IRAN WATCH CANADA

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Lets protest to this & save the life of this young girl.

" Etemad":
" Leila M. " An 18 years old girl, accused of prostitution is awaiting execution.
She was only 9 years old when her mom brought her to a man's home and left her alone with the man. At the age of 12 she was sold to an Afghan man for " SIGHEH " an islamic term for temporary marriage. From this time on she was under the command of her mother in law ,who was making money out of her. she was 14 when she was beaten by lashes and gave birth to a twines. After her first marriage contract ended, she was sold to a 55 years old man , who also made money out of her in his home.At the end in one of the cold winter day they have written in newspaper that : An 18 years old girl who was the leader of a prostitute gang has been arrested in the city of Arak.Her court hearing came soon and the Judge of the branch 25th sentenced her with lashes and execution.The judges decision was sent to Tehran for approval . Her lawyer tow times requested for forgiveness. Leila is now 19 years old and has been in prison for 11 months.
Report by Zohreh Turkmani - City of Arak
Write letter to Iranian embassy and to president Khatami or to minister of justice. Thanks

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Monday, November 29, 2004

Don't they ( the regime) have any other bussiness to do!

" Shargh Online":
Farid Modaresi The journalist and blog writer has been arrested.
Farid Modaresi, whose brother has been arrested by the revolutionary court a few days ago, went to prison.
Together with his lawyer Mr. Abdulfatah Soltani, he attended to the 26th branch of Tehran Revolutionary Court , and was arrested at the spot .

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Iran Watch Canada asking international support for this gathering....

"Shargh Online":
Journalists will gather in front of Justice palace.
Members of the "Association of Syndicate Journalists " in protest to the continuous detention of journalists including Akbar Ganji, Reza Alijani, Hoda Saber, Taghi Rahmani, Shahram Rafizadeh,Omid Memarian, Gholam Tamimi, Fereshteh Ghazi and Mahboubeh Abbas-gholizadeh, will gather in front of justice palace.
This gathering will be held on December 5, 2004 from 9:00am in the main hall of justice palace situated in " Bob Homayoon " Street opposit to the west enterance of the Ministry of Economy & finance.

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Sunday, November 28, 2004

Its dictatorship we face in Iran today.......

" ILNA " Iran's Labor News Agency:
" Farid Modaresi" : They have arrested my 2nd brother.
My accusation is about an interview I had with Australia's ABC channel.
" Farid Modares" has reported about the arrest of his 2nd brother.
In speaking with " ILNA " , Farid Modaresi has said : The agents of revolutionary court , yesterday morning have arrested one of my brother who is a theology student and after that they also arrested my other brother who is an student. After following the situation , the 1st brother that was arrested , was released and came home, but later he was arrested again. while at home, he spoke that our other brother has been beaten in detention . We are all worry about him , since he is sick and this situation threatened the life of my sick father and mother too.

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Amir didn't want to go to the airport to find out that he is banned to leave the country........

"Amir Mojiri " journalist and a blog writer has successfuly left the country.
We have been informed that Amir Mojiri , journalist and blog writer has successfuly left the country.On september the agents from ministry of information have rushed to his home and after searching the whole house they left with his notes and computer.He thanked to all friends and colleagues who have reported the news about him and he hopes that he will help for the release of thoes who are under pressure in Iran.

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The regime in Iran is banning people to leave Iran to attend in conferences , This is violation of human rights.

" ISNA " Iranian Students News Agency:
" Isa Saharkhiz " Journalist and member of NGO , has been banned to leave the contry.
Isa Saharkhiz , who was about to leave Iran for a conference in Netherland , noticed that he is been banned to leave the country.
In this regard he has said to the reporter of " ISNA" that: This morning I was about to leave the country for a conference in Hague , Netherland to speak about the countries in the region.
In the Airport they have told me that; by the order of revolutionary court , I have been banned to leave the country.

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Thursday, November 25, 2004

Pressure on Islamic Republic of Iran for the release of journalists and ... for freedom of expression must continue.

