities of the children of those who were executed in the 80's and are tapping their conversations and
monitoring their internet activities.
In the past few days, a group of the children and relatives of those slain political prisoners were arrested even as people
close to them say that they were not involved in any political activities. (Jaras Website – Feb. 18, 2010)
Head of Security forces vows firm confrontations with protesters
The new commander of the State Security forces in the Greater Tehran District said, "Those who break the law in the
last Wednesday of the (Persian) year will be firmly confronted".
Brigade General Hossein Sajedi Nia said, "Those who break the law in the last Wednesday of the year will be arrested
and detained until the end of the New Year".
The head of the SSF said regarding using Bassij forces, "We will use these forces when needed because Bassij Forces are
from the people and give services to the people at not cost". (Tabnak state-run Website – Feb. 21, 2010)
(Note: The last Wednesday of the Persian year called 'Chaharshanbeh Suri' is the ancient Persian tradition of the Feast of Fire
celebrated on the last Wednesday of the year.)
March
Head of Qom SSF promises crack down on traditional Fire Festival
The head of State Security Forces in Qom Province announced that they would deal severely with disrupters in the last
Tuesday of the (Iranian) year (marked as the Fire Festival).
Mehdi Tavakoli said regarding the treatment of disrupters in this ceremony, "Security Forces will initially try to guide
these people and in the next step, if they breach specified laws, they will be legally dealt with. Security Forces will also
arrest those who caused disturbances for the people on these grounds in previous years, especially last year, on Tuesday
and will prevent their activities".
"Because there are no fireworks and standard explosives in the country, all these materials, whether they make a loud
noise or a low noise, whether dangerous or non dangerous are legally banned and no vendor is allowed to sell them".
(Mehr state-run News Agency – March 2, 2010)
Bassij patrols start work in Tehran neighborhoods to crack down on dissent on eve of Fire Festival
Ahmad-Reza Radan, the assistant head of the State Security Forces announced that Bassij patrols would start their work
in neighborhoods.
"This measure is positive in line with making citizens feel secure and dealing with obscenities and the Bassij forces with
uniforms and organizational warrants and with coordination with police stations will come to the aid of the people".
(Aftab Website – March 7, 2010)
Iran cracks down on "illegal" satellite equipment in Southern Iran
According to the police in Bushehr, security and intelligence police in the town of Dashti discovered and seized dozens
of satellite receivers and equipment.
The police were able to discover 93 satellite systems along with its equipment. The satellite receivers and its owners were
all taken to the police station for further legal procedures. (Fars state-run news agency – March 7, 2010)
Iran establishes special court branch for potential Fire Festival protesters, warns against political activities on this day
Jaber Baneshi, the Shiraz Public Prosecutor said, "Seriously dealing with elements that make and distribute flammable
and dangerous material is one of the serious issues of the judicial system and it has been underlined for State Security
Forces to deal firmly and legally with these kinds of issues".
He also announced that a special court branch would be allocated to see to the transgressions and crimes related to
Chaharshanbeh Soori (Fire Festival) in the Shiraz Revolutionary Court and said, "There will be a judge present in this
branch at all times to see to Chaharshanbeh Soori cases outside the usual schedules".
Baneshi also said that no group has the right to use this ceremony for their own political ends. (ISNA state-run News
Agency – March 14, 2010)
Tehran police to guard against festival demos
Iranian police will be deploying their forces onto the streets of the capital Tehran on
Tuesday evening in great strength to counter any possible opposition protests on the
occasion of a national festival, a semiofficial news agency reported.
Tehran police chief Gen. Hossein Sajedinia told the ISNA news agency his forces were
deployed to prevent 'any event in the city,' in an apparent reference to political activity…
On Tuesday night, Iranians celebrate Chahar-Shanbe Suri, a ceremony held ahead of the
Persian New Year, Nowruz, around a bonfire to cleanse the soul.

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Gen. Sajjadinia said the heavy police presence would prevent any unpleasantness from occuring during the the festival.
He said riding motorbikes, a common form of transportation in Tehran's congested streets, would be banned that night.
(AP – March 16, 2010)
Police, militiamen curb Iran fire festival celebrations
Iranians jumped over bonfires and set off firecrackers on Tuesday in the annual Persian fire festival but were forced to
keep celebrations at a low key as riot police and militiamen on motorbikes fanned out to quell possible opposition
protests.
Witnesses told AFP that families ventured outside in small groups to celebrate the ritual in their neighbourhoods,
despite all-powerful supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging them on Sunday to shun the festival, calling it an un-
Islamic event that causes 'a lot of harm.'
'People should hold the celebration near their homes. Gatherings in main streets will be confronted,' a senior police
official was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. Later on Tuesday he said Tehran had remained 'calm.'
Witnesses said the celebrations focused mainly on local neighbourhoods, with Tehran's main streets almost deserted,
patrolled by riot police and Islamist militiamen armed with batons and riding on motorbikes.
Before the ritual began, the authorities reportedly urged shopkeepers to close their shutters in key squares in anticipation
of opposition protests, other witnesses said…
Another witness said: 'The authorities are just not taking any chances.
'Since February 11, they are deploying massive numbers of security personnel to scare people and force them to stay
indoors during such events,' he added of this year's anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, when security forces
quelled opposition protests.
The witness said state television channels were transmitting Hollywood blockbuster 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of
the Crystal Skull' and animation hit 'Up' in a bid to keep people indoors. (AFP – March 16, 2010)
Security forces try to identify mourners for later arrest
The funeral for the wife of the late Ayatollah Montazeri was turned into a place for identifying mourners by security
forces for future confrontations. Security forces were present from the morning equipped with cameras near the home of
Ayatollah Montazeri and filmed those who attended.
According to an eye witness, a large group of people had gathered from the morning outside Montazeri's home were
threatened with arrest by security forces. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 28, 2010)
April
Iran raises control on 13 Bedar celebrations in Iran
In fear of protests on 13 Bedar (13th day of the Iranian New Year – April 2 - when Iranians leave their homes for parks
and other recreational areas to separate themselves from the inauspiciousness of the number 13), the Iranian regimes
has stationed security forces in parks and other recreational areas. Ashuri, an official in the State Security Forces in the
Greater Tehran District said that security forces will cover all of the Greater Tehran District by being stationed in all
parks, recreational areas, grassy areas and streets of the Greater Tehran District, setting up tents for mobile SSF stations,
carrying out patrols on foot and mobilizing all forces.
The Social Assistant of the State Security Forces in the Greater Tehran District also said that three helicopters carrying
police commanders would patrol the area by air for the first time on 13 Bedar. (April 2, 2010)
May
Iran steps up security measures in Kurdish regions after execution of 4 Kurd political prisoners
Security forces have been stationed in Kurdish areas, especially in Kamyaran, Sanandaj and Mahabad to counter any
protests after the execution of political prisoners.
According to reports, after news that five political prisoners, four of which were Kurds, were executed, security forces
were dispatched in unprecedented numbers to Kurdish areas. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 9, 2010)
Iran cuts off cell phone and internet lines in Sanandaj and Kamyaran in fear of protests
The Kurdistan Communications Company cut off cell phone and internet lines to prevent protest gatherings in
Sanandaj and Kamyaran.
According to reports, this company cut off cell phone lines and internet lines in Sanandaj and Kamyaran in the
morning. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 10, 2010)
Undercover moral police to start work in Iran
The head of the State Security Forces Moral Police said that there will be an increase in police presence in parks and
other recreational places on the verge of the summer season.
The head of the Moral Police cited the constant presence of police in parks and places of recreation and said, ―In the
past few years, 70,000 moral police have been present around lakes, parks and forests to create security‖.
―From the beginning of June, the presence of police in these places will increase and the police will identify
troublemakers, drug dealers, distributors of indecent CDs and those who sell alcoholic beverages and they will be dealt
with‖, he added. (ILNA state-run News Agency – May 15, 2010)
Iran police harass young girls and boys on Tehran streets
Agents of the Relief Units and Moral Police
dealt with girls and boys with improper
clothing in automobiles.
This measure which was carried out under the
name of the Plan to Counter Harassers was
carried out in Eastern Tehran. Police agents
were present in Golbarg Street and stopped
cars with passengers who harassed girls.
According to this report, these agents also
stopped cars with passengers they deemed to
have improper veiling or attire. The passengers
in these cars were given receipts to receive their
automobile documents from the Relief Units.
Thirty automobiles were seized by the police by
the time this report was issued. (ILNA state-run
News Agency – May 22, 2010)
Iran police crackdown „targets posh cars‟
Iranian police launched a crackdown on irreverent social behaviour, seizing cars whose drivers are deemed to be
harassing women, the state IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
‗Tehran police have seized 20 foreign-made, high-end cars which harassed women in the north and northwest of the

capital,' IRNA said without explaining what amounted to harassment.


Another 40 cars were confiscated in eastern Tehran on Saturday as part of the crackdown the authorities say is aimed at
boosting security.
IRNA reported the seized cars, which police can hold for up to three months, were put on display Monday in Tehran's
uptown Andarzgoo Boulevard, a popular cruising route for urban youths in the evenings.
Pictures carried by Borna news agency, an IRNA offshoot, showed cars parked along a Tehran street with placards on
their tops that said: 'Combatting harassment of women‘.
Drivers, including women, appeared to be haggling with police.
‗They caught me with my girlfriend in the car. They seized the car and my drivers‘ license,‘ a young man who asked not
to be named told AFP.
‗Yes, the music was a bit too loud, but that's all,' said the man whose Peugeot 206 was taken away on Saturday.
Summer-time crackdowns on what the authorities perceive as un-Islamic behaviour and attire are common in Iran.
Youths, especially women, have faced tougher moral policing under President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's rule since 2005.
Thousands of women were arrested and warned about wearing figure-hugging short coats and flimsy headscarves in the
streets of cities in defiance of the law which requires modest dressing.

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The police also targeted young men sporting tight, low-slung jeans and funky hairdos.
Government critics have slammed the practice and Ahamdinejad's opponents in the June 2009 election largely banked
on it, vowing to get rid of the vice squad.
But the ubiquitous morality patrols were almost off the streets last year as Iran plunged into one of its worst political
crisis with demonstrations against Ahamdinejad's disputed re-election.
Every post-pubescent woman in Iran is required to cover her hair and bodily contours in public under the Islamic
republic's sharia-based law.
The punishment for women flouting the strict dress code ranges from fines of 500,000 to as much as 13 million rials (50
to 1,300 dollars) in some cases, to jail terms of up to two months.
‗Since the beginning of the (Iranian calendar) year (on March 21), the figure has increased to 13 million rials,‘ Mahmoud
Zoghi, a prosecutor in the religious city of Mashhad, told Fars news agency.
He did not specify what kind of public appearance could result in such a hefty fine, but noted several people were
ordered to pay penalties of about 500 dollars and two fined 1,000 dollars for 'bad veiling' in the past fortnight (AFP -
May 24, 2010)
Iran police to confront 'illegal' June protests
Iranian security forces will confront any 'illegal' demonstrations on the June 12 anniversary of last year's disputed
election, Tehran's police chief was quoted as saying on Tuesday…
Any anti-government rallies could raise the prospect of new clashes with the security forces, which quelled mass protests
that erupted after the vote won by hardline President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad.
Hossein Sajedi, the capital's police chief, said 'some media' had called for rallies on June 12, the ILNA news agency
reported.
‘Police will confront any illegal gatherings ... police are vigilant and in charge of public order and security,' he said.
The authorities issued similar warnings ahead of planned OPPOSITION rallies in the months after the election,
signaling their determination to crack down on any street unrest. (Reuters – May 25, 2010)
University summons 71 students for so-called „improper veiling‟
According to reports, the Disciplinary Committee at the Free Shahre Rey University summoned over 70 students for not
following Islamic norms in this university. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – May 28, 2010)
June
Iranian authorities step up arrests of women for „immodest' dress
Iranian authorities have begun police patrols in the capital to arrest women wearing clothes deemed improper. The
campaign against loose-fitting veils and other signs of modernism comes as government opponents are calling for rallies
to mark the anniversary of the disputed presidential election, and critics of the crackdown say it is stoking feelings of
discontent.
But hard-liners say that improper veiling is a 'security issue' and that 'loose morality' threatens the core of the Islamic
republic.
Iran's interior minister has promised a 'chastity plan' to promote the proper covering 'from kindergarten to families,'
though the details are unclear. Tehran police have been arresting women for wearing short coats or improper veils and
even for being too suntanned. Witnesses report fines up to $800 for dress considered immodest.
Some here say the new measures are part of a government campaign of intimidation ahead of the election anniversary
this month. The hard-liners have grown more influential since the vote, which led to months of anti-government
demonstrations that leaders saw as the biggest threat to the Islamic system in decades.
Iranian women are obliged by law to cover their hair and wear long coats in public. The Islamic veil protects the purity of
women, preventing men from viewing them as sex symbols, clerics here say. But the law is imprecise, and interpretations
vary….
In 2006, a year after President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad came to power, special moral 'guidance' teams attempted to
enforce dress codes in what was the most ambitious operation in recent memory. Hundreds of teams patrolled shopping
centers and popular squares, stopping and sometimes arresting women they thought were poorly veiled.
Today some say the repetition of such punishments for a few women will have little effect in Tehran, a city of 12 million
people.
‗My white coat was three inches too short on the sleeves,' said Nadia, 15, a high school student who was arrested
Tuesday. 'It was impounded. The guidance police called my dad to pick me up and gave me a chador to wear on the way
home,' she said.
‗Such patrols come and go,' her father said. 'But they leave mental scars of intimidation‘. (Washington Post – June 2,
2010)
Iran seals off 19 billiards club and coffee shops in Tabriz as threats to “public security”
The head of the State Security Forces Public Security Police in Eastern Azarbaijan said, ―In line with the implementation
of a new phase of the plan to improve public security, seven billiards clubs and 12 coffee shops which were not following
the rules were closed down in Tabriz in the last 48 hours‖.
―In keeping with this plan in Tabriz, agents of the public security police are carrying out inspections, to control the
method and activities of various businesses‖, Colonel Rahman Iman Nejad said.
―The club managers who did not follow the rules were taken to the police station and other law breaking businesses have
been sealed off until the completion of judicial procedures‖. (Mehr state-run News Agency – June 2, 2010)
„Relation Finders‟ patrols arrest young people in Tehran in new suppressive plan
Despite the denial of State Security Force officials regarding the existence of patrols called the ‗Relation Finders‘, sources
confirm the existence and activities of such patrols.
According to credible sources and eyewitnesses, yesterday, a large number of young people who intended to go to
recreational areas around Tehran were stopped and questioned by the police in various squares and areas. A large
number of them were arrested and taken to detention centers.
―On Friday, there was heavy traffic in the exits of Tehran towards Fasham and Shemshak and security forces (with
special uniforms) stopped cars with girls and boys in it asking about their relation with each other and then they
impounded their vehicles‖, an eyewitness said.
―These security forces also arrested a large number of passengers because of the way they were dressed‖, this source said.
(Jaras Website – June 5, 2010)
Iran arrests suntanned girls and boys
The Iranian regime has organized patrols known as the ‗Suntan Patrol‘ which arrest or
charge people with a suntan. Security forces force those with a suntan to pay a 400 toman
fine and girls with nail polish to pay a 150 toman fine. (Iran News Agency – June 7, 2010)
Iran vows to suppress upcoming peaceful protests
With only a week left to the anniversary of the presidential elections (which was the scene of
major protests in Iran), the deputy commander of the State Security Forces vowed to deal
strictly with ‗disruptors of public order‘.
―State Security Forces will not go soft with anyone and will deal with absolute decisiveness
with disruptors of public order and security in the society‖, Ahmad-Reza Radan said. (ILNA state-run news agency – June
8, 2010)
Amnesty says Iran still holding hundreds from poll protests
Human rights group Amnesty International called on Iran on Wednesday to release or try on genuinely criminal charges
hundreds of detainees still being held one year after a disputed presidential election sparked a wave of mass protests.
The London-based watchdog accused the Iranian authorities of unleashing a 'campaign of fear' to crush popular
OPPOSITION to the re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad in a vote his main challengers reject as
'fraudulent‘.
‗The Iranian government is determined to silence all dissenting voices, while at the same time trying to avoid all scrutiny
by the international community into the violations connected to the post-election unrest,' Amnesty's interim secretary
general, Claudio Cordone, said.
‗The government has taken the absurd stand that virtually no violations have occurred in Iran,' he said.
‗What we are calling for is very simple -- the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and for
others to be tried promptly on recognisably criminal offences, without recourse to the death penalty, in proceedings
which fully meet international standards for a fair trial‘.
Amnesty said that hundreds of people remained in custody for their part in the protests of June 2009 or for otherwise
expressing dissenting views.
It said that the imprisonment of ordinary citizens had become an everyday phenomenon in an expanding revolving door
system of arbitrary arrest and detention.
‗The Iranian authorities must end this campaign of fear that aims to crush even the slightest OPPOSITION to the
government,' Cordone said.
‗They are continuing to use the death penalty as a tool of repression, right up to the eve of the anniversary of the
election.

