Petition Tag - iran

A political activist is arrested in Tabriz

Hrana 15th May, 2013

Abdollah Sadoughi, a political activist living in Tabriz, has been arrested on 13th May.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Abdollah Sadoughi was already sentenced to 1 year of prison by the revolutionary court of Tabriz.

He is believed to be arrested to serve his imprisonment sentence.


Abdollah Sadoughi had been arrested in a gathering to find a solution for the problem of Urmiye Lake with 29 other civic activists and was released after being in the intelligence of Tabriz for several months on the bail.

Amnesty International had stated its worry about his health condition because of being on hunger strike and asked Iranian government to release him immediately.

Source Hrana

https://hra-news.org/en/a-political-activist-is-arrested-in-tabriz

Editor: Human
Translator: Houman Niyazi

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Syria's sectarian civil war is endangering Shi'ite shrines.

Detailed information about the problem can be found at http://goo.gl/bfwD1 and here, http://goo.gl/bhyhl

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Sen´s Daily May 2 , 2013

Noora Nabilzadeh ( نورا نبیل‌زاده) and Sanaz Tafazzoli ( ساناز تفضلی ) were transferred from Vakil Abad prison in Mashhad, where they are in the serving sentences in the wing for prisoners of conscience, to the offices of the Ministry of Intelligence on May 1.

No reason was given. The agents said they were being taken to the Ministry’s facilities for 10 days.

Sanaz Tafazzoli will complete her 6-month sentence on May 5, but it appears she will not be released.

Noora Nabilzadeh is serving a 5-year sentence on charges of blasphemy and spreading the Bahai Faith. She was arrested while playing music for the children in an orphanage.

Source : Sen´s Daily

http://sensday.wordpress.com/

Petition for Noora Nabilzadeh :
Free Baha´i Member Noura Nabilzadeh
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-baha%C2%B4i-member-noura-nabilzadeh.html

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The Islamic regime's atrocities against the Arab population of Iran (estimated but never acknowledged by the regime to be 9,000,000 in Khuzestan) started with the regime's struggle to counter the 1979 revolution. Barbaric attacks against the Arab population's democratic, social, and cultural institutions -- which were the democratic promise of the revolution -- led to many dead or executed, tortured and jailed, a situation that reached unprecedented heights with the invasion of Iraq and has continued to the day.

The Ahmadinejad government's cynical plan to de-Arabaize strategically and economically important areas of Khuzestan -- which led to an uprising in 2005 and its bloody suppression, the Arab Spring and Iranian Arab peoples' demonstrations in support of the Arab revolutions, and the silent continuation of heinous and inhuman discriminatory policies, have led to confrontations between the honorable and impoverished Arab population of Iran and the regime of Islamic thugs and thieves.

This struggle has created a vast core of political activists which the regime desperately tries to eliminate. Only during the past few weeks, more than 250 Ahwazi Arabs were arrested on bogus charges, many homes were demolished, and 15-year-old Morteza Al-Soweidi, who only opposed the demolition of the family home, was shot in the head and killed by the thugs of the Ayatollah. The protests of the Arab population, as well as their oppression and discrimination against them, have continued and will continue.

Qasem Fartoosi is an activist from the Iranian Arab movement struggling against the Islamic regime of murder and torture, and therefore deserves protection based on his activities in Iran and in Sweden. According to the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, his threatened deportation is another clear violation of the principle of non-refoulement.

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Evin prisoners sent to solitary over complaints

Radio Zamaneh 04/28/2013

Ten Iranian political prisoners from ward 350 of Evin Prison have been transferred to solitary confinement.

The Kaleme website reports that Saeed Madani, Abdollah Momeni, Khosro Delirsani, Abolfazl Abedini, Siamak Ghaderi, Mohammd Hassan Yousefpour, Saeed Abedini, Kamran Ayazi, Mohammd Ebrahimi and Pourya Ebrahimi were transferred to solitary on Sunday April 28.

The reason for the transfer, according to Kaleme, is the prisoners’ refusal to dismiss Saeed Madani as their representative.

Prison authorities had reportedly demanded that the prisoners assign a different representative, after Madani filed complaints regarding “the inappropriate treatment of prisoners and the situation in the prison store and the mishandling of accounts by its managers.” The report also indicates that Madani had called for the dismissal of an official who has repeatedly insulted prisoners’ family members during visitation hours.

The 10 prisoners are currently in solitary and deprived of any visiting rights. They have let it be known that if their current treatment persists, they will go on a hunger strike.

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Iranian political prisoner Abdollah Momeni in grave health.

Source: Radio Zamaneh 06/13/11

There are grave concerns today for the health of Iranian political prisoner Abdollah Momeni, who is suffering cardiac complications and back problems, the Jaras opposition website reports.

Momeni, a spokesman for the student organization Advar-e Takim-e Vahdat, was hospitalized twice in the past month for health complications, Jaras reports.
The report adds that Momeni is in critical condition, made worse by the lack of facilities at Ward 350 in Evin Prison, where he is being held with no chance of furlough.

Momeni was arrested in June 2009 in the aftermath of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election, which led to widespread protests and a violent government retaliation.

Last September, Momeni wrote a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, claiming he had undergone "severe torture" and had been forced to sign a false confession for presentation at a "show trial."

He was also part of a group of 25 political prisoners who wrote a letter describing their harsh torture at the hands of prison authorities. The Revolutionary Guards and the Prosecutor's office put great pressure on the prisoners to recant their statements in the letter.

Iranian authorities have not responded to allegations of torture in Iranian prisons. Abdollah Momeni was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison following the presidential elections. He was arrested on June 20, 2009 in the building of the Headquarters of Free Citizens, a group supporting Mehdi Karroubi, a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad opponent in the elections, who is now under house arrest as one of the two chief opposition leaders.
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Letter of Prominent Prisoner of Conscience, Abdollah Momeni, to Ayatollah Khamanei

http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/09/letter-momeni-khamanei/

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UPDATE : Evin prisoners sent to solitary over complaints

Radio Zamaneh 04/28/2013

Ten Iranian political prisoners from ward 350 of Evin Prison have been transferred to solitary confinement. The Kaleme website reports that Saeed Madani, Abdollah Momeni, Khosro Delirsani, Abolfazl Abedini, Siamak Ghaderi, Mohammd Hassan Yousefpour, Saeed Abedini, Kamran Ayazi, Mohammd Ebrahimi and Pourya Ebrahimi were transferred to solitary on Sunday April 28.

