Have a Beautiful Holidays & Best Wishes . ....Remember All those who fights for our rights and are in prison now in all over the world ......Peace !

A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in Azar 1391 [November- December 2012]

Sat 22 12 2012

Shirin Ebadi, Human Rights Defender and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, in continuation of her monthly reports, has reviewed the human rights situation in Iran in Azar 1391 [November- December 2012]. According to the website of the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights [CDHR], Dr. Ebadi starts her Azar report by addressing the plight of children in Iran. She highlights the fire incident at a school in northwestern Iran in which about 31 schoolgirls suffered burns or died. . She also addresses the issue of HIV and AIDS in Iran which now involves individuals at a lower age. The human rights defender continues her report by criticizing the government officials' ignorance of the future of the “most voiceless” sect of society, i.e. children, calling for more attention to be paid to these future-builders. 

The Nobel Laureate continues her report by examining the human rights situation under three categories: “civil and political rights”, economic and social rights”, and “cultural heritage and environment”. The civil and political rights section, in addition to identifying the political and civil rights activists who have been summoned to prison to serve their sentences, highlights the pressure imposed on the family of the political prisoners.

The following is the text of Mrs. Ebadi’s report for Azar 1391, published on 1 Dey [22 December 2012].
A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in Azar 1391[November – December 2012]
Introduction
According to a report published by the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) in Azar, 31 schoolgirls of a school in West Azerbayjan Province were injured owing to a fire incident caused by an oil spill and explosion of a heater. Two of them namely, Hay Seydan Yeganeh and Elham (Ameneh) Esmaeil Poor died later. Unfortunately, the above report is an example of the appalling condition of schools in Iran, which are old and dilapidated. Consequently, similar incidents are reported in at least one of the schools across the country each year.
During the past two months, a number of buses carrying students to visit the remains of the Iran-Iraq war zones crashed due to substandard facilities. As a result, more than 50 students were either killed or wounded. Unfortunately, students are still forced to go on these trips as it is introduced as part of their social course.
Government officials' ignorance of the future of the most voiceless sects of society i.e. children, led the Economist magazine to rank Iran 58 out of 80 countries, in a table naming the best countries for the future of the children. Iran was ranked 48 in a similar table in 1988 just after finishing eight years of war with Iraq.
On the other hand, according to the head of the Iranian Parliament's Health Committee, the age of children infected with HIV has dropped to as low as 11-13. Sexual relations is the most common reason for the increase in the number of those suffering from AIDS. Also, according to another report, four percent of children are infected with HIV. In such circumstances not only schools do not provide any educational program, the Media also fail to discuss it. However, according to a bill ratified by the Cabinet of Ministers last month, condoms are considered luxury items and their imports have been banned.
Another point is the decrease in child welfare in Iran. According to Iranian Government reports, every year a million students drop out of school and end up on the streets due to poverty. These children are forced to beg for a morsel of bread.
According to the chief of the literacy movement, there are over ten million illiterate individuals in the country, three million and five hundred thousand of whom are in the age group between 10 and 40 years. In this situation the Supreme Leader has ordered a halt in the birth control programme. Therefore, the official policy makers are encouraging citizens to have more children by providing them with more facilities as incentives. They are trying to increase the population of the country to 120 million people.
So, wrong educational programs and macroeconomic policy, which is focused on military priorities, coupled with mismanagement and corruption, threatens the future of Iranian children. "Children are the future-builders, today we have to think about tomorrow."
The report on human rights situation in Iran in Azar 1391, which has been based on material taken from various newspapers and websites, will appear in both English and Persian in three sections, upon verification of the sources.

Section 1: Political and Civil Rights
A) Situation of Nonconformist Political-Social Activists
1.Twenty-three individuals were arrested this month. Some of them were released on bail after several days. Those arrested include the following: Hossein Falah, a civil rights activist, Behruz Ghobadi, Milad Dehghan, Hojat Kalashi, Ujan Akbari and Akbar Javid, four members of Pan-Iranist Party, Kurosh Zaim, Isa Khan Hatami, Mohammad Oveisi and Mohsen Rahami, four members of Iran National Front and 15 citizens from Ahvaz Province namely Ali Chabishad, Hossein Chabishad, son of Ali, Salahodin Chabishad, son of Ali, Habib Silaveh, Seyed Yasin Moosavi, Salman Chapan, Mohammad Chapan, Karim Chapan, Ashur Shamikli, Jalil Tatureh, Ghasem Zargani, Rahim Hamidi, Maki Barihi, Mohammad Naseri and Omid Dehdar Zadeh.
2.Mohammad Sadegh Rabani Amlashi, university professor and a member of the National Council for Peace, was summoned to prison to serve his three-year prison term. Saeid Haeri, a former member of the Human Rights Reporters Committee, was transferred to prison to serve his two-year prison sentence and receive 74 lashes; Asal Esmaeilzadeh, a civil rights activist, was summoned to prison to start her four months prison sentence and receive 74 lashes, Ali Zakeri, a citizen objecting to the result of 2009 presidential election, Hassan Ark, Ahmad Riyazi, Hamidi Shafigh and Azizolah Purvali, civil rights activist from Azarbayjan, were summoned to prison to serve their respective sentences.
3.Jamshid Zarei, Taghi Salahshur, and Vahid Sheykhbeyglu, all civil rights activists from Azarbayejan, were summoned. Mohammad Maleki, a retired university professor, was also summoned to prison to serve his sentence after his house was searched.
4. Ali Rashidi, an economist and a member of the leadership board of the National Front of Iran, was convicted to two years in prison and five years deprivation of social rights; Maryam Behraman, a women rights activist, was sentenced to an eight-month suspended jail term. Ataolah Mohammadian, Asadolah Saed Mucheshi, Abedin Saed Mucheshi, Ali Mohammad Saedpanah, Fardin Saed Mucheshi, Saber Ayubi and Hamed Osati, eight members of the House of Quran House (Maktab-e Quran), in the city of Muchesh were sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term.
5.Mohammad Jiyan Moftizadeh, Hossein Alai, Foad Mardukh Rohani and Abubakr Amini, all followers of Sanandaj Quran House, were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence. Hashem Aghajari, a university professor and a member of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization, and Ahmad Montazeri, son of Ayatollah Montazeri, were summoned to court. Said Montazeri, another son of Ayatollah Montazeri, was summoned to court and released on bail.
6.The court sessions of Kazem Dehghan, Hamid Arayesh, Mohammad Ali Shamshirzan, Omid Ali Akbari, Gholamali Beyrami and Mehrdad Keshavarz, six Dervishes living in the city of Kovar, were held.
7.The situation of some political prisoners has been reported as poor. For instance, Mohammad Seifzadeh, a founding member of the Centre for Supporters of Human rights, Abdollah Momeni, a member of the Alumni Association of Iran (Advar-e Tahkim Vahdat) and Seyed Mohammad Ebrahimi have not been transferred to the hospital despite doctor’s recommendation. Investigators of the Ministry of Intelligence, despite the request of Tehran’s prosecutor, have not permitted a medical examination of Mir Taher Moosavi
8. Another instance of human rights violation concerns the unfair punishment of relatives of political prisoners who attempt to inform the public about the plight of their imprisoned family members. In this month, a month after the arrest of Mehdi Khazali, his wife, his daughter and his brother, Hossein Khazali, were summoned to court. One of the daughters of Mir Hossein Moosavi and Zahra Rahnavard, has been deprived of visiting her parents because she had informed others about the situation of her parents. Kamal Sharifi, a political prisoner and Habibolah Golpari Poor, a Kurdish political prisoner, on death row, have been refused the right to visit their families. The investigator of Alireza Rajaei, a member of the National- Religious Movement and a journalist, who is serving his prison term, has told his wife to divorce him.
9. Security forces who were present at a memorial ceremony marking the fortieth night after the death of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who died in prison, attacked his family and beat up his mother.
10. Azar Mansuri, a member of the central council of The Islamic Iran Participation Front, has been deprived of teaching in Azad University, the Shahr-e Rey branch.
11.Ahmadreza Ahmadpoor, an imprisoned clergy, has gone on hunger strike in protest at his prison conditions.