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January – October 2010

‗The Iranian authorities blame everyone but themselves for the unrest but they are failing to show any respect for their
own laws which prohibit the torture and other ill-treatment of all detainees,' he added.
Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world. Amnesty said it had already recorded more than 115 this year.
(AFP - June 8, 2010)
Tehran streets packed with riot police to suppress upcoming protests
A large number of Special State Security Forces have been stationed in various areas in Tehran from June 9.
Riot police were also stationed in these areas. A large number of security forces were stationed in Enqelab Square,
outside Tehran University, Amir Kabir University, outside the Seda & Sima (official TV station) and other areas in
Tehran. (Daneshju News – June 9, 2010)
Across Iran, Anger Lies Behind Face of Calm
TEHRAN - One year after Iran‘s disputed presidential election, the familiar rhythms of life have returned here. Through
a widespread, sustained and at times brutal crackdown, the government has succeeded in suppressing a protest
movement that shook the nation for months after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, which the
OPPOSITION said was fraudulent…
Mr. Ahamdinejad and his patron, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are stronger today than they were a year
ago, political experts say, although their base of support has narrowed.
They are relying heavily on force and intimidation, arrests, prison terms, censorship, even execution, to maintain
authority. They have closed newspapers, banned political parties and effectively silenced all but the most like-minded
people. Thousands of their opponents have fled the country, fearing imprisonment…
The security services made clear in the days leading to the anniversary that anyone taking to the streets would be dealt
with harshly. On Friday, people in Tehran reported receiving a threatening text message on their cellphones.
―Dear citizen, you have been tricked by the foreign media and you are working on their behalf,‖ the message read. ―If
you do this again, you will be dealt with according to Islamic law‖.
A day earlier, the police staged a major show of force, with black-clad police officers riding around on motorcycles and
uniformed officers lining the streets and setting up roadblocks...
The vanguard of the new political elite is now the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which oversees Iran‘s nuclear
and missile programs and has extended its control over the economy and the machinery of state. It has improved its
ability to control the street, to monitor electronic communications and keep tabs on university campuses, and its alumni
head the government‘s security organs…
In recent weeks, the leadership has waged a widespread public morals crackdown which in the scope and tactics exceed
what has occurred in the past. It was seen here as an effort to sow fear in advance of the June 12 anniversary of the
presidential election.
The authorities have begun filming women they deem insufficiently covered to use as evidence in court. The police have
begun issuing fines that some people say exceed $1,000 for beauty treatments deemed inappropriate, like heavily tanned
skin. Provocatively dressed women are stationed on street corners, and men who stop to flirt are arrested. (The New
York Times - June 11, 2010)
62,000 people receive notices on „improper veiling‟ in Qom
More than 100 automobiles have been impounded for improper veiling and more than 62,000 improperly veiled people
in the Province of Qom have received notices.
Khorasani the head of the Public Security Police in the province of Qom cited this issue and said, ―The promotion of
improper veiling and immorality in the society is one of the goals of the enemy in creating a soft war and the enemies try
to damage public chastity in this way‖.
―The Security Police has dealt with improperly veiled motorists in the province in line with dealing with improper veiling
and improving the culture of veiling and chastity in various sectors of the society‖. (Tehran Emrouz Daily – June 21,
2010)
Police „deal with‟ students instead of „troublemakers‟
Three students of the Central Tehran Unit of the Free University were insulted and humiliated and temporarily arrested
on charges of ‗harassing women‘ while they were talking in their car.
Criminal records for harassing women were filed for these three students who are political activists in the Free
University.
These students who went to the Central Tehran Unit with a science committee scholarship are forced to go to the free
university in their original cities. (Jaras Website – June 24, 2010)
July
Ponytail for men gets the chop in Iran
Iran's culture ministry has given its blessing
to a number of 'Islamic' haircuts for men,
with ponytails failing to make the list, the
ILNA news agency reported on Monday.
ILNA and other agencies carried pictures of
mostly clean-shaven male models sporting
short hair, some styled with gel, in a 'journal
of Iranian hairstyles approved by the ministry
of (culture and Islamic) guidance‘.
‗The proposed styles are inspired by Iranians'
complexion, culture and religion, and Islamic
law,' said Jaleh Khodayar, who is in charge of
a 'Modesty and Veil Festival' later this month
where they are to be promoted.
‗We are happy that the Islamic republic of
Iran's government has backed us in designing
these hairstyles,' she said, adding that a
catalogue of haircuts for men would soon be
published.
Iranian police carry out regular morality crackdowns, arresting and warning women in figure-hugging short coats and
flimsy headscarves as well as men sporting spiky hair and tight, low-slung jeans.
The Islamic veil is mandatory in Iran, which has sought to keep defiant urban youths properly covered since the
establishment of the Islamic republic over 30 years ago.
Several barber shops have reportedly been shut down and penalized in recent years for offering 'decadent Western cuts‘.
Conservative clerics have called for firmer action against un-Islamic dressers and hardline President Mahmoud
Ahamdinejad came under fire last month for expressing OPPOSITION to a tough police crackdown on immodest attire.
(AFP, ILNA state-run News Agency - July 5, 2010)
Iran to patrol parks and mountains for more control on young people
With the coming of summer, the Park and Mountain Police have been set up for the first time in the province of
Markazi.
―In light of the importance of providing security in parks and other recreational areas, the State Security Forces has set
up the Park and Mountain Police and has stationed 30 teams in 11 regions‖, the commander of the State Security Forces
in this province said. (Jomhouri Islami Daily – July 6, 2010)
A Little Off the Top? Only if Tehran Approves
The photos, disseminated on Iran ‘s semiofficial news sites, look ordinary enough: young men with short haircuts, some
with 1950s-style quiffs and a touch of gel on top.
But these haircuts are not just a summer fashion . They are being promoted by Iran‘s Ministry of Culture and Islamic
Guidance as Islamically permissible models, part of an effort ―to halt the spread of unconventional styles and promote
Islamic culture.‖ More styles are set to be unveiled Sunday as part of the ministry‘s Veil and Chastity Day festival.
The haircut catalog is part of the Iranian government‘s long-running battle against Western cultural influence. Every
summer, the country‘s morality police renew their crackdown on ―un-Islamic‖ dress and styles, including loose veils on
women and long hair or ponytails on men.
This year the crackdown appears to have been especially harsh, perhaps in part because of the government‘s efforts to foil
any renewed protests on the June 12 anniversary of the disputed presidential election last year. Special police squads
have stopped or arrested unmarried couples, women wearing too much makeup and people playing Western music.
The haircut guidelines appear to be aimed at balancing the more aggressive enforcement with a softer promotion. On
Monday, the director of the Veil and Chastity Day festival, Jaleh Khodayar, appeared at a news conference with
hundreds of barbers and hairdressers to release the haircut posters and explain the campaign.
―We do not intend to reverse the culture,‖ Ms. Khodayar said, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency. ―We
want to preserve our culture and respect Iranian tradition and come up with hairstyles that confront Western cultural
invasion‖…

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January – October 2010

Iran‘s hard-line rulers have previously tried to counter what they see as decadent Western trends. There have been
Islamic fashion shows, calls for a national uniform and even an Islamic counterpart to Barbie.
But there is rarely much follow-through, largely because so many Iranians resent having their private choices dictated to
them. Last month, rising public resentment against the new morals crackdown led President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad to
distance himself on national television from any excessive or unfair enforcement. (NYT – July 6, 2010)
Iran attacks home of Tehran Bazaar fabric merchants‟ representative
Early Thursday morning, intelligence agents raided the home of Motamedian (the representative of fabric merchants in
the Tehran Bazaar who was arrested on Wednesday) and broke down his door. These agents violently arrested his blind
26-year-old son Vahid and took him to an unknown location.
These agents also confiscated the family‘s safe, computer and a number of books and documents and even the family
album. His family was threatened not to talk to the media. (Iran Press News – July 8, 2010)
Government forces confiscate satellite equipment from homes in Kermanshah
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2853-1.html
Security forces attacked the homes of people in the town of Bisotone (Behistun) in Kermanshah and confiscated their
satellite equipment.
According to reports, security forces armed with satellite signal tracers entered homes in this area and took away satellite
equipment. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 20, 2010)
August
SSF commander promises crack down in holy month of Ramadan
The deputy commander of the State Security Forces announced that in the holy month of Ramadan, police will severely
deal with those who eat in their cars and will hand over the transgressors to judiciary sources after impounding their
cars.
―Eating in public is one of the problems that the police will deal seriously with like the years before‖, Ahmad-Reza Radan
announced.
―Dealing with noise pollution (stopping cars with loud, banned music), improper clothing and improper veiling are
other measures taken by the police in the month of Ramadan‖. (Raja News state-run website – Aug. 18, 2010)
Young Tehrani violently beaten in public for smoking in Ramadan
On Thursday, the firs day of Ramadan (in Iran), a young man who was smoking a cigarette in the Moqadas Ardabili
Street (in Tehran) was attacked and severely beaten by security forces in the 161 Police Station in front of other people
on the street. This young man was beaten and dragged to the police station while pleading with the forces that ‗it was the
first day of Ramadan and I swear I forgot‘ and even apologized for smoking. (Iran News Agency – Aug. 14, 2010)
Footballer expelled from team for eating in Ramadan
http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1593817&Lang=P
Ali Karimi, a player in Tehran‘s Steal Azin Club was expelled from this club for not following the
rules and regulations.
This club wrote in its official website that ‗the Steal Azin Club is obligated to act upon its religious
and legal duties to announce that Ali Karimi, a player in this club, has been expelled for not following
regulations and disrespecting sanctities and eating in public (in Ramadan) in practice‖. (ISNA state-
run news agency – Aug. 15, 2010)
September
Iran's Karroubi Attacked, Son Says
Iranian OPPOSITION leader Mehdi Karroubi was attacked on Thursday night when a group of militiamen broke into
his residential building and fired on his bodyguards, according to a family member.
Militia in plainclothes armed with guns and knives shattered windows, broke the front door and set the parking lot on
fire by throwing tear gas and a hand grenade over the wall, Mr. Karroubi's son, Mohamad Taghi Karroubi, said by
telephone Thursday night. The militia stormed the hallway, shooting in the air as they ran upstairs to Mr. Karroubi's
front door, where they engaged in a 90-minute battle with his bodyguards, the younger Mr. Karroubi said.
Mr. Karroubi and his family were holed up in a safe room, away from the windows and gunfire, his son said, but 11
people were injured in the violence, including Mr. Karroubi's head of security, who was taken to the hospital and
remains in critical condition. The shooting attack couldn't be independently confirmed…
The attack was carried out by Basij militia under the command of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Mr.
Karroubi's family.
The militia had surrounded Mr. Karroubi's residence for five nights. Videos posted on OPPOSITION websites show the
militia breaking windows and splashing paint on his house, while chanting their loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei and saying they are under his command…
Tehran's chief of security forces, Hossein Sajad, told Iranian state media that security forces were put on alert on
Thursday because of the 'sensitivity of Quds Day and to identify and arrest troublemakers‘.
Internet connections were slow in major Iranian cities and the gmail email service wasn't functioning, according to
reports on OPPOSITION websites.
Analysts said the government's security measures and the attacks on Mr. Karroubi showed that the Islamic regime is still
intimidated by the OPPOSITION and fears mass unrest. (WSJ – Sep. 3, 2010)