Although a few prisoner of the so called site, which became known as the " Internet Sites " has been released, but there are still many left in prison.Omid Memarian, Shahram Rafizadeh, Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, Ruzbeh Mirebrahimi, Fereshteh Ghazi and Mojtaba Samienejad are still in prison.there are unconfirmed reports that they are being kept in an illegal prison near"Ketabi" circle around Mirdamad and Mohseni circle. although Memarian family have reported that he is being transfered to" Evin" prison. The reports also indicates of physical violence and inhuman behavior with these prisoners.

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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Middle East needs more NGO and the existing NGO's fight for survival

" ISNA " Iranian Student News Agency :Mahboubeh Abbas-gholizadeh met with her family and lawyer.
Yesterday evening Mahboubeh Abbas-gholizadeh, met with her lawyer and family.
Shadi Sadr , the defence lawyer for Mahboubeh Abbas-golizadeh the journalist and NGO social activist , has told to ISNA's reporter that: yesterday together with my client's family we met her in airport prosecutor's office and I also participated in her hearing .
Today my client will reappear in prosecutors office for her last defence and possibly on bail she will be released.
www.gooya.com

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Monday, November 22, 2004

Rouzbeh MirEbrahimi's Family Requests his Release, ILNA

In a letter to the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, the family of Rouzbeh MirEbrahimi, a journalist arrested in the recent crackdown on the Iranian online press, has asked for his immediate release, pending a trial. Rouzbeh's wife had written a letter to the Tehran Judiciary about the arrest of her husband, which to date, has received no response.
http://akhbar.gooya.com/english/archives/017892.php

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Sunday, November 21, 2004

"People must follow them , Thats the law "...selfish and corrupt ruler in Iran

" ISNA " Iranian Students News Agency:
From the public prosecutor's office of government employees and media complaint , Mr.Nemat Ahmadi ( lawyers of many journalists and political dissidents ) , has been summoned to the court . But since he did not appear in the court , the bench warrant was issued.
Mr. Ahmadi is accused of calumination and publication of lies ( falsification).

www.gooya.com

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Friday, November 19, 2004

It's the dark age things..But with the continues international support , we shall overcome this.

"Gooya News" - asre-nou:

At present, several members of the " Writers Association of Iran " , Among them : Naser Zarafshan, Shahram Rafizadeh and Nosrat Mehregan are in prison and the Islamic Republic for the third consecutive year , Has banned the AGM of the Writers Association.

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Tuesday, November 16, 2004

International support continues.......

November 11, 2004
Iran: Civil society activists and human rights defenders under attack, Amnesty International
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE


AI Index: MDE 13/045/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 285
10 November 2004

Efforts by Iran’s judiciary to curtail freedom of expression and association are now increasingly encroaching on human rights defenders and civil society activists. Reports of around 25 internet journalists and civil society activists arbitrarily arrested in recent weeks mark an alarming rise in human rights violations in Iran.

"The judiciary has placed Iran’s growing civil society under attack. The targeted arbitrary arrests and detention in secret places along with reports of ill treatment of activists like Omid Memariyan, Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and journalist Hanifmazrou'i clearly expose the judiciary’s intention to clamp down on Iran’s burgeoning civil society", Amnesty International said today.

Family members of all three individuals, along with members of other families, have repeatedly expressed concern over the safety of their loved ones.

"The ban on foreign travel of human rights defenders Emaddedin Baqi, Mohammad Maleki, Azam Taleghani and Mohammad Maleki shows that Iran’s judiciary is turning its back on the international human rights standards it has promised the international community that it will uphold. With the latest clampdown, the judiciary has betrayed the Iranian peoples’ hopes for greater respect of their human rights," Amnesty International said..

In November 2003, Amnesty International expressed concern at the alarming spiral of human rights violations in Iran. One year later, a similar pattern of flagrant human rights abuses continues.

Iran has failed to adequately cooperate with visits made by United Nations human rights representatives, several of whom have visited the country in 2003 and early 2004. The recommendations made by, for example, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), following its February 2003 visit appear to have been ignored.

Appeals received by Amnesty International state that the Iranian people want Iran’s judiciary - which has issued the arrest warrants - to uphold the law, not carry out politically motivated arrests. The Office of the Supreme Leader must intervene to stop the spiral of human rights violations.

