Iranian women’s rights activist offered protection in Malmö, Sweden

Daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet on Thursday, 4 March 2010

English translation kindly provided by Anusche Noring

By Björn Sjö and Ulf Clarén
Published on 4 March 2010, 9:08 am. Updated on 4 march 2010, 9:14 am.

Malmö is set to become the safe haven for Iranian writer and human rights activist Parvin Ardalan. The city is offering to pay for her housing and living expenses for a period of one of two years.

On Wednesday, the executive board of the city of Malmö adopted a decision to provide a grant amounting to 300,000 Swedish kronor to offer refuge to a writer who has been forced to flee from his or her home country. In doing so, the city of Malmö joins the ranks of 26 cities of refuge around the world which offer protection to writers living under threat.

“There is still a formal application that needs to be signed, so I cannot announce the name yet”, says Anna Lyrevik, interim cultural director of the city of Malmö.

According to information obtained by Sydsvenska Dagbladet, the person in question is the Iranian writer, human rights activist and winner of the Olof Palme Prize Parvin Ardalan.

She is currently attending the United Nations Women’s Conference held this week in New York. Sydsvenska Dagbladet has not succeeded in reaching her for a comment.

Her Swedish-Iranian writer colleague Azar Mahloujian has also learned that Parvin Ardalan is to become the first writer to be offered refuge by the city of Malmö.

Azar Mahloujian is the spokeswoman of the Writers in Prison Committee and a member of the board of directors of Swedish PEN. International PEN is one of the organisations that decide on which individuals are in need of protection.

“This is very good news for Parvin. She will be given the opportunity to work in Malmö for an entire year without having to be afraid of the [Iranian] authorities and censorship”, Azar Mahloujian tells Sydsvenska Dagbladet.

She reports that Parvin Ardalan has been staying in Sweden ever since she arrived in the country last autumn to receive the Olof Palme Prize which she was hindered from collecting in 2008, when Iranian police arrested her after forcing her off her Stockholm-bound plane at Tehran’s airport.

A few months later, she was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for writing and publishing articles on how Iranian legislation discriminates against women.

Despite several suspended prison sentences being issued against her, the Iranian authorities have not succeeded in shutting her up.

Malmö’s commitment to serve as a city of refuge implies that the city will provide for the writer’s living expenses and accommodation for a period of one year, which may be renewed for another year. No services are required in return.

“If the writer wishes to simply stay in his or her flat and write, he or she is free to do so. But many will most probably want to do more than that, and if a writer wishes to engage in activities here, we will naturally help him or her to establish the necessary contacts”, interim cultural director Anna Lyrevik says.

The head of Malmö’s public library, Elsebeth Tank, is one of the municipal directors who have declared an interest in helping out in this respect. In an internal memo forwarded to the library’s staff, she stresses the importance of building up a network around the writer and asks for suggestions as to who could imagine being part of that network.

According to Anna Lyrevik, the idea of Malmö becoming a city of refuge has been pushed forward by the city’s administrative staff for several years.

“The most important thing is to provide protection for the writers. But in addition, this can also be beneficial to Malmö’s cultural life, of course.”

from German to English

Hengameh Shahidi Contacts Family from Evin Prison

According to Hengameh Shahidi’s family, the journalist sounded extremely distressed during a recent phone conversation. Shahidi informed her family that she is being held in a ward 209 cell shared with one other prisoner.

Since Shahidi was taken into custody to serve her six-year jail term, she should have been detained in a general ward instead of security ward 209.

Shahidi was arrested after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence one day after her prison sentence was upheld by the Appeals Court. Shahidi’s family and her lawyer found out one day after her arrest that the journalist’s verdict had been upheld by the Appeals Court.

Hengameh Shahidi worked for Mehdi Karroubi’s campaign during the June presidential election. She was arrested shortly after the election and spent four months in Evin prison. Three of the months were spent in solitary confinement, and then she was released on $90,000 (USD) bail while her appeal was pending.

Translation by: RAHANA

"Women's Rights Abuses March 2010"

NCRI-HR committee
Women's Rights Abuses March 2010

Latest News on CHRR Members Saeed Jalalifar and Saeed Kalanaki

CHRR

The family of 24 year old CHRR activist Saeed Jalalifar has reported the bail