Cycle for free Iran
PartijWijzer Iran 2010
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news bulletin of the iranian Progressive youth
01-06-2010
Urgent request to save those recently arrested and sentenced to death – Second letter Source: Iranian Progressive Youth May 30, 2010
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ear fellow Europeans and supporters of human rights, Six months ago we wrote a similar letter warning many European institutions that the violence and suppression against peaceful protesters, political activists, students and citizens in Iran will continue to escalate. We are thankful for many of the measures that were taken. However, since that time there have been more disturbing reports of unprecedented crackdowns against peaceful protests; extremely harsh and cruel treatment of political prisoners (including rape and torture) and executions. Many of the student activists and other human rights activists who were arrested have been sentenced with the death penalty. Too many people have suffered and lost their lives and a far greater number of innocent lives are in jeopardy. The human rights situation is getting out of hand and requires immediate action and deserves special attention. The purpose of this letter is to reiterate the importance of supporting Iran’s recent struggle for freedom, equality and democracy. First, we would like to draw your attention to two issues which we feel are representative of the extent to which the human rights crisis has deteriorated. Second, we want to kindly ask you to support the Iranian pro-democracy movement in a number of simple ways in order to help protect innocent individuals from more mistreatment and death.
Rapid executions, increasing imprisonments and torture Following last year’s post-election protests hundreds of people have been imprisoned and dozens continue to be executed. On the 9th of May the Iranian authorities executed five prisoners from Evin prison. The prisoners, four of them ethnic Kurds, were hung without their families or lawyers being notified, which is even against Iranian law. Iranian authorities have since refused to release their bodies. Since the post-election government crackdown prisoners involved in the protests have been reporting extreme cases of brutality and torture to their family members. To date there are dozens of activists on death row who may be executed any day.
c) insulting the Iranian president d) disrupting the social order by participating in illegal gatherings Immediate and effective action
Due to the urgency and intensity of the crisis we would like to propose a plan which we believe will have a strong and immediate effect on the situation. We would like to publish a small portfolio and distribute it to selected individuals and groups. The reason behind this is simple – many companies, institutions and embassies are not fully aware of the scale of the atrocities committed by the Iranian government and continue to negotiate with them and entities associated with them. These actions send the message that the Iranian regime can continue what The fate of a Peace Prize Candi- it has been doing without any consequences. date and fellow students Bahareh Hedayat is a 29 year old spokeswoman for the student The portfolio we suggest creating union “Office for Strengthen- will include the following: Photos and summaries of ing Unity” and a nominee for the 1) prestigious International Student the two issues mentioned above A few academically credPeace Prize. Bahareh and many 2) other student activists were ar- ible accounts of the human rights rested and given severe sentences situation A series of question that induring last year’s protests because 3) of their brave stance in support of dividuals and groups can ask cerfreedom, equality and democracy tain entities which will reveal their in Iran. Bahareh and her com- link to the regime panions have been charged with We recommend that this portfolio crimes such as: a) communicating anti-state prop- be sent to embassies, companies aganda through interviews with involved in trade with Iran, cultural institutions and educational foreign media b) insulting Iran’s Supreme Leader institutions. We would like every-
one who is involved in any kind of dealings with Iranian organizations to realize exactly what is happening there and that there may be a chance that they are strengthening the Iranian regime if the organization they are working with is connected with the government. 1) Governments should not stand aloof or remain silent about human rights abuses and should seriously question and criticize the Iranian regime before agreeing to diplomatic and economic relations. 2) Academics from all disciplines should pressure the Iranian government to improve the treatment of students and academics in Iran if they are to accept international students from Iran. 3) Businesses engaged with or intending to engage with Iranian companies should be certain that their partners are not linked to
the government. 4) Cultural institutions need to be sure that they do not cooperate with groups or organizations that are funded by or created by the Iranian government. In hope of peace and progress, Arsalan Abadi and Mohammad Amin Valian have been acquitted from the crime of Mohareb (enemy of God) and added, “The sentences for the 217 people arrested after the election is final. The appeals have been looked at and the sentences are now final.” Jafari Dolatabadi stated, “We currently have three confirmed death sentences for Mohammad Ali Saremi, Jafar Kazemi, and Mohamad Ali Haj Aghai.” He added that the three prisoners are supporters of the opposition. Tehran’s prosecutor stated, “The prosecutor charged ten individuals with the
crime of being a Mohareb in connection with the events of Ashura. Of these ten, Arsalan Abadi and Mohammad Amin Valian were acquitted of their charges. The charges associated with three individuals were confirmed, the charges associated with three others were reduced, and the charges associated with the final two individuals have not been addressed as we await their trail.” In reference to Mir Hossein Mousavi’s threat to confront the judiciary system in the future, Dolatabadi stated, “If he has not been arrested yet, it is not due to our inability, lack of intention, neglect or because we agree with them, but rather because the timing is currently not right.” He added, “When the time is right, much like a fruit that has ripened, action shall be taken.”