Amnesty International is urging the United Nations General Assembly to carefully consider the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Iran which is scheduled to be presented in the forthcoming weeks, and to support civil society activists like Omid Memariyan who are now reportedly facing ill treatment, so that international human rights standards can become a reality in Iran.

Background
Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh is the editor of Farzaneh, a women’s rights journal. She was arrested at her home on 2 November 2004. Omid Memariyan is a journalist who was arrested in his office on 10 October 2004. He is said to have refused his right to have a lawyer. Amnesty International fears that this is a reflection of the ill treatment he is currently facing. His arbitrary arrest is spreading fear throughout civil society, reducing the scope of other activists to be able to protect him, making his defence from outside - by the international community - even more important.

They are both civil society activists and have been working with a variety of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), supporting them with training and capacity building. They are reportedly facing vaguely worded charges - falling short of an internationally recognisable criminal charge - relating to ‘acts against national security’ and possibly "acts against morality" or defamation.

Scores of other internet journalists have reportedly been arrested during the last couple of months and are said to be facing charges relating to defamation and insult, similarly vaguely worded provisions which are inconsistent with international human rights standards. Among the arrested are Fereshteh Ghazi of the daily newspaper Etemad, arrested in her office on 28 October 2004, Javad Gholam Tamayomi, a writer with the daily newspaper Mardomsalari, arrested on 18 October 2004, Shahram Rafihzadeh, cultural editor of Etemad, arrested on 7 September 2004, Reza Mir Ebrahimi, former editor of foreign affairs section of Etemad, arrested on 27 October 2004, Hanif Mazrou'i, a former journalist, arrested on 8 September and Amir Mojiri, an internet journalist, arrested on 8 September 2004.

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A boys life and us to prevent them to kill him

"Gooya News":

A 16 year old boy recieved death penalty from the judiciary in Iran.
A teenager who have brought his friend to a remote area around the city of Damavand and killed him has recieved a death penalty. The accused who's name is Vahid in his testimony have said that: "the victime was planning to sexuly assault me and I killed him( Mehdi) in defence " . His death sentence was issued by the chief prosecutor of the branch # 71 of the criminal court of Tehran province.
www.gooya.com

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Sunday, November 14, 2004

Recent list of arrested journalists getting bigger.

"Gooya News":www.akhbar.gooya.com
Mohammad Reza Aghapour, journalist and writer from Azarbayejan , upon returning from Europ has been arrested in Tehran's Mehrabad airport by the security forces.
There are no news about the reason of his arrest. But there are speculation that his arrest might be of his participation in seminars on Azarbayejan and the tragedies of Turks living in Iran.

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Thursday, November 11, 2004

Are you ( Islamic Republic of Iran ) with the convention or not?

Protest walk in "Laleh Park" was cancelled ( because of not issuing permit by the interior ministry) .
Shireen Ebadi ( Founder of the" Association of Defenders of Human Rights" )-Tehran:
This gathering was to protest to issuing death sentences for person less than 18 years of age.
Since the government of Iran has joined the international convention for the rights of children and also in the convention the death sentence for children is banned, But still death sentences for children are being issued. On this reason, I demanded for a recent gathering in "Laleh Park" , which was cancelled, due to the government not issuing permit for the rally.
Link to this news www.gooya.com and then (clik on asre-nu)

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Tuesday, November 09, 2004

International support is growing for Iranian journalists and human rights advocates

4. UNITED STATES: IRANIAN NOBEL LAUREATE SUES US GOVERNMENT

Iranian human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has filed a lawsuit against the US Treasury Department for preventing her from publishing a book in the United States, reports PEN American Center (PEN).

Ebadi wants to publish her memoirs in the United States because of severe restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran, where she has been jailed in the past. However, the Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) forbids citizens of Cuba, Iran and Sudan from publishing books
in the United States without a licence because of trade sanctions imposed on those countries.