The reason for the transfer, according to Kaleme, is the prisoners’ refusal to dismiss Saeed Madani as their representative.

Prison authorities had reportedly demanded that the prisoners assign a different representative, after Madani filed complaints regarding “the inappropriate treatment of prisoners and the situation in the prison store and the mishandling of accounts by its managers.” The report also indicates that Madani had called for the dismissal of an official who has repeatedly insulted prisoners’ family members during visitation hours.

The 10 prisoners are currently in solitary and deprived of any visiting rights. They have let it be known that if their current treatment persists, they will go on a hunger strike.

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Kept in Solitary as Punishment, Says Imprisoned Activist’s Wife

JUNE 28, 2012

Political activist Saeed Madani, 74, remains in Evin Prison’s Ward 209 after having completed his interrogations. Mansoureh Ettefagh, Madani’s wife, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he has likely undergone torture during his detention. She also said that his interrogators are keeping Madani in solitary confinement “to punish him.”

On 7 January 2012, authorities arrested researcher, sociologist and member of the Nationalist-Religious Front Saeed Madani outside of his home in Tehran. Since his arrest Saeed Madani has not been allowed to see his lawyer.

Mansoureh Ettefagh told the Campaign that Madani’s interrogators continue to illegally detain him in Ward 209:

Unfortunately, though his interrogations have been completed and the Prosecutor and the Investigative Judge from Branch 2 of Evin Prison Court have ordered his transfer to the General Ward, he has remained inside Ward 209 on request from his interrogators and ‘case specialists’ who are monthly asking for an extension of his ‘temporary detention.’ His interrogators wish to punish him because Saeed has not accepted the scenario they have built for accusing him. They have not accepted his interrogation sheets and would not allow him to be transferred to the General Ward. In fact they don’t want to accept the truth about him, they only want him to accept what they are saying against him.

“When I asked Saeed whether he had been beaten, he did not deny it,” said Ettefagh, The first few months were very hard for him, until he managed to improve his conditions after he went on a hunger strike. His interrogation sessions have lasted as long as 15 hours,” she added.

When asked about Madani’s charges, Ettefagh told the Campaign:
Because his lawyer has not yet been informed of his charges, I cannot answer that question exactly. But during this period he has been accused of planning to start a website against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and of trying to hold gatherings on this website. Or he has been accused of getting paid by foreigners. But none of these charges are true. His interrogators were unable to find anything other than his known activities, so they have created this scenario against him and now they insist that he accepts it.
Madani was one of several members of the Nationalist-Religious group arrested in March 2000. At the time, Madani was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of “membership in illegal groups,” “collusion with intent to commit a crime,” and “propagating against the regime.” Judge Haddad of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, issued prison sentence sof 4 to 11 years, bans on public speech and assembly, and bans on political activity for 5 to 10 years for the entire group. Madani was released on $200,000 bail after serving a year in prison, five months of which were spent in solitary confinement. “Unfortunately, he is not in good physical shape.

Prisoners inside Ward 209 are only allowed three half-hour fresh air breaks per week in a very small area, where prisoners are unable to exercise. Their cell, where prisoners live together, is only 8 square meters. Because there is not enough space to move around, he suffers from pain in his knees, arms, and legs,” said Mansoureh Ettefagh. Ward 209 of Evin Prison is illegally under the authority of the Intelligence Ministry, and not the Prisons Organization. The Campaign has reported various instances of torture allegations from within this ward.

“I hope there will be conditions whereby the Judiciary would have sufficient power and influence to enforce the law, so that interrogators and case specialists are not so powerful to do things against the Judiciary’s orders. Right now, interrogators have a lot more power than the Prosecutor and other judicial authorities,” said Mansoureh Ettefagh.
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In Solitary Confinement for 65 Days, Political Activist Gets Only One Phone Call

MARCH 21, 2012

A member of the Nationalist-Religious group and member of the editorial board of Iran-e Farda monthly, Saeed Madani, who was arrested by security forces on 7 January 2012, remains in solitary confinement. He has only been allowed to contact his family once since his detention began, his wife Mansoureh Ettefagh told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

“Saeed only called home once during this time. Unfortunately, despite our follow-ups and correspondence, we have not been able to visit with him yet. We don’t know about his conditions, and this worries us. We don’t even know for what reason and on what charges he was detained, as we have not been given any answers about this. The only thing I can say for sure is that his detention has been extended until next month,” she said.

Security forces arrested Saeed Madani, sociologist, on 7 January and transferred him to Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin Prison. He was one of several members of the Nationalist-Religious group that were arrested twelve years ago in March 2000. At the time, Madani was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of “membership in illegal groups,” “collusion with the intent to commit a crime,” and “propagating against the regime.” Judge Haddad, head of Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, issued sentences of 4 to 11 years and a ban on public speech, assembly, and political activity for 5 to 10 years for the entire group. Madani was released on $200,000 bail after serving five months in solitary confinement and seven additional months in prison. All suspects who served between 5 and 15 months in prison and solitary confinement were later released on high bail amounts.

The case file of Nationalist-Religious members has remained open in Appeals Court since then, but in the aftermath of the 2009 elections, first Hoda Saber, then Taghi Rahmani, and later Alireza Rajaee were arrested to start serving their prison terms at Evin Prison. Later, Massoud Pedram was summoned to Evin Prison, and now Saeed Madani has been detained for unknown reasons. Authorities have released Taghi Rahmani, but Hoda Saber died after he embarked on a protest hunger strike, faced the negligence of prison authorities, and was beaten inside Evin Prison’s infirmary.