Karoubi's home trashed by plainclothes agents


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)
Iran security agents raid Moussavi‟s office
Iranian security agents have raided the office of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi, his website Kaleme.com
reported on Thursday.
‗Last night, security agents raided the office of Mir Hossein Moussavi. They searched the premises and took some
equipment... the agents took computers from the office,' the website said. (AFP - Sept 16, 2010)
Iran says it will not back down from chastity plan and forced veiling
Bahman Kargar said in a trip to Isfahan, ―Social Security Plans will soon be carried out in some provinces including
Isfahan‖.
―These plans will include dealing with troublemakers, fighting drug addicts and a comprehensive plan regarding chastity
and the veil‖…
―Those who bother women have to be dealt with harshly and we in the State Security Forces actually act severely in this
regard‖, the social deputy of the State Security Forces added. (State-run Javan Online website – Sep. 28, 2010)
October

341
January – October 2010
Violence against women

343
January – October 2010
Violence against women
January
Regime agents set condition for release of political prisoner's husband
Mahdieh Golro, a student who had been banned from education in the past and is currently
jailed, told her family in a visit that her interrogators have said that the condition for
releasing her jailed husband, Vahid Lalipour, is that she cooperate with them.
Her family was able to visit her in prison from behind a glass partition today after 40 days.
Her interrogators have told Golro that they will only free her husband if she cooperates with
them.
Vahid Lalipour, her husband has not had any political or civil activities and has been jailed
to put pressure on Golro. (Jaras Website – Jan. 14, 2010)
Regime official: presence of women in stadium is unfortunate
The assistance head of the Isfahan Seminary School said, "the presence of a woman in the
Folad Shahr Sports Center is unfortunate and the heads of the Zob Ahan Club have to answer for this measure they
have taken'.
On January 16, in a football (soccer) game between the Zob Ahan club and the Kerman Mes Club, Fereshteh Samoui,
the head of the Zob Ahan Club and the head of Women's Affairs at this club attended the game which surprised a group
of people in the stadium. (Fars state-run news agency – Jan. 18, 2010)
Detained girls and women on Dec. 27, under pressure and torture in Evin Prison
According to reports, a number of girls and women arrested on Ashura (December 27) are subjected to inhumane
pressure in the quarantine and methadone wards of Evin Prison in Tehran.
In the first floor of the quarantine section known as the methadone ward about 50 women and girls detained in the
Ashura protests are kept in very bad conditions. They are handcuffed and blindfolded while being taken for
interrogations at night to other locations. They are abused, harassed and insulted while being taken to interrogation
rooms by their interrogators. These women are interrogated for 8 continuous hours. They are intentionally interrogated
at nights. The girls are threatened in addition to being beaten. Interrogators have told some of the girls that if they do
not confess to what they say, they will be executed and that 'no one will know that you‘ve been detained and hanged'.
On the other hand, intelligence agency interrogators put pressure on their families and threaten them that if they tell
anyone that their children have been jailed, their daughters will put in danger in prison.
After making sure that their families will stay silent, the intelligence agents continue the torture and pressure against the
detainees and call their families asking them to tell their children to cooperate with interrogators to secure their
freedom. They use this method to deceive the detainees to get false confessions from them in order to make criminal
records and issue heavy sentences for them. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 26, 2010)
February
Female political prisoner in poor physical condition, denied medical treatment
Student activist Mahdieh Golro's sister said after her last visit with Mahdieh that she was in
poor physical condition.
According to the sister of this jailed activist, she has become much thinner from her last visit
two weeks ago. She also complained of the sanitation and medication condition in prison and
said that it has been 10 days that she was suffering from intestine infection but the lack of
facilities in prison especially after Ashura is so grave that even antibiotics is hard to come by.
This member of the Council in Defense of the Right to Education also said that the heating
system in prison is broken and the severe cold in the past few days in Evin has led to the
spread of the flu among a large number of prisoners including herself. Mahdieh also said
regarding her husband that her interrogators had claimed that they would release Vahid
Lalipour if she cooperated with them but despite the fact that his temporary detention order
has expired, they still keep him in prison. She is under pressure to accept charges such as having had communications
with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran but has not accepted any of the charges. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – Feb. 4, 2010)

345
January – October 2010

Jailed female student activist in deteriorating condition


The family of Mahdieh Golro, a jailed student who was banned from education, said that she was severely sick and
weakened in prison after a visit with her. According to her family, she has been suffering from severe intestine infection
from one month ago in addition to the flu and has lost more than 12 kilos (26 pounds).
Golro said that the head of the infirmary came to her cell to check her and refrained from taking her to the infirmary
saying that her situation was not critical.
She is currently kept in a small room with 27 other prisoners with unsuitable food and heating systems. Mahdie Golro
was arrested with her husband Vahid Lalipour on December 3. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Feb. 18,
2010)
21 women arrested in days leading to revolution anniversary
In the weeks leading to February 11, at least 21 women active in various journalistic, artistic, feministic and other fields
were arrested.
The arrested women include Nilufar Laripour, Nushin Jafari, Mahsa Jazini, Somayeh Momeni, Maryam Qanbari, Zeinab
Kazem Khah, Nazanin Farzan Ju, Bahar Tarakameh, Hamideh Qasemi, Banafsheh Darolfeshani and Jamileh
Darolfeshani, Sayideh Mirzayi, Mah Farid Mansourian, Parvin Kohzadi, Mulodi Mahmoudi Zanganeh, Elham Ahsani,
Maryam Karimi, Nazanin Hassan Nia, Sahar Qasemi Nejad, Golnaz Tavasoli and Tara Sepehri Far. (Jaras Website – Feb.
13, 2010)
Iran tortures peaceful mothers
According to reports, the supporters of the Mourning Mothers are under severe psychological torture to make false
confessions.
There are interrogated for long periods of time in ward 209 of Evin Prison at night. Intelligence agent interrogators
make false accusations against them to subject them to pressure and demand that they accept the accusations. If they do
not, they will be subjected to severe physiological and physical torture.
The interrogators pry into the most private issues of these women and use insulting and indecent language against some
of them trying to break their morale.
These interrogators insist that the mother's peaceful gatherings in Laleh Park are a crime and try to issue heavy sentences
for them in this way. These interrogators also use the mother's personal relationship with each other and try to create an
aura of distrust amongst them. They have been told that they were arrested to prevent further gatherings (in Laleh Park).
Elham Ahsani, 27, who is the youngest Mourning Mother supporter, is subjected to more pressure. Interrogators have
even told her that she has to change the private course of her life. These interrogators are trying to force her into false
confessions to issue heavy sentences for her in the future. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Feb. 23,
2010)
Female detainees under pressure in solitary cell in Gohardasht Prison
A number of women who were arrested in the Ashura (December 27, 2009) protests and the days before and after
February 11 (anniversary of the Iranian revolution) are under intolerable and inhumane conditions in solitary cells in
the Women's Section of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. Currently at least three of them are in solitary cells. They have been
transferred to solitary cells in the women's section because solitary cells in the Sepah section are full. Intelligence agents
mentally and psychologically torture them and intend to force them to give face confessions in order to issue heavy
sentences against them. The names of some of these women are:
1- Fatemeh Veisi, arrested on Ashura and taken to solitary cells in the women's section. A number of her family
members have been executed by the regime because of their political beliefs.
2- Maryam Bahrami, arrested on Feb. 11
3- Ms. Karimi, believed to be Baha'i
4- Somayeh Hosseini who was arrested with her brother on Feb. 11 (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran –
Feb. 25, 2010)
Women's rights activist sentenced to 6 years of prison
Mohamamd Mostafayi, the lawyer for Hengameh Shahidi, a journalist and women's rights activist said that the six year
prison sentence for his client was issued today by the 54th branch of the Revolutionary Court and that she was arrested.
The court of review charged this jailed journalist with spreading propaganda against the government, conspiring and
assembling and being a member of an organization active against the country and insulting the president. (Human
Rights Activists in Iran – Feb. 27, 2010)
March
Jailed political prisoner under increasing pressure, banned from visits
According to reports, the pressure and abuse against political prisoner Monireh Rabiei and her family have increased.
This political prisoner has been under psychological pressure and has been subjected to insults by prison guards. She has
also been banned from receiving visits from her family for weeks in the past. She would be offensively body searched and
would then be summoned by the assistant head of prison and pressurized after every visit.
On the other hand, her family is insulted and threatened by female prison guards when coming to the visiting hall. One
of the female guards body searches them in an insulting manner and uses offensive language when talking to them trying
to provoke them into a reaction to ban them from future visits. She also treated Monireh Rabiei's niece/nephew
abusively because he/she had some raisins in his/her pocket and the child started crying from terror. When she was met
with protests from the family, she started insulting them and threatened to cut off their visits again.
Some time ago, her family was informed via Ms. Rabiei's lawyer that she can be released on bail. This family spent a large
amount and money and time and pledged their home ownership document in the Registration Department for this
issue. But when they went to court, they were told that the letter for the home ownership pledge was missing. This is
while they had confirmed that they had received the letter and this issue was even documented in the court secretariat
office.
Monireh Rabiei's case is followed by Pir Abassi, the head of the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court. This person
treats her family inhumanely and is the main person who prevents her release.
Political prisoner Monireh Rabiei, 32, was sentenced to 5 years of prison to be served in exile in Berazjan Prison by the
26th branch of the Revolutionary Court. The exile sentence was only recently announced to her family.
Rabiei and her lawyer protested this heavy and inhumane sentence and her case has been currently referred to the 36 th
branch of the Revolutionary Court.
On October 7, 2009, this chemical engineer was summoned to the 3rd branch of the Revolutionary Court to answer
questions by the head this court branch. She was arrested because she answered a phone call from her uncle who is in
Camp Ashraf in Iraq. She was detained in solitary in section 209 in Evin Prison for close to 20 days while being
interrogated and physically and psychologically tortured and insulted by an intelligence agency interrogator, nicknamed
Alavi. She was then transferred to section 350 in the women's section of this prison. Rabiei has denied all the charges
against her and has announced that (the call with her uncle) was a family call saying that it is a shameful that her family
calls are tapped and used against her. Ms. Rabiei and her lawyer believe that her trial was a show trial and her sentence
was pre-determined. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – March 1, 2010)
Security forces psychologically torture mother of slain Ashura protester
'My son was in the morgue for 14 days and we desperately searched Evin Prison, Intelligence Detention
Centers and other places every day to get some news on him. During these 14 days, my son's cell phone
was off in the day but every night after 12am they would call our home with his cell phone and they
would make heavy breathing noises over the phone. This would go on a number of times during the
night'. (A section of a letter by the mother of Mostafa Karim Beigi who was killed on Ashura by Bassij
Forces). (Mourning Mothers Weblog – March 2, 2010)
Kurd female student under pressure, held in unclear state in prison
A number of recently released prisoners from Evin Prison have spoken of the unclear state of 'Veisi', a Kurd student in
this prison.
Veisi was arrested in a gathering in Tehran University in protest to the execution of Kurd activist Ehsan Fatahian. She is
under severe pressure in prison. (Norouz Website – March 1, 2010)
Iran arrests women's rights activist
Last night at 10 pm, security forces went to the home of Mahboubeh Karami, a member of the
One-Million Signature Campaign and human rights activist, and arrested her after conducting a
search. They confiscated her personal belongings and her brother's personal belongings. There is
no information on her whereabouts.
According to her brother, Mohsen Karami, the date of the arrest warrant brought by the agents
was May 26, 2009 and the charge was participating in gatherings and seditions. Karami said that
Mahboubeh had no time for her personal issues and had spent all of last year nursing her ailing
father. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March 3, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Iran urged to release journalist jailed for political activism Amnesty


