Patogh! Our monthly event: Debate & Discussion, Art & Music Page 7
Nr : 15
News bulletin of the Iranian Progressive Youth
‘Cutting the Hand is a source of great Honor for us Page 3
01-11-2010
Iranian Rights Group Says Secret Executions Increasing Source: Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty October 28, 2010
T
he International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) says the number of unannounced executions at the Vakilabad prison in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad has increased, RFE/RL’s Radio Farda reports.The U.S.-based organization said in a statement on October 26 there are more than 600 inmates on death row at Mashhad. ICHRI Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi told Radio Farda on October 26 that a large number of executions have been carried out secretly in Mashhad in recent months. He added that the executions are carried out summarily and without notifying the prisoners’ families or lawyers.
Ghaemi said that according to Iranian law, after a death sentence is confirmed by the Supreme Court the convicted person’s lawyers and family must be informed. He added that when a court ruling is sent to the Office for the Enforcement of Sentences, the prisoner’s family should be informed of the time of the execution in order to visit the prisoner and even attend the execution. But Ghaemi claimed such procedures are often not followed by prison officials at Mashhad’s Vakilabad prison. “The officials only contact the family the day after the execution to tell them to come to the jail in order to pay the cost of the rope [with which the prisoner was hanged] and to receive the body,” he said. Ghaemi added that the ICHRI has received credible reports about the secret executions from within the prison. “One of the people who talked about the executions was Ahmad Ghabel, who was rearrested after publishing those reports,” Ghaemi said. A religious scholar, Ghabel was first arrested in December on his way to the funeral of senior dissident cleric Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. He spent six months in jail in Vakilabad before being released on bail, then was rearrested last month in Mashhad. Ghabel’s wife told Radio Farda then that her husband had said one of the reasons for his detention was his statements about the executions at the prison.
Student Protests Shortage Of Gasoline By Riding Donkey Source: Persian Letter October 28, 2010
A
n Iranian student has protested against what is being described as a shortage of gasoline by riding a donkey to his university in northern Iran.
Several opposition websites, including “The Green Movement of Iran” video blog, posted the video of the student from Azad University in Chalous. He was reportedly detained by the university’s security body over his protest.
Cracking down remorselessly, Tehran shows its true face
on blogger and reporter Jila Bani Yaghoob. She had been notified of the revolutionary court’s sentence on 8 June.
Source: Reporters without borders
Yaghoob and her husband, Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee, were arrested on 20 June 2009 along with around 20 other journalists during the demonstrations that followed the presidential election held eight days earlier. She was released on 24 August 2009 but her husband remained in detention and was given a five-year jail sentence. Yaghoob’s “We are journalists” blog was a winner in the “Reporters Without Borders Freedom of Expression” category in this year’s international “Best of the Blogs” competition that Deutsche Welle organized in Berlin from 13 to 15 April.
October 28, 2010
D
evelopments in the past two weeks confirm that the Iranian government is continuing its relentless crackdown on the media. A journalist was arrested for the second time in a year and courts imposed or upheld jail sentences on two women journalists whose journalist husbands are already in prison. Two of these developments took place on 22 October, just two days after Reporters Without Borders released its annual press freedom index, in which Iran was ranked 175th out of 178 countries. One was a raid by intelligence ministry officials on the home of Mohammad Reza Moghisseh, the editor of Biste Saleha and a contributor to various other pro-reform media, who was taken away to an unknown location. A member of a committee that has been monitoring arrests and human rights violations since the disputed June 2009 presidential election, Moghisseh was previously arrested on 14 October 2009 and spent 150 days in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison. Sentenced to six years in prison by a Tehran revolutionary court, he was released on bail on 1 March pending the outcome of his appeal. The other development on 22 October was a Tehran appeal court decision to uphold the sentence of one year in prison followed by a 30-year ban on working as a journalist which a Tehran revolutionary court imposed earlier this year
The other woman journalist, Mahssa Amrabadi, was sentenced to a year in prison by a Tehran revolutionary court on 14 October. Arrested on 14 June 2009, two days after the presidential election, she was released on 22 August 2009 on bail of 200 million toman (165,000 euros). Her journalist husband, Masoud Bastani of the daily Farhikhteghan, is in Rajaishahr prison. Arrested on 4 July 2009, he was tried along many other journalists in the Stalinist-style mass trials that the government began organizing in Tehran in August 2009. A revolutionary court sentenced him to six years in prison on 1 November 2009. Journalist Hider Karimi of Sina, a weekly that has been closed since December 2009, was meanwhile released on 21 October on bail of 220 million toman (151,000 euros) after four months in prison. He was arrested on 9 June when intelligence ministry officials in plain clothes raided his home in the northwestern city of Khoy.
