type here...
Home Blog Page 604

“I Saw Prison Abuse,” Says Mohammad Nourizad

crazydead
-
0
“I Saw Prison Abuse,” Says Mohammad Nourizad

24th June 2011

In an interview with the International Campaign with Human Rights in Iran, Mohammad Nourizad, a filmmaker, journalist and prisoner of conscience currently on furlough, provided details about his own case as well as the abuse of other prisoners. “I saw a young man who had been beaten, his lips were torn, and he had been slapped in the face numerous times. I believe what Hamzeh Karami and Abdollah Momeni said [about prison abuse] was accurate. They were badly tortured.” In separate letters from prison, political prisoners Hamzeh Karami and Abdollah Momenireported being  abused and tortured.

“I was transferred to Evin Prison on 20 December 2009. It appeared that everything had been planned before. During a superficial case and setting a $500,000 bail during a tight time frame, it was obvious that Evin awaited me…Judge Pirabbasi sentenced me to 3.5 years in prison; two years for insulting the Supreme Leader; one year for propagating against the regime; three months for insulting the president; three months for insulting the Head of the Judiciary, and 50 lashes for insulting the Mashad Friday Imam,” said Nourizad, adding that he has already served exactly 1.5 years of his prison term. “They will flog me in the end to remember the taste.”

Nourizad emphasized that he has already spent 68 days in solitary confinement inside Wards 209 and 240 of Evin Prison, having had no access to “paper, pen, or telephone” in that time. In the beginning of his imprisonment, he was not allowed to be represented by a lawyer, but after some time Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei took on his case. About facilities provided to him in Evin Prison he said, “The same things that must be given to a horse or a donkey to keep them alive. It is only later, in the General Ward, when some concessions such as books, papers, pen, etc. are provided.”

“Insults, curses against my honor, and beatings; these are the things that happened to me twice. In the following sessions, insults, humiliations and threats to my family continued, and things that shame me to repeat. Perhaps for about a year we were forced to wear blindfolds. Later, when I realized that the use of blindfolds was illegal, I resisted, and that by itself is another long story. My access to telephone calls, visitation, etc. was cut off. I told them [my access to those things] is the law. They said, we defecate on this law. Because they cursed my family, as an objection, I personally refused to call my family. Ninety three days later, I started to make telephone calls around the Persian New Year in March 2011,” Nourizad explained.

“They sentenced me based on my own confessions. They would mention a charge as my ‘crime,’ and I would name ten more myself, telling them: ‘If you didn’t know, I also believe in the following and I have also said the following.’ So, they sentenced me according to my own confessions. But what crimes?! That’s the funny part!” Nourizad told the Campaign.

“I developed a skin condition. I developed an infection in my jaws. My teeth became loose. Maybe it was because of the prolonged hunger strikes, but the prison itself is a contributing factor which affects [one’s health] silently,” said Nourizad about his health after prison.

Nourizad wrote several letters about prison conditions to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “I don’t know whether he knows this or not. If he doesn’t know, he will not be relieved of his responsibilities. After I wrote those letters inside the prison, they sentenced me to two more years. It [the trial court] was quite satirical! They asked me two questions in three minutes. In fact my sentence is 5.5 years plus 50 lashes,” Nourizad added.

Mohammad Nourizad has written wrote for Kayhan newspaper. The documentary filmmaker and blogger wrote three critical letters to Ali Khamenei after the 2009 elections which led to his arrest.  He has been sentenced to a total of 5.5 years in prison and 50 lashes on charges of “propagating against the regime” and “insulting” several Islamic Republic officials. He is currently out of prison on furlough.

 

Source

Iran And Syria Allied In Brutality

crazydead
-
0
Iran And Syria Allied In Brutality

FRIDAY, 24 JUNE 2011

VOA – The Iranian regime is supporting its ally Syria’s “vicious assaults on peaceful protesters and military actions against its own cities.”

It’s been two years since the Iranian people took to the streets by the millions, insisting that their votes be counted and their voices, demanding their fundamental human rights, be heard.

But as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement marking that two year anniversary, “The authorities in Tehran had no interest in the will of the people. When the people reached for their aspirations, the government responded with brutal repression. Two years later, that repression continues.”

The truth of Secretary Clinton’s assertion is clear from recent events in Iran. To name just a few: the death of women’s rights activist and Islamic scholar Haleh Sahebi, after she was attacked by security forces at the funeral of her father; the arrest and detention in Tehran of dozens of demonstrators who dared this month to march again, peacefully and silently, to protest the 2009 election and the mass arrests that followed; the confirmation by an Iranian appeals court of the 19 year prison sentence for Iranian blogger, Hossein Derakhshan.