International has called on the Iranian authorities to release a journalist
and women's rights campaigner imprisoned for her political activism in
the wake of last year's disputed presidential election. Hengameh Shahidi
began serving a six-year sentence at Tehran's Evin Prison last week, after
an appeal court ruling upheld her conviction. Her imprisonment is the
latest in a series of ongoing attacks on journalists and media outlets close
to the OPPOSITION. Shortly after her arrest, the Press Supervisory
Board on 1 March 2010 closed the E'temad daily newspaper, run by Elias
Hazrati, a supporter of defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi,
and the weekly journal Iran Dokht (run by Mehdi Karroubi's wife and
son). Sina, a weekly provincial newspaper, was also closed, for allegedly
not operating in line with the constitution. Hengameh Shahidi's sentence includes five years for 'gathering and colluding
with intent to harm state security' and one year for 'propaganda against the system'. The appeal court overturned another
conviction for 'insulting the president' which carried a sentence of 91 days and a fine. Amnesty International said it
considers Hengameh Shahidi to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising her rights to freedom of
expression, association and assembly. Hengameh Shahidi was an advisor on women's issues to defeated presidential
candidate Mehdi Karroubi during his election campaign and is a member of his National Trust party. Originally arrested
on 30 June 2009, she was held at Evin Prison for over four months before she was released on bail on 1 November after
she went on hunger strike in protest at her continued detention. During her detention, Hengameh Shahidi says she was
tortured and on several occasions she was threatened with execution. Once she said she was subjected to a mock
execution. Her interrogators also threatened to arrest other family members. At her trial on 4 November 2009,
Hengameh Shahidi was accused of taking part in demonstrations against the disputed presidential election result
between 13 and 17 June and giving an interview to the media and collecting signatures for the ―One Million Signatures
Campaign (also known as the Campaign for Equality - which aims to end discrimination against women in Iranian law).
She was also accused of supporting a campaign to end executions by stoning in Iran, signing numerous statements
addressed to United Nations human rights bodies about human rights violations in Iran, and publishing articles on her
blog. Hengameh Shahidi was rearrested on 25 February 2010 and taken to Evin Prison, after being summoned to the
Ministry of Intelligence investigations office 'to answer a few questions'.
Two days later her lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, was shown the appeal court ruling upholding her prison sentence.
Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to ensure that while imprisoned, she is granted access to her
family, her lawyer and to all necessary medical treatment, including for her heart problems. The organization also called
for an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into Hengameh Shahidi's allegations of torture in detention and
for anyone found responsible to be brought to justice promptly and fairly. Amnesty International also called for closed
newspapers to be reopened and for all undue restrictions on the freedom of the press to be lifted. Since the disputed
presidential election in June 2009, the authorities have acknowledged over 5,000 people have been arrested, including
over 1,000 during and following mass demonstrations on the religious festival of Ashoura on 27 December. The true
number is likely to be higher. Those detained include political figures and political activists, students, human rights
defenders and journalists. Many have been tried in grossly unfair trials, resulting in long prison term sentences and some
sentences of flogging. At least 13 have been sentenced to death, of whom two have been executed and three have had
their sentences commuted to prison terms. The Iranian authorities are continuing to severely restrict freedom of
expression in Iran, arresting journalists (of whom scores are believed to remain in detention), imposing restrictions on
the use of the internet, including social networking sites. (Amnesty International – March 4, 2010)
Women's rights activists arrested
Dorsa Sobhani was arrested in her father's home in the third attack by intelligence agents to her
home.
Sobhani, a member of the One-Million Signature Campaign (advocating change in the
constitution) who is also active in fighting for the right to education was arrested on Sunday in her
father's home by 12 intelligence agents.
Sobhani, who has been banned from education for following the Baha'i faith was arrested after
going to her home and was taken to unknown location. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – March
7, 2010)
Ailing female political prisoner denied treatment
Mahdieh Golro still suffers from intestine infection in Evin Prison which is endangering her
physical health.
According to her husband, she said that she still suffers from this condition in the female section in Evin Prison.
This started after she went on a hunger strike while in section 209 and despite the fact
that she has informed the infirmary of her condition saying that she has been unable to
eat anything for the past 2 days, prison and infirmary officials pay no attention to her
condition.
This is while other political prisoners (about 20 people) in the women's section are in
poor physical conditions and the infirmary disregards their condition. (Committee of
Human Rights Reporters – March 7, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 5 years of prison
Monireh Rabiyi was sentenced to five years of prison to be served in exile in Berazjan.
Her lawyer objected (this issue) asking why the judge insisted on carrying out the sentence after only 3 days.
Monireh Rabiyi is a chemical engineer who was arrested on October 7, 2009 for unknown reasons after answering a
summons by a court. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 7, 2010)
Iran slaps travel ban on celebrated poetess on women's day
Iran's most celebrated living poetess Simin Behbahani faced a travel ban on Monday after being
prevented from leaving for France for International Women's Day ceremonies, an OPPOSITION
website said.
Behbahani, 82, is also a feminist advocating better rights for Iranian women who face several
inequalities under the Sharia-based law in place in the Islamic republic since its 1979 revolution.
Officials confiscated Behbahani's passport at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport Monday morning
as she was set to leave and told her to follow up the matter through the revolutionary court, 'Paris
municipality had invited me for March 8 and I had prepared a text about feminism and a poem
about women which I was going to read at the ceremony and return on Wednesday,' Behbahani
was quoted as saying.
'After I crossed customs and my passport was stamped, two officials called me, took my passport
away, kept me till 5 am (0130 GMT) and asked questions,' she said…
Iranian women's rights activists have for years called for changes to the Shiite country's laws
which are deemed as unfair to women in marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Under Iranian laws, a woman's life and her testimony are valued at half those of a man. Married
women can be prevented from working by their husbands and need his consent to obtain a passport.
Since the Islamic revolution three decades ago, women have been barred from working as judges and the age of legal
responsibility has been lowered to nine for women compared to 15 for men.
Iranian authorities have cracked down on women's rights activists since President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad came to
power in 2005. Scores have been arrested and jailed for organising rallies, petitioning or writing feminist articles.
Several have also been banned from leaving the country. (AFP - March 8, 2010)
3 female political prisoners in poor physical health, denied treatment
The lack of care of Evin Prison's infirmary in the women's section has led to many physical problems for political
prisoners Mahdieh Golro, Pakhshan Azizi and Zahra Jabari.
This is while Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurd student, who was arrested on November 16, has requested to go to the infirmary for
more than a month because of muscle cramp and a jaw and gum infection, but she has still not received as answer.
Zahra Jabari who was arrested after the elections suffers from severe rheumatism, bone disease and severe heart ailments
and has to be under the care of a specialist, but after 5 months of prison, the necessary coordination to get her medicine
has still not be carried out and her physical condition is deteriorating every day. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters
– March 9, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 3 years of prison
The lawyer of Azar Mansouri, the political deputy of the Participation Front, said that his client was
sentenced to 3 years of prison by the 28th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
"After initial investigations and after the bill of indictment was issued for my client, her case was
sent to the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court and after seeing to her charges, she was
sentenced to 3 years or prison", Mohammad-Reza Faqihi said.

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January – October 2010

He said that she was charged with disrupting pubic order by attending gatherings, spreading propaganda against the
government, publishing lies with the intention of creating anxiety for the public and assembling and conspiring to
disrupt national security. (ILNA state-run news agency – March 13, 2010)
Police arrest women's rights activists after raid on home
Three people have been arrested in Enghelab Square in Tehran, according to the INA news
agency.
And there is a heavy police presence in Tehran's Haft-e Tir Square and the Saadat Abad and
Velanjak > areas of the city according to France24.
Earlier today the Committee of Human Rights Reporters said that women's rights activist Laleh
Hassanpour was arrested after a police raid on her home. (The Guardian – March 16, 2010)
Iran arrests women's rights activist
Somayeh Farid, a women's rights activist was arrested outside Evin Prison today as she was going
Laleh Hassanpour to follow up the condition of her political prisoner husband, Hojat Montazeri.
She was directly taken to Evin Prison after her arrest. Her husband was arrested on March 4, 2010 and is currently in
Evin Prison. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – March 16, 2010)
Evin prison's women's cellblock infested with rodents
A female prisoner said that they are rodents in the female block of Evin Prison and a prisoner was even bit by a rodent.
Mahdieh Golro, a jailed student activist, said in a phone call with her family that the lack of attention of prison officials
in Evin Prison regarding the hygiene and sanitation of prisoners and on the other hand limitations set for prisoners on
going to the infirmary has caused numerous problems for prisoners. According to this report, despite the cold
temperatures, prisoners in this cellblock have been deprived of warm water from the beginning of the Iranian New Year
(March 21) and are forced to bathe with cold water and Golro and a number of other prisoners have come down with
the flu. (Nurooz Website – March 31, 2010)
April
Female political prisoner kept in solitary for more than 3 months
According to reports, a woman who was arrested on Ashura has been kept in a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin
Prison for more than 3 months and has been denied visitation rights.
Zahra Bahrami, 45, was arrested in the Ashura protests (December 27, 2009) after a violent attack by security forces and
was transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. She has been kept in solitary since her arrest and has been interrogated
numerously in this time. She is sexually harassed and physically and psychologically tortured in these hours long
interrogations.
Intelligence interrogators try to forces this prisoner to make false confessions and give televised interviews. Bahrami has
been subjected to the worst physical and psychological torture because she was unknown in prison. According to reports,
a large number of unknown men and women are currently under severe torture in cellblocks 209, 240 and 2A in Evin
Prison.
Bahrami has been banned from receiving visits by her family and has only made controlled phone calls with the presence
of intelligence interrogators. These phone calls were between 2 to 3 minutes and they were aimed at preventing her
family from taking any actions for her release and better conditions. Intelligence interrogators have threatened her family
that if they publish news on her arrest and condition in prison, her situation in prison will worsen. Her family says that
Bahrami lived in Holland and was only in Iran for a family visit. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April
4, 2010)
Female political prisoner still kept in solitary
According to reports, human rights activist Marjan Safari who was arrested on March 2, 2010 and
taken to cellblock A2 which is controlled by the Revolutionary Guards Corps is still kept in solitary
after more than one month.
She has been charged with having committed internet crimes by the Tehran Prosecutor and has only
been allowed one visit by her family. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 3, 2010)
Female political prisoner denied due process
Mahdieh Golro was tried on Sunday April 4 in the 26th branch of the
Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Pir Abasi.
The trial of this student activist was held without prior notice and without the presence of
her lawyer. She was charged with 'spreading propaganda against the government, assembling
and conspiring to disrupt national security and working with and having communications
with the Monafeghin (PMOI)'.
The judge did not allow Golro to defend herself for the charge of having 'communications with the Monafeghin'…
Her husband Vahid La'lipour said that his wife's trial was much like that of Zia Nabavi and Majid Dori (both students
activists sentenced to heavy prison terms). He also protested the 'offensive treatment' of the court clerk with the Golro
family and said that despite the fact that her family had an 'entrance permit' they were prevented from entering court.
(Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 4, 2010)
No news on female human rights activist one month after arrest
There is no news on the whereabouts of Somayeh Ojaqlu who was arrested during the organized raids against human
rights activists, despite constant pursues by her family.
Ojaqlu was arrested on March 5 by security forces in Isfahan and has only called her family once from an unknown
location in Tehran. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 6, 2010)
Female political prisoner charged with 'espionage' by Iranian regime
Fatemeh Khoram Lu was arrested on February 6, 2010 on charges of espionage and giving interviews to foreign radios.
Despite paying a bail of 100 million tomans (about 100,000 dollars), officials have not accepted her bail and she is still
kept in a state of limbo in prison.
She was transferred to cellblock 209 after her arrest and was then transferred to the women's cellblock. She has been
deprived of a lawyer in all this time.
This jailed mother is the guardian of her family and her eldest son is mentally disabled and needs his mother's care. She
also has a divorced daughter who along with her 6 year old child, is under her care. (Peik-e-Iran website – April 8, 2010)
Ailing female prisoner taken to unknown location
According to reports, political prisoner Zahra Asadpour Gorji was taken to an unknown location yesterday from
Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
This 51 year old political prisoner was transferred from the women's cellblock on April 11 to an unknown location. Her
condition had become critical in the past few days to the point that she was not able to move the left side of her body
and had nose bleeds. Before the new years break, doctors in the prison infirmary had requested an urgent medical leave
for her critical heart problems but Mohebi, the head intelligence interrogator prevented her leave and told Mrs. Gorji
that 'I will only agree with your corpse leaving this prison'. This political prisoner went on a hunger strike for more than
six days in protest to the psychological pressure and threats of this interrogator against her, her family and her jailed son,
Reza Jushan.
Reza Jushan, her son, has been transferred from the Sepah solitary cells to a solitary cell in cellblock 6 of Gohardasht
Prison. Mohebi psychologically and physically tortured him in the Sepah solitary cell and Jushan suffered a severe knee
injury as a result.
Mohebi has also increased his harassment of this family outside of prison. Yesterday Fereshteh Jushan was summoned to
the Intelligence Agency and interrogated for more than an hour. She was subjected to psychological pressure and
threatened with arrest. Mohebi told her that she was the one giving news on her mother and brother's condition to the
media and that they would 'surely make a criminal record and arrange for her to get 2 to 3 years in prison'.
Reza Jushan, 25, was arrested on December 1, 2009 after intelligence agents raided his home. He was taken to solitary in
the Sepah cellblock and was then taken to cellblock 4 after two months. On December 7, agents once again stormed his
home and arrested Zahra Asadpour Gorji, his mother and transferred her to a solitary cell in the Sepah cellblock. She
was taken to the women's cellblocks after weeks of interrogation and physical and psychological torture. Asadpour and
her son were arrested before this for visiting their loved ones in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and were released 16 months later
after serving their sentence. They were sentenced to 1 year of prison to be served in exile in Zanjan Prison and 4 years of
exile to the Qeilar Village in Zanjan on February 8, 2010 by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 12, 2010)
Female medical student in unknown condition in prison
Mitra Aali, a master's degree student of medical engineering at the Sharif University in Tehran has been kept in solitary
confinement for more than one month in an undetermined state in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison and there are reports of
severe pressure on her in interrogations.
According to this report, despite the fact that her family constantly approaches the Revolutionary Court, judicial officials
have not answered why this elite student is still in detention.