Grave concern for detained Iranian journalists Source: Reporters without Borders May 29, 2010
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eporters Without Borders express grave concern over the well-being of detained Iranian journalists and report an increase in “violent treatment of Iranian prisoners in recent months.” Reporters Without Borders report that Issa Saharkhiz, Kouhyar Goudarzi and Hossein Ronaghi Maleki are three detained journalists who are suffering from health complications and need immediate medical attention. The press rights organization writes: “In the Islamic Republic prisons, the basic rights of journalists and bloggers are violated and Islamic Republic officials are responsible for the lives of these detainees.” Kouhyar Goudarzi is a member of Iran’s Human Rights Reporters and was arrested last December in the government crackdown on Iran’s election protesters. Prison officials have informed his mother that he has gone on a hunger strike and transferred to the hospital for the deterioration of his health. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, human rights activists and web writer, was also arrested last December. Maleki, whose arrest and imprisonment was kept silent for weeks, is accused of “use and production of internet proxies and hosting human rights websites” amongst other charges. Issa Saharkhiz, editor-in-chief of a number of reformist publications, has been recently transferred to the notorious Rejai Prison in Karaj. He suffers from grave heart complications. Reporters Without Borders reports that a number of political prisoners such as Ahamd Zeyabadi and Massoud Bastani have also been taken to Rejai Prison where they are kept together with a general crowd of prisoners and are “harrassed on a daily basis.”
Ahmadinejad’s Arrival in Kerman Results in 17 Student Arrests Source: RAHANA May 29, 2010
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n the morning of Ahmadinejad’s arrival in Kerman, 17 student activists of Kerman’s Shahid Bahonar University were detained. Following the arrest of 17 student activists in the morning of
New Regulations at Shiraz University Bans Laughing Source: HRANA May 28, 2010
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ccording to the recently disciplinary regulations at the Medical School of Shiraz, laughing out loud and making jokes on the university campus is now prohibited. This is the first time such regulations have been implemented at the university level in Iran. The ruling was announced to students in chapter 7, paragraph 23 of the university regulations. The above regulation includes a ban on t-shirts for men and coloured Mantus (long shirts and light jackets) for women. It also includes a ban on long fingernails and high heels shoes taller than three centimeters. Regular bathing and short haircuts for men are a must. The final chapter of the regulation threatens to refer students to disciplinary committee if they fail to obey by the regulations. Although the regulation were announced to students recently, its development dates back to at least three months ago. During this period, university management was not able to enforce the rules due to
Ahmadinejad’s visit to Kerman, security authorities threatened 30 other students with prosecution in the event they enter the university or attend Ahmadinjad’s welcoming ceremony. There were plans for on-campus protests upon Ahmadinejad’s arrival. The detained students have been taken to unknown locations and there is no information on their condition. A number of student activists were detained after they ignored the threats and entered the uni-
versity. The students of Kerman’s Shahid Bahonar University have been very active in supporting the green movement. They have been involved in activities such as inviting “Green Movement” poets and organizing a debate between Sadegh Ziba Kalam and Abbas Salami Namin. Earlier this week, Ahmadinejad’s speech in Khorramshahr was marred by citizens demanding jobs.
