The Freedom of Press Defense Society called the number of restrictions against the press in Iran during the last four years a record.
The Society issued a statement in which they noted the banning and revoking of print licenses for more than 450 publications and the summoning or detention of hundreds of Iranian journalists and weblog publishers. Continue reading »
Without a doubt, had the Ministry of Intelligence in the ninth administration thought that profiling students by marking stars in their school records and denying continuation of their education would have turned into such a major challenge during the presidential election, the Ministry would have devised other means to confront critical students.
In recent years, students have been marked with stars for identification by authorities, and the entire subject turned into a hotly debated issue during the presidential race in Iran. Continue reading »
The head of the Human Rights Defense Center, Shirin Abadi, wrote a letter addressed to Mr. Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, and demanded the removal of the padlock seal to the office of the Human Rights Defense Center and the curtailment of security and political pressures imposed on civil rights, political and human rights activists by organizations that are under his control. Ms. Abadi gave an overview of a series of restrictions and other limiting factors against herself and other members of the Center in the past six months, and in the letter she asked whether this sort of treatment, which is against the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, works for the longevity of the regime or contributes toward the national interest of Iran.
Source: Human Rights Defense Center Website
Hamd Marzieh, the prosecutor in the city of Zahedan, announced that 88 people were arrested during the upheaval in this city. According to Mr. Marzieh, 58 of the detainees are Iranians and 30 detainees are Afghan citizens.
Last week, the explosion of a bomb inside a Shia mosque in this city led to some unrest, and the organization Jundullah has claimed responsibility for planting the bomb. Continue reading »
Ebrahim Godarzvand-Chegni, son of Mansour, born on June 23, 1986, has been in a prison in the city of Roudbar for the past six years for a murder he committed when he was 17 years old in April 2003. The sentencing order of Ghesas (exact punishment) against Mr. Godarzvand-Chegni has already been approved and he is on the threshold of being hanged.
Although Mr. Godarzvand-Chegni was not able to select his own lawyer, his family members have asked for a pardon from Ayatullah Shahroudi to stop the execution order, which is to be carried out within the next few days.
Source: Coalition of Human Rights Advocates in Iran
After a brutal attack by Basiji Forces (volunteer militia) against students supporting presidential candidates Karoubi and Mosavi in Independent Central Tehran University, students in this university held a sit-in protest until late last night.
The encounter occurred after a number of debates in this university within last few days between students supporting Karoubi and Mosavi and those who support the incumbent president, Ahmadinejad. After the debates and the posting of support bills by students, Basiji forces supporting Mr. Ahmadinejad attacked the students, causing serious injuries. Continue reading »
In a contact made between Alieh Aghdam-Doost and campaign activists, she said that her requests for a relief period from prison have gone unanswered four times. Ms. Aghdam-Doost protested the treatment, stating: “Three times prison authorities publicly announced that those requesting prison relief opportunity must register – I applied accordingly, yet did not receive any response. In another round, prison assistance services came to me and asked if I needed a prison relief period, I said yes and applied again, and have not received a response”. Continue reading »
The presidential election process in Iran is not only an opportunity for people to cast their votes and to be represented, but it also creates an opening for social forces to use the little space available to further their own objectives. However, it is clear to all the political and social activists who are going to participate in the election that the Iranian election will take place outside of the global standards for a democratic framework. Continue reading »