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January – October 2010

She was summoned to the Intelligence Agency and subsequently arrested in March. She has only had one short phone
call with her family from that time in which she was unable to explain her situation because of the presence of her
interrogator by her side. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 13, 2010)
Iran to Islamize uniforms of female university students
After announcements on designing uniforms for students, especially for female students, and the issuing of regulations
in this regard for the near future, the Cultural Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education stressed on the execution of
this plan.
"Universities have to move in the direction of the Iranian Islamic culture", he said.
"We will carry out plans on the issues of the Islamic covering, chastity and the appearance of (university) students", he
stressed. (Shahrzad News state-run website – April 14, 2010)
Women's rights activist in poor physical health in prison
Mahboubeh Karami, a human rights and women's rights activist and a former colleague
of the Human Rights Activists in Iran is in poor mental and physical health in cellblock
2A in Evin prison.
Karami who was arrested on March 2, 2010 by the Revolutionary Guards Forces
Intelligence Department is suffering from influenza and has not received proper
treatment.
She is also under mental pressure because she recently lost her mother and her father is
in very critical condition. Interrogators have threatened that they will extend her
detention order to put her under pressure and force her to give televised confessions.
This is while her detention order will expire on May 1, 2010 and her case has to be
referred to the Revolutionary Court for a bail order because her interrogations have ended. (Human Rights Activists in
Iran – April 15, 2010)
Female political prisoner suffering from heart problems and anxiety from prison pressure
More than 100 days after the arrest of Badrolsaddat Mofidi, the jailed head of the Iran Journalist Association, her family
has expressed concern over her very critical physical and mental condition after a short visit with her on April 15, 2010.
Her family said that she is suffering from heart problems and anxiety because of pressures she was subjected to in
interrogations.
Her husband Massoud Aqay announced that Mofidi was once again subjected to endless interrogations from March 6,
2010 saying that as a result of such inhumane measures she had 'developed heart problems', 'dangerous anxiety
problems' and 'uncontrolled shaking of the hands and head'. (Kalameh Website – April 16, 2010)
Ailing female prisoner denied treatment in prison
Shabnam Madadzadeh has been suffering from severe bowel problems since last night and
despite the fact that this issue was reported to the night guard, it was said that the prison did
not have a medic on duty in the infirmary.
Today, when Shabnam was taken to the infirmary wrapped in a blanket, the infirmary once
again announced that they do not have a specialist on duty. This is while Madadzadeh has
been suffering from severe stomach aches, has been vomiting and is reportedly in very bad
health.
In the past few months, the sanitary and food condition in the women's cellblock in Evin
Prison has been very poor. But prison officials do not pay heed to this very bad situation.
Shabnam Madadzadeh, the assistant secretary of the Tehran Council of the Office for
Consolidating Unity was arrested on February 20, 2009 along with her brother Farzad
Madadzadeh. She was initially taken to a solitary cell and is currently in the women's section
in this prison.
On February 9, 2010, Shabnam and her brother were sentenced to five years of prison to be served in the Gohardasht
Prison in Karaj. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 16, 2010)
Female political prisoners in Evin Prison jailed alongside criminals
The detainment of political prisoners with other prisoners charged with murder, financial corruption, drug trafficking
and other crimes has led to many problems for them.
According to the law, prison officials are obligated to at least provide a separate room for political prisoners but
unfortunately female political prisoners are harassed on a daily basis by their cellmates.
According to reports, (political prisoners) have told the head of the women's cellblock, Rezayi, to provide a separate
room for them but she has announced that she has been ordered not to do such a thing. (Committee of Human Rights
Reporters – April 19, 2010)
Judicial chief: improper veiling with be dealt with
The head of the Iranian Judiciary said that those who have improper veiling with be dealt with.
Sadeq Larijani said on Sunday, "The fact that some people do not oblige the values (of the society) and break social
norms and appear with improper veiling in the society is a kind of disrespect to the rights of others and the Judicial
System and security forces will definitely deal with those who undermine Islamic values based on Islamic laws".
Before this, the head of Friday Prayers in Mashhad said that those who come on the streets with improper veiling are like
'creatures'. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – April 19, 2010)
Intelligence agency arrests women with 'improper covering' in Qom
The Ministry of Intelligence said that it had identified and arrested people in a number of social and culturally corrupt
networks. (According to officials) these networks paid women to go to Qom and appear with improper veiling or no
veiling in public and they (the women) would then be brought back to Tehran. (Peik-e-Iran Website – April 19, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 5 years of prison on bogus charges
The 54th branch of the Tehran Court of Review upheld the 5 year prison sentence of Monireh Rabiei. Rabiei was
sentenced to five years of prison to be served in exile in the Berazjan Prison on charges of moharebeh (enmity with God).
Her aunt and uncle live in Camp Ashraf in Iraq (home to the PMOI). According to those close to her Monireh has only
had family relations with her relatives in Ashraf and even cut off her family relations a long time before she was
summoned.
"The investigator of the case said that she was subject to a remission, but Judge Pir Abassi sentenced her to five years of
prison without taking heed of the opinion of the investigator or her defense and lawyer's statements", the source close to
the family said. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – April 22, 2010)
Female political prisoner sentenced to 3 years prison for links to PMOI
The court of review sentenced Ozra Saadat Qazi Mirsaeid, to three years of prison. This political prisoner was arrested on
June 20, 2009 during the peaceful protests in Iran in Enqelab Square and was sentenced to three years of prison by the
15th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
According to her family, she is currently in the women's cellblock in Evin Prison. She was under severe physical and
psychological torture for a few months in cellblock 2A.
Her family says that she has not had any political activities and was sentenced to 'moharebeh (enmity with God) and
being corrupt on earth by way of effective activities in line with the goals of the terrorist Monafeqin (PMOI) organization
and cooperation with this organization'.
Ozra strongly denied these allegations and has said that she confessed to these lies under severe torture. (Rooz Website –
April 22, 2010)
Mental violence main reason for high female suicide rate in Iran
"Unsuitable marriages where the age difference is very high, the ruling patriarchal culture, not having the right to choose
a husband, and poverty and unemployment among men are all issues that have increased suicide among women and in
this situation suicide is seen as the only way to freedom from human anguish", sociologist Nematollah Fazeli said on
female suicides.
He said that polygamy is another reason behind the suicide of women stressing that the female society, especially in rural
areas, are very susceptible to suicide. (Committee of Human Rights Journalists – April 22, 2010)
Female political prisoners protest being kept with criminals
According to reports, political prisoners in the women's section in Evin Prison held a sit-in outside the office of the head
of this section and demanded that prison regulations that state that prisoners have to be segregated in respect of their
crimes be carried out.
The head of the block, Rezayi, threatened them saying that the prosecutor has to order the segregation. These prisoners
announced that they will continue their protest until their demands are met. In this section, all female prisoners are
segregated by their crimes except political prisoners. (Goya News – April 25, 2010)

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January – October 2010

Dutch – Iranian woman under torture in Evin Prison


According to reports, a female political prisoner has been held in a state of limbo in the notorious cellblock 209 in Evin
Prison since her arrest on Ashura (December 27, 2009). Zahra Bahrami is a resident of Holland and has a dual Iranian
and Dutch nationality. She came to Iran to visit her child.
This 45-year-old political prisoner is kept along with two other prisoners in one cell and has been banned from visiting
her family since her arrest. Bahrami is suffering from depression because of the physical and psychological torture she
was subjected to in prison.
Her family has been under pressure and threats by interrogators banning them from publishing news on Bahrami. They
have been threatened that if they do, they will also be in trouble.
Bahrami was arrested in the Ashura protests after she was attacked by security forces and taken to cellblock 209 in Evin
Prison. She was then transferred to a solitary cell in the Sepah Cellblock in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj where she was
mentally and physically tortured and immorally insulted by interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence to give televised
interviews. She was forced to give a couple of interviews.
Interrogators broadcasted her interviews after she signed a written pledge of cooperation and used her interviews as
confessions against her. She has been charged with Moharebeh, acting against national security, and being a member of
the Royalist Association among other things. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – April 27, 2010)
May
Tehran Mullah warns against 'improper veiling'
The Temporary Friday Prayer head in Tehran said, "The people will stand up to improper veiling with the same power
and resolve that forced the political seditions to retreat"…
Seyed Ahmad Khatami addressed women said, "A lady who claims to be a Shiite should be ashamed to come out on the
street with that kind of appearance. If you want to be loyal, do not carry out actions that break the structures!"
"Unlike what some people believe, the issue of hijab is not personal, rather it is a completely social issue and dissenting
from it will lead to dozens of mortal sins". (ILNA state-run news agency – May 17, 2010)
Iran banks do not give service to chadorless women
Banks do not give services to women not wearing the chador. The government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an official
statement has requested from government and private banks not to give services to women not wearing the chador or the
veil. (Iran News Agency – May 7, 2010)
Iran Interior Minister announces plan to counter „improper‟ veiling
The Interior Minister announced that the Hijab and Chastity Plan will be carried out.
―The methods of carrying out the Council of Cultural Revolution law has been announced to the relevant systems‖, he
said in an interview.
―The State Security Forces will seriously deal with groups who spread corruption in an organized manner‖, he added.
(Tabnak state-run website – May 13, 2010)
No news on jailed women‟s rights activist
The family of Mahboubeh Karami (jailed women‘s rights activist) has no news
on her condition since May 6.
According to her brother, Mohsen Karami, her last phone call was on May 6.
Before that, she called her family every other day on average and was to be
transferred to the women‘s public cellblock, but there is no news on her
whereabouts after this transfer.
Seventy-five days after her arrest and after she lost contact with her family, there
are serious concerns for her physical and mental condition in prison. Her
brother also said that in his last visit with her, she was suffering from weight loss
because of a digestive illness. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May
18, 2010)
„Improperly‟ veiled women will be seriously dealt with in Mashhad
There have been measures taken in various cities in Iran to deal with women
that they (government) deem to be ―improperly‖ veiled and it seem that officials
intend to deal with those who not dress according to their taste as they did in the past few years.
The Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor has requested from all managers, offices, organizations and state run
companies in a letter sent to all government offices in this city to firmly deal with improperly veiled women. In this
official letter which was signed by Mahmoud Zoqi, the Mashhad Public Prosecutor, it was stated that not wearing a veil is
a ‗public display of corruption‘.
He also stressed in this letter that appearing in public without proper hijab is considered a crime and according to the
law, the offender will be sentenced to prison or a fine. (Nedaye Sabze Azadi Website – May 19, 2010)
Ailing female protester taken to Evin Prison
Mobineh Lari who was arrested during post election events was taken to Evin Prison after her sentence was confirmed.
There is no information on why she was taken to Evin Prison.
She is suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis) and cannot even change her clothes on her own. (Committee of Human
Rights Reporters- May 22, 2010)
Iran tortures jailed woman into giving fake confessions
According to reports, Zahra Bahrami who was arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2009) is still jailed in cellblock 209 and
is under severe pressure to confess to fabricated charges made against her in the Revolutionary Court.
Zahra Bahrami (Sahra) has a dual Iranian Dutch citizenship and lives in London. This 45 year old woman was an artist
in London and came to Iran to visit her child. Bahrami was arrested on December 27 during widespread protests in
Tehran by intelligence agents and was transferred to cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. She was subjected to severe mental
and physical torture to make taped confessions. She is currently in cellblock 209 in one cell with two other prisoners and
has been denied visits with her family and the right to a lawyer since her arrest. She is suffering from severe depression
because of the tortures.
Intelligence interrogators physically and mentally torture her or give her empty promises that she will be released to force
her into giving false confessions in front of cameras. In these confessions, interrogators call her Sara and insult her by
saying she is a dancer. Bahrami was forced to say that she was in contact with the Monarchist Association and the
People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran among other fabricated charges. Intelligence agents have forced a number of
other detainees to confess against her in these taped confessions.
These agents have also told her that she has to accept these charges in the Revolutionary Court. They intend to charge
her with being a mohareb (enemy of God) and have threatened her on many instances that they would sentence her to
death and implement the sentence as soon as possible. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – May 23, 2010)
Iran suspends girl university students for „improper veiling‟
In an unprecedented measure, the head of the Alameh Tabatabayi University in Tehran issued suspension sentences for
a number of girl students in this university and summoned dozens more to the Disciplinary Committee.
The Assistant Head of Student Affairs at this university said that ‗improperly veiled‘ students were summoned to the
Disciplinary Committee.
―Some of those who were improperly veiled and were insistent on dressing in that way were suspended for 1 to 2
semesters from university‖, he said.
Regarding news in some websites that 20 improperly veiled students have been summoned to the Disciplinary
Committee in this university, Dr. Qader Parviz said that the numbers were much higher.
―The numbers are much higher that this especially those who just received notices‖, he said. (Daneshju News – May 30,
2010)
Female political activist attacked by addicts in Evin Prison
Hengameh Shahidi, a journalist and advisor to the Secretary General of the National
Trust Party was assaulted and harassed by a drug addict in the female cellblock in Evin
Prison this morning.
This drug addict who had an unkempt appearance with evident knife scars on her hands
constantly made body contact with Shahidi while she intended to get her medicine from
the infirmary nurse. When Shahidi objected, the addict threw her in the middle of a
group of other addicts and violently beat her. None of the people on the scene tried to
stop her or separate them.
Hengameh Shahidi has objected the detention of political prisoners in one place with criminals to the Assistant Tehran
Prosecutor on several occasions. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – May 29, 2010)
June
Human rights activist disappears after security forces raid home
Security forces went to the home of human rights activist Saba Vasefi, to arrest her but she was not
home. On the other hand, there is no information on her current situation and whereabouts.

355
January – October 2010

These forces went to her home for the second time and conducted a search confiscating books, notes, research files,
personal photos, telephone book and camera.
Vasefi went to look into the case of a person sentenced to death in Shahriar today but has not returned and there is no
news on her whereabouts, raising fears of her arrest.
Before this, Vasefi was barred from teaching and was expelled from the Beheshti University on January 20. She is a
researcher, human rights activist and women‘s rights activist. She started her teaching career at the Beheshti University
in 2006. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 1, 2010)
Health of sister of Ashraf residents deteriorates in prison; Baha‟i prisoner denied medication
Political prisoner Zahra Jabari who was sentenced to 4 years of prison in the 28 th branch of the Revolutionary Court on
charges of acting against national security had a visit with the Tehran Prosecutor. She is suffering from severe
rheumatism and is in poor health.
In this visit, Jabari protested her sentence. The prosecutor told her that, ―The sensitivity of issues to do with your family‖
was the reason behind the four year sentence.
Zahra Jabari was arrested on Quds day and is the mother of a 4 year old child. She has to use a strong medication which
can only be taken under the constant supervision of a doctor.
According to other reports, Sahba Rezvani, who is a Baha‘i female prisoner, has been detained for more than a year with
a temporary detention order. She is facing limitations in taking her medication and in her last visit to the infirmary she
was mistreated and disrespected by infirmary officials in Evin Prison.
This Baha‘i prisoner who was transferred from Semnan Prison to Evin Prison was taken to the infirmary because of her
critical condition but was refused medicine under the pretext that they had ran out of medicine.
This is while after she was taken to the infirmary again, another medic told her that there was enough supply of the
medicine in the infirmary. (Students Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners – June 7, 2010)
Female journalist sentenced to prison and a 30 year ban on journalism
The Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Pir-Abasi sentenced journalist Jila Bani-Yaqub to one year of prison and a 30
years ban on journalism.
She was arrested on June 20, 2009 with her husband Bahman Amuyi and was released on bail after two months.
Her husband was sentenced to 5 years of prison in a court of review and is currently in cellblock 350 in Evin Prison.
Bani-Yuqub was the 2009 winner of the Courage in Journalism award. (Miran Khabar – June
8, 2010)
Security forces beat and attack girl in Enqelab Square
On Thursday June 20 at about 2:40 pm in Enqelab Square security forces were harassing girls and boys on the street
under the excuse of ‗improper veiling‘. According to reports, a young girl was stopped by security forces and was then
harassed and beaten. This young girl resisted and tried to defend herself. A large number of people on the street came to
her aid and tried to pull her out of the hands of security forces, but security forces refused to let her go and were
frantically trying to arrest her.
At the same time, motorists who were stuck behind traffic started honking their horns in protest to this violent act by
security forces.
After some time, police motorcycles entered the scene and started clashing with the people. Security forces arrested
anyone they could get their hands on, taking them to an unknown location. Eye witnesses said that at least 4 people
including one girl were arrested. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 10, 2010)
Iran harasses and detains „improperly‟ dressed women in airports
The head of Iran‘s Airport Police said that 3,506 improperly dressed people were (forced) to sign pledges (not to dress in
that way) in the first 82 days of the (Iranian) year.
―The police in airports all over the country will even prevent improperly veiled people who come to welcome their guests
to the country from entering the airports‖, he said.
This police official said that the airport police will prevent improperly veiled passengers from continuing their travels
and also reported that 112 women and 210 men were arrested by the airport police for not following social norms in the
first 82 days of the Iranian year.
―The airport police prevented the travelling of 71 women who did not have proper veiling and they were introduced to
judicial sources‖. (ILNA state-run news agency – June 14, 2010)
Iran will include lessons about „proper‟ veiling in school books
The head of Women‘s Affairs in the Ministry of Education said that school books will be revised and lessons on hijab
(Islamic covering) and chastity will be included in the books. (Mehr News Agency – June 15, 2010)
Female human rights activist in poor health in prison
The physical condition of Hengameh Shahidi, a member of the Etemad Meli Party, who is also a journalist and human
rights activist, is deteriorating in Evin Prison.
From the beginning of her arrest for the second time on February 25, 2010 she has been suffering from dizzy spells,
double vision, tonsil infection and ear aches in cellblock 209. Now, after being transferred to the public cellblock her
body has developed immunity to the antibiotics after 4 months and the negative side effects on her stomach has led to
serious problems for her.
She has not been able to eat the prison food for a week now and only drinks fluids and was treated with intravenous
fluids yesterday in the prison infirmary.
Doctors in Evin Prison recently diagnosed the severe pain in her muscles and bones as nervous rheumatism and said that
she had to be placed under treatment and given physiotherapy. The facilities for this kind of treatment do not exist in
prison.
Her family and lawyer have submitted several requests for a medical leave for Hengameh but all these requests have been
refused. (Kalameh Website – June 16, 2010)
Head cleric: no one has the right to limit security forces in countering improper veiling
The head of the Guardian Council welcomed the actions of the security forces in countering improper veiling and also
criticized comments on limiting these measures.
―No one has the right to limit state security forces in dealing with improper veiling‖, he stressed.
Ayatollah Ahmad Janati stressed that the matter of veiling is one of the priorities of the country in his first sermon in
Friday Prayers and said, ―Despite the fact that there are various problems in political, economical and other grounds, the
problem of moral security should not be ignored under the excuse that we have other important issues‖.
―The corruption that an improperly veiled woman spreads into the society is worse than poison and leads young people
who are in the fields of martyrdom and fighting with the enemy to fall into the hands of lust and moral corruption‖, he
said. (Fars state_run news agency – June 18, 2010)
Criminal records for improperly veiled women
A member of the Judicial Commission in the Majilis said, ―For those who are fined for not following Islamic norms and
proper veiling, criminal records will be made for them in the related institutions. These people will be punished more
severely for the second and third time around‖.
―Prison, physical punishment and fines are legal ways that lawmakers have put in place for dealing with those who do
not follow the law; in reality it has to be examined to see which of these three legal measures is the best solution in
dealing with this issue‖. (Fars state-run News Agency – June 18, 2010)
Family of female death row political prisoner in the dark about her condition
There were unconfirmed reports that Zeinab Jalalian, a death row
political prisoner, was transferred yesterday for her sentence to be
carried out.
Jalalian, 28, was born in Maku and was sentenced to death in 2009 on
charges of cooperating with the Kurdistan Independent Life Party
(PJAK)…
Her family was not informed of reports that her sentence would be
carried out.
―After we looked into her case, they told us that her files are missing
and we have no news on her case‖, her younger brother said.
―Zeinab called us one month ago and said she was in Tehran in Evin
Prison and after that she did not call us and we were not able to get any
news on her‖.
―Some time ago we called the number that we had and they said that
Zeinab‘s files are still missing and there is no new news on her
condition‖, her brother added.
The issue of missing files has occurred in the past in many death row
cases.
―I have no news on my sister‘s case and even lawyers are not able to pursue her case‖, Zeinab‘s other brother Pasha
Jalalian said.