B) Situation Regarding Books, Media, Writers and Journalists
1.Mehrdad Sarjoi, a journalist working in the Majles, reported to prison to serve his three-year prison term. Mostafa Badkubei, a poet and critic of the government, was transferred to prison to serve his 18-month sentence.
2.Shahu Hosseini, a journalist and teacher from Mahabad, was convicted to a five-year jail sentence.
3.“Nasir Booshehr” weekly, was closed down on the orders of Bushehr prosecutor. “Varesh”, a local newspaper in Mazandaran Province, was also shut down.
4. Ahmad Zeydabadi, an imprisoned journalist and Secretary-General of the Iranian Alumni Organization , who was on a sick leave, was taken back to prison. Hamidreza Moradi, Mostafa Daneshju and Reza Entesari, three imprisoned directors of the “Majzoban-e Nur” website, who were in hospital, were taken back to prison.
5.Isa Saharkhiz, an imprisoned journalist, who is in hospital, was beaten by the security forces.
6. The editor-in-chief of “Sabzpoosh” news agency, and Mohammad Nurizad, a journalist and a writer, have been summoned to court.
7. Baran Kusari, an actress, announced that she has been banned from acting.
8. Iran's government announced that sections of the movie "I am a mother," had been censored and declared that the release of the film was prevented in religious cities. Also Seyed Ali Salehi, contemporary modernist poet and critic, declared that his book would only receive a licence if he removed 120 pages of his 150-page book, a poetry anthology. Hormuz Homayun Pur, director of “Ketab-e Roshab” publishing house, announced the closure of the latter after its license was not renewed.
c) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
1.Seven individuals were executed in the month of Azar. The public prosecutor of Kermanshah Province announced the execution of four individuals. Government news agencies declared the charges against three of them as possession of drugs and one was charged with rape. “M. H”, in the city of Semnan, “Iraj. M”, “Mahmud. T” and “Nematolah. A” were executed in the city of Zahedan. Government news agencies declared their charges as possession of drugs.
2.Security forces prevented a meeting of political and civil rights activists in Isfahan with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the chairman of the Expediency Council.
3. The attorney general declared the arrest of two people in connection with the case of Mehdi Hashemi, son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
4.Some official Iranian media reported that a large number of underground studios, which were promoting vulgarity and were related to "counter-revolutionaries and enemies" of the Iranian nation, had been discovered and 30 Members of these networks had been arrested.

Section 2: Economic and Social Rights
1.The economic situation in Iran continues to be deteriorate, for example, the inflation rate reached 26.1 percent in Aban 1391[November 2012]. This level has been unprecedented in the past 15 years. Due to the bad economic conditions and shortages of raw materials, mainly because of adverse economic management and political sanctions, many workers have not been paid their overdue salaries for several months. For instance, Vice President of North Tea Factories Union announced that more that 65 of of 180 tea manufacturing units have been closed in the north of the country owing to improper government policies regarding purchase of tea leafs. Also 30 workers of the metal industry of Iran have become unemployed after the termination of their contract. Moreover, some 400 workers of the Zagros Khodro factory and 55 workers of Ahvaz urban railway companies have also become unemployed upon the closure of those factories. Meanwhile, the workers of Mahabad livestock complexes have not received their salaries for seven month. Also about 2400 workers of Saveh rolling mills and Safa tube factory went on strike in protest at the non-payment of their wages for six months.
2. The annual report of the Transparency International ranked Iran 133 among 170 countries in terms of government corruption. Iran’s rank was 120 in the 2011 report, which means its rank has fallen by ten grades.
3. Father of Hadi Daneshyar, a labours’ rights activist, who was sentenced to three years prison term, was arrested.
4.Shahnaz Sogand, wife of Ali Nejati, a board member of the syndicate of workers of Haft Tepe, was charged after he was summoned to court.
5. Reza Shahabi, a board member of the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), went on hunger strike to express his objection to the authorities for not pursuing his deteriorating physical condition and the offensive behaviour of the prison guards in hospital
6.Ramin Zandnia, Baha Maleki, Peyman Nodinian, Ali Qureyshi, Kamal Fakurian, Mostafa Sarbazan, Ezat Nosrati, Parviz Nasehi, Mohammad Sadigh Sadeghi, Hiva Ahmadi and Reza Vakili, eleven members of the Teachers Union of Kurdistan, were each sentenced to four months in jail, which have been suspended for two years. The banishment verdict of Mokhtar Asadi, a member of the Kurdistan Teachers Association, was renewed for the fifth consecutive year, and the travel ban of Hashem Khastar, a cultural activist, was renewed.
7. Forty-seven employees of Kerman Cultural Heritage Organization have not received any salary for about five months.
8) Payam Noor University officials refused the requests of some of the members of the university communities to hold a gathering to show their sympathy with children from the city of Piranshahr who lost their classmates in a fire incident.
Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment
Reports concerning cultural heritage and environment in the month of Azar also serve to indicate the unfavourable situation in those sectors.
1.Governmental statistics suggest that the wood harvested from forests in northern Iran in the year 1389-90 [2010-2011] amounted to over 1.5 million cubic meters.
2. Two hundred and fifty trees of the forest park “Jahan Nama” were cut down by contractors of the Ministry of Urban Development.
3.Water penetration into the foundation of the Freedom Tower, of Tehran threatens the foundation of the tower.
4.The explosion of an unidentified object in Larak Island, which according to residents of the island was like a sea mine, took the lives of two children.