student protests. However, after a meeting between the president of the university and students, a number of students from the Basij force have protested the poor conditions. These student, whom all were not enrolled at the university, demanded enforcement of the regulations by distributing letters and chanting in protest of the conditions. By protesting the clothing ideals of the students, supporters of the regulation requested from authorities to also deal with other cases such as “cigarette smoking and inappropriate and unnecessary behavior.”
Hussein Rongah Melki (also known as “Babak Khoramdin”) was one of the key cyberactivists behind Iran Proxy against web filtering. He used to blog about [fa] about human rights and civil society. When Tavakoli was arrested in December, he was photographed in women’s clothing by the authorities as an attempt to humiliate him. As an expression of support, countless Iranians photographed themselves dressed in hijab and replaced their Facebook profile photos. The last post in Kouhyar Godarzi’s blog in April 2008 calls on readers to help stop an execution. After the contested Iranian presidential election in June last year, the Iranian government quelled protests and arrested hundreds of political and civil society leaders, including human rights activists, bloggers and journalists. Majid and Hussein began their hunger strikes on May 23 from solitary confinement. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, news of Majid Tavakoli’s hunger strike has caused human rights activists and intellectuals in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, to announce their own solidarity hunger-strikes.
Iran: Two Bloggers and Student Leader on Hunger Strike in Prison Source: Global Voices May 28, 2010
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wo bloggers and one leading student activist - deprived of their pen and blogs in an Iranian prison - are now using a hunger strike to protest prison conditions and defend their rights. The student is Majid Tavakoli, a leading human rights activist, and the two bloggers are Hussein Ronagh Melki, and Koohyar Godarzi.
Suspended Iranian students rallied to defend rights Source: Radio Zamaneh May 28, 2010
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tending the right to education only to those they favour. The Council adds that the “starred” students have gathered “so that their systematic omission from the country’s universities could not be carried out in silence.”
ran’s Council of Defence of the Right to Education issued a statement to urge all students that have been suspended from university to contact the Council with their information for further action. The Council of Defence was established two years Despite good performance in their ago by a number of suspended exams, some student activists, university students. In the last who are referred to as “starred” presidential election in 2009, the students, were suspended from Council was active in highlighting continuing their university educa- the demands of the suspended tion last week after the results of students in the presidential camthe graduate exams were released. paign.
tenced to heavy imprisonment terms. Ziaeddin Nabavi, Majid Dorri, Shiva Nazarahari, Peymon Arref, Mehdieh Golrou and Samieh Rashidi are some of the Council activists that were arrested last year. While Ziaeddin Nabavi and Majid Dorri have been sentenced to imprisonment; the other members of The Council of Defence of the Following the presidential elec- the Council are awaiting their senRight to Education condemned tions, a number of their active tences behind bars. the establishment’s policy of ex- members were arrested and sen-
PartijWijzer, A votematch for Dutch election & Iran issues Source: Iranian Progressive Youth May 27, 2010
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he goal of the guide is to provide insight to the Dutch public in the positions of different political parties concerning various Iranian questions, such as human rights, international relations and the nuclear issue. PRESS RELEASE Iran is currently a central issue in world affairs. More attention is also being paid to Iran in Dutch politics. Politics in the The Hague is concerned with subjects such as the controversial Iranian nuclear program, the worrisome human rights situation in Iran and the spread of a fundamentalism and support for terrorist organizations by Iran. Naturally, different political parties have different visions on these subjects. To illustrate the Iranian question in Dutch politics in election time, we of ‘Iranian Progressive Youth’ have developed a specific guide to Dutch political parties. This is coupled with a commemoration of the large-scale revolt after the elections of June 12th 2009. The goal of the guide is to provide insight to the Dutch public in the positions of different political parties concerning various Iranian questions, such as human rights, international relations and the nuclear issue. In the guide “Partijwijzer” for 2010 nine political parties participated. The propositions can be answered with Agree, Disagree or Neither. On Wensday May 26th the “Partijwijzer Iran” was launched at the following website: www.iranpy.net/partijwijzer