357
January – October 2010

―We have gotten two lawyers for her till now but after going to court, her files were not given to them and they said there
is nothing more they can do‖. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – June 28, 2010)
„Improperly veiled‟ women will be detained, fined or lashed
http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1565395
The Tabas Prosecutor said that women who come on the streets in public without the legal veil will be sentenced to
prison terms from 10 days to 2 months or a 50 to 500 thousand rial fine (about 5 to 50 dollars).
―On the issue of improper veiling and unveiling, we do not have a legal vacuum‖, Ali-Asghar Refahi said.
―In 1996, article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code and its footnote were passed and it was also upheld by the Guardian
Council. It has been stipulated in this article that anyone who carries out an illegal act in public will be sentenced from
10 days to 2 months of prison or 74 lashes in addition to the punishment for his/her crime and if a person carries out
an act that damages public chastity, he or she will only be sentenced from 10 days to 2 months of prison or 74 lashes‖.
(ISNA state-run News Agency – June 29, 2010)
Female political prisoners kept under growing pressure in Evin Prison
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1607.aspx
The pressure and abuse of female political prisoners in Evin Prison has increased. About 28 female political prisoners are
all cramped into one cell. This cell lacks any kind of cooling system in the swelling Tehran heat which has reached 40
degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the past few days. The heat is so severe that prisoners fall in a faint.
In the past few days, the water has been constantly cut off and prisoners are deprived from drinking water. When the
water does come on, only warm drops come from the tap. (Officials) cite installation problems as the cause of the warm
water in the pipes and say that they are not able to solve the problem.
Female prisoners have also been suffering from severe food poisoning in the past few days and are denied treatment.
They suffer from nausea and severe diarrhea.
Student prisoner Mahdieh Golro was summoned by the Prosecutor of Tehran, Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, and pressured
and threatened for supporting her executed cellmate Shirin Alamhouli.
―Do you know who they are when you defend them?‖ he asked her. ―They are a grouplet and should not be defended‖.
The Tehran Prosecutor also told another political prisoner that in the future, they intend to separate political prisoners
from the ‗Monafeqin‘ (PMOI members and supporters). Dolat Abadi and interrogators of the Ministry of Intelligence
have from some time ago unsuccessfully tried to create divisions and clashes between female political prisoners.
On the other hand, female political prisoners who report their severe problems to outside prison sources are under
growing pressure and threats. These threats are made by Dolat Abadi. One of his methods is to raise pressures against
political prisoners when news on the problems of female prisoners is published in the media (by a particular prisoner)
and in this way officials blame the growing pressure on that particular prisoner to create divisions between prisoners.
(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – June 30, 2010)
Husband of slain mother of two: they took my wife and persist on giving me blood money instead
http://www.hra-news6.info/2/00/2441-1.html
Hassan Mir Asdolahi, the husband of Fatemeh Semsarpour said in an interview
that the military court asked him to accept blood money (for his wife‘s murder)
but he refused. Fatemeh Semsarpour was shot by security forces along with her
son, Kaveh Mir Asdolahi on June 20 last year in the post election protests. Mrs.
Semsarpour died that day, but her son was able to survive after two major
surgeries.
According to her husband, Mrs. Semsarpour‘s body was buried in Babol.
Mr. Asdolahi filed a complaint demanding that the murderer of his wife and
shooter of his son be identified and introduced.
―The last answer I got was that the shooter has not been identified and that I
should accept blood money instead‖, he said.
Kusha Mir Asdolahi, the youngest son of the family, was looking out of his
home window on June 20, 2009 when his mother and brother were shot and
according to his father he has had psychological damage and is being treated by
a psychiatrist. This 13 old boy has written a poem describing his mother‘s death.
―Her flowers fell and the petals fluttered away but these eyes did not see‖, he
wrote in this poem. ―They took her flowers; her seeds are in our hearts… They
took her body; her roots are in our body…‖ (Rooz Online – June 30, 2010)
Do not let our mother be stoned to death
Letter of the children of death row prisoner Sakineh Ashtiani, who has been sentenced to death by stoning:
Today we reach out to people all over the world. It has been five years that we have lived without a mother‘s love in
constant fear. Is the world so cruel that it can see this catastrophe and easily pass it by?
We are Farideh and Sajad Mohammadi Ashtiani, the children of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The pain of having a
mother in prison and having to wait for this catastrophe to take place is familiar for us. The truth is, the words ‗death by
stoning‘, is in itself so terrifying that we try to never use it. We say that our mother is in danger, our mother might die
and our mother expects to be helped. Today, when all the paths have reached a dead end and our mother‘s lawyer said
that she is in grave danger, we reach out to you. We reach out to the people of the world. The color of your skin or the
country or city you live in is not important. We reach out to everyone who has experienced the pain of losing a loved
one.
Please help our mother come back home! We especially seek the help of Iranians all over the world. Please help end this
nightmare and do not let it turn into a reality. Help and save our mother. Explaining the minutes and seconds of our life
is very difficult. Words loose their meaning in these agonizing moments. Help us save our mother. Write letters and ask
officials to release her. Tell them that no one has filed a complaint against her and that she has done nothing wrong.
Our mother should not die. Is there anyone who hears our plea for help?
Farideh and Sajad, children of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (Iran Press News – June 27, 2010)
July
Security official: improper veiling is clear crime
The Assistant head of the State Security Forces Social Department announced that the ‗veiling and chastity plan was
announced by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005 and security forces carried out the plan after a request by the leader in
2007‖.
―The reason the plan came to a standstill was because of the elections, street clashes and seditions which took up all the
time and energy of security forces‖.
―Improper veiling is an apparent crime in the Islamic Penal Code and to this end, State Security Forces have carried out
the necessary coordination with the Interior Ministry and other institutions like the Judiciary and carried out the Veiling
and Chastity Plan‖, Kargar said stressing that it was the duty of the State Security Forces to counter apparent crimes.
(Jahan News state-run Website – July 4, 2010)
Female university students sexually harassed in Qom Free University; more than 60 girls summoned for „improper
veiling‟
More than 60 female students of the Qom Free University have been summoned to the Disciplinary Committee since
April.
According to reports, after the School of Humanities was transferred to a new building in Pardisan, students have been
subjected to increased pressure to the extent that more than 1000 female students have received notifications (for so-
called improper veiling) from the Protection Department.
Protection Department agents have separated the entrances of male and female students in this university and stop most
girls in the university entrance. The girls are insulted and humiliated and forced to wipe off their makeup. According to
what is called ‗inobservance of Islamic norms‘ they are given notices and if this is repeated, they are forced to give
pledges.
This procedure has gone up to the point where in some cases, those who were deemed to be ‗improperly veiled‘ were
prevented from entering the university and summoned to the Disciplinary Committee.
According to reports, many of the 60 summoned students were student activists who were falsely charged with
‗promoting improper veiling‘ amongst students and had to explain their intentions for choosing to dress a certain way
(in the Disciplinary Committee). The Disciplinary Committee also issued sentences for them in their absence including
suspension from education. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 4, 2010)
Female human rights activist interrogated while suffering muscle paralysis
http://www.roozonline.com/persian/news/newsitem/article/2010/july/05/-5332d4bf52.html
Narges Mohammadi, the Vice President of the Center in Defense of Human
Rights and the head of the Executive Board of the Peace Council has been
hospitalized two days after her release from prison and her husband Taqi

359
January – October 2010

Rahmani said that she suffers from a muscle paralysis every few hours and is unable to carry out her daily work or even
talk.
The reason behind the muscle paralysis is still unclear but her husband said that his wife suffered this paralysis in prison
but interrogators paid no heed to her condition and even interrogated her while she was paralyzed. (Rooz Online – July
5, 2010)
Khajeh Nasir student denied exam grades because of „improper veiling and relationship with opposite sex‟
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-23/2625-1.html
With the end of the semester exams in the Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran, in the past week, a number of professors
in the electricity and mechanics colleges have refused to give a number of students their grades because of what they
called ‗improper veiling‘ and ‗improper clothing‘.
In one incident, one of the professors in the mechanics college who is also in the position of an assistant in the
university only put a dash next to the names of a number of (male and female) students and said that receiving their final
grades was subject to them signing a pledge regarding their attire and their relationship with other students (of the
opposite sex). (Human Rights Activists in Iran – July 8, 2010)
Physical condition of female political prisoner deteriorates in notorious cellblock 209
http://pejvakzendanyan.blogfa.com/post-1620.aspx
Political prisoner Zahra Bahrami, was arrested on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2010) and has been detained in various cellblocks
controlled by the intelligence agency since then. She is currently in cell 13 in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison with two other
political prisoners. She is still kept in cellblock 209 after 6 months in an undetermined state.
In the past few weeks, her physical state has become critical. Her face has swelled up and her face is infected with acne
and scars are evident on her face. She is also suffering from severe lung problems and in the past few days, her condition
has deteriorated because of lack of medical attention. She is also suffering from severe depression.
Interrogators of the Intelligence Agency have charged her with being an enemy of God by cooperating with the
Monarchist Association and the People‘s Mojahedin Organization of Iran and intend to try her based on these charges.
Bahrami has had a visit with Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi. He told her that she first has be trialed and
will be released after she receives a sentence. She does not have a lawyer.
Political prisoner Zahra Bahrami, 45, has two children. She has a dual Dutch-Iranian nationality and came to Iran to see
her children. She was arrested on Ashura and was subjected to severe physical and mental torture. She was forced to give
a televised confession against herself. These false confessions were broadcasted from state-run TV. Intelligence
interrogators have used her confession as charges against her and intent to try her for ‗enmity with God‘. (Human Rights
and Democracy Activists in Iran – July 11, 2010)
Iran Islamizes dolls
The head of the Center for the Mental Upbringing of Children and Teenagers in Mazandaran said, ―In the Noor and
Chastity Exhibition in Mazandaran, the newest generation of Dara and Sara Dolls with Islamic veiling will be sold‖…
―Some families do not dress their children in Islamic attire under the excuse that they are children and in the ages when
the duty of observing the Islamic veil become mandatory they have problems and cannot easily teach their children
religious values‖, Qasem Aziz-Zadeh Gorjy added. (Tabnak state-run website – July 11, 2010)
Hepatitis outbreak among female prisoners in Evin
An outbreak of hepatitis in in Evin Prison‘s female cellblock 1, the prevalence of rodents especially lice, and the lack of
sanitary facilities and cooling appliances on one hand and the daily clashes of ordinary prisoners with political prisoners
has made conditions even harder for political prisoners in this prison.
This cellblock is in a critical state but no measures are taken by the authorities to control this situation.
The prevalence of lice has led many women to shave off all their hair.
In addition to this, the lack of coolers and cold water in the high temperatures has aggravated conditions for these
prisoners. (Jaras Website – July 15, 2010)
Woman sentenced to 2 years of prison for peaceful protest
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2809-1.html
Leila Tavasoli was sentenced to two years of prison in a court which only lasted 20 minutes
headed by Judge Moqhiseh.
The 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Tavasoli to two years of prison on
charges of participating in the June 15, 2009 and Ashura (December 27, 2009) marches in
Tehran citing article 610 of the Penal Code and observing article 46 of the Penal Code. The
court stipulated that she did not participate in the ‗seditions‘ and gave an interview with