“We were on the street when the forces came forward showing an arrest warrant for Madani and for searching the house. They entered the house and took away all of Saeed’s research works, the computer, my daughter’s and my laptop computers, and even personal items that were unrelated to Saeed. For example, I had film in my camera that was completely personal, but they took it. Also they took some of my daughter’s photographs, CDs, and films, and they have not returned them yet. We object to this behavior,” Mansoureh Ettefagh told the Campaign.

“Our request is that a prisoner’s basic rights be granted so that he is able to have visitation. Saeed has been in solitary confinement for 65 days. Though this is his third time in prison and he is familiar with solitary confinement, this is still very hard. Mr. Mohseni Ejei said himself in an interview that solitary confinement must be abolished. They should do what they say. Really, the right to visitation is a natural and normal right for prisoners,” she said.

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Elham Ruzbehi and baby begin their sentence.

Sen´s Daily April 28 , 2013

Elham Ruzbehi (الهام روزبهی), a Bahai living in Isfahan, reported to Semnan prison with her baby on April 27, to begin serving her 2 year sentence. She is the fourth Bahai mother who is serving her prison sentence with her baby. She was arrested, with several other Bahais, on March 12, 2011, following a search of her home and the seizure of some of her personal effects. She was pregnant at the time. She was freed on bail one month later.

She was sentenced to 3 years of prison, which was reduced to 2 years by the court of review. She has been living in Isfahan for more than one year, but has had to go to Semnan prison.

Source : Sen´s Daily

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A full month after the arrest of freelance photojournalist Reza Entesari, there is still no news available about him. A source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the photojournalist was arrested along with a large group of Dervishes in late August 2011 when he was photographing a gathering of Gonabadi Dervishes, and was transferred to Evin Prison’s Ward 209.

According to the source, the former photography student has not had any contact with his family and has been not been allowed to see a lawyer. Several other individuals arrested with Entesari, including Alireza Roshan, Ali Karami, Mehdi Osanlou, Farzaneh Nouri, Farzad Darvish, Behzad Nouri, and Ali Astaraki, were released 3 October 2011.

Despite the completion of his interrogation, reporter and photojournalist Reza Entesari remains detained inside Evin Prison’s Ward 209. “The Investigative Judge converted his temporary detention orders to bail orders. But despite completion of his interrogations, as he is unable to post the $50,000 bail, he remains in temporary detention inside Evin Prison’s Security Ward 209,” a source close to the case told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

“Considering Mr. Entesari is a regular reporter and is obviously unable to come up with the bail amount, we would like the judge to change the bail order to one of custodianship [where the prisoner is released to the custody of a court-approved individual], so that he is released,” said the source on condition of anonymity.

Freelance photojournalist Reza Entessari, a former photography student at News University, was arrested on 5 September along with several Gonabadi Dervishes, and was transferred to Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin Prison.

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در پی افزایش فشار‌ها بر روی دراویش گنابادی، فرشید یداللهی، یکی از وکلای ایشان توسط نیروهای امنیتی بازداشت شده است.

به گزارش وبسایت مجذوبان نور، فرشید یداللهی فارسی وکیل دراویش گنابادی روز یکشنبه ۲۰ شهریور ماه 1390 در شهر شیراز توسط نیروهای امنیتی بازداشت و به مکان نا‌معلومی منتقل شد.

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On January 18, 2012 security forces arrested Iranian labor activist Mohammad Jarrahi in his home in Tabriz.

He was sentenced to five years in Tabriz prison based solely on politically-motivated charges brought against him as a result of his peaceful political and labor activism.

There are growing fears for the life of imprisoned labour activist Mohammad Jarahi, who is now known to be suffering from thyroid cancer. Jarahi, who is a member of the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Workers’ Organisations, was arrested last year and sentenced to five years in prison. He is now in the second year of his sentence.

Jarahi underwent surgery on 16th February this year. However, the results of the tests following the operation show that he has thyroid cancer. According to his doctors, Jarahi should begin his treatment as soon as possible. Despite the efforts of his family for him to be referred for immediate medical treatment outside prison, Jarahi continues to be jailed.

On April 20, 2013 the Committee for Human Rights Reporters reported that Islamic Republic judicial authorities in Tabriz and the judge in charge of his court files have rejected medical furlough for Mohammad Jarahi.

According to CHRR, Mohammad Jarahi who is serving a 5-year prison term is suffering from thyroid cancer has been denied medical furlough despite the fact that for the safety of others, cancer patients who receive radiation therapy are quarantined for a week. The laws of the country stipulate that authorities are required to grant medical furlough to prisoners who are in need of treatment for their illness outside of prison.

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Lawyers's Gonabadi dervishes, Afshin Karam Pour transferred from Evin prison to Taleghani hospital to treat his broken leg yesterday morning on Ordibehesht 29 , 1391 ( April 17, 2012 ).

According to Majzooban reporter, Afshin Karam pour who was held in section 350 of Evin prison, his left ankle has been broken for More than three months but prison officials about his transfer to hospital were unresponsive so that he has suffered severe pain during the past three months ...

It should be noted, recently, prison officials had planned to send him to the hospital but with " handcuff " and he refused to go and described the action illegal.

افشین کرم پور از وکلای زندانی دراویش صبح امروز برای مداوای شکستگی ناحیه پا به بیمارستان طالقانی تهران منتقل شد.

به گزارش خبرنگار مجذوبان نور ؛ افشین کرم پور مدت بیش از سه ماه است که از ناحیه پا دچار آسیب شده بود اما مسئولین زندان از انتقال وی به بیمارستان اقدامی به عمل نمی آوردند. که به دلیل شدت آسیب دیدگی این درویش گنابادی سه ماه گذشته را با درد شدید سپری کرده است .

لازم به یاد آوری است که اخرین باری مامورین زندان قصد داشتند وی را برای درمان ناحیه پا به بیمارستان منتقل کنند وی به دلیل اینکه این اعزام با دسبند صورت می گرفت از رفتن به بیمارستان خودداری کرد و این اقدام را غیر قانونی توصیف کرد.