Secretary of State Clinton noted that the Iranian regime is also currently supporting its ally Syria’s “vicious assaults on peaceful protesters and military actions against its own cities.” She compared the images of a 13 year old Syrian boy, Hamza Ali al-Khateeb, who was tortured and mutilated by Syrian security forces, to the images of Neda Agha Soltan, the young Iranian woman shot to death in a Tehran street during the 2009 protests.

“As we remember the terror and tragedy that accompanied Iran’s crackdown, and as we work with the international community to increase the pressure on [Syrian President Bashar] Asad and his regime,” said Secretary of State Clinton, “let us renew our resolve to stand with citizens – including the citizens of Syria and Iran – who yearn to be free and to exercise their universal rights.”

 

Source

 

Iran giving out condoms for criminals to rape us, say jailed activists

crazydead
-
0
Iran giving out condoms for criminals to rape us, say jailed activists

FRIDAY, 24 JUNE 2011

The Guardian – Smuggled letters allege authorities are using mass rape as a weapon inside Iran’s most notorious prisons

Prison guards in Iran are giving condoms to criminals and encouraging them to systematically rape young opposition activists locked up with them, according to accounts from inside the country’s jail system.

A series of dramatic letters written by prisoners and families of imprisoned activists allege that authorities are intentionally facilitating mass rape and using it as a form of punishment.

Mehdi Mahmoudian, an outspoken member of Iran’s Participation Front, a reformist political party, is among those prisoners who have succeeded in smuggling out letters revealing the extent of rape inside some of the most notorious prisons.

Mahmoudian was arrested in the aftermath of Iran’s 2009 disputed presidential election for speaking to the press about the regime’s suppression of the movement and is currently in Rajaeeshahr prison in Karaj, a city 12 miles (20km) to the west of the capital, Tehran.

“In various cells inside the prison, rape has become a common act and acceptable,” he wrote in a letter published on Kaleme.com, the official website of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

According to Mahmoudian and letters published on various opposition websites, political prisoners are locked up with some of the most dangerous criminals – murderers and ex-members of armed gangs.

Meanwhile, 26 prominent political activists who have been in jail since the 2009 election have written to an official prison monitoring body accusing the government’s intelligence ministry and the revolutionary guards of harassing inmates with unlawful tactics that included sexual assaults. Mohsen Aminzadeh, a senior deputy foreign minister, Mohsen Mirdamadi, a leader of a reformist party and Behzad Nabavi, a veteran activist are among those who put their signatures on the letter.

Speaking to Jaras, a website run by opposition activists, families of political prisoners have alleged that prison guards are failing to protect them from rape or sexual assault. “During exercise periods, the strong ask for sex without any consideration.

Criminals are repeatedly seen with condoms in hand, hunting for their victims,” an unnamed family member told Jaras. “If the inmate is not powerful enough or guards would not take care of him, he will be certainly raped. Prison guards ignore those who are seen with condoms simply because they were given out to them by the guards at first place,” the family member said. The family members say prison guards are turning a blind eye to the systematic rape and have ignored complaints made by rape victims.

Amnesty International, which has documented rape inside Iran’s prisons and interviewed victims for a 2010 report, called on Iran to launch an investigation into the recent allegations. Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s Middle East campaign manager, told the Guardian: “Rape is a terrible crime and these allegations [mentioned in the letters] should be thoroughly investigated.

Amnesty International has also documented the rape of male and female detainees by security officials. Many of those detained for taking part in post-election protests were tortured and did not receive fair trials. The Iranian authorities still continue to punish and persecute those who peacefully speak up against them.”

According to Mahmoudian, who has been transferred to a solitary confinement after his letter attracted attention, one young prisoner was raped seven times in a single night.

“In [Rajaeeshahr] prison, those who have pretty faces and are unable to defend themselves or cannot afford to bribe others are forcibly taken to different cells each night [to be raped],” he writes. “The situation is such that those exposed to rape even have an owner and that owner makes money by renting him out to others and after a while selling him to someone else.”

Rape victims in Iran usually stay quiet in order to protect the honour of their family but at the time when journalists based in the country are facing strict restrictions, these letters have become one of the only sources of information about the situation of hundreds of imprisoned activists.

Iranian officials have ignored the allegations and have previously denied any claims of rape inside jail.

 

Source

 

Political prisoner Mehdi Kouhkan: my leg may be amputated if not treated

crazydead
-
0
Political prisoner Mehdi Kouhkan: my leg may be amputated if not treated

THURSDAY, 23 JUNE 2011

Rahana – Political prisoner Mehdi Kouhkan has written a letter stating that he may lose his leg if he is not treated.

Mehdi (Kourosh) Kouhkan, political prisoner in Ward 350, is in need of surgery. The judicial authorities have halted his treatment and have failed to transfer him to a hospital. He is in poor condition and may lose his leg if he is not treated.

According to the Human Rights House of Iran, in a letter, he has stated that “since the treatment was halted, my leg has been infected.” He has further added that “I am taking antibiotics which have led to digestive problems.”