Lifetime depravation for an athlete and the head of veteran’s weightlifting team Source: Street Journalist October 28, 2010
M
ir Rasool Raisi, Head of Delegation to Iran’s Weightlifting Team, and Hossein Khodadadi, a veteran weightlifting champion, have been banned from all sport activities for life. Mr. Khodadadi appeared on the platform beside an Israeli weight champion during the Poland competitions. Jalal Yahya-Zadeh, head of Physical Education Committee for Youth Committee announced this news and and added: “The fact that an Iranian weightlifting veteran has competed against an Israeli during the worldwide competitions and has stood beside him during the distribution of medal is unjustifiable.” He added: “Unfortunately, those who supposedly had the primary responsibility in this regard did not see any problem in this matter, however did not see it fit to be distributed within the public, which itself is an obvious mistake on their end.” Mr. Yahia-zadeh pointed to Mir Rasool Raisi’s remarks on publication of news and pictures of Iranian and Israeli athletes beside one another. Mr Raisi has stressed the accompanying members of the Iranian expeditionary team had destroyed all CDs and photos and did not expect happening of such matter. Physical Education and Youth Committee has stated the Cultural Commissioners have been informed and the president has also been warned of such matter. Mr. Yahia-zadeh has recommended to the safeguard organization of the Physical Education Committee to prevent such matters from happening.
The sentence of ‘Cutting the Hand’ is a source of great Honor for us Source: RAHANA October 27, 2010
T
he First Deputy of the Judiciary, in regards to the sentence of amputation in the case of the thief in Yazd, said: ” This sentence was carried out in accordance to the Laws of God as well as the Laws of the Land and it will be carried out in the future if seen fit in accordance to the law. According to news sources, Ebrahim Raeesi in a sideline of meetings with the chiefs of police, in regards to the amputation sentence recently carried out against a thief in Yazd said: ” All penalties
permissible under the law will be carried out, however the individual punishments may vary in accordance to the case at hand and its prosecution. He added: ” If the sentence is handed down by the presiding judge, then the sentence must be carried out, the amputation penalty has existed before and is not of recent times. First Deputy of the Judiciary stating that the amputation penalty is in accordance with the Laws of God, said: “This Law of God is
of great honor for us” and added, “Penalty for theft is determined in accordance to the case law and the facts that are proven to the presiding judge.
Discrimination against ethnic communities and religious minorities in Iran Source: Street Journalist October 25, 2010
T
he International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) make public today a report on discrimination against ethnic communities and religious minorities in Iran. The report, entitled “The Hidden Face of Iran”, highlights an unknown aspect of Iran: the severe discrimination faced by ethnic communities and religious minorities in every domain/area. “Iran is a real mosaic: the country has many minorities – Azeris, Kurds, Arabs and Baluchis, among others constitute the population of entire provinces of the country, although there are no official statistics on the composition of the population; such a subject is taboo for the authorities,”said Karim Lahidji, vice-President of FIDH and President of LDDHI. “Religious minorities also face discrimination in addition to being victims of persecution such as through arbitrary detention, extrajudicial executions, destruction of
cemeteries and holy places,” he added. These persecutions not only target the Baha’is, a religious minority not recognised by the Iranian Constitution, but also target Christians, Sunni Muslims and Sufis and others. It is through repression and terror that the Iranian regime responds to peaceful calls to put an end to attacks on minority rights: it reacts with violence, arbitrary arrests, torture, unfair trials and even executions. FIDH and LDDHI present in their report concrete recommendations to the attention of the Iranian authorities that include a major reform of the Constitution and Iranian legislation both of which are deeply discriminatory. They also recommend the adoption of concrete measures particularly in the areas of education, employment, access to public services and housing, in order to put an end to the persisting discrimination
against ethnic communities and religious minorities. In addition, the Iranian authorities should fully implement the recommendations that have been addressed under the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations and by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. While the UN General Assembly, which should adopt a resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran, is currently at session in New York, FIDH and LDDHI call upon the international community to ensure that the issue of ethnic communities and religious minorities in Iran is an integral part of this resolution. Furthermore, our organisations reiterate their call that this resolution include – at last – a monitoring mechanism on the situation of human rights in Iran.
A leading member of In Iran, Renewed “Bus Workers’ Syndicate” still incarcerated Efforts To Keep Source: Street Journalist University Students October 27, 2010 In Check
R
eza Shahabi Treasurer and board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company who was arrested on June 12th of this year is still incarcerated, and his release still undetermined. Although a bond of 60 million Tomans has been posted for him by his family, he has not been freed yet. Mrs. Robabeh Rezaie, the spouse of Mr. Shahabi, in conversation with “Mardomak” while emphasizing his undetermined status mentioned that the charge against him is “contacts with foreigners.” Mr. Shahabi’s interrogator has told Mrs. Rezaie that he has not cooperated with his interrogator and the judicial system and until and unless he does so he won’t be released. According to her, attorneys in the case after four months of incarceration, still have no access to any files on their client, and have no knowledge of any details in the charges. Back on October 10 of 2010, “revolutionary court” had determined that by posting a 60 million Tomans bond this labour activist would be freed. Mrs. Rezaie says that the amount was prepared and given to authorities. They had promised he would be released on 12th of October. While the family waited for his release until 1:30 AM in front of the Evin Prison, they were told that he will not be released. There were rumors of increased bond, but we haven’t officially been notified.