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`Adnan Rahmat-Penah’s no-show trial

Sen´s Daily 18 April , 2013

The first trial date for `Adnan Rahmat-Penah ( عدنان رحمت‌پناه ), a Bahai from Shiraz, was set for April 16, but no trial was held because he was not transferred to the court from the prison. His family’s enquires to the officers who bring prisoners to the court resulted in various answers, such as ‘his name was not on the list.’ Another officer said that three other names were missing from the list, but those prisoners were taken for trial.

After some discussion between the family, their lawyer and the judge it was decided that another trial date would be set next day, on April 17. But when the family arrived at court, they were sent to the office of the prison. They asked why `Adnan had not been sent to the court, and were told “We got the message from the court, but we didn’t want to send him.” The strange this about this is, why would the prison officials contravene the order of the court and judge? Are they ridiculing the court, or was it a deliberate ruse to put `Adnan under psychological pressure?

`Adnan’s brother Iman ( ایمان رحمت پناه ) was one of a groups of Bahais who were arrested in Shiraz early in March 2012.

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Anissa Fanaiyan arrested for enforcement of verdict

HRANA 20th January, 2013

HRANA News Agency – Anissa Fanaiyan, Bahai’e citizen, resides in Semnan arrested for the enforcement of verdict.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Today morning, Saturday 20th of January, Anissa Fanaiyan (Eyghani) the Bahai’e citizen and who resides in Semnan summoned, arrested and transferred to Semnan prison for enforcement of the verdict.

It has to be mention that Anissa Fanaiyan is the fourth Bahai’e mother from Semnan who is imprisoned while she has two kids. She has two 3 and 8 years old kids. Also Anissa Fadaiyan is imprisoning while her husband, Siamak Eyghani, is imprisoned since 2 years ago in Semnan prison.

Reminding that with transferring Anissa Fanaiyan to Semnan prison.

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April 13, 2013--Committee of Human Rights Reporters – According to received reports, student, blogger and cyber activist Pouria Farazmand was detained in Kermanshah on April 7th.

According to CHRR, last Sunday when the student from Kermanshah province went to his university to follow up on matters regarding his graduation, he was handed a summons by the university security. As Farazmand was exiting the university, plain clothed officials who were equipped with walkie-talkies and pistols accosted and detained the student.

Students who witnessed the clash reported that the officials engaged in a brutal confrontation with Pouria Farazmand, beating him up and insulting him as they detained him.

After Pouria Farazmand was violently taken away, one of the security officials, M. Seyedi, appeared in front of the university’s gate and hurled insults while threatening the group of students who had converged at the scene. He lashed denigrating remarks and called the detained student and blogger a “spy” who is associated with “foreign entities.”

Pouria Farazmand is the writer for the blog Azadi Baraye Hamegan (freedom for all) and served on the editorial board of Mosht (fist), a banned student newspaper. Witness students said Farazmand never wrote anything pointing to foreign associations and that he only wrote about internal politics in Iran.

There is still no news of the whereabouts or condition of the student blogger.

During the past months an increasing number of bloggers, Internet activists and citizens taking part in social networks critical of the ruling regime have been arrested in various provinces in the country including Tehran, Alborz, Fars, Kurdistan and Razavi Khorasan.

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Warning all freedom loving people and human rights organizations to prevent the coming massacre of the lives of 250 political prisoners in the regime’s Gohar Dasht prison in Iran!

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Behfar Khanjani denied adequate health care in prison

Sen´s Daily March 29, 2012

Behfar Khanjani ( بهفر خانجانی ), a Bahai from Semnan who is serving a four-year prison sentence there, has been struggling with a medical condition for some years, but the Prosecutor and state-appointed doctor have refused permission for him to receive treatment. His condition has been exacerbated by the stress of the past 2 years in prison, and the lack of a suitable environment there. He has been allowed only a few days of leave from prison, too short for an observable improvement in his condition.

Behfar Khanjani is serving a 4 year sentence for membership of illegal Bahai groups and attending Bahai prayer meetings and the 19th-day ‘Feast.’ He was arrested on January 6 2010, after a search of his home by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. He has also been the target of two arson attacks on his home using Molotov cocktails. He was among the Bahais who were pressured by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence for more than four hours on December 4, 2012, to give “interviews” for television. While he has been in prison, his sister and wife have also been interrogated.

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UPDATE April 17 , 2013

Mona Amri and Rufeya Pakzadan free on bail

Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan ( مونا امری حصاری و روفیا پاکزادان ), two Bahai women living in Gorgan who were arrested on March 18, were released on bail on April 1. They had been held in Amir Abad prison in Gorgan for 24 days. They have been charged with membership of Bahai organisations, teaching the Bahai Faith, and communicating with foreign governments. Bail for Rufeya Pakzadan was set at 100 million tumans (62,000 euros, $US81,000), and for Mona Amri at 150 million tumans (93,000 euros, $US122,000).

Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan in Amir Abad prison

Sen´s Daily March 24 , 2013

Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan ( مونا امری حصاری و روفیا پاکزادان ), two Bahai women living in Gorgan who were arrested on March 18, have been charged and, on a judge’s orders, transferred to Amir Abad prison in Gorgan. On October 17, 2012, security forces in Gorgan arrested 17 Bahais in a series of coordinated and sometimes violent raids on Bahai homes.

Six of these arrestees, and one Bahai from Gonbad who was already being held at that time, were transferred to Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran, where they are being held in ‘temporary’ detention (see the previous report on this blog).

Others have apparently been released, since Mona Amri Hesari and Rufeya Pakzadan are reported to be the only Bahais in prison in Gorgan at present.

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Ghasem Ahmadi (pictured on right) is an Iranian Kurdish journalist who is one of the editors of the Rojav Quarterly. Rojav is a political, cultural and social quarterly which published by the Kurdish students of Tehran university. The quarterly published 13 volumes and it's releasing stopped by disciplinary and cultural committee of Tehran university on April 9th of 2011.

Ghasem Ahmadi was arrested in Mahabad on Thursday, March 7--the same day as fellow Kurdish journalist Khosrow Kurdpour. The brother of Khosrow Kurdpour, Masoud Kurdpour (also a journalist) was subsequently reported arrested as well.