Ebadi has finished a draft of the book but is seeking an agent and editor in the US to translate and re-write the book for international readers. OFAC regulations prevent her from signing a contract with the Strothman Agency, which wants to work with her and negotiate with publishers on her behalf. "The regulations seem to defy the values the United States promotes throughout the world, which always include free expression and the free exchange of ideas," Ebadi says.

Ebadi's lawsuit joins a legal challenge launched in September 2004 by several groups, including PEN. The groups want to expose the inconsistencies in the OFAC regulations, arguing that they violate the constitutional right to free speech and ignore Congressional amendments exempting "information and informational materials" from trade embargoes.

Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities are intensifying their crackdown on human rights activists and journalists who use the Internet, report Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). Since 7 September, eight individuals have been arrested without charges. In some of the cases, authorities have targeted journalists and technicians who work for websites belonging to political leaders.

Visit:
- PEN
- ABC News
- Legal Challenge Against OFAC
- Human Rights Watch
- RSF


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Monday, November 08, 2004

CJFE's protest letter to Iranian ambassador to Canada

September 13, 2004
His Excellency, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi, Ambassador
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2 Canada
Excellency,
I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.
CJFE is alarmed at the Iranian government's attempts to suppress the right to inform the public via the Internet. Not only have several news websites been closed or blocked but also journalists associated with these sites have been arrested.
Babak Ghafori Azar of the financial daily Hayat-e now, Shahram Rafihzadeh, head of the cultural section of the newspaper Etemad, and Hanif Mazroi, a former journalist with several reformist publications, were imprisoned on September 7 and 8. It is presumed that these arrests were in connection with the shutdown of Rouydad (www.rouydad.info).
This incident comes at time when Iranian judicial authorities have cracked down on a number of news sites, especially those with reformist leanings.
We call on the Iranian government to respect the right to free expression and to cease obstructing the running of independent websites. We urge the Iranian authorities to release all the journalists and internet provider staff involved.
I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.
Yours truly,

Arnold Amber
President

Case file number: PL-O422
C.C.: The Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Philip MacKinnon, Ambassador, the Canadian Embassy to the Islamic Republic of Iran

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" World's support for Iranian continues"

Human Rights First"'s award, went to Mehr-Angeez Kar.

"Shahrvand" www.shahrvand.com : Mehr-Angeez Kar,Lawyer and defender of women's rights who has spent years for achieving women's rights in Iran , recieved the honorary human rights award from " Human Rights First" on Thursday Oct.28/2004.
Currently Mrs. Kar lives in U.S and her husband Siamak Pourzand , a journalist is still in prison in Iran .Human Rights First Association is one of the most active human rights centre in U.S. .
Congradulation to Mrs. Kar . From "IRAN WATCH CANADA" .

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"Islamic Republic of Iran and its judiciary system"

"RUIDAD" www.rooydadnews.blogspot.com :Ahmad Batebi's lawyer, has been prevented of reading his clients file.
" Khalil Bahramian" the lawyer of " Ahmad Batebi", the imprisoned student has said : He has not been successful of reading the file of his client.
" Bahramian " on Monday Nov. 8/2004 has told to the reporter of " RUIDAD" that: Batebi previously in a meeting with me has told that, his former lawyer also, was not successful in reading his file.
He added: I will approach to related division, and will demand to hand me Ahmad Batebi's file, so that I will know based in what legal accusation my client is in prison.

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Sunday, November 07, 2004

The infamous Judge Saeed Mortazavi must be arrested if arrived in Canada.

"Killed for a few photos. Zahra Kazemi,an Iranian-born photographer living in Canada, travelled the world recording poverty and injustice. But when she tried to do that in her native land, she paid for it with her life ".
"Kazemi's son is still asking for her body to be returned to Canada" .- Reporters without borders

"Iran the Middle East's biggest prison for journalists "
Last Oct. 9, was Zahra Kazemi's Birthday- time to pay tribute. Happy birthday Zahra!

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Friday, November 05, 2004

UN must expel those members who repeatedly violate human rights !

