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16-01-2010

Human Right’s Violation

Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls for Strong Action Against Protesters

HRA: News Agency

Source: VOA

uring the last week, 10 people have been executed and 88 were arrested. In total, 42 years of prisonment and 182 lashes has been issued by the Islamic court for the prisoners. More than 160 students were summoned to the diciplinary committee and 112 have recieced sentences. 5 stydents were dismissed from the university and at least 3 of the student’s organizations were suspended. Following the repression in the two states of Kurdestan and Baluchestan, at least 11 were killed and got injured.

Jan 9, 2010

protesters and that security personnel must avoid taking arbitrary measures. The supreme leader spoke Saturday to visitors from the holy Shi’ite city of Qom. His remarks follow some of the worst violence to hit Iran since June when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a disputed election.

Late last month, at least eight people were killed in clashes between Iranian security forces and opposition activists.

ran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has urged his secu- The violence coincided with Shi’ite rity forces to take strong action against Islam’s Ashura holiday. anti-government protesters. Khamenei says authorities must carry out their duties against those he calls “corrupt and rioters.” But he says rules must be followed in confronting

Iranian Cleric Says Kill The Protesters Source: RFE/RL Jan 9, 2010

n Iranian conservative cleric, Ayatollah Haeri Shirazi, has said on state television that instead of jailing opposition protesters, it would

be better to kill them.

Here is the link to the video of parts of his controversial comments, aired by Iran’s state television. Discussing the protest movement, Shirazi said: “The more of them are killed, the more it is in the benefit of the people. If the police forces kill some of them, it is to our benefit.” “When they are detained, it is bad; when they are arrested, it is bad.

Do not make victims out of your enemies,” the cleric added.

‘It would be better to kill them.’

He also warned about challenging Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and chanting slogans against him and his rule. He said the supreme leader is not a person with a soft turban on his head that can be beaten. “His support comes from Imam Mahdi [the Hidden Imam]” who is made of iron, he said, adding that those who dare to challenge him will brea their heads.

Ashoura protesters at risk of execution in Iran Source: Amnesty Jan 9, 2010

“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.

mnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities not to sentence to death protesters arresed during religious commemorations last month. 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.

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 movwould compromise the effective exercise of a defendant’s right to appeal. 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.

The Iranian authorities may be planning to increase the use of the death penalty as a means to deter demonstrations.

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. On Friday, Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas JafariDolatabadi reportedly confirmed the five to bemembers of the People’s Mojahedin Organization (PMOI), an opposition group based in Iraq.

The PMOI has confirmed to Amnesty International that five people – who all have children in the PMOI in Iraq – have been detained since the Ashoura protests.These are Ali Mehrnia, 70, Parviz Varmazyari, 54, Majid Rezaii, Alireza Nabavi and Ali Massoumi. “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.

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”.

No News of Alireza Firoozi & Sorena Hashemi Since Their Arrests Source: madyariran blog Jan 8, 2010

Iranian students:

his New Year will be the year of the young liberators, openers of a new cycle of life in the world for the welfare of all citizens, and the routing of our way of doing politics in our spaces.

It will be the consolidation wo student activists, Alireza of a movement that has been Firoozi and Sorena Hashemi, characterized by being a faithhave not been heard from since ful servant of the principles of university autonomy and the their arrests last Friday. Constitution of the Republic. It will be the year where we will gather the fruits of the fight we have begun and we will show to those who try to silence the voices of the fu- Source: Iran News ture, we will continue break- Jan 9, 2010 ing paradigms due to our way of being, people and their messages, for our actions and footprints left behind.