Conclusion
In conclusion of this monthly report, I would like to draw the attention of the Islamic Republic's authorities to the plight of Iranian children especially those who either lack proper guardianship or have no guardians at all. I also would like to attract their attention to the necessity of providing minimum welfare and free education for all Iranian children. “Children are our future-builders; today we have to think about tomorrow."

Shirin Ebadi
Human Rights Defendant and 2003 Nobel Laureate
22 December 2012

Note: For further information regarding the above reports, please refer to the following news websites: Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Fars news agency, Mehr news agency, Young Journalists Club news agency, CDHR website, JARAS, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Nedaye Azadi, Baztab, HRANA, Ghanoon, Kaleme, Mohebbat News, Sunni Online, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Majzooban-e Noor, Melli Mazhabi, Nedaye Sabze Azadi, Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda and BBC.

Link:

http://www.humanrights-ir.org/php/view_en.php?objnr=828

Qods forces of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran in the terrorist list of Canada....

The Minister of Public Safety announces changes toCriminal Code list of terrorist entities 

OTTAWA, December 20, 2012 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, today announced that the Government of Canada has made changes to theCriminal Code list of terrorist entities.

“The list of terrorist entities sends a strong message that Canada will not tolerate terrorist activities, including terrorist financing, or those who support such activities,” said Minister Toews. “That is why Canada has made the principled decision to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force to the list.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force is the clandestine branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for extraterritorial operations, and for exporting the Iranian Revolution through activities such as facilitating terrorist operations.  The Qods Force provides arms, funding and paramilitary training to extremist groups, including the Taliban, Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the .. 

The Government of Canada has also completed its two year review of the Criminal Codelist of terrorist entities. This review found that 43 entities currently listed should remain on the list, and that the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) should be removed. The United States of America and the European Union have also recently removed the MEK from their terrorist entities list.

While it is not a crime to be a member of a listed entity, under the Criminal Code, any person or group listed may have their assets seized and forfeited. There may be severe penalties for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity.  In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity. This offence and other related offences are set out, in full, in the Criminal Code.

The names of listed entities under the Criminal Code can be found on the Public Safety Canada Web site at www.publicsafety.gc.ca under National Security, Listed Entities.

Information:Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Link:

http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/media/nr/2012/nr20121220-eng.aspx

UN Condemns Human Rights Violation in Iran again ....and again .....

UN condemn human rights violations in Syria, Iran and North Korea and demands immediate halt

Thursday, December 20, 2012

By Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press

 

The U.N. General Assembly condemned human rights violations in Syria, Iran and North Korea on Thursday and demanded an immediate halt to actions ranging from attacks on civilians to torture and restrictions on freedom of movement.
The 193-member world body voted 135-12 with 36 abstentions in favour of a resolution demanding an immediate end to "widespread and systematic" gross human rights violations by Syrian authorities. It approved a resolution calling for an end to Iran's continuing use of torture, the death penalty and execution of minors by a vote of 86-32 with 65 abstentions.
For the first time, the 193-member world body approved a resolution targeting human rights violations in North Korea by consensus. It expressed serious concern at continuing reports of "systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights" in the reclusive east Asian nation.
The Syria resolution called on the government to protect civilians and immediately release all people who have been arbitrarily detained. It expressed grave concern at the increasing number of people fleeing their homes to escape the escalating violence in the 21-month war.
Syria's delegate said the resolution hindered the search for peaceful solutions and accused co-sponsors Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Morocco of escalating the violence by their intervention in Syria's internal affairs which has led to the deaths of thousands of Syrians.
The Iran resolution expressed deep concern at the country's continuing use of torture, the death penalty and execution of minors, and the increasing and systematic targeting of human rights defenders including lawyers and journalists. It urged the government to immediately release all those detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and to ensure "free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential elections in 2013."
Iran's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Khazaee, singled out Canada and the United States, which have been major backers of the annual resolution, for criticism saying the measure was introduced "for political purposes" and didn't reflect conditions in Iran.
"We have a choice of whether to advance the promotion and protection of human rights through serious engagement, or to set it back with politicized and unbalanced resolutions," Khazaee said.
The North Korea resolution also accused the government of committing "systematic, widespread and grave" violations of human rights, including against vulnerable groups including women, children, the disabled and the elderly. It criticized the government's use of torture and prison camps severe restriction on movement and persecution of those who attempt to travel abroad.
A diplomat from North Korea's U.N. mission who refused to be named dismissed the resolution as propaganda for a fabricated human rights situation, saying it created confrontation and blocked dialogue and co-operation.
Link:
http://www.vancouversun.com/mobile/news/world-
news/condemn+human+rights+violations+Syria+Iran+
North+Korea+demands/7728967/story.html

York University professors,students and graduates nominated Nasrin Sotoudeh the Iranian imprisoned human rights lawyer for this year's honorary degree !

According to news ,professors,students,graduate students of York University in Canada , in a petition to university Senate , nominated Nasrin Sotoudeh ,the Iranian imprisoned human rights lawyer for this years honorary Doctorate degree in Law.

In a statement the professors ,students and graduate students hope that ,the university will choose Nasrin Sotoudeh as the winner of this year honorary Doctorate degree in law.
Link:
http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/news.jsp?essayId=49887
   

Ayatollah Khomeini's pro-democracy granddaughter: I fear arrest

A granddaughter of Iran's first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has attacked the current regime's "deviation" from the goals of his revolution, criticised leaders for failing to allow democracy to flourish, and said she fears arrest and jail.

Iran - Naeimeh Eshraghi, a Tehran-based engineer, has told The Daily Telegraph that she wants to see an opening up of Iranian society with people free to express themselves.  But she also warned the West that the crippling sanctions being imposed on Iran were having the effect of increasing the suffering of the people while having little impact on the leaders. Mrs Eshraghi is an enthusiastic user of Facebook and has on occasion shared her pro-democracy views and made critical comments about the country's leadership. She has built up a following of about 5,000 friends on her account, which she can access only by using illegal "filtering busting" technology that circumvents the country's firewall. She said she felt it was a duty to resist the increasingly harsh system imposed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, her grandfather's successor as a Supreme Leader. "My grandfather's system of spiritual guidance of the government rested its legitimacy on people's consent," she said. "Today this theory of government has split many sections of our society from the regime and has led to a deviation from the earlier right path of the revolution." Full Story>>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/

middleeast/iran/9746686/Ayatollah-Khomeinis-pro-

democracy-granddaughter-I-fear-arrest.html

Mehmanparast spokesperson for Islamic regime Foreign affairs : The case of Khavari will be followed by Judiciary- Security officials as well as Foreign affairs officials !

News:

On Tuesday Ramin Mehmanparast in his weekly meeting with reporters about Khavari the former head of " Bank Melli Iran " (Iranian National Bank)

 who have fled to Canada after 3000 billion Tuman embezzlement ,said: The judiciary and security officials will follow the case of Khavari and Ministry of Foreign Affairs  will also take necessary steps against those who have damaged our national interest , but the major role remains with Judiciary and security officials to follow Khavari's case.
Link:
http://isna.ir/fa/news/91092816525

Iranian workers protest more often ........

