Wednesday, June 30, 2010

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran - Weekly Podcast

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran just released its second weekly podcast relating to human rights violations in Iran. This is a great way to get caught up on some of the recent news in six minutes or less while on the train. One segment of this week's podcast reports on the abduction and beating of an activist's daughter to intimidate him from continuing his efforts after he is released from jail.

Member of the One Million Signatures Campaign continues to be held without bail


After 120 days of confinement, Mahboubeh Karami’s court was not held today and postponed to 9th of July. Mahboubeh Karami is a member of the One Million Signatures campaign.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Resolution in the House



This resolution recognizes the limitations that Iranian laws place on women.


Salman Sima Arrested on June 12

RAHANA reports that Salman Sima, an Iranian Activist was arrest during a protest on June 12th. This is his second arrest this year. He was supposed to be transported to Evin prison, but his whereabouts are unknown.

Christian Convert Ali Golchin Detained

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center condemns the detention of Ali Golchin

The IHRDC issued a press release regarding a Christian convert named Ali Golchin who has been detained in Evin prison since April.

This is yet another case of religious persecution by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Human rights violations read aloud in the U.N. Human Rights Council


Western nations slam Iran over human rights record

The UN Human Rights Council read their statement aloud despite protests from Iran. The council broadly condemned the numerous actions of Iran.

"Iran's shortcomings include "the violent suppression of dissent, detention and executions without due process of law, severe discrimination against women and minorities including people of Baha'i faith, and restrictions of expression and religion," said the statement. It was agreed to by 56 nations."

Larijani refutes these claims, but as we have seen these violations are neither "ill-founded" or "without substance".

"The head of Iran's delegation, Mohammad Javad Larijani, has rejected the U.S. criticism of his government's human rights record, saying it was mostly "ill-founded and without any substance.""



Friday, June 11, 2010

12June.org








12June.org is organizing demonstrations around the globe. To see where they are and how to get involved, visit their website at 12June.org.


A Year Later: Suppression Continues in Iran -Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

Short report on the suppression of dissent in the days, weeks and months following the election

This report by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center provides a detailed synopsis of the human rights violations perpetrated by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the days, weeks, and months following the election. They also feature those responsible for the crimes with photos, dates of birth, hometowns and specific claim. See an example below.

Mohammad Reza Naqdi

Born: Hometown: Positions:

1953 Najaf, Iraq

Deputy Director of Intelligence, Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards and Head of Basij

“Those groups that chant slogans against the revolution’s values ... should know that they will be confronted by Basij.”


Known as the “Tyrant of the Campus,” Mohammad Reza Naqdi was born in Najaf, Iraq but moved to Iran following the revolution in 1979. In 1993, he became Deputy Director for intelligence of the “Quds Force,” a branch of the Revolutionary Guards tasked with exporting the Islamic Revolution. During 1997 and 1998, Naqdi was allegedly involved in the imprisonment and torture of Tehran mayor Qolam-Hossein Karbaschi as well as other prominent city officials. He is reported to be a “key figure” in the organization and financing of Ansar-i-Hezbollah, a group that was involved in the 1999 attacks on students at Tehran University.


Journalist and former Basiji, Amir Farshad Ebrahimi, claims that Naqdi was present during torture of protesters at Kahrizak prison in the summer of 2009. On January 5, 2010, Naqdi told the hard-line daily Kayhan “[a]nyone who objects to this [Islamic] revolution or the rule of the Just Jurisprudent is making futile efforts to bring the establishment to its knees. These people are either morally or financially corrupt or are drug addicts, and it is rare to find someone who has objections [to the establishment and the Supreme Leader] to have a healthy personal life.” He has blamed the demonstrations following the June 12, 2009 election on the United States.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

President Obama Addresses the Human Rights of Iranian

Today President Obama addressed the tragedy of last years election violence and the consequences of ignoring the human rights of the citizens of Iran. He also describes how the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran affect others.






"Saturday will mark one year from the day that an election captivated the attention of the world -– an event that should have been remembered for how the Iranian people participated with remarkable enthusiasm, but will instead be remembered for how the Iranian government brutally suppressed dissent and murdered the innocent, including a young woman left to die in the street.

Actions do have consequences, and today the Iranian government will face some of those consequences. Because whether it is threatening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, or the human rights of its own citizens, or the stability of its own neighbors by supporting terrorism, the Iranian government continues to demonstrate that its own unjust actions are a threat to justice everywhere."

Sanctions not for Human Rights


Kate Allen of Amnesty International points out in the telegraph that the sanctions on Iran are still ignoring the blatant human rights violations.

"This repression is part of a wider pattern. Iran's authorities have criminalised contact with over 60 foreign institutions, media organisations and NGOs, isolating Iranians and preventing news, including on human rights violations, from leaving the country. Newspapers have been closed down, websites and email services have been filtered or blocked and the police have warned that SMS messages are monitored. University professors and staff have been fired on the grounds that they do not have sufficient “belief” in the Islamic Republic. Renewed efforts to implement “morality” codes concerning dress and gender segregation are underway which impede women’s ability to function freely in society. And numerous threatening statements have been issued, backed up by executions of political prisoners, to make it absolutely clear that those who express any form of dissent – whether by speaking out, writing or attending demonstrations – will face the harshest penalties."

Golnaz Esfandiari reports on the need for unrestricted internet access in Iran





Human rights activists in Iran are increasing their calls on the United States and other countries to help Iranians access an unfiltered Internet by lifting sanctions and sharing key software and technology.

Amnesty International - IRANIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS DETAINED FOR DISSENT SINCE THE 2009 ELECTION


Amnesty International uses the anniversary of the election protests to highlight a few cases of prisoners of conscience to shed light on the ever-expanding repression in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Remembering the year since the June 12 elections

WARNING! This video is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC!

This video is a compilation of the violence of that occurred since June of last year. While very graphic, it shows the brutality of the Islamic Republic of Iran in response protestors.


1 Year Later, Iran's Opposition Still Relies On Internet - NPR



AccessNow.org founder Cameran Ashraf discusses the need for freedom of speech and freedom from censorship for those who choose to oppose the government in Iran. He also discusses the ways that people in the United States can help from home.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Men of Violence




Men of Violence by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has put together a spectacular compilation of the men you have been accused of perpetrating the violence following the June 12, 2009 elections. Included in the report are:

1. Hossein Taeb - Commander of the Basij Forces at the time of June election

2. Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei - Minister of Intelligence at the time of election

3. Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam - Head of the Iranian Police

4. Saeed Mortazavi - Tehran’s prosecutor General at the time of June election

5. Sadeq Mahsouli - Minister of the Interior time of June election

6. Abolghassem Salavati - Presiding judge of Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Courts

7. Seyed Hassan Firouzabadi - Chief of Staff of the Joint Armed Forces

8. Mohammad Ali Jafari - Commander of IRGC

9. Mohammad Moghisseh - Head of Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Courts

10. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati - Secretary General of the Guardian Council

11. Yadollah Javani - Head of the IRGC Political Office

12. Rouhollah Hosseinian - Member of Parliament

13. Ali Saeedi - Representative of Supreme Leader in IRGC

14. Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi - Member of the Assembly of Experts

15. Hossein Shariatmadari - Managing Editor of Kayhan Newspaper