These three arrests indicate an escalation of the persecution against Iran's Kurdish minority by the Islamic Republic regime, as well as a further intensification of the regime's campaign of persecution against Iran's independent journalists. This campaign has been ongoing since January and is transparently related to the up-coming presidential elections in June.

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*UPDATE Hrana 4th April, 2013

Intimidating Zia Nabavi to deny his letter about Mohammad Ali Amoori

Seyyed Zia Nabavi is under pressure in Ahvaz Etela’at to deny his letter about Mohammad Ali Amoori one of the civic activists who sentenced to death.

According to a report of Kalemeh website, a while after Zia Nabavi was transferred from Karoun prison of Ahvaz to Ahvaz Etela’at and a while absolute ignorance, it has been cleared that one of the reasons of the transferring is to force Zia Nabavi to deny his last letter about Mohammad Amoori one of the Arab civic activists.

According to the report, Etela’at agents said to Nabavi that Mohammad Amoori is a terrorist and he has to deny his letter about Amoori then confirm that the Arab civic activist is a terrorist.

Also Amoori was transferred to Ahvaz Etela’at as well and intimidated to deny what Zia Nabavi wrote about him but none of them followed Etela’at agents’ order and meanwhile Zia is defending his letter.

Zia Nabavi was transferred from Karoun prison of Ahvaz to the court and then Ahvaz Etela’at on March 5ht of 2013. He was released a letter under the title “The story of a exiled sentenced to death, from a sentenced to death: Execution is not a slap to have the opportunity of compensation for it”. He is explaining Mohammad Amoori’s character in a positive way and wrote that “Mohammad Ali is saying that have never ever committed to any violence act and all what he accused to is linked to the time he was imprisoned for three years in Iraq because of crossing border illegally. He is saying that the security and judicial departments linked some of his ordinary friendships, personal issues with some people and cyber activities to an armed-separatist group which does not exist at all.”

Also Zia wrote in his letter that “Of course I know that till now I gave a look to the story unilateral and because of lack of information I can not make an exact conclusion about it but with remembering my experience with the judicial system this probability comes to my mind that perhaps in this case lots of exaggerations inputed as well. Even if whatever securities saying are true still execution is not the verdict for Mohammad Amoori. Death penalty might be considered for a murder but in the other cases could not having excuse! Because when we sentenced someone to death means we accepted that he does not deserve to be alive at all and this conclusion is so hard! Let’s say that Mohammad Ali did mistakes on his political act and committed to mistakes, the point is that why all his good character which has to be praised, should punished and executioned?! Is this fair?”

Amoori released a note in March too and in a part of it said that “I was supporting peace and dialogue, due to which sin I must be killed?”

“This letter is an urgent request from you and all who respect human rights to use all possible ways and save the innocents life and protest to occurring crimes on those who were chanting slogans in solidarity to humanity, peace and freedom and believe it as an essential rule in their political and social life”, He added.

He claiming in the other part of the letter under the title “I am asking why they want to kill me?” writes “In Iran for six months I was been in solitaire cell and tortured physically and mentally in Ahvaz Etela’at. Then they transferred me to Karoun prison and after two years due to a unfair and manipulated trial they sentence me to death. Since that time I am searching for the answer of this question that why they want to kill me?”

Zia Nabavi the starred student -deprived from study- and the spokesperson of students rights defenders council is imprisoned since June 15th of 2009. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in exile.

Mohammad Amoori was born in 1977, he is a weblogger and graduated from industrial university of Isfahan, one of the founders of “Alterath” student publication in arabic and farsi in industrial Isfahan university. He was also teacher in Ramshir high school and according to some medias one of the founders of Al-Hiwar cultural institution which means dialogue and its name was inspired from intercultural dialogue program of Khatami’s reformist government.

He is a student activist too and after the wave of repressions against activists in 2007. Amoori was granted asylum by UNHCR but Iraqi government imprisoned on charge of crossing border illegally. He was trialed and imprisoned for three years in Ammareh and Basreh and extradited to Iranian government despite of having granted asylum documents.

Iranian supreme court confirmed Amoori’s death verdict and four other Arab activists on charge of enmity against god on January 9th of 2013 and they are in danger of imminent execution nowadays.

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* UPDATE : RADIO ZAMANEH
Thu, 03/07/2013

Concern grows for missing jailed activist.

An opposition website reports concerns over the whereabouts of jailed student activist Zia Nabavi, who after being summoned to court last Tuesday was not returned to his cell.

The Kaleme website reports that Zia Nabavi was taken to court from Ahvaz Prison, where he is serving a 10-year prison sentence, and he has not been returned to prison since. The report indicates that he is possibly being held in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Ministry office.

Nabavi was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the court for “cooperation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization”, an outlawed dissident group. Nabavi has denied the charge.

The report goes on to add: “In the course of [Nabavi’s] transfer, all of his belongings in jail were searched and some of his writings were confiscated.”

Kaleme adds: “One of the latest writings of Zia Nabavi involves a critical view of the death sentence issued for the peaceful Arab activist Mohammadali Amouri, which could possibly be related to the transfer of the student activist from Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to the Intelligence Ministry office.”

The Iranian judiciary has sentenced Mohammadali Amouri to death together with another four prisoners. They are all members of a cultural organization that goes by the name of Al-Havar (Dialogue) and they were arrested in February of 2011.

Human rights groups claim that the five prisoners were tortured for months under the supervision of the Intelligence Ministry and were finally sentenced to “enmity against God and terrorist activities.”

They have all denied the charges in court and announced that the confessions extracted from them were given under duress and torture.

SOURCE : RADIO ZAMANEH

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Zia Nabavi transferred to unknown location

HRANA 06 MARCH 2013

Security agents transferred Seyyed Zia Nabavi the imprisoned exiled student from Ahvaz prison to unknown location.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), quoted from JARAS, Tuesday morning the security agents summoned Zia Nabavi from Karoon prison of Ahvaz, took him away with themselves and inspected all of his personal belongings.

Also the agents confiscated all notes and memos of this prisoner was expelled from schooling.

Zia Nabavi's friends believe that this might be reaction to his letter in solidarity with Ali Amoori the activist from Khoozestan who is in danger of imminent execution.