30,000 Iranian workers in a petition to parliament demanded for increase in their salaries and their labor rights and called for an end to anti labor laws !
Representative of Iranian Workers gathered in front of Parliament to protest Islamic Regime labor policies .

Link:
http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/article.jsp?essayId=49825

News:
According to Reza Shahabi's wife and daughter who visited him in prison,

Reza Shahabi the Iranian imprisoned worker and board member of " Sherkat Vahed " ( Bus Drivers Union ) in protest to his situation in prison and daily insult and threat by prison interrogators and prosecutors started wet hunger strike. He is also stop taking his medication.

More than 100 Iranian Journalist demanded judiciary power legally punish the interrogator and torturer of Alireza Rajaei the imprisoned Iranian journalist !

More than 100 Iranian Journalist in a letter to Mohammad Sadegh Larijani head of Judiciary Power demanded legally punish the interrogator and torturer of Alireza Rejaei the imprisoned journalist. Alireza Rejaei is an Iranian journalist and a member of the Association of Iranian Syndicate Journalist. Mr. Rejaei was pro - green movement and pro - reformists movement and had written articles for reformists newspapers.Mr. Rejaei was arrested in May 2011 at his home by security forces of the Islamic Republic and spent many weeks in solitary confinement and then was transferred to ward number 350 in Evin prison.Mr. Rejaei first was sentenced to three years imprisonment and later to six years. The reason why the Journalist wrote this protest letter is because, one of the Sepah interrogator ( with alias as "Osat" ) told Mr. Rejaei's wife that ; "I'm going to transfer your husband to Rejaei Shahr prison or to Borazjan prison and you go divorce your husband" , which angered the journalists around the country and abroad.
Link:
http://www.rahesabz.net/story/63372/ 

40th Day commemoration of Satar Beheshti the Iranian blogger and worker killed while in police detention- In this film his mother holding his photo banner and his sister holding his picture in cemetery in Robat Karim district - They call -cry for justice for all those who have killed by this Islamic Regime !

Human Rights Watch........

Iran: Activists Fleeing Assault on Civil Society
Steady Stream Seeking Refuge Abroad

(Beirut, December 14, 2012) – The space in Iran for civil society has been shrinking since the crackdown following the disputed presidential election in 2009, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Three-and-a-half years after government forces brutally suppressed largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations, hundreds of activists have sought temporary refuge and an uncertain future in neighboringTurkey and Iraqi Kurdistan in the face of harassment and detention at home.

The 62-page report, “Why they Left: Stories of Iranian Activists in Exile,” documents the experiences of dozens of rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, and lawyers whom security and intelligence forces targeted because they spoke out against the government. Some who took part in anti-government protests after the 2009 election had never been politically active before, but suddenly found themselves in the crosshairs of security and intelligence forces.

“The post-2009 crackdown has profoundly affected civil society in Iran,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The images of police beating protesters mercilessly may have faded from television and computer screens, but many Iranian activists continue to make the painful choice to abandon homes and families.”

No truly independent rights organizations can openly operate in Iran’s current political climate. Many prominent human rights defenders and journalists are in prison or exile, and other activists face constant harassment and arbitrary arrest.

Since 2009, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of civil society activists who have applied for asylum and resettlement to third countries. According to statistics compiled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Iranians filed 11,537 new asylum applications to 44 countries in 2009; 15,185 in 2010; and 18,128 in 2011.

The largest number of new asylum applications was lodged in neighboring Turkey, where there was a 72 percent increase in the number of Iranian asylum seekers between 2009 and 2011. Due to its proximity to Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan is also a significant recipient of Iranian asylum seekers, especially those from the Kurdish minority. The testimony of these activists, many of whom remain politically active as refugees in Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan, shed light on the unprecedented pressures on civil society in Iran that began during the first term of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005, Human Rights Watch said.

Many Iranian refugees and asylum seekers interviewed by Human Rights Watch described difficult conditions and long processing times for their asylum applications during their stay in Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. The main concerns of those in Turkey included restrictions on their freedom of movement, burdensome residency fees, their inability to acquire work permits, and lack of access to health services. Refugees and asylum seekers in Iraqi Kurdistan also expressed concern about restrictions on their movements, threats, harassment, and arbitrary regulations imposed on them by Kurdish Regional Government authorities, often because of their continued political activities.

The Turkish government has so far refused the request of Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, to visit the country in his official capacity to meet with and interview these asylum seekers and refugees. Dr. Shaheed’s position was established under a UN Human Rights Council resolution in March 2011.

Human Rights Watch called on Ankara to immediately allow Shaheed access to the country so he can carry out his UN mandate. Human Rights Watch also called on the Turkish government to create conditions that will allow registered refugees and asylum seekers to live and work comfortably while they await resettlement to a third country.

Human Rights Watch urged the Kurdish Regional Government to protect the safety and welfare of Iranian refugees and refrain from threats or harassment against those who continue to pursue nonviolent political or rights activities during their time as refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan.

“The countries in the region need to protect the refugees from Iran and treat them with compassion and dignity,” Stork said. “Countries outside the region should offer generous resettlement opportunities for Iranian refugees who urgently need to leave the region and have no other options for durable asylum, and speedily process their claims.”

Please see selected cases below.

“Why they Left: Stories of Iranian Activists in Exile” is available at:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/12/14/why-they-left-0

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Iran, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/middle-eastn-africa/iran

Letter of Nasrin Sotoudeh from Evin prison after 49 days of hunger strike ......

Nasrin Sotoudeh in a letter from prison: Thank you all for supporting me during my 49 days of hunger strike !
Nasrin Sotoudeh :While on Hunger Strike ,still acted as lawyer !
The reason why i went on hunger strike was because ,i wanted to say a BIG NO to family punishment ( Why regime should punish my family and 12 years old daughter instead of me?)

11 Dec.2012
"My clients by my side and tens of political prisoners who are in prison because of their noble work , and while it is a difficult time but it is valuable.Being beside human rights and political activists and prisoners of conscience , Bahai and Christian compatriot whom i had the honor to defend some of them as lawyer and now i'm spending time in prison with them.These people have been unjustly sentenced to imprisonment just because they wanted to live based on their believes.But after all cruelties ,the regime started punishing the family members of the prisoners.First they persecuted my husband and then they opened new court file against him. After the arrest of my family members and my children ,although for few hours,again they opened new case file for my 12 years old daughter and then in a hasty decision making, they banned her travelling abroad."

Link in Farsi:
http://www.iranglobal.info/node/13101

    

Iranian Students gathered in Tehran University on Dec.10 International Human Rights Day !