Reza Shahabi a Law major and a graduate of “Payam Nor” university, was supporting the expelled workers from the Bus Company by providing them with legal counsel. This labour activist himself was suspended from Bus Company back in 2005 due to his labour activism. He continued his education, obtaining his high school diploma and then embarking on his legal studies. According to Mrs. Rezaie during the five years that Mr. Shahabi was suspended from working at Bus Company family’s income and his studies were supported by temporary jobs, mechanical and other wise, and financially the family had experienced very difficult times. The 37 years old Treasurer of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company has an 11 year old daughter, and a 12 years old son. Mrs. Rezaie says that during all these years she was very aware of his capacity as a social activist, and that he taking on “a very hard and dangerous task and responsibility.” Yet she emphasizes that since he was not engaged in any illegal or improper activity, and was only defending workers’ rights, she never prevented him from his activities, and even now fully confident she declares that he has not committed any crime to be incarcerated for. Mrs. Rezaie demands from law enforcement authorities to expedite this labour activist’s case, because “enduring this indetermination is very arduous.” Reza Shahabi was arrested at Bus Co. building on June 12 2010. Before taking him to Evin Prison security agents took him to his house and after searching his house, confiscated his computer.
Source: Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty October 18, 2010
F
ormer university professor Saba Vasefi and student activist Salman Sima are casualties of the Iranian state’s campaign to purge universities of dissenting voices. In the aftermath of the country’s contentious presidential election in June 2009, Vasefi, a professor of literature at Shahid University, was fired. The reason: politically interpreting literary texts and fomenting “moral corruption” among students. Sima has found himself jailed twice and most recently saw an appellate court uphold a six-year prison sentence against him. The two exemplify the pressure that has come to bear on universities in relation to the prominent role played by students in mass protests over President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s reelection. The tactics used to keep universities in check have transformed over the months. In the initial days of the protests, pro-government forces reacted violently. The dorm of Tehran University was one of the first targets, with five students reportedly killed and many injured. Students were among those killed in street protests and at least three are reported to have died after being tortured at the Kahrizak detention center outside the Iranian capital. The next stage involved the sentencing of dozens of students to lengthy jail terms or their banishment from future education. Today, the country’s institutes of higher learning are working under heightened scrutiny, with a heavy police presence keeping a close
eye on students and professors dent who was injured by a bullet alike. and he’s paralyzed,” Vasefi says. “Many have been forced to leave Toeing The Line the country; many are in jail. All of this provides a picture of the Saeed Peivandi, a Paris-based uni- number of dissidents and critics at versity professor and an expert on universities. Clearly [the authoriIranian youth and education, says ties] can’t [tolerate] all these oppothe Iranian establishment sees stu- sition members.” dents as a body that must be controlled. Student Activities Banned “Today, students make about 5 percent of the Iranian population. In many cities, they make up about 12 to 13 percent of the population,” Peivandi says. “Therefore, the public opinion of the students is considered an important social, cultural, and political weight in Iran’s society.” The university has demonstrated that it will not be silenced. The authorities are employing various means of offsetting students’ political weight. In some cases, institutions have come under pressure to toe the regime’s ideological line, as evidenced by Science and Education Minister Kamran Daneshjou’s declaration in August that those who do not should be destroyed. In other cases, the curriculums of universities have been altered to make them more “Islamic” and university boards and staffs overhauled to favor members committed to the principle of the Velayat Faghih, or the rule of the supreme leader. Vasefi and Sima say the methods have largely succeeded in silencing students and in their cases led them to seek exile abroad. Vasefi, who now lives in Sydney, says the authorities seek to turn learning institutions into “seminaries.” “A number of students were killed [in the postelection crackdown]. Many were injured. I know a stu-
Ashkan Zahabian, a student activist in northern Iran, says that universities’ disciplinary committees used to deal with students vocally critical of the regime. Now, he says, that task is increasingly the domain of the Intelligence Ministry and other security organs. Zahabian also says the authorities have banned the activities of various student groups, including cultural societies. One student activist, who was banned from studies for two terms and sent into internal exile to a small city, says on condition of anonymity that intelligence authorities have threatened him and his family to make him stop his political activities. He says other activists are facing similar harassment.