Sara Tavasoli
Radio Farda and BBC as an eye witness to the death of a citizen who was run over by a State Security Forces automobile.
The murdered man was Shahram Faraji Zadeh who died after a SSF car intentionally went over his body in Valiasr
Square.
Leila Tavasoli was arrested in the middle of the night on Ashura (Dec. 27, 2009) by agents of the intelligence agency in
her father‘s home. He father is an engineer and the head of the offices of the Iran Freedom Movement. After two
months of detention in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison she was released on bail on February 23.
Her sister, Dr. Sara Tavasoli was also arrested on January 3 and after 50 days of detention in cellblock 209, was
sentenced to 6 years of prison and 74 lashes by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court and the case is currently
being reviewed by a court of appeals.
Dr. Sara Tavasoli‘s husband, Farid Taheri who a member of the Central Council of the Freedom Movement and was
with his wife in the Ashura march was arrested on January 17 and is still in Evin Prison. His three year prison sentence
was upheld in the court of review. (Mizan Khabar – July 18, 2010)
Female student activist sentenced to more than 9 years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/00/2914-1.html
The 54th branch of the Tehran Court of Review upheld the prison sentence of Bahareh Hedayat,
a member of the Central Committee of the Office for Consolidating Unity which was issued by
the 28th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
The court of review confirmed the seven and a half year prison term for her in addition to two
years of suspended prison without considering her defense in court. Hedayat was sentenced to
five years of prison on charges of ‗assembling and conspiring against the government‘, two years
of prison for insulting the leader and six months of prison for insulting the president and
spreading propaganda against the government. The two year suspended prison term for acting
against national security by holding a gathering for Women‘s Day in 2006 was also unsuspended
and added to her current sentence. (Advar News – July 24, 2010)
August
Female political prisoner sentenced to 15 years of prison
http://www.rhairan.us/archives/21851
Farah Vazham who was arrested for (participating in) the Ashura protests was sentenced to 15 years of prison on charges
of being a mohareb (waging war with God) by the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court.
Vazham is currently in the public cellblock in Evin Prison and has been in ‗temporary detention‘ for seven months. She
was arrested two days after Ashura in her home on December 29.
This sentence which was issued by Judge Salavati was announced to her today.
She was charged with participating in the street protests and ‗waging war with God by cooperating with the People‘s
Mojahedin Organization of Iran‘. She had lived outside of Iran for years and only came back to Iran to be at the side of
her 19 year old daughter who has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Aug.
4, 2010)
Security forces threaten to arrest mothers of hunger striking political prisoners
After the hunger strike of 17 political prisoners in Evin Prison and a gathering
by their families outside the General Prison‘s Office, security forces arrested a
number of the their mothers and other family members which was met with
protest from other families.
Security forces called the families of hunger striking political prisoners banning
them from talking to the media and threatened that if they speak even a word
to the media about the condition of prisoners, they will be arrested as soon as
possible…
The news about the state of hunger strikers who are now in their 10th day of
hunger strike has angered security institutions. This has led to threats over the
phone to their families and attempts at trying to arrest the mothers of these
hunger strikers in their homes.
It has been confirmed that security forces went to the homes of the families of
political prisoner Majid Tavakoli and Hossein Nourani Nejad.
361

Majid Tavakoli with mother


January – October 2010

―They told me that they want me to stay silent and not talk to the media‖, Majid Tavakoli‘s mother said.
―I am a mother and have no other request other than to be informed about the health of my son in prison. They have
told us that Majid is fine but does a two minute phone call for an ailing mother hurt them in any way that they have
deprived me of this? I told them that I would not say anything and that I would wait to see if silence will better the
conditions for my son who is on hunger strike‖, she added.
According to reports, the Tavakoli family has also been threatened with arrest. (Jaras Website – Aug. 5, 2010)
Female journalist sentenced to 6 years of prison and 5 year ban on journalism
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20305
Badrolsadat Mofidi, the Secretary of the Iran Journalist‘s Association was sentenced to six years of
prison and a five year ban on journalistic activities by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court
in Tehran.
She was charged by Judge Ahmadzadeh with assembling and conspiring against the security of the
nation and propagating against the government in a court which was held last Tuesday behind
closed doors.
She was detained before this for five and a half year in temporary detention before being release on
bail. (Peik-e-Iran Website – Aug. 10, 2010)
Woman awaiting stoning beaten into false confession
Last night the Islamic Republic state-run television broadcasted an interview showing
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and according to this interview, this woman who is in
danger of stoning and execution confessed to committing adultery and murdering her
husband. She confessed against herself and her lawyer, Mohammad Mostafayi and
accused him of taking advantage of her…
―Mrs. Mohammadi was taken to room 37 in Tabriz Prison and confessed against herself
but these confessions were not taken under normal circumstances and according to
reports that I have, she was severely beaten and forced into such an interview‖, Javid
Kian, Mohammadi‘s lawyer said one day after this interview was broadcasted.
―They went up to Mrs. Mohammadi‘s family who are extremely religious and taped a
film of them talking against Sakineh regarding the fact that Sakineh had committed
adultery and that she had to be punished… unfortunately Mrs. Mohammadi‘s family
have put her children under severe pressure that your mother has dishonored the
reputation of the family and has to be executed or stoned and this has put severe mental pressure on Mrs. Mohammadi‘s
children‖.
Her lawyer said that he was informed via his other clients in the female cellblock in Tabriz Prison that Sakineh was
forced to give a televised interview under the pressure of beatings. (Rooz Website – Aug. 12, 2010)
Girls forced to wear chador in Kazroun
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8905240215
The head of the Education Office in the town of Kazroun in the Fars Province said that the official uniform for female
junior high and high schools students will be the chador (head to toe black covering) from the beginning of the new
academic year…
―The new order for wearing the chador as the official uniform in junior high and high schools has been announced and
will be carried out from September, the beginning of the new academic year‖, he said. (Fars state-run News Agency –
Aug. 15, 2010)
Female student activist sentenced to another year of prison
Another year of prison was added to the prison term of student political prisoner Mahdieh
Golroh.
―What we were afraid of finally happened and the suspended one year prison term for
Mahdieh was carried out‖, her husband Vahid Lalipour said.
According to the Evin Prison Court, Mahdieh Golroh was sentenced to three years of
prison which consists of two years of prison and a one year of suspended prison.
This is while only one day after the one year suspended prison term was announced,
Mahdieh was arrested and in this short time, she did not commit any crimes and also the
sentence was not effective when she was arrested. Therefore, the sentence is illegal in
practice. (Guya News Website – Aug. 23, 2010)
Tehran Prosecutor says improper veiling is a crime
The Tehran Prosecutor stressed that improper veiling is a crime and said, ―Providing the security of the society should be
the main and most important duty of all institutions and supervising organizations and countering crimes related to
social security should not be limited to security and judicial apparatuses‖…
The Prosecutor of Tehran believes that new technology and the cyber environment is actually more in line with
promoting ‗corruption‘ than leading to progress.
Jafari also cited seriously dealing with illegal CD sellers and parties which are called ‗immoral‘.
―Despite the fact that these kinds of crimes are few in numbers, but even this low number can harm the society‘s
security‖, he added. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 25, 2010)
Women‟s rights activist sentenced to four years of prison
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-53/3632-1.html
Human rights activist Mahboubeh Karami was sentenced to four years of prison by the 26th
branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Pir Abbasi.
According to reports she was charged with ‗membership in the Human Rights Activists in
Iran, propagating against the government, assembling and conspiring with the intention of
committing crimes against the security of the country and publishing lies‖.
Karami is a well-known women‘s rights activist and the former head of the Women‘s
Committee of the Human Rights Activists in Iran who was arrested on March 2, 2010.
She was detained in Cellblock 2A in Evin Prison for 80 days in her six month prison term
and suffered mental and physical problems. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 28,
2010)
Wife of political prisoner and mother of Ashraf resident tried for visiting son in Ashraf
According to reports, Mahin Saremi, wife of (death row) political prisoner Ali Saremi was summoned and tried by the
15th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Salavati.
On August 24, Mahin Saremi, 56, was tried by Judge Salavati. This trial started at 10:30 am and ended in less than 15
minutes.
She was charged with visiting her son in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, propagating against the government, and filming and
participating in a ceremony to commemorate executed political prisoners on the 19th anniversary of the massacre of
political prisoners.
She was sentenced to five years of suspended prison before this for visiting her son in Camp Ashraf and going to the
gravesite of Dr. Mohammad Mosadeq (late national Iranian leader) but Salavati once again repeated the same charges to
issue a sentence for her for the second time.
Mahin Saremi was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was jailed from 1982 to 1983. She was also attacked by agents of
the Ministry of Intelligence in 2005 while at the gravesite of Dr. Mossadeq and was arrested along with her husband Ali
Saremi. She was kept in a solitary cell in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison for close to a month. She was also detained for
another 2 months in solitary in 2007 for participating in the anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners. (Human
Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Aug. 29, 2010)
Mother of slain prisoner dies after torching herself in protest
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-53/3682-1.html
The mother of a prisoner who set herself on fire in protest to the murder of her son in prison died in Orumieh hospital.
According to reports, the mother of Bahman Massoudi, an ordinary prisoner in the Central Orumieh Prison, self
immolated on August 23 after hearing that her son was killed in prison.
This Azeri mother died after being taken to the hospital despite efforts by the doctors to keep her alive.
Bahman Massoudi was murdered by a prison agent named Khanzadeh after being hit with a baton in the head while in
solitary. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Aug. 30, 2010)
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani subjected to mock execution
Her son Sajad says she was told she would be hanged at dawn on Sunday and visits by
her family and lawyer have been denied
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, was
told on Saturday that she was to be hanged at dawn on Sunday, but the sentence was
not carried out, it emerged tonight.

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January – October 2010

Mohammadi Ashtiani wrote her will and embraced her cellmates in Tabriz prison just before the call to morning prayer,
when she expected to be led to the gallows, her son Sajad told the Guardian.
"Pressure from the international community has so far stopped them from carrying out the sentence but they're killing
her every day by any means possible," he said.
The mock execution came days after prison authorities denied family and legal visits to Mohammadi Ashtiani. Her
children were told she was unwilling to meet them while she was told, also falsely, that no one had come to visit her.
Sajad, 22, heard the latest evidence of psychological pressure on his mother when he spoke to her by phone yesterday.
"They are furious with the international outcry over my mother's case so they are taking revenge on her," he said. "The
more the pressure comes from outside Iran, the more they mistreat her."
Protest rallies highlighting her plight were held in 100 cities on Saturday.
Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, was flogged 99 times for having an "illicit relationship outside
marriage" in 2006 but another court reviewed her case after her husband was murdered. She was acquitted of murder
but found guilty of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.
Since her case has captured world attention, Iranian officials have claimed she was an accomplice to the murder of her
husband although her government-appointed lawyer, Houtan Kian, has accused the government of inventing charges
against her.
Sajad said he believes the only reason his mother is still alive is because of the international campaign for her release. "I
beg everybody in the world to continue their support for my mother. That is the only way she might be spared from the
death sentence," he said.
In a visit to Iran's judiciary office in his home town today, Sajad was told that the file on his father's murder case has
been lost. "They are lying about the charges against my mother. She was acquitted of murdering my father but now the
government is building up their own story against her."
Last week, Kian's house was ransacked by plain-clothes officials and his documents, including one which shows Sakineh
was acquitted of her husband's murder, were confiscated. Since then, they have been unable to find a copy of the
sentence. "They are destroying all our evidence," Sajad said. "They were not unusual documents and evidence. They were
just the official documents of my mother's sentence. They want to destroy them all because they know there are lots of
discrepancies and contradictions in them."
Among them is the fact that no-one has been named as being involved in her putative extramarital relationship.
Mina Ahadi of Iran Committee against Stoning (ICAS) said: "Look how easily they are accusing and insulting Carla
Bruni-Sarkozy and you would realise how bad they are treating Sakineh and women in general in Iran and how they can
build up dossier against people out of nothing and sentence them to death by stoning."
France, meanwhile, protested to Iran over a hardline newspaper which described Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of President
Nicolas Sarkozy, as a "prostitute." Bruni-Sarkozy had condemned Mohammadi Ashtiani's sentence.
The foreign ministry in Paris said it was "unacceptable" for Keyhan to have said she was "proud of her immoral acts" and
"deserved to die". Iran's foreign ministry spokesman urged the media to avoid "inappropriate and insulting words." (The
Guardian – Aug. 31, 2010)
September
Iran plans to pin drug charge on female political prisoner to legitimize death sentence
According to reports, a court which was to be held for Zahra Bahrami was cancelled
and postponed for an unknown amount of time.
This 45 year old political prisoner was arrested on Ashura and was to be tried on
Saturday September 4 in the 15th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court by
Judge Salavati. Bahrami has been held in an undetermined state in the notorious
cellblock 209 in Evin Prison for more than 9 months.
Salavati has also told one of her lawyers that she will be sentenced to death for
carrying narcotics. This is while Salavati had said before this that she would be
sentenced to death or life in prison for participating in Ashura protests on charges of
waging war with God.
But after protests from the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry and a number of political
parities and also widespread reports on the likelihood of her death sentence in
Dutch media, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and Salavati intend to try her on
charges of carrying narcotics in addition to the previous charges to legitimize the death sentence.
Before this, her lawyer Nasrin Sutodeh said in an interview with a Dutch reporter that the drug charge was fabricated
and intelligence agents subsequently ransacked her home and office and confiscated some of her personal belongings
and files. She was then summoned to the Revolutionary Court in Evin Prison and arrested.
Bahrami has a dual Dutch-Iranian nationality. This 45 year old mother of two 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. 5,
2010)
Sakineh Mohammadi sentenced to 99 lashes over a media blunder
http://www.hra-news6.info/1389-01-27-05-26-53/3776-1.html
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery was sentenced to 99 lashes on
the charge of spreading corruption after a picture of a woman without the (Islamic) veil said to be Ashtiani by a British
daily was published.
Her son Sajad Mohammadi Ashtiani said that her lawyer was informed via her recently released cellmates that his client
was once again sentenced to lashing.
Times published a picture of a woman on August 28 saying it was Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. A few days later after
apologizing from its readers, it said that it was not her picture. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 4, 2010)
Ill student prisoner denied treatment
The deterioration of Mahdieh Golro‘s illness has made her
extremely ill and her condition is critical.
This jailed student who was banned from continuing her education
is suffering from intestine infection and her illness is deteriorating
every day because of lack of treatment, unsuitable prison food and
lack of sanitary facilities.
Golro is also suffering from severe weight loss and gets nauseous
even by drinking water.
Despite this, prison officials have refused to send her to the
infirmary from last Wednesday under various pretexts such as
religious ceremonies and the absence of a medic.
Attempts by her family to send her the medicine prescribed by a
doctor were also without result.
Her family has requested that she be granted a leave twice in the past 15 days from the Prosecutor but despite her urgent
need for medical treatment and care, the Prosecutor has still not answered.
Mahdieh Golro is a member of the Council in Defense of Education and was arrested last November. Her two year
prison term was upheld by a court of review. Before this, her one year suspended prison term was also added to her
sentence. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Sep. 7, 23010)
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)
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‖.