On Monday Dec.10 International Human Rights Day, Iranian Students gathered in Tehran University and heard Seyed Mohammad Khatami the former reformist president via computer monitor who congratulated students for Student's Day ( Dec.7 is Iranian Day of Student) and demanded all political prisoners be released and warned about the danger threatening the lives of  Mr. Mir Hossein Musavi the former Prime Minister and the 2009 presidential candidate and his wife Mrs. Zahra Rahnavard  and also Mr. Mehdi Karoubi the former speaker of the parliament and as well a candidate for presidential election of 2009 .who are all under house arrest since 2009.
Here are pictures of last Mondays gathering :

Link:
http://news.gooya.com/didaniha/archives/2012/12/151854.php
 

Human Rights Violation continues around the world .....Where is the world on Human rights philosophy, Think on defending Human rights in your own country of origin from today .......Take active role - Defend human rights ......Expose leaders of the countries speak on human rights but act against it - Expose double standard ......Focus on Middle East ....

On This Day: Every December 10 is celebrated as Human Rights Day. In 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is the first global enunciation of human rights. The Declaration was formally established when the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly adopted resolution 423(V). 

Reza Hasanzadeh Ashrafi a journalist from Mazanderan province is arrested !

Acording to news Reza Hassanzadeh Ashrafi an Iranian journalist from Mazanderan province is arrested . Mr. Hasanzadeh is the proprietor of " Diar Sabz " newspaper. Diar Sabz started its publication from 2003 and until now it had published more than 624 issues and each issue with 24 pages.
Based on news , Mr. Hasanzadeh made a complaint against the Governor General of the city of Behshahr ,but later with the mediation by Governor and few others withdraw his complaint ,despite of withdrawal ,he has been arrested and detained. In recent months complaint against journalists and newspapers of this province has increased and last week another journalist from Freidoon Kenar was arrested and detained because of a complaint by a bank.

Link:
http://www.akhbar-rooz.com/news.jsp?essayId=49619

Mehrdad Sarjouei Iranian Journalist is sentenced to three years imprisonment !

Mehrdad Sarjouei was former parliamentarian reporter of English Newspapers in Iran "Iran News and Tehran Times" . He spent 10 months of the last year in temporary custody and on Wednesday Nov.28 he was transferred to Ward 350 in Evin prison to spent the rest of his three years sentence.Mr. Sarjouei was  parliamentarian political reporter and was arrested at his home on 2011 by security forces and was immediately transferred to ward 209 in Evin prison..At the beginning he was accused of "espionage " and then later judge Pir- Abbasi  another security judge, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges of " Writing articles, analysis , interviews for the interest and in collaboration of hostile countries " . After 10 months temporary custody at the end of April this year ,he was released on bail. From 2006 -2011 Mehrdad was in charge of public relation in expediency council of the Islamic Republic .
Link:
http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2012/12/151689.php

Majid Dori a jailed student activist: Congratulation on Student's Day !

University is the voice of protest against despotism and students must keep the students movement alive! 

Shanzdah Azar ( Dec.7 ) is Students Day in Iran. Majid Dori a jailed student activist congratulated all students including those deprived from study , those with stars in front of their name and those expelled from schools. Majid Dori was arrested on Aug. 2009 and since Oct. 2010 he was transferred from ward 350 of Evin prison to Behbehan prison in the province of Khuzestan.
Link:
http://www.kaleme.com/1391/09/16/klm-123082/

Majid Tavakoli's Mother:" I haven't seen my son for 37 months" !

A mother request from Islamic Judiciary !Let us hear the voice of our son!

Excerpts from an interview by " Jaras" with Majid Tavakoli's mother .
Majid Tavakoli's mom : I haven't seen my son for 37 months.
Three years has passed since the imprisonment of Majid Tavakoli one of Iranian student leader. He was arrested three years ago in Polytechnic University on Students' Day " Shanzdah Azar".

Majid was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment and is deprived from school for life. Majid is currently in Rejaei Shahr prison. Judge MoGhiseh one of several judges including Said Mortazavi who is connected to security forces of the Islamic Republic added another six months to Majid's prison term because he didn't cooperate with him, speaking against those who have published his letter from jail.
Majid's mother in answer to "Jaras" question on , How is his situation? said : I'ts been for 37,38 months that i didn't see him , i don't know about his situation, only his brother visiting him once in several months.
She says: We live in the city of Shiraz and it's difficult for us and both me and his father are sick to travel all the way and they don't let Majid to visit us. And since Feb. 2010 they banned telephone conversation with him.We wrote letter and phoned judiciary officials but no answer. All we want is to let us to hear his voice .In a Islamic country ,do we have right to hear our son's voice?
and the rest of the story goes on....................
Link:
http://www.rahesabz.net/story/62985/
   

A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in Aban 1391 [October- November 2012]