Translated by: Ramyar Hassani

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UPDATE Hrana 2013-04-25

Editor: Human
Translator: Ramyar Hassani

HRANA News Agency – In the morning of April 21, 2013 Sirwan Hosseinpanahi and Shirzad Hosseinpanahi the two Kurdish civil activists were tried in Sanandaj revolutionary court.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the two Kurdish civic activists were tried on charge of propaganda against regime and connection with Kurdish subversive parties.

Sirwan and Shirzad had no access to lawyer during the trial session and defended themselves personally against all what they are accused to.

One of their relatives wrote a report to HRANA and says “They were not sentenced after the trial session and the judge told Sirwan and Shirzad that your verdicts will be issued in one month. The two Kurdish activists who were under arrested for three months and for 50 days in absolute ignorance in Intelligence offices of Sanandaj and Ghorveh, have transferred from Ghorveh prison to Sanandaj central prison after the trial session.”

Sirwan Hosseinpanahi is a Kurdish activist and nephew of Anvar Hosseinpanahi the political-civil prisoner. He was arrested on January 9, 2013 by Intelligence agents in his home in Ghorochai village in Dehgolan city.

Shirzad Hosseinpanahi the other Kurdish activist and of Anvar Hosseinpanahi’s relatives who is from Ghorochai village as well, was arrested on January 12, 2013 by security forces and was transferred to Intelligence office of Sanandaj.

After 50 days absolute ignorance finally Sirwan Hosseinpanahi and Shirzad Hosseinpanahi were transferred from Intelligence detention center of Sanandaj to Ghorveh prison.
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UPDATE CHRR 5 March 2013
Sirvan and Shirzad Hossein Panahi transferred to Ghorveh prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – After 50 days of Sirvan Hossein Panahi being incommunicado, on January 27, this political prisoner was transferred along with Shirzad Hossein Panahi from the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj to Ghorveh prison.

According to CHRR, a close family friend of these 2 Kurdish activists said that Sirvan Hossein Panahi informed his family in a short phone call that he and Shirzad Hossein Panahi were transferred to Ghorveh prison. The family had not been able to get any information about the whereabouts or situation of their loved ones despite their efforts and inquiries with judicial and intelligence authorities.

On January 9th, 2013, plainclothes officials from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of the nephew of Anvar Hossein Panahi and detained him. The agents arrived at the home of Sirvan Hossein Panahi’s father in the rural village of Quruchay and detained Sirvan after conducting a rigorous search of his residence. Witnesses reported that it looked like his arm was broken as the agents confiscated his personal belongings. Another family member, Shirzad Hossein Panahi, who is also from the village of Quruchay in Dehgolan, was arrested on January 30, 2013 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center.

Anvar Hossein Panahi, the eldest son in the family, is a Kurdish activist and a Dehgolan province dignitary who was arrested in 2007 and severely tortured while in detention. He spent 6 months incommunicado in custody at the Ghorveh Ministry of Intelligence detention center. In 2008 he was sentenced to death on charges of “acting against national security,” “collaborating with a Kurdish political party” and “moharebeh” (enmity with God). After tireless efforts and protests on the part of human rights activists, his death sentence was later commuted to 6 years in prison. After enduring 5 years behind bars, Anvar Hossein Panahi was granted medical furlough after posting bail.

In the past years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, his family has faced summons, interrogations, endured constant harassment and threats, with over 30 members arbitrarily arrested.

* PETITIONS FOR ANWAR AND SIRVAN : *

FREE Anwar Hossein Panahi:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-anwar-hossein-panahi.html

Immediate & Unconditional Release of Sirvan Hossein Panahi:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/immediate-unconditional-release-of-sirvan-hossein-pan.html

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Mrs. Zohreh Nikaeen (Tebyanian) is also serving her 23 months sentence in prison in Semnan, Iran with her 11 months son, Resam Tebyanian. Her sole "crime" is the peaceful practice of her Baha'i faith, which is viciously peresecuted under the Islamic Republic regime.

At this time her baby is known to be ill and need monthly check-up. For example Zohreh’s son, Resam, has a ear infections and needs urgent care.

Mrs. Nikaeen is one of at least three women imprisoned in Semnan solely for their Baha'i faith who are currently locked up together with their infants in the terrible Semnan prison. All together, there are known to be seven infants locked up with their mothers in that prison. THESE BABIES ARE ALL KNOWN TO BE SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL NEGLECT.

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Mr. Ahmed Gubbanchi was arrested by Iranian secret service in Qum in Iran on Feb 18, 2013 with no known reason.

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Seven Bahai prisoners from Gorgan ,
in limbo in Raja’i Shahr prison

Sen´s Daily 7 February , 2013

Seven Bahai prisoners from Gorgan and Gonbad, in Golestan province, were transferred to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, near to Tehran and 450 km from their homes, on December 22. They were among about 20 Bahais who were detained in a wave of arrests of Bahais in Gorgan and Minudasht on and about October 17.

After some weeks in detention in Golestan, they were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran for interrogation, after which they were sent to Raja’i Shahr prison. Now, three and a half months after their arrests, they are still in “temporary” detention (without charge or trial). Repeated requests from their families to the prosecutor in Tehran, to have them released on bail, have been fruitless. The prosecutor has passed the file to the Ministry of Justice and the revolutionary court, and the revolutionary court has returned the file to the prosecutor’s office.

The lawyers representing the detainees have not been able to visit their clients, and no court has heard their case. Their families have been required to travel back and forth regularly in connection with their detention.

One of the seven, Kourush Ziari ( کوروش زیاری ), has a leg injury and was unable to walk at all until just a week before his arrest. At the time of his arrest he was receiving physiotherapy. Despite repeated approaches from his family, prison officials have made no move to give him medical treatment or medical leave. His family have been referred back and forth to various agencies.

The other six are Siamak Sadri, Fu’ad Fahandezh, Payam Markazi, Fahrmand Sana’i, Farhad Fahandezh and Kamal Kashani ( سیامک صدری، فواد فهندژ، پیام مرکز، فرهمند ثنایی، فرهاد فهندژ و کمال کاشانی ).

