Three months after the detention of Kazem Rezaei, a student from Shiraz University, his trial was held on Sunday, January 31, in the Revolutionary Court while signs of torture were still visible on his body.

Mr. Rezaei is a Mechanical Engineering major in Shiraz University, and a well-known student activist in this university.  He was detained last November 9 for the fourth time. Continue reading »

Ebrahim Yazdi, Chairman of Nehzat Azadi, in spite of his advanced age and his struggle with cancer, has been held in solitary confinement since his detention, and he is under persistent pressure to call for an end to the political organization Nehzat Azadi.

One day after the Ashura religious festival, Mr. Yazdi was placed under arrest, and since then he has not had any contact with his family members, other than one time when he asked for his medication to be delivered to him.  Following the last presidential election, Mr. Yazdi was hospitalized for three days, and even during this time he was being closely watched.  But, after the demonstrations held on the Ashura religious festival, although his condition was critical, he was detained and he has been held in a solitary cell for over a month.  Mr. Yazdi has not had any contact with his lawyer or his family members. Continue reading »

On Wednesday, February 3, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Kermanshsh detained Kaveh Ghasemi-Kermanshahi, a human rights activists and a member of the 1,000,000 Signature Petition Campaign, in his residence.

On this day, seven agents dressed in civilian clothing, armed with a warrant, which, according to Mr. Ghasemi-Kermanshahi’s family members, did not clearly state the name of the agency issuing the warrant, appeared in his residence.  The agents searched the entire house thoroughly, and after confiscating a computer unit, some personal effects and Mr. Ghasemi-Kermanshahi hand-written notes, he was taken to an undisclosed location.  Continue reading »

On Wednesday, February 3, another round of trials concerning protestors from the Ashura religious festival was held for fourteen detainees.  Judge Abulghasem Salavati presided over the court and the charge of Mohareh (waging war) was read against one of the students.

A representative from the Tehran prosecutor’s office, in his list of charges against a 20 year-old student from Damghan University, included: Moharebeh, spreading corruption on earth, gathering and collusion in an attempt to undermine national security, spreading propaganda against the regime and making insulting remarks against high government officials.  Among other charges read by the representative, Abas Jaafari-Dolatabadi, was the students’ active participation in the Friday Prayer, when the sermon was being delivered by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Continue reading »