Thu 22 11 2012

Shirin Ebadi, Human Rights Defender and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, in continuation of her monthly reports, has reviewed the human rights situation in Iran in Aban 1391 [October- November 2012]. According to the website of the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights [CDHR], Dr. Ebadi starts her Aban report by addressing the situation in Iranian prisons and the plight of political detainees and prisoners of conscience in the country. As evidence of the appalling prison conditions in Iran, Ms. Ebadi highlights the case of Satar Beheshti, a blogger who was arrested by the police and subsequently died in prison. Several prisoners of Ward 350 of Evin Prison said that they had witnessed the signs of torture on Satar’s body. The human rights defender continues her report on the situation of prisoners of conscience by highlighting the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh who is on a hunger strike in protest at the pressure imposed on her children. Ms. Ebadi notes that while the Islamic Republic has named one of the most important streets of Tehran “Bobby Sands”, after an Irish activist who died on hunger strike while imprisoned, it has punished Nasrin Sotoudeh for her hunger strike by keeping her in solitary confinement for around 19 days.
Ms. Ebadi has named Mir-Hossein Moosavi, Mehdi Hashemi-Rafsanjani and Mir Taher Moosavi as prisoners of conscience whose lives are in danger due to their lack of access to medical facilities.
Humiliation and degradation of prisoners of conscience are among the issues mentioned by the human rights activist in her report. Other issues include: Forcing prisoners to attend trial in shackles and handcuffs, the raid by security forces on the women's ward of Evin Prison, and the improper frisking of female political prisoners.
The human rights activist continues her report by examining the human rights situation under three categories: “civil and political rights”, economic and social rights”, “cultural heritage and environment”. The civil and political rights section, in addition to identifying the political and civil rights activists who have been summoned to prison to serve their sentences, highlights the execution of 40 individuals, most of which took place in public. In relation to the pressures imposed on prisoners of conscience, the report mentions their transfer from the general wards of Evin Prison to solitary confinement in Evin’s Ward 209. The report has also highlights the banning of imprisoned family members from meeting each other.
The following is the text of Mrs. Ebadi’s report for Aban 1391, published on 1 Azar [21 November 2012].
A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in Aban 1391[October- November 2012]
Introduction
Human Rights Situation in Iran in Mehr 1391
The situation of prisoners of conscience has deteriorated to the extent that a young blogger “Satar Beheshti” died under torture in jail several days after his arrest. Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned lawyer who is on the second of her six-year prison sentence has been on hunger strike since a month ago in protest at the prison authorities’ refusal to allow her to see her children and at the opening of a criminal case against her 13-year-old daughter, who has been banned from leaving the country. Nasrin’s health has been deteriorating owing to her hunger strike.
Whereas the Islamic Republic has named one of the most important streets of Tehran “Bobby Sands”, after an Irish activist who died on hunger strike while imprisoned, the prison authorities have imposed a disciplinary punishment on Nasrin Sotoudeh for her hunger strike by keeping her in solitary confinement for around 19 days.
While ordinary prisoners have the right to go on sick leave and receive medical treatment outside prison, prisoners of conscience’s lack of access to medical facilities has put their lives in danger. Mir Hossein Moosavi, Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mir Tahar Moosavi are among such prisoners.
Humiliation and degradation of political prisoners have increased dramatically. Mojtaba Hosseini, Mohammad Reza Partovi and Vahid Hakaki were led into court in shackles and handcuffs. Several female political prisoners went on hunger strike for a week in protest at the security forces’ raid on Evin Prison’s women's ward and the frisking of the political prisoners in a manner described by the female political prisoners as offensive.
Although regulations in relation to the management of the country’s prisons provide imprisoned family members with the right of visitation, political prisoners have been denied such a right. Kobra Banazadeh, Mohammad Banazadeh, Faran Hesami and Kamran Rahimiyan who are kept in Evin and Raja’i-Shahr prisons are among those who have been denied visitation rights. Unfortunately, the number of such prisoners is high and the names mentioned above are only a few examples.
Received reports indicate that Iran’s officials do not even respect their own laws regarding political prisoners. For almost two years now Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Moosavi and Mehdi Karrubi have been kept in an unknown place without being charged or convicted of any crime. None of the state’s organizations have acknowledged responsibility for their house arrest.
Based on the above-mentioned issues and received information, it seems that owing to the atrocious situation in Iran's prisons, Ahmad Shaheed, the special rapporteur for human rights in Iran has been refused entry into Iran, and international personalities and human rights organizations have been prevented from inspecting prisons.
The report on human rights situation in Iran in Aban 1391, which has been based on material taken from various newspapers and websites, will appear in both English and Persian in three sections, upon verification of the sources.
Section 1: Political and Civil Rights
A) Situation of Nonconformist Political-Social Activists
1. Twenty-one individuals were arrested this month. Some of them were released on bail after several days. Those arrested include the following: Hadi Arab Ghobadi and Ahmad Shahrezai, both of whom had been arrested once before during the 2009 post-election unrest, Mehdi Khazali, a political activist, Majid Said Arabazad, a lawyer, Jamal Ameli, a civil rights activist, Mohsen Ghashghaei Zadeh, Pejman Zafarmand, Hojatolah Nakhostin, Afshin Ghorbani Nejad, Mohammad Parsi, Amin Arman, Mohammad Farid, Mehdi Karimi, Akbar Amini, Mohammad Bagher Moradi, Mohammadreza Ahmadi, Reza Mahjub. The list of those arrested this month also includes the followingfour individuals who had recently converted to Christianity: Shahab Samimi, his wife Fariba Karim Khani, Farshad Rahimdel and Yaser Mirza Zanjani.
2. Yashar Darolshafa, a Masters graduate from Tehran University reported to prison to serve his five and half years sentence. Masood Sadeghi, a supporter of Nehzat-e Azadi [Freedom Movement] began his six-year prison sentence and received 74 lashes. Hakimeh Shokri, a supporter of Park Laleh Mothers and Mourning Mothers was taken to prison to start her three-year prison term. Seyedin Borojeni, Vahid Aligholi Poor, Majid Sedaghat and Abulfazl Ghasemi likewise reported to prison to begin their respective one-year prison sentences.
3. Omid Kukabi, a post-doctoral student of nuclear physics at Texas University, who has been in prison for the past 21 months and had already been sentenced to 10 years in prison, was tried again and sentenced to [another] 91 days imprisonment on charges of obtaining money from illegal sources. The appeal court sentenced Mohammad Hassan Taheri to a four-year prison term in one of the Tehran’s prison. Davar Hosseini Vejdan, a student who is currently in prison, was given a six-year prison term. According to Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), Mr. Saburi, a senior political analyst at the Interior Ministry, was sentenced to a one-year prison term on charges of committing fraud in the 2009 election, and a political activist, named Gudarzi, was convicted to eight years imprisonment; both men’s sentences were endorsed by the appeal court.
4. Saeed Madani, a scholar and member of the National-Religious Movement, who was arrested on 7 January 2012, kept in solitary confinement for two and half months and subjected to sever torture, was twice transferred to the General Ward. However, he was returned to solitary confinement each time after only spending a few days in the General Ward. The University professor has been kept in solitary confinement for around one year already and subjected to sever torture.
5. Another instance of human rights violation concerns the unfair punishment of relatives of political prisoners who attempt to inform the public about the plight of their imprisoned family members. This month, Maryam Sharbatdar Ghods, wife of Feyzollah Arab Sorkhi, an imprisoned member of Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization, was summoned to court. Majid Dori, an imprisoned student who has been barred from continuing with his education, wrote a letter of protest regarding the pressures imposed on his family and the mental torture and harassment they had been subjected to. Masumeh Dehghan, wife of Abdolfatah Soltani, an imprisoned lawyer, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, which has been suspended for five years. She has also been barred from leaving the country for five years.
6. According to a warrant issued by the Revolutionary Court, the residence of Ayatollah Shariatmadari a mojtahed who had criticized the Iranian authorities for years before his death under house arrest, is to be evacuated and given to the "Executive Committee of the Imam commands".
7. The court session for Ehsan Hushmand, a member of the National-Religious Movement, was held. Molud Khancheh Zard, a Kurdish teacher from the city of Bukan, was summoned to the city’s investigation office.