The following letter has been given to the Human Rights House of Iran:

My left knee was injured under torture in Ward 240. The prosecutor agreed to allow me to be hospitalized on the condition that I agree to pay the medical costs. I underwent a surgery on May 22nd while my hands and feet were chained to the hospital bed. The authorities treated me in an insulting manner during my hospitalization.

I suffered from back and neck spasms due to the pressures I endured after surgery in addition to the surgery pain. One or two days after the surgery, I was taken back to Evin Prison. I was told that I would return to hospital a week later since my treatment had not been completed. One month has passed and my requests for continuing the treatment have been denied.

Since the treatment was halted, my leg has been infected. I am taking antibiotics which have led to digestive problems. My condition and the infections that may lead to the amputation of my leg are not important for the prosecutor.

Before me, several of my cellmates such as Mohsen Dokmehchee, Alborz Ghasemi and Hassan Nahid and Hoda Saber, have lost their lives due to lack of medical attention. Thus, I do not think that the prosecutor will care about the amputation of my leg.

I declare that the Tehran Prosecutor is directly responsible for any injuries I suffer due to lack of medical attention. I hope someone will hear my cries for help by reading this letter.

 

Source

 

IRGC training Syrian security forces

crazydead
-
0
IRGC training Syrian security forces

June 23, 2011

US officials have discovered secret contacts between the Iranian regime and Syrian officials, according to CNN.

US officials told CNN that the secret contacts have been discovered, adding that the conversations show part of the Iranian regime’s plans to build its influence in the Syrian events.

Other officials say they have evidence that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is leading the attempts, with IRGC forces routinely traveling to Syria and training Syrian security forces.

 

Source

Journalist Zahra Yazdani arrested

crazydead
-
0
Journalist Zahra Yazdani arrested

June 23, 2011

Security agents entered the home of Zahra Yazdani in the early hours of Tuesday June 21, 2011 and arrested her. After her home was searched and inspected the agents confiscated her personal possessions.

According to Human Rights House of Iran no reason has been given for Zahra’s arrest and there has been no contact from Zahra with her family since she was taken away.

This journalist is a student of Mohammad Ali Taheri, who is an esteemed Iranian scholar and founder of two medical approaches named “Faradarmani” and “Psymentology” that use alternative methods and are complementary. Last month security agents arrested Dr. Taheri for the third time and he is now on hunger strike behind bars.

 

Zahra Yazdani is a journalist who works for Asr-e Eghtesad newspaper with expertise in the social and economic arena. Her father, Seif Allah Yazdani is the owner of Emtiaz and Managing Director of Asr-e Eghtesad newspaper.

Article in Persian: http://www.rahana.org/archives/41754

 

Source

Abdollah Momeni and Abolfazl Ghadiani Transferred to Evin Infirmary

crazydead
-
0
Abdollah Momeni and Abolfazl Ghadiani Transferred to Evin Infirmary

June 23, 2011

Two of the 12 Iranian political prisoners on a hunger strike in Evin Prison were taken to the infirmary.

On the fifth day of their hunger strike, Abdollah Momeni and Abolfazl Ghadiani were sent to the infirmary after a sharp decline in their health.

The 12 political prisoners began a hunger strike to protest the recent deaths of two other political prisoners, Haleh Sahabi and Reza Hoda Saber, and the authorities’ alleged role in their demise.

 

Haleh Sahabi died during a furlough from prison when security forces overran her father’s funeral.

Reza Hoda Saber began a hunger strike to protest Sahabi’s death and died 10 days later. His fellow inmates say he was badly beaten on the eighth day of his strike, and the prison authorities are also accused of delaying his transfer to hospital after the onset of his symptoms.

The authorities deny any wrongdoing and claim both prisoners died naturally from heart attacks.

Abdollah Momeni was arrested in the protests that sprang up following the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. He is a prominent student activist and active in the “Free Citizens Election Headquarters” supporting opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi.

In the aftermath of the 2009 election protests many political activists were arrested. Momeni was sentence to almost five years in prison. Karroubi, one of the chief challengers of Ahmadinejad’s victory, is currently under house arrest with his wife.

Abolfazl Ghadiani, at 65, is reportedly the oldest political prisoner in Evin Prison and he suffers from heart complications.

Ghadiani is also a prominent reformist and was arrested during the Ashura Day protests against the 2009 presidential election.

The other 10 political prisoners on hunger strike at Evin are also prominent political activists and journalists, and in the past week several Iranian political figures and human rights advocates have urged them to end their strike over concern for their health.

 

Persian Article:

http://www.rahana.org/archives/41738

 

Source

Ashura Detainee Navid Kamran in Prison without Furlough

crazydead
-
0
Ashura Detainee Navid Kamran in Prison without Furlough
23 , June , 2011

Kamran who was detained during the Ashura protests of 2009 has been in prison for over 300 days.