They are held in room 12 of block 4 of Raja’i Shahr prison. Rajai Shahr prison also ‘houses’ the seven Bahai ‘Yaran’ (national facilitators) who are now in the fourth year of 20-year sentences for their Baha’i beliefs.

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6 February 2013
Yasan Mousavi arrested and transferred to prison

Keywords : Political Prisoners

فارسى

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – On Sunday, February 3rd, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence detained Yasan Mousavi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to Evin prison.

Yasan Mousavi, born in 1984, was an activist at Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 2009 presidential campaign. His brother Hooman Mousavi was arrested during that time and since then, Yasan Mousavi has been summoned and interrogated many times.

According to news obtained by CHRR, Yasan Mousavi was arrested without notice on February 3rd, and two days later on February 5th, judiciary agents contacted his family and informed them that he will be kept in temporary detention for one month.

Yasan Mousavi was alone at his residence when he was detained. According to witnesses, Intelligence agents entered his home by breaking the locks, conducted a massive search of his home during the arrest and seized personal items such as his computer and satellite dish.

Yasan Mousavi’s brother Hooman Mousavi is a former political prisoner who was arrested during the time of unrest following the contested presidential election results of 2009, and spent 2 years behind bars in Evin prison. Their parents were also political prisoners and were executed by the Islamic Republic in the late 1980’s during the period of mass executions in Iran’s prisons.

هرانا؛ بازداشت یکی از فعالین صنفی بازار تهران
سه شنبه 17 بهمن 1391 ساعت 23:49 |

خبرگزاری هرانا - یاسان موسوی از فعالین صنفی بازار تهران روز یک شنبه ۱۵ بهمن ماه بازداشت و تاکنون موفق به تماس با خانواده خود نشده است.

بنا به اطلاع گزارشگران هرانا، ارگان خبری مجموعه فعالان حقوق بشر در ایران، یاسان موسوی متولد ۱۳۶۳ از فعالان صنفی بازار تهران و از فعالان ستاد میرحسین موسوی که پدر و مادر وی در دهه ۶۰ اعدام شده‌اند روز یکشنبه ۱۵ بهمن ماه با یورش مامورین امنیتی به منزل مسکونیش بازداشت شد.

مامورین امنیتی که اقدام به شکستن در منزل کرده بودند پس از تفتیش منزل وسایل شخصی وی مانند دوربین عکاسی، آلبوم خانوادگی، کامپیو‌تر و ریسیور را ضبط کرده و با خود بردند.

یکی از بستگان یاسان موسوی به گزارشگر هرانا گفت: "امروز سه‌شنبه ۱۷ بهمن ماه از دفتر پیگیری وزارت اطلاعات با ما تماس گرفتند و گفتند برای یاسان یک ماه قرار بازداشت موقت صادر شده و اکنون در زندان اوین بسر می‌برد."

وی ادامه داد: "ما از وضعیت سلامتی وی هیچ‌گونه اطلاعی نداریم و خانواده نگران وضعیت وی می‌باشند."

گفتنی است، یاسان برادر هومان موسوی می‌باشد که در طی حوادث پس از انتخابات سال ۸۸ بازداشت و بیش از دو سال در زندان اوین بسر برده بود.

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Yasan Mousavi arrested and transferred to prison.

CHRR 6 February 2013

On Sunday, February 3rd, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence detained Yasan Mousavi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to Evin prison.

Yasan Mousavi, born in 1984, was an activist at Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 2009 presidential campaign. His brother Hooman Mousavi was arrested during that time and since then, Yasan Mousavi has been summoned and interrogated many times.

According to news obtained by CHRR, Yasan Mousavi was arrested without notice on February 3rd, and two days later on February 5th, judiciary agents contacted his family and informed them that he will be kept in temporary detention for one month.

Yasan Mousavi was alone at his residence when he was detained. According to witnesses, Intelligence agents entered his home by breaking the locks, conducted a massive search of his home during the arrest and seized personal items such as his computer and satellite dish.

Yasan Mousavi’s brother Hooman Mousavi is a former political prisoner who was arrested during the time of unrest following the contested presidential election results of 2009, and spent 2 years behind bars in Evin prison. Their parents were also political prisoners and were executed by the Islamic Republic in the late 1980’s during the period of mass executions in Iran’s prisons.

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UPDATE Hrana 2013-04- 23

Editor: Human Niazi
Translator: Houman Niyazi

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Khodai and Mohammad Davari have returned to the section 350 of the Evin prison while their vacation has been finished.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mehdi Khodai and Mohammad Davari returned to the Evin prison couple of hours ago.

Mehdi Khodai is the former secretary of the Islamic Society of Shahre Rey Azad University and a member of Human Rights Activist has come for vacation on March 20, 2013 after 3 years.

Mohammad Davari is the Editor of Saham News Website and had been in the prison since September 2009. He had a heart problem when he heard his brother’s death and was transferred to hospital. He had been on the vacation since February 20, 2013 however he was not allowed to take part in his brother’s funeral.
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Recently, prison authorities have rejected imprisoned student and human rights activist, Mehdi Khoaei's request for medical leave.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), It is around three years that Mehdi Khodaei and his family are trying to get medical leave, but recently, prison authorities has rejected the request.

Mehdi Khodaei is the former Secretary of Azad University Islamic Association in Shahr-e Rey, and a human rights activist. He was an electrical engineering student at the time of his arrest. Khodaei was arrested on 2 March 2010, five days after receiving a sentence of four years in prison on the charge of "acting against national security through organizing gatherings." Previously, he had spent 38 days in detention in the summer of 2008.

After his arrest on 2 March 2010, he was transferred to IRGC's Ward 2-A inside Evin Prison, where he spent ten months in solitary or two-person cells. Khodaei's family had no information about him for months after his arrest. During his detention inside Ward 2-A, he was subjected to repeated interrogations and severe physical and psychological pressure to make forced confessions against himself.

Khodaei was tried on 21 August 2010 in Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, with Judge Moghisseh presiding. On 12 October 2010, Khodaei was sentenced to an additional three years in prison on charges of "acting against national security through organizing gatherings," and "propagating against the regime."