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January – October 2010

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)
Human rights activist sentenced to six years of prison and 74 lashes
A human rights activist‘s lawyer said that his client was sentenced to six years of prison and 74 lashes.
Mohammad Sharif said, ―Shivar Nazar Ahari was sentenced to three years and six months of prison on
charges of waging war with God to be served in the prison in the town of Izeh, two years of prison on
charges of assembling and conspiring to commit a crime and six months of prison on charges of
propagating against the government. She was also sentenced to 74 lashes or 400,000 tomans instead.
This human rights activist was sentenced by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge
Pir Abbasi. (ILNA state-run News Agency – Sep. 18, 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 15th 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 15th 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)
October
Evin Prison female inmates have no water for 4 days
The sanitary and health condition of female prisoners in Evin Prison has reached a critical point because the water has
been cut off for four days in the female cellblock.
According to reports, the water has been cut off for four days in the female cellblock of Evin Prison and this has
seriously endangered the health of prisoners.
Until yesterday, prisoners were able to use a tanker to provide water for the restroom but this tanker also ran out of
water yesterday and prison officials have only said that the ‗tanker has a leak‘ in answer to protests from prisoners…
Because of the lack of water, prisoners are suffering from various stomach, kidney, skin and infectious diseases.
A number of drug addicts and homeless women who were brought to prison in the last four days were admitted to
prison without the usual mandatory shower and cleansing, therefore lice has also increased among the women.
Also because the dishes were not washed in the past few days, in addition to the bad smell that the unwashed dishes have
caused, prisoners are not able to eat food.
Since a number of women are jailed with their children and infants and toddlers have to be washed more frequently, the
lack of water for the daily cleaning of babies has endangered their health and has made the bad smell of the female
cellblock more unbearable. (Jaras Website – Oct. 3, 2010)
Names of 23 female death row prisoners
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_05.html
According to reports, there are a large number of female prisoners in the Female Cellblock in Evin Prison who are
awaiting their execution.
Most of these death row prisoners are from poor backgrounds; prisoners who were subjected to domestic or social
violence without any kind of defense which led them to take revenge in a country ruled by misogynous laws. Women
who did whatever they could because of poverty and hunger to keep from going hungry.
A number of death row female prisoners who can be executed at any moment are:
1- Soraya Zakaria Nejad- homemaker- has been in prison for 4 years- charged with possessing narcotics- is in cellblock 3 in
Evin Prison
2- Ashraf Amrayi, 38- homemaker- has been in prison for two years- possessing narcotics- husband executed before -
cellblock 3
3- Soheila Pour Hosseini, 19- homemaker- has been jailed for one year- murder- cellblock 3
4- Ashraf Kalhour, 45, homemaker- sentenced to death by stoning on charges of murder and adultery and has been
detained for 9 years- cellblock 2
5- Shahla Jahed - has been in prison for 8 years – murder- cellblock 1- Judge Jafarzadeh sentenced her to death
6- Kobra Rahmanpour, 29- homemaker- detained for nine year- murder- cellblock 2- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
7- Sougand Jahani, 28- homemaker- murder- has been in prison for 2.5 years- cellblock 2- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
8- Reihaneh Jabari, 25- murder- has been in prison for 3.5 years- cellblock 1- Judge Tordast
9- Sadat Safavi, 45- homemaker- narcotics- cellblock 1
10- Sahar Pari Khani, 23 – homemaker- murder- has been in prison for 3 years- cellblock 2
11- Fatemeh Hadad, 34- homemaker- murder- has been in prison for 1.5 years- cellblock 2
12- Akram Ali Mohammadi, 29- murder- has been in prison for five years - cellblock 2
13- Fereshteh Bigvand 45- homemaker- narcotics- has been in prison for five years- cellblock 1
14- Leila Khajeh Vandi, 32- narcotics- 2.5 years in prison- cellblock 1
15- Noqreh Khazayi, 47- homemaker- murder and narcotics- has been in prison for 4 years- cellblock 2
16- Leila Tavakoli Mahalati, 28- murder- has been in prison for five years- Judge Kouh Kamareyi- cellblock 2
17- Fatemeh Moti, 40, has been in prison for 1.5 years- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
18- Mahboubeh Sheikh Lar, 18- murder- has been in prison for one year- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
19- Mina Cheraghi, 25– narcotics- has been in prison for 2 years
20- Sherafat Bigvand- narcotics- 5 years in prison
21- Azita Molla-Hashemi- six year in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
22- Farahnaz Nik-Khah- murder- seven years in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
23- Razieh Julideh, 35 and Marzieh Tavakoli, 20 are mother and daughter – murder
24- Zarin Taj Gharib- four years in prison- Judge Hemat Yar
25- Zahra Adi Gozari Moqadam- murder- 7 years in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
26- Massoumeh Aqayi- murder- two years in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi
27- Saiedeh Khodayi Del- complicity in murder- 8.5 years in prison- Judge Tabatabayi
28- Soheila Pour Hosseini- murder- 10 months in prison
29- Marzieh Rahmani- complicity in murder- five years in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi and Judge Tordast
30- Zahra Rahimi- murder- one year in prison
31- Nasrin Najafi- murder- one year in prison
32- Azam Ahmad Vand, 27- six years in prison- Judge Aziz Mohammadi (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran
– Oct. 5, 2010)
Women in Evin Prison face continuing water shortage and unsanitary conditions
http://www.rahana.org/archives/27077
Prisoners in the Public Women‘s Cellblock in Evin Prison have been facing serious sanitary problems in the last eight
days because of the constant water shortage and lack of water.
This cellblock has had a water shortage and water cut off in the last few months. Since last week, because the lack of
water lasted for a longer time up to 24 hours, these jailed women have been faced with serious problems.
According to reports, there are about 20 infants and children under two year of age who are kept along with their
mothers in this cellblock and the lack of water has led to problems for these children.

367
January – October 2010

This is while despite this problem which has existed from months ago, prison officials have not taken any measures to
solve it and today the problem has deteriorated.
Yesterday, Gholamhossein Ismaili, the head of the Prison Organization, said that the sanitary condition of prisons in
Iran is ‗satisfactory‘. (Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Oct. 7, 2010)
Wife of death row political prisoner threatened and harassed by security forces
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_10.html
According to reports, threats against Mahin Saremi via telephone calls by Salavati, the so-called judge of the 15th branch
of the Revolutionary Court are ongoing.
Mahin Saremi was summoned and tried in the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court by Salavati. She was told that the
sentence would be announced to her lawyer but after a while Salavati‘s assistance called Mrs. Saremi and told her to
come to court to receive her sentence. Saremi refused to go and said that the sentence has to be announced to her
lawyer…
Threats continued against Saremi and her guarantor was also called several times and told that he had to hand over Mrs.
Saremi to court and if he does not the bail that was submitted to court for her release would be seized and he would be
arrested.
Due to the fact that the legal procedures, charges, trials and sentences for political prisoners are against the law and a
clear violation of the minimum rights of political prisoners, interrogators of the Intelligence Agency and Salavati who
carries out the whims of the Intelligence Agency avoid giving an official written verdict to the lawyers of political
prisoners and political prisoner for fear that their illegal methods would be disclosed. This inhumane method has turned
into a common routine. Lawyers and political prisoners are not allowed to keep a copy of the file and the verdict is not
even given to the lawyer so that he/she could at least request for an appeal in the court of view. On the other hand, the
court of appeal and Supreme Court say that they cannot see to the case without a written verdict…
Mahin Saremi, 56, was a political prisoner in the 80‘s and was jailed from 1982 to 1983. She was also once again
arrested in 2005 along with her husband Ali Saremi after an attack by agents of the Intelligence Ministry for
participating in a ceremony to commemorate the memory of Doctor Mohammad Mosadeq on the anniversary of his
death. They were jailed in cellblock 209 in Evin Prison for close to a month. She was also arrested in 2007 for
participating in the 19th ceremony of the anniversary of the massacre of political prisoner in 1988 and was imprisoned
for 2 months in a solitary cell in Evin Prison‘s cellblock 209. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 10,
2010)
Intelligence agents threaten jailed labor activist‟s daughter in law to death
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_9616.html
According to reports, the threats and mental abuse of the intelligence agency against Zoya
Samadi, the daughter in law of detained labor activist Mansour Osalu has increased in the
past few weeks.
Intelligence interrogators constantly call Zoya Samadi and blatantly threaten her to death.
These threats have increased in the past few weeks.
―You experienced what we did last time. You can be sure that this time you will not live
through it‖, they tell her over the phone.
Some time ago, intelligence agents in a car and two motorcycles went to the home of Mrs.
Samadi and her husband in their absence and relayed their threats through their neighbors.
This psychological and inhumane war is going on daily against this family.
Intelligence interrogators aim to increase the mental pressure on Osalu‘s family and
especially Mr. Osalu.
Zoya Samadi was abducted before this by intelligence agents and was violently tortured and beaten. She sustained serious
physical and mental injuries as a result which she is still suffering from. Samadi was forced to quit her job after her
abduction to stay at home for treatment. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct. 15, 2010)
Jailed female lawyer tortured in interrogations
According to reports, jailed lawyer Nasrin Sutodeh who is on hunger strike has been subjected to
torture by intelligence interrogators.
Reports from the notorious cellblock 209 in Evin Prison say that these tortures are so severe that
her cries can be heard in the middle of the night in the whole cellblock. Hearing her cries has also
subjected other female political prisoners to great suffering and agony. Her cries are heard almost
every night in the cellblock.
Nasrin Sutodeh was arrested on September 4 for defending her clients in the framework of existing laws in Iran and
protesting illegal measures by the intelligence agency and those who work as judges. (Human Rights and Democracy
Activists in Iran – Oct. 15, 2010)
Iranian-Dutch woman thrown in solitary for forced confession
http://hrdai.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_16.html
According to reports, political prisoner Zahra Bahrami who was arrested in post
election protests on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was transferred to a solitary cell in
cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. She was thrown in solitary for refusing to repeat the
confessions she was tortured into making in a show trial headed by Judge Salavati
and for refusing to force her daughter not to disclose the pressure and abuse and
false accusations made against her mother.
Bahrami is under severe pressure by intelligence agents to confess to the charges
made against her by the court. They have threatened that if she does not confess, she
will be trialed for waging war with God and sentenced to death.
Bahrami is suffering from a severe heart condition which she did not have before.
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. Bahrami has been detained in
cellblock 209 for close to 11 months. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Oct, 16, 2010, 2010)
Isfahan head of SSF: female cyclers are criminals and will be severely dealt with
The head of the State Security Forces in Isfahan said that female cyclers, card playing in parks, women playing volleyball
or skating and singing next to the Khajou Bridge are all evident crimes.
―The police will deal harshly with the law breakers‖, he added.
The head of the SSF stressed that police patrols are active in the city to control transgressions and said, ―We have to
control crimes by increasing patrols and police stations and separating the 110 patrol from the Prevention Police‖.
(Kalameh Website – Oct. 20, 2010)

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January – October 2010
Appendices

371
January – October 2010
Appendices
1. List of executions – Jan – Oct. 2010

2. List of arbitrary killings June 2009 – Oct. 2010

3. List of martyrs of uprising (June 2009 – Oct. 2010)

4. List of political prisoners Oct. 2010

5. List of post election political arrests (June 2009 - Oct. 2010)

373
January – October 2010
'In the name of God the most merciful and compassionate
I wish the wind could carry my voice
I wish the sparrows that fly over the high walls of this prison would hear my words and bring
them to you as they sit on your house porch
Immediately after I opened my eyes as a child, my mother and guardian angel left me all
alone.
I never thought life without a mother could be so hard
It has been more than three years that I am languishing in the corner of this jail and all
my memories have been summarized into one day.
It has been three years that I‟m living in one day
I go into myself and I yell in my mind, that I swear I did not want things to go this way
Oh God, why, why did it turn out like this?
Through these years, I have lived time and again in one day and that is the worst day of
my life
I have died time, and time again, but I took breath, waiting to die again
I swear to God no one knows how heavy this burden is on my heart
They took me to solitary twice for retribution, those bitter, cold, and heavy nights
I don‟t know what to say, I died a thousand times
They took me to solitary twice for retribution, those bitter, cold, and heavy nights
I don‟t know what to say, I died a thousand times
In my solitude, I wanted to hug my mom and let my tears fall, but there was nothing
except a white wall and cold iron
The warden turned the key and said, "Get up, it is time to go"
They took me to the prison yard and my whole life passed in my mind in these few
minutes
I burst into tears in my cell. Oh God, oh God, how could I make them understand that
I‟m sorry, I‟m ashamed
I wish the wind could carry my voice
Immediately after I opened my eyes as a child, my mother and guardian angel left me all
alone…'
Behnoud Shojayi, was one of 106 minor offenders who are perishing in Iran's
dungeons. He wrote his life story in prison so that the world would learn of
his fate. He feared that the oppressive regime in Iran would one day soon
tighten the noose around his neck and end his short but tormented life, as
they did.
The UN Security Council and other human rights bodies must bring to
justice the murderers of the Iranian people and those violating basic human
rights of young men and women like Behnoud, Delara, Sohrab and Neda.

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