According to the Human Rights House of Iran, he is among the political prisoners who had signed the letter which described the death of Hoda Saber.

He had been sentenced to 33 months in prison and 75 lashes which have been upheld by the appeals court.

 

Source

“No,” Says Head of Iran’s Judiciary to Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

crazydead
-
0
“No,” Says Head of Iran’s Judiciary to Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

23rd June 2011

Only a few weeks after the United Nation’s Human Rights Council appointed Maldivian Ahmed Shaheed as UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Iran, the Head of Iran’s Judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, made public statements denying access to the Special Rapporteur. “Our policy is not to accept the Rapporteur. We believe that we are among the first countries to claim observing human rights,” Larijani said. So far, Iranian Members of Parliament and other political figures close to the government have admonished and criticized the appointment of a Special Rapporteur, but the Iranian Judiciary had so far maintained silence about it. Given the current climate, it seems unlikely the Special Rapporteur will be traveling to Iran anytime soon.

The previous silence of the Iranian Judiciary and Ministry of Foreign Affairs seemed to mean an evaluation of the current situation was being made in preparation for the arrival of the Special Rapporter in Iran. However, since the resolution was approved last March, the Iranian Parliament reacted negatively to the requirement of the appointment of a Special Rapporteur.

In statements made during a televised appearance, reported widely by state news agencies, Larijani attacked western states, saying that Iran is a supporter of human rights in the world. “In the human rights discussion, we will definitely have certain cooperation with the UN, but within logical frameworks and not as a tool against our country,” said Larijani. Like his brother Javad Larijani, Head of the Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Council, Sadegh Larijani criticized the US. “The US itself who attacked Iraq and Afghanistan and killed many people, claims it is pro-human rights; but we have not yet forgotten Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib Prison.” Larijani characterized the issue of human rights as cultural, saying, “There is no reason the principles developed within a certain culture are expected as a general framework…thanks to Islam, we have been defenders of human rights for the past 1400 years, and in an atmosphere where girls were buried alive, Islam came and said that everyone is equal and all brothers.”

A few days ago, the Cultural Deputy of the Joint Armed Forces expressed his opinion on the subject of the Special Rapporteur and his presence in Iran. “In Iran, no one is expecting the so-called Special Rapporteur and it’s best if he changes his destination toward Washington or a hornet’s nest,” said Commander Seyed Massoud Jazayeri. “The US is now a center where tens of illegal prisons, torture, violations of the most basic human rights, sexual abuse of citizens and discrimination is observed in abundance,” he continued.

Despite these public statements, the First Deputy of the Iranian Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, said on 20 June that “the Special Rapporteur was determined by western states” and that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will review the arrival of the Special Rapporteur.”

“We will not accept the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, as we fully recognize the hidden objectives and political intentions behind the human rights resolution against Iran,” said Zohreh Elahian, a member of Parliament from Tehran, in the past few days.

Though Iran’s Foreign Ministry officials and the Iranian Judiciary have not yet provided an official response to the presence of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Iran, considering Sadegh Larijani’s statements, a visit appears highly unlikely. Since 2005, Iran has consistently refused to allow Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights to visit Iran.

 

Source

 

Missing Iranian Photojournalist Maryam Majd Arrested

crazydead
-
0
Missing Iranian Photojournalist Maryam Majd Arrested

22nd June 2011

Photojournalist Maryam Majd, who had been reported “missing,” has been arrested, a source close to Majd family told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on condition of anonymity. According to the source, Majd called home yesterday to inform her family of her whereabouts, but the family is under pressure not to talk to the media. The source told the Campaign that on the evening of 16 June, four men likely from the Intelligence Ministry, went to Majd’s home and after searching the premises and her room, arrested the sports photographer. The agents also took some of Majd’s personal items with them.

Maryam Majd, a sports photojournalist, was scheduled to arrive in Dusseldorf, Germany on 17 June to photograph the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Petra Landers, a former player on the German National Team who was scheduled to collaborate with Majd on a FIFA book project on female soccer players worldwide, has written a letter to the German Foreign Ministry urging them to ask Iranian authorities to provide information about Majd’s whereabouts.

Majd’s German hosts in Dusseldorf waited for her for hours on Friday, according to reports, but she never showed up. Several hours after Majd’s scheduled flight had landed, her hosts contacted Mahan Air to ask about her whereabouts, but were told that Majd’s name was not on the passenger list of the flight.

Maryam Majd is one of the few Iranian photographers who specializes in women’s sports  She is a member of a campaign to seek women’s attendance inside sports complexes, and previously worked with the monthly magazine Zanan. The Campaign learned that Majd’s family is being heavily pressured to not speak to the media and Iranian authorities have so far remained silent about her situation.

 

Source

 

1...603604605...704Page 604 of 704