Report on Women Prisoners Detained Illegally Source: RAHANA May 27, 2010
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onfirmed reports from Evin Prison indicate that several female political prisoners were detained illegally for months and faced serious yet unsubstantiated charges. According to Kaleme, Maryam Akbari Monfared was arrested on December 31, 2009, following the Ashura events. She is currently detained in Evin prison and is accused of Moharebeh (enmity with God) for alleged membership in the MKO. Monfared has repeatedly denied the charges. She is the mother of three children, the youngest is five years old. Monfared is extremely worried about her children’s well-being in her absence. Parvin Javanzadeh is another female prisoner detained under harsh conditions. Javanzadeh was arrested on the afternoon of Ashura (December 27, 2009),
and is currently detained in Evin prison. At age 22, she is the youngest political prisoner in the women’s ward of Evin prison. Javanzadeh spent the first three months of her captivity in solitary confinement at an IRGC detention center. She has suffered physically and emotionally as a result. Reports from Evin suggest that Javanzadeh faces Moharebeh charges. Her case was recently sent to branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Other female political prisoners detained unlawfully in Evin on expired detention orders are Kobra
Zagheh Doost, Badrolsadat Mofidi (secretary of the Iranian Journalists Association), and Fatemeh Khorramjoo. Reports indicate that all three prisoners are in poor physical and emotional condition.
Amnesty reports rise in human rights abuses in Iran Source: Amnesty International May 27, 2010
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mnesty International reported an increase in “human rights abuses and repression” in Iran last year. Claudio Cordone, interim secretary general of Amnesty International said: “The situation in Iran in critical.” According to their report currently over five thousand government dissidents are incarcerated in Iran inder difficult conditions and in perpetual danger of torture. The report adds that at least 16 Islamic Republic dissidents were executed and over 80 recent detainees were put to trial in the past year.
The Islamic Republic confronted protests against alleged electoral fraud in the 2009 presidential elections with fierce violence. Reportedly tens of people were killed and detainees were subjected to “torture and abuse” in the course of government crackdown on protesters. The Amnesty International report also criticized Congo, Israel, Palestine, Russia, Afghanistan, China and Sri Lanka for violations of human rights and reported restrictions on free speech in 96 countries around the world.
Cycle for free Iran Solidarity with Iranian People’s Struggle for Freedom Stop Executions, Free all Prisoners of Conscience
Following the electoral coup d’état and fraudulent results of the Presidential Elections, thousands of Iranians have been subject to state-sponsored violence, torture, rape and execution last year. June 12, 2010 is the first anniversary of the people’s uprising in Iran. A large number of Iranians worldwide will commemorate this day simultaneously.With regard to this occasion, we as “Iranian Progressive Youth” have organized a cycling demo. in order to support the Iranian citizens inside Iran, specially the political prisoners, and raising awareness about the executions that have taken place recently. The Netherlands is the land of cyclists, So join us and invite others to join ! Amsterdam, June 12 Route: Dam to Museumplein,13.00 to 15.00 PM Gathering: Museumplein 15.00 to 17.00 PM (with or without bike) * Click here for route and its print options and GPS download options ! * You could rent a bike for € 5 at ‘Rent a Bike’, Damstraat 20. (Mention that you are taking part in ‘cycle for free Iran’!) Don’t forget your ID and € 25 deposit. Confirm your attendance at the Facebook event here “Iranian Progressive Youth” www.iranpy.net
Iranian Progressive Youth www.iranpy.net contact@iranpy.net