Iranian political prisoners detained for dissent since the 2009 election

Amnesty International is concerned about the hundreds of political prisoners, many of whom are prisoners of conscience, still held in Iran and is launching a one-year campaign to highlight their plight. The individuals featured below illustrate the ever-expanding circle of repression in Iran.

Shiva Nazar Ahari, a journalist, blogger and member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), was arrested with two other CHRR members on 20 December 2009, her second arrest since the election. Amnesty International calls for her immediate and unconditional release.
Read more...

Mohammad Amin Valian, a 20-year-old Damghan University student active in the Islamic Association, was arrested following his participation in a mass protect against the disputed June election result and the ensuing repression. Initially sentenced to death, this was commuted to a three-year prison sentence. Amnesty International has called for an urgent review of his conviction.
Read more...

Ahmad Zeidabadi is a journalist for Roozonline, an online publication based in Belgium, and spokesperson for the Graduates’ Association. Arrested just after the election, he is serving a six-year prison sentence in Raja’i Shahr prison, near Tehran. Amnesty International has called for his release and a thorough investigation into reports that he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated.
Read more...

Student leader Majid Tavakkoli was beaten and arrested on 7 December 2009 while leaving Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran. He had just spoken at a peaceful rally marking Student Day. The demonstration was part of anti-government protests that followed the disputed presidential election of June 2009. Amnesty International has called for his immediate and unconditional release from his eight and a half year sentence.
Read more...

Abolfazl Abedini Nasr, a 28-year-old freelance journalist and human rights activist, is a prisoner of conscience held in Evin Prison, Tehran. He is serving an 11-year sentence imposed for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association. He is also facing further unknown charges.
Read more...
Hengameh Shahidi, aged about 35, is a journalist and political activist who is currently serving a six-year sentence in Evin Prison, Tehran. Amnesty International has called for her release and an investigation into her allegations of torture in detention.
Read more...

Sayed Ziaoddin (Zia) Nabavi, aged about 27, is a member of the Council to Defend the Right to Education. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, reduced to 10 years on appeal. Apparently held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association and because he is a relative of members of the banned People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, Amnesty International is also calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
Read more...

Prominent Iranian Journalist and human rights activist Emadeddin Baghi was arrested on December 28, 2009, the day after massive protests were held in Tehran and other cities to mark the Shi'a religious observance of Ashoura. His arrest followed the broadcasting of his two-year-old interview with cleric Ayatollah Montazeri, to mark the cleric's death earlier that month. Although he has been detained for several months, Emadeddin Baghi is not known to have been charged with a crime.
Read more...