Venezuelan Students Support Students in Iran

As the strength, commitment and conviction mark our footsteps, the youth can rest easily because we will have hope in the near future, Both Firoozi and Hashemi were because the fate of our nations have been irrevocably fixed to hope, for arrested last Friday while on a trip people who love their freedom finally succeed in obtaining it. to Tabriz and have not called their families since. No police or intel- Students, who have not been shaken by the violent passions of revenge, ligence authority in Tabriz or Te- corruption and greed, like those now in power, are permitted under all hran has a record of the two de- laws of equity and history to raise our voices in the name of the motherland and its people. tained student activists. Firoozi’s family who traveled to Azarbayjan province has not been We have been and will always be proud of our glorious Universities, able to get any info and to this mo- which have profound impact over the population and the future of our ment it is unclear which authorities Countries. have ordered the arrests. In the days following the arrest, in- Fellow fighters for freedom! Many greetings and wishes of infinite joy, dividual or individuals who were strength and courage from the distance, from Venezuela, so that in this using Firoozi’s Email ID attempted New Year, this new opportunity, we can return with clear consciences to contact his family and friends. to continue fighting for men and women without ruined accounts with Comments made by the individual historical justice, to assume the leading role. in question have led to growing concern among Firoozi’s friends “The Rock” The distracted tripped over it. The violent used it as a projectile. The entrepreneur built with it. The farmer, tired, used it to rest. and family. Alireaz Firoozi is a student and Drummond poeticized. David slew Goliath. Michelangelo created beauhuman rights activist and Sorena tiful sculptures! In all cases the difference was not in stone but in man. Hashemi is a member of Iranian The year 2010 is the same for all, but it depends on what we do with it. Liberal Students organization. Firoozi and Hashemi were previously expelled from Zanjan Happy 2010!! University and received prison Let’s keep fighting for the dream of freedom and democracy, continue sentences after they exposed uni- raising our voices fearlessly towards a victory that is coming and not versity’s deputy director for sexual surrender, because in our hands are the destinies of the future of our abuse of a female student. Sorena country! Hashemi was arrested a second On behalf of the Venezuelan student movement, best regards from the time last month but was released distance! 20 days later. Their families con- Roderick Navarro Durán President tinue their efforts to seek informa- Federation of University Centers Universidad Central de Venezuela Movement “100% Students” tion.

NGOs troubled by Iran’s crackdown on international organizations, journalists Source: RFE/RL Jan 7, 2010

ongovernmental groups targeted on a blacklist announced recently by Iranian authorities who cited “seditious” activities have protested Tehran’s most recent clampdown. The New York-based democracybuilding group Open Society Institute has said in a statement that it is “deeply troubled” by Iran’s decision to ban cooperation with dozens of international organizations. Iran’s Intelligence Ministry on January 4 accused some 60 foreign organizations and media outlets — including the Open Society Institute and RFE/RL’s Radio Farda — of being involved in a “soft war” in Iran and banned citizens from cooperating with them. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also said that Iran “has recovered its status as the world’s biggest prison state for the media.”RSF says there are 42 journalists currently detained in the country, where authorities have carried out mass arrests and imposed harsh curbs on the media and critics since a fiercely disputed presidential election in June.

Neda’s tombstone photographed after the alleged vandalism

Gravestone of Slain Iranian Protester Neda Vandalized Source: RFE/RL Jan 8, 2010

with an image of Neda’s face, was pockmarked with holes. Makan suspects the damage was caused by bullets. Makan told Radio Farda that the grave is in a guarded section of the cemetery, so any damage could not have occurred without the knowledge of cemetery officials.

he fiance of the iconic slain Iranian protester Neda says her gravestone has been vandalized, Makan blamed “those who opened RFE/RL’s Radio Farda reports. fire on Neda and others” as responsible for the latest Caspian Makan told Radio Farda vandalism.“Whenever this kind of from Vancouver that the grave of thing happens, it becomes clear Neda Agha Soltan was found that the Islamic republic does such vandalized on December 31. acts of desecration, but they refuse to accept responsibility,” he said. He said this was not the first time the gravestone had been desecrat- Vandalizing gravestones has been ed.The 27-year-old Neda was shot a tactic reportedly used against dead during postelection protests in government opponents since the June. Her final moments, captured 1979 Islamic Revolution. on video, became a symbol of the Iranian government’s heavyMakan says that the latest handed response to protests vandalism does not astonish him, following the June presidential given that authorities have yet to election. acknowledge the circumstances in which he believes his fiancee was The tombstone, which is engraved killed.

Iran Accuses Five of Warring Against God

Iran’s consul in Oslo refuses to return home

Source: The New York Times

Source: AFP

Jan 8, 2010

SLO — Iran’s consul general By : NAZILA FATHI in Oslo confirmed Thursday ORONTO — At least five protesters arrested in Iran last week he quit his job in protest against during anti-government demonstrations will be tried on charges of Tehran’s violent repression of warring against God, which carries the death sentence if they are opposition demonstrators and found guilty, Iran’s judiciary said Thursday. said he would not return to Iran for fear of repercussions. The severity of both the charge and punishment, coming so soon after the defendants were arrested, suggested that the Islamic theoc“If I go back I don’t know what racy was stepping up its efforts to intimidate protesters into ending the will happen,” Mohammed Reza anti-government demonstrations that began over the disputed election Heydari told AFP in a telephone results in June and have erupted periodically ever since despite a interview. brutal crackdown. “For me, it’s not possible. My friends have told me that I will have problems if I go back,” he said, adding that Iranian authorities had asked him, via the embassy, to return to Tehran. Stationed in Oslo for just over two years, Heydari said he resigned after Tehran’s crackdown on opposition demonstrators on December 27 that left at least eight people dead and hundreds of others either injured or imprisoned.