8. Semnan University’s Islamic Association of Students has been suspended for two months.
9. An Islamic Republic’s Judiciary official issued a warrant for the National Union of the Bar Associations to be sealed, under the pretext of "illegal activity".
10. Farid Mohammad Zadeh, who was accepted on an undergraduate program at Isfahan University in 2007 and a Masters program at the same university in 2011, was expelled from the university because of his faith (Baha’i).
11. The authorities barred the Sunni Id al-Adha prayers in Tehran. Moreover, the Arafeh prayer ceremony in Hoseyniyeh Ershad mosque in Tehran was also prevented by officers from Nilufar police station.
12. A memorial ceremony marking the seventh night after the death of Ahmad Ghabel, a religious intellectual who had developed cancer in prison following his arrest after the 2009 presidential election, and died whilst released on bail, was cancelled on the orders of the security forces. Women were also prevented from visiting the grave of the late Ayatollah Montazari, a dissident source of emulation.
13. Mahsa Amrabadi and Masood Bastani, Jila Baniyaghub and Bahman Ahmadi Amooi, Kefayat Malek Mohammadi and Asghar Mahmudiyan, Motahareh Bahrami and Mohsen Daneshpur, Reyhaneh Haj Ebrahim Dabagh and Ahmad Daneshpur, Soghra Gholam Nejad and Vali Gholam Nejad, Faran Hesami and Kamran Rahimiyan are among imprisoned married couples who have either been totally banned from meeting each other or have only been granted the occasional restricted visitation time. Shabnam Madadzadeh and Farzad Madadzadeh, Lava Khanjani and Foad Khanjani, Kobra and Mohammad Banazadeh are imprisoned siblings who have not seen each other. Imprisoned father and daughter Mashalah and Negar Haeri have also been barred from visiting each other.
B) Situation Regarding Books, Media, Writers and Journalists
1.Satar Beheshti, a young blogger died in prison under torture following his arrest by the police. Several prisoners of Ward 350 of Evin Prison said that they had witnessed the signs of torture on Satar’s body.
2. Alireza Roshan, a poet and journalist, reported to Evin Prison to serve his one-year prison term.
3. “Neday Garus” weekly in the city of Sanandaj was closed down on the orders of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
4. Mosayeb Naeimi, editor-in-chief of Iran newspaper, was sentenced to pay a cash fine of 100,000,000 Rials instead of prison, while a court session was held with regards to a complaint lodged against the editor-in-chief of “Hemat va Moje Andisheh” publication. Meanwhile, Mohammadreza Taghavifard, editor-in-chief of Khorshid Newspaper, was also summoned to court.
5. The seventh death anniversary of Manouchehr Atashi, modernist poet, critic and member of the Iranian Writers' Association, was cancelled by the security forces.
6. A concert by Vahid Taj and “Sepid va Siyah” group was cancelled in the city of Ahvaz, while another concert by“Ahang-e Eshtiyagh” group, conducted by Ali Ghamsari, with Alireza Ghorbani as its lead singer, was cancelled in the city of Mashhad’s Ferdusi University.
7. The program of “Sara-ye Ahl-e Ghalam” centre was cancelled and 70 participants were arrested by the security forces. However, a large number of them were released later. Mehdi Khazali, who had already been arrested several times before, was arrested again and, according to his family, he has been on hunger strike since his arrest.
8. A movie named “Khasteh Nabashid”, in which Baran Kosari acts, was forbidden.
9. The court session for Fatemeh Kheradmand, a journalist was held.
10. According to ILNA the per capital study time in Iran has dropped to two minutes a day.
c) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
1.Forty individuals were executed in the month of Aban. Ahmad Tahri, son of Ali Akbar, Shahram Yadolahi, son of Ali, Yusef Karimkhani Zarnaghi, son of Mahmud, Ghader Maleki, son of Moharam, Asgar Faraji Nayeri, son of Soleyman, Abdolghader Hadi Tajik, son of Abdolah (Abdol), Seyyed Jalal Hosseini, son of Enayatolah, Hamid Gholami, son of Yarvali, Ghahreman Ghasemi Karam Javan, son of Aliasghar, Ebrahim Barahoei, son of Siyah Khan, Farshid Rostami, son of Hossein, Farhad Mashhadi Abolghasem, son of Javad, Ali Darvishi, son of Reza, Abas Abasi Namaki, son of Alahgholi, Saeed Sadighi, son of Ebrahim, Hamid Rabie, son of Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Ali Rabie, son of Ali, Alireza Molaei, son of Ali, Eshagh Loregi, son of Darabas and Yusef Parmar , son of Gholam in Tehran, “F. B” in Neyriz, “A. A”, “SH. M”, “N. T”, “N. H”, “Parviz. K”, “Majid. D”, “Feyz Mohammad. M”, “Ali. M” and “Reza. D” were executed in Shiraz. Government news agencies declared their charges as possession of drugs. Public Relations and Communications department of Ministry of Justice in Ardebil province declared the execution of one person in Ardebil. Deputy Public Prosecutor of Qazvin has announced the death of three individuals in Qazvin. The above mentioned legal entities declared their charges as possession of drugs. “Behzad. A”, “Mehdi. M” and “Meysam. M” were executed in public in Arak. According to news agencies affiliated to the government they were charged with rape. Three Baluchi prisoners namely Abdolbaset Rigi, Abdoljalil Kahrazehi and Yahya Chari Zehi were executed in Zahedan Prison. According to some websites, they were charged with membership in political groups.
2.Ali and Razgar (Habib) Afshari, both Kurdish prisoners, have formally received their death sentences from the executive office of Orumiyeh Prison. The Chief Justice of Yazd Province announced that two persons, who were charged with rape, are awaiting execution. The Public Prosecutor of the city of Ravar announced that a married couple had been sentenced to death, on charges of transport and possession of drugs.
3. The Chief Justice of Yazd Province declared that the punishment of amputation of four fingers of two individuals, charged with theft, would be carried out in public. Deputy Public Prosecutor of Ghaemshahr announced that the punishment of flogging in public for an individual identified as “A”, would be carried out in public; the said individual has been charged with illegal relationship.
4. The Police chief of the city of Kashmar announced the arrest of a number of students; without mentioning the identity or the number of the arrested students, he ascribed the arrest to the students’ behaviour.
5. Parasto Foroohar’s passport was confiscated in the airport upon her arrival in Tehran. She is a well-known artist and daughter of Parvaneh and Daryush Foroohar, who were killed 13 years ago by the security forces. She was barred from commemorating the death anniversary for her parents.
6. The Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of a group, which he described as "terrorists elements affiliated to foreign intelligence services".
Section 2: Economic and Social Rights
1. According to the vice-president of the economic commission of the Majles, between 60 to 70 percent of the factories in Iran have been closed and the rest are in recession or on the verge of closure.
2.Due to the bad economic conditions and shortages of raw materials, mainly because of adverse economic management and political sanctions, many workers have not been paid their overdue salaries for several months. For instance, more than 200 workers of Samand tile factory have not received any salaries for four months. Thirty-seven workers of Partis Semnan factory have not been paid for three months. The number of workers at the aforementioned factory has been reduced from 2500 to only 37 individuals. Moreover, 300 workers of Fajr Petrochemical factory have left their jobs in protest at lack of increase in their salaries.
3. Following a strike by workers of the Safa tube-rolling factory, which ended after five hours with the employer's pledge to pay the unpaid salaries of the workers, factory guards prevented Mohammad Rauf, a worker’s rights activist from entering the factory.
4. Naser Mohammad Zadeh, Vahid Fereydoni and Ali Noorani, three members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company were dismissed from their jobs. Similarly, 30 workers of Palvar Company in the industrial city of Kaveh were fired.
5. Pedram Nasrollahi, a worker’s rights activist, was arrested.
6. Ali Nejati, a board member of the syndicate of Workers of Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Company, was questioned at the first branch of the court in the city of Shush.
Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment
Reports concerning cultural heritage and environment in the month of Aban also serve to indicate the unfavourable situation in those sectors.
1.The Head of the Environmental Organization announced that 90 percent of measures adopted to restore the Lake Orumiyeh have not been implemented.
2. The head of Khoram Abad Rural Water and Sewers Organization declared that 75 to 100 percent of surface water, springs and canals in the city have been dried up.
Conclusion
In conclusion of this monthly report, I would like to draw the attention of the Islamic Republic's authorities to the growing crisis in political, economic and social spheres. To overcome the crisis, it is essential to respect human rights and adhere to its standards. The first step to that end would be the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
Shirin Ebadi
Human Rights Defendant and 2003 Nobel Laureate
21 November 2012
Note: For further information regarding the above reports, please refer to the following news websites: Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Fars news agency, Mehr news agency, Young Journalists Club news agency, CDHR website, JARAS, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Nedaye Azadi, Baztab, HRANA, Ghanoon, Kaleme, Mohebbat News, Sunni Online, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Majzooban-e Noor, Melli Mazhabi, Nedaye Sabze Azadi, Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda and BBC. 