Separately, in December 2010, his earlier four-year prison sentence was upheld by a Tehran appeals court. Therefore, with his three-year prison term also upheld, Khodaei is currently serving his seven year prison term. In late December 2010, Khodaei was transferred to Evin Prison's General Ward 350. Despite his long prison term, he has not been allowed furlough since his detention. Khodaei remains defiant and active in prison and has participated in several protest hunger strikes and has signed several group letters in prison.

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UPDATE Hrana 23rd April, 2013
Translator: Houman Niyazi

The trial for Kave Taheri has been postponed

The trial for the blogger Kave Taheri which was supposed to be done on 22nd April has been postponed.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), although he was informed about the date of the trial since April 15,2013 the trial has been postponed while he is in the prison for 7 months with no sentence yet.

His lawyer has been able to read the case after 7 months today. According to the lawyer he has been charged with “propaganda against the government” and “insulting the leader.”

The next date for his trial is 29th April.

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* UPDATE HRANA 04 MARCH 2013

A weblogger is in detention without trial for more than five months.

HRANA News Agency – Kaveh Taheri the weblogger who was arrested on September 23rd of 2012, still is in uncertain situation after five months detention in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Kaveh Taheri the weblogger from Shiraz was arrested by Etela'at agents on September 23rd of 2012 at his work place and first was transferred to detention center No.100 and after 52 days was transferred to Adel Abad prison of Shiraz.

His mother could been able to visit Kaveh on March 2nd of 2013 but still after five months he is in detention without trial.

On September 23rd of 2013 the agents arrested him, inspected his home and confiscated his personal belongings such as H.D.D, notes and his laptop.

"He is in a better mental condition in compare with before and he will release the details of interrogation sessions and how the interrogators dealt with him whenever his verdict will be issued", One of his relatives said to HRANA reporter.

Generally this weblogger accused to acting against national security and cyber propaganda against regime in his dossier.

Translated by: Ramyar Hassani

Uncertainty of a detained weblogger Kaveh Taheri´s situation after 130 days.

HRANA News Agency -
SATURDAY, 02 FEBRUARY 2013

After 130 days detention of Kaveh Taheri, the weblogger who has arrested on September 23rd of 2012 still his situation is uncertain.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Kaveh Taheri, the weblogger who is from Shiraz has been arrested by agents of revolutionary guards Etela'at on September 23rd of 2012 at his working place, transferred to Detention center of revolutionary guards and then after 52 days to Adel Abad prison in Shiraz.

The agents confiscated his personal laptop and then searched his home and took away his personal belongings such as hard drive of his computer, handwritings and ... .

"Kaveh Taheri who is 31 years old, passed journalism courses and has the journalist ID but one of the charges on him is illegal reporter", One of his relatives told HRANA reporter.

After 130 days of Kaveh Taheri's detention and his family's haunt, still no trial formed for him and even the court did not allow his lawyer to study the dossier.

It has to be mentioned that in general, the charges on this weblogger in his dossier are acting against national security and propaganda against regime through cyberspace.

Translated by: Ramyar Hassani

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IRAN: Over 32 Months in Solitary Confinement; Hamza Rigi, Baluch Political Prisoner

HRANA 02 FEBRUARY 2013

It's over 32 months that Hamza Rigi, Balouch political prisoner is being held in solitary confinement by Iranian regime.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Hamza Rigi was arrested on charge of relating to Jondollah opposition group and was sentenced to death in the revolutionary court of Zahedan and his verdict has been confirmed.

Hamza Rigi also had been on hunger strike in protest of his verdict more than 25 days.

"Hamza Rigi was under 18 years old when he was arrested and his death sentence is against International Convention that Islamic Republic has signed it too. Hamza was tortured when he was arrested and most of his confessions was under the torture." one of his relatives told HRANA's reporter.

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Over 60,000 deaths have occurred in Syria since the first and peaceful protests against President Assad began. In addition, Turkey and other neighboring countries, are overfilling with fleeing refugee's who do not want to die in Syria.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian's have fled the bloodbath in Syria. Children lay dead on the Syrian's streets, women are being raped, and men are being tortured by the Assad regime.

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Recently Arrested Journalist Freed on Bail #IRAN

Reporters Without Borders 13.02.2013

Reporters Without Borders has learned that Ali Dehghan, a journalist with the daily Bahar who was arrested at his home on 30 January in a new crackdown on media personnel, was released on bail on 6 February.

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Another Iranian journalist jailed amid outrage

Radio Zamaneh Wed, 01/30/2013

Ali Dehghan has become the latest journalist to be swept up in a wave of arrests by Iranian authorities, despite widespread outrage over the past few days both inside and outside Iran.

The Bulletin News website, a site linked to Islamic Republic security bodies, announced that Ali Dehghan, who edits the economy section of Bahar daily, was arrested on a judicial warrant for being “a media element close to a number seditious groups.”

Iranian authorities refer to the 2009 election protesters as “seditious”, and many who challenged the legitimacy of the last presidential elections are now serving stiff sentences in Iranian jails.

Dehghan has a background in working with several reformist newspapers such as Shargh, Etemad and Bahar, and he has also worked for the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).

This is the first time Dehghan has been arrested by Iranian authorities.

He joins the list of more than a dozen other journalists who’ve been arrested since Saturday January 26.

Nearly 200 Iranian journalists from inside and outside Iran have issued a statement calling on the Iranian judiciary to immediately release their colleagues and prove their respect for the rule of law.

The announcement expressed concern about statements from Iran Prosecutor Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, who cited “reliable sources” when he said that a number of journalists are collaborating with “the West and Anti-Revolutionaries.” Such allegations could potentially lead to serious charges and sentencing.

Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has also issued a statement condemning the arrests and maintaining that these state actions are aimed at promoting an atmosphere of intimidation to curb freedom of press.

The intelligence ministry also issued a statement today January 30 saying the detained journalists are "part of a network linked to arrogant powers" and that more arrests may be still in the picture.

Iranian authorities often refer to Western powers as "arrogant powers."

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