Ensafali Hedayat's lawyer:
The 13th division of the Tabriz appeal court, Has rejected for the conditional release of my client
"Abbas Jamali" in speaking with " ILNA " reporter , Has said: The judge of Tabriz prison has said that; since Mr. Hedayat does not want to repent and is not willing to write a remorseful letter , I rejected for his conditional release.
Mr. Jamali added that: Mr. Hedayat believes ; He has not been convicted of any crime that he will write a remoseful letter and to repent.
Ensafali Hedayat Is a journalist from the city of Tabriz , who was present in the conference of Iranian opposition in Berlin and upon his return was arrested .........

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HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAN: CANADA PRESENTS RESOLUTION AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that Canada tabled a resolution at the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
“Canada’s assessment is that the human rights situation in Iran has worsened during the last year, a position shared by many members of the international community,” stated Minister Pettigrew. “We believe that Iran needs to hear from the global community that change is necessary. Our objective remains to promote and accelerate positive change for the human rights of the Iranian people.”
The resolution, presented with 33 co-sponsors, expresses concerns at violations of human rights in the country and calls upon the Government of Iran to abide by its international obligations. The resolution provides a strong international call for Iran to make improvements in several areas, including independence of the judiciary, arbitrary detentions, freedom of expression and freedom of the media, treatment of women and treatm ent of persons belonging to religious minorities.
Monitoring mechanisms of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, including the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, visited Iran in 2003 and provided specific recommendations for improvements. These recommendations have yet to be implemented by the Government of Iran, and Canada’s resolution addresses this shortcoming.
In December 2003, at the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, Canada was the main sponsor of a successful resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran. The Resolution called for the human rights situation in Iran to be re-examined at the 59th session of the General Assembly this fall.
For more information on Canada’s international human rights policy, visit
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/human-rights/hr1-rights-en.asp.
For more information about the UN, or to learn more about Canadian policies and participation in the UN, visit http://www.international.gc.ca/canada_un< SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial', sans-serif">.

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Thursday, November 04, 2004

Draft resolution on violation of human rights in Iran....

Draft resolution on human rights in Iran has been handed to UN .
The annual 3rd committee of the UN general assembly, has been held on Wednesday Nov. 3/2004.
The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran by the U.S,Canada and European countries has been handed to UN.

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"Political Halloween" daily reality of " Threat and Treason " for journalists, human rights advocates.....

"Mahbubeh Abbas-gholizadeh" A journalist and an NGO advocates, Has been arrested( yesterday).
Her family in a contact with Iran Students News Agency " ISNA" announced this news and said: Agents with subpoena from Tehran's judiciary, arrived in her workplace and then they accompanied her to her home and took her computer case with them and arrested her .

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Monday, November 01, 2004

" For you to judge"

Site of the "Gooya.com" , Nov.1 /2004
" Ruidad " reports:

" Mashaullah Shamsolvaezin ", The spokesperson for the "Association in Defense of Press Freedom" ,On speaking about the recent statements by the European Parliament on violation of human rights in Iran , Has said: " When the local ways are encounter to legal,political and religious authority, by itself the external horizon becomes open towards journalists".
" When all the way in Iran are closed , people go further and approach to external organizations, because the people think that inside the system, there are no place for achieving the rights of the people"................

"Shamsolvaezin" , Is a journalist and a political analyst , who is currently living inside Iran .

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Violation of human rights in the "Islamic Republic of Iran" continues

Site of "Gooya news". " ILNA" reported:
"Azam Taleghani " Has been banned to leave Iran .
The general secretary of "The Islamic Women Society" :
When I asked the reason of banning me to leave Iran , their answer was : Your talk will provok people against the law and order forces.recently she had traveled together with other women for speeches in USA, Upon her return , 6 members of the society has been summoned to the court.

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"IRAN WATCH CANADA" : "I only speak about my people"

Today is Nov.1/2004
"IRAN WATCH CANADA" , Has nothing to say about itself, It only speaks about it's people, " IWC " Is the voice of the voiceless and will do its best to monitor that.
"IRAN WATCH CANADA " has always been inspired by this poem of the 14th century lyric poet " Hafez ".
The burden of the long journey ,
The harshnes of life in the new land
We are not for wealth,luxury or gold
But for the truth, it must be told.

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