not to be in line with the Iranian establishment. “For example, the classes of the professors who are in a way opposed to the state policies are being controlled,” Peivandi says. “In some cases, their classes have been recorded by Basijis and later [some of them ] have been summoned because of some of their comments.” Peivandi says scientific staff at universities are being chosen based not on their academic merits but on their ideological stances. Professors have reported being interrogated by security officials upon returning from academic trips; some say they’ve been told to leave the doors to their offices open at all times. The risk, Peivandi warns, is that the interference will hinder professors’ research and lead to a brain drain that will undermine the country as a whole. ‘University Is Still Alive’
Activists say that while they expect the repression to continue, a simmering desire for change is not A student activist from Tehran’s going to go away. Polytechnic University, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, Activist Sima, who is currently says authorities have successfully seeking asylum in Turkey, likens blocked all possibilities of activism the student movement to an ailat universities. ing patient, but one which he says will recover. “Any place that could be used for group activities by critics is being “The university has demonstrated attacked under different excuses that it will not be silenced,” Sima by the university management says. “For 30 years it has come and others,” he says, adding that under all kind of repression, yet holding discussions or open fo- there’s a sentence that all [sturums at his university is “unthink- dents] say: ‘The university is still able.” alive.’ Let me ask: If it were not alive, if the student movement Leave The Door Open were dead, then why is there so much pressure, and arrests, and Paris-based professor Peivandi threats?” says there’s been unprecedented pressure on professors considered While universities appear calm
and free of protests on the surface, student activists say that criticism of the establishment is still being discussed and new ideas are still being aired privately -- in gatherings and online. Antigovernment graffiti serves as evidence that “underground activities” continue, according to one activist, and the distribution of leaflets and opposition statements remains widespread. Another predicts that universities will continue to be a “nightmare” for a regime well aware of their “enormous potential” to push for change.
Call for dialogue Towards forming an independent and decentralized organization of Iranian youth and students abroad Source: Iranian Progressive Youth October 1st-3rd, 2010
F
rom the 1st till the 3rd of October different groups of Iranian students gathered at the Freie Universitat Berlin to discuss issues pertaining to Iran’s democratic movement and its suppression by the Islamic Republic. Participants were from various European countries and the conference also welcomed a number of individuals from outside the Continent. The conference style structure consisted of numerous important panels devoted to various pivotal
themes and topics. Panel speakers presented thought provoking papers and engaged in insightful and useful question and answer sessions. Panels were all held in Persian except for a special international panel which was in English and involved non-Iranian student organizations. The Persian speaking panels, discussions and debates dealt with the following themes: 1. 1. The difficulties of the current situa-
tion; requirements and prospects for transition. 2. The necessity to form an independent, decentralized organization of Iranian youth and students abroad. 3. Revisiting activism of youth networks abroad, particularly in the past year (achievements, shortcomings and possibilities for a more widespread self-organization of these networks. 4. A glance at the international experiences regarding the organization of youth and students (with emphasis on experiences of the self-organized international groups). 5. Alternative models for independent, decentralized organization of youth and students abroad (with emphasis on organ-
izing from below: how and why). The English speaking panel was moderated by Omid Tofighian and included Sölvi Karlsson, spokesperson for the European Students’ Union, Pedram Shahryar, spokesperson for International ATTAC network, Aura Iustina Pana, spokesperson for National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania (ANOSR) and Pouya Alagheband who shared his experiences of working with Iranian refugees in Turkey in conjunction with various support institutions. The presentations, discussions and debates dealt with the following themes:
1. What value does an international panel discussion have for a conference on human rights and social justice in Iran? 2. The results of contemporary Iranian human rights and social justice activities in contrast to the success of Iranian activities in other fields? 3. The reasons behind the success of non-Iranian activists and how Iranian groups can benefit from them. 4. Creating new approaches to different issues as a result of collaborations. 5. International techniques, methods, structures, strategies.
6. Support for victims of the Iranian regime inside and outside the country. The inclusion of an international panel inspired dynamic new angles and possibilities for Iranian activists abroad. It became more obvious that the central issues concerning Iranians were also global concerns. By highlighting particular abuses and problems created by the Iranian government the Iranian youth and student movement can attract international movements and organizations concerned with the same problems on a global scale.
Patogh!
Our monthly event: Debate & Discussion, Art & Music When: Saturday, Nov 13, 2010 3:30 PM – 10:30 PM Where: Cultural Center Mezrab ( Art Cage ) Domselaerstraat 120 Amsterdam, 1093, Netherlands The theme for this evening is: perspectives of civil society in Iran Introduction by: Sohrab Razzaghi, professor of political science, human rights activist. language: Persian Music group “Radif” will performance in cultural section. Start: 15:30 Discussion: 16:00-18:00 (Be on time! Or you will miss a part of the discussion.) Dinner: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Music, song and …: 19:00 (do not forget to bring your musical instruments! Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event
Iranian Progressive Youth www.iranpy.net contact@iranpy.net