In a statement carried by IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, the judiciary said that the five would soon be tried by the revolutionary court on charges of “Moharebeh,” meaning waging war against God, which is punishable by death according to the penal code. The statement did not disclose the names of the defendants, when they would be tried or any details of accusations against them. Tehran’s prosecutor general, Abbas Dolatabadi Jaffari, had said Sunday that the judiciary would confront detainees arrested during the most recent protests “very severely” Iran’s ISNA news agency reported. Authorities have invoked the “Moharebeh” charge against other detainees but some courts have dismissed it, said Nasrin Sotoodeh, a lawyer in Tehran who has represented several detainees.

“What is very surprising is how the court has come up with the indictment in 10 days since the arrest of the detainees,” she said in “I sent my resignation to the charge a telephone interview. “How was the indictment put together so d’affaires. I told him that it was quickly? When did the defendants hire or meet with their lawyer? impossible for me to continue. When did the lawyer read the case?” she asked. “No sane mind can I did it for the people, I did it for believe that all this was possible in 10 days.” (Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein) Mousavi,” he said. In other signs of an intensified crackdown on Iran dissidents, a Kurdish activist, Fasih Yasmani, 28, was executed early Thursday On Wednesday, the Iranian by hanging at Khoy prison in western Iran on charges of membership embassy denied that he had rein a Kurdish separatist group, according to the Human Rights Activists signed, insisting that the consul’s News Agency. If confirmed, Mr. Yasmani would be the second Kurdish term had simply come to an end activist executed in recent months in Iran. At least 17 other activists about a month ago. are on the death row. “His mission has been over for a month and his successor has arrived two weeks ago. We reject the news,” an embassy spokesman said. “It’s not true. I resigned,” Heydari told AFP on Thursday. The diplomat, a married father of two children whose family lives with him in Norway, said he did not know what he was going to do now. “At this time I don’t know exactly,” he said when asked whether he planned to seek political asylum in Norway.

Authorities have also added new charges against seven Baha’i leaders detained since 2008, under which they could face execution, the International Campaign for Human Rights reported Thursday. They arrested 12 other Baha’i’s during the mass arrests that began after the anti-government demonstration last week, the statement said. The protests on Dec. 27, during the religious holiday of Ashura, were the bloodiest confrontation between the opposition and government forces in months. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least eight protesters in Tehran. A representative of the supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, characterized protesters during a speech at a pro-government rally last week as “followers of the path of Satan.”

Iran is world’s biggest prison for journalists again Source: Reporters Without Borders website Jan 6, 2010

eporters Without Borders said on Wednesday that Iran has once again become the world’s biggest prison for journalists, with a total of 42 journalists behind bars. Iran “recovered its status” following the confirmation of Ahmad Zeydabadi’s six year jail sentence on 4 January and the sentencing of Bahman Ahmadi Amoui to seven years and four months in prison plus 34 lashes. The Paris-based press freedom watchdog ranked Iran 172nd out of 176 countries in its latest survey on press freedom.

[one who wages war against God], who should be executed within five days of their arrest. The bill would also reduce to five days from the current 25 days the period allowed for an appeal in cases of “disturbing public order” and “moharebeh”. “We are very disturbed by the calls repeatedly made by the most senior officials for Iran to impose the ‘supreme punishment’ on detainees, including journalists,” Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. “There is an urgent need for international bodies to take action before a tragedy takes place, before political prisoners begin being executed,” it added.

“There is an urgent need for international bodies to take action before a tragedy takes place, before political prisoners begin being executed,”

Reporters Without Borders also voiced concern at calls by Iranian officials and lawmakers for harsh punishment for those arrested in the aftermath of June’s disputed presidential election. On 4 January, 36 Iranian lawmakers introduced a bill in parliament under which detained govern ment opponents would be regarded as “moharab”

Despite warnings of severe confrontation, street protests have continued sporadically in the six months following the disputed presidential election. At least eight people were killed and more than 500 arrested during protests on the Shiite holy day of Ashura on 27 December.