Link:

http://www.humanrights-ir.org/php/view_en.php?objnr=805

Wave of Iranian working class on its way to show their power !

Islamic regime in Iran is playing with fire. This regime in the coming future will face yet another wave of  protest , but this time from the powerful Iranian working class.In the past we have seen so many different protest by labor union and workers from different industrial sectors, but these streams are coming together and will create  a powerful force to wash Islamic republic. Those Islamic regime officials in power may still today ignore the Iranian working class and their demands but time is running out .In last few months several workers protest were reported like the one in Isfahan.Many of these workers haven't received their salaries for months, one such workers are the workers of " Mazanderan Nassaji workers" (Textile Workers of Mazanderan) who haven't received their salary for 18 months and another example is workers of " Tik Tak " factory in the city of Ghazvin , these workers haven't received their salaries for the last two months and the factory is closed because of the lack of materials and exchange for foreign currencies .This week around 300 of  Mazanderan Textile workers  traveled to Tehran from Mazanderan and protested in front of Majlis ( Parliament ).Here is two photo from these gathering.

Link:
http://www.ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=25364
http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/289308/اين-سي-نفر-کجا-و-آن-سيصد-نفر-کج
    

NEWS >>>>>>>

News From Iran.....

Judiciary spokesperson on Said Malekpour the Iranian -Canadian web designer : 
Mr. Mohseni Ejei spokesperson for judiciary power in his 40th session with reporters,when asked by reporter from ISNA about the stop on the death sentence of Said Malekpour the Iranian -Canadian web designer (who was sentenced to death on the charges of " connection with a website propagating pornography)because of " Toubeh" ( his confession and remorse ), he said: " To Answer your question, i would like to say, the sentence haven't been executed yet. "
Link in Farsi Language:
http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2012/12/151451.php

Ejei on the death of Satar Beheshti the Iranian blogger in custody of security forces :

"So far seven police officers were arrested and interrogated and detained. He added , on Satar Beheshti's case an extensive and  serious investigation has began.From these people arrested two or three people are released and the rest are in custody."According to another report Commander Ahmadi Moghadam the head of police force ordered commander Said Shokrian to be removed from his office.
Link:

http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2012/12/151451.php

Nasrin Sotoudeh Iranian Human Rights Lawyer ended hunger strike after 49 days !

Reza Khandan ,Nasrin Sotoudeh's husband reported on Tuesday that ,Nasrin ended the hunger strike after the judiciary removed ban on her daughters ( Mehraveh 13 years old) travel to abroad. Nasrin ended hunger strike after 49 days . Reza Khandan thanked all who have thought about her health and stood with Nasrin and supported her.

Nasrin thought us not to bend on the pressure by regime when it comes to human rights / individual rights.Regime gave up on banning Mehraveh's travel with her father to abroad.
Nasrin started hunger strike on Oct.17 after judge banned her daughters travel abroad, she believed her case has nothing to do with her 13 years old daughter.She was thrown into solitary confinement on Oct.31 without any explanation and finally after 49 days of hunger strike on Tuesday Dec.4 ,2012 she ended the hunger strike in Evin prison.
Link:
http://persian.iranhumanrights.org/1391/09/sotoudeh_strike-5/


 

Sotoudeh – Panahi: European Parliament Takes a Stand

Monday, 03 December 2012 16:35

Stop Fundamentalism – Pictures of jailed Iranian human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh and Iranian famous filmmaker Jafar Panahi decorate European Parliament's main entrance, as a gesture of support for the two Iranian dissidents who have won this years Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, 49, an Iranian woman lawyer is currently on her seventh week of hunger strike in Iranian Evin prison to protest mistreatment of women political prisoners in Iran and also mistreatment of her husband and daughter.

Sotoudeh's husband along with their 12-year-old daughter have been banned from leaving the country.

Sotoudeh continues an unlimited hunger strike and her husband reports that she has become quite weak and her life could be in danger.

Sotoudeh and Panahi, both have received six years prison terms for campaigning against the security interests of Iran.  Their cases are not related.  Also, while they both have been banned from leaving the country, the European Parliament insists on having them present at the 2012 Sakharov prize award ceremony held on December 26 during the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg.

There are no indications showing that any of the two will be able to attend the award ceremony.

Meanwhile Nasrin Sotoudeh's health remains the subject of great concern for international observers as she continues on her hunger strike.

Link:

http://www.stopfundamentalism.com

Member of the Commission on National Security: Members of Parliament will visit Evin Prison !

ILNA - Iran Labor News Agency reported that;member of the commission on National security and foreign policy of the parliament in a meeting with reporters about the situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh the political prisoner in Women ward of the Evin prison said :

"To end the contradicting reports ,today the commission decided to select a delegate to visit Evin prison and to attend at women ward and find out if there are unlawful problems and if the reports about Mrs. Sotoudeh is correct ,we will call Mr. Bakhtiary the Attorney General ( Minister) to come forward and answer questions."
Therefore,one MP will attend at Evin prison and see the situation and make a report.
Link:
http://www.ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=24570  

Nasrin Sotoudeh the brave Iranian lawyer, human rights defender , women and children rights lawyer on her 46 days of hunger strike in protest against her situation in Evin prison !

46 Days of hunger strike !
Nasrin's Sotoudeh's husband says, her situation has reached to a new dangerous point, in a way she need to be transferred to prison clinic almost every day.

Nasrin has received recognition by international communities of human rights defenders and government .She has received many international awards. In the past it was reported that she lost so much weight that it was 41 kg.

Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karoubi two presidential candidates of June 2009 presidential election in Iran , after 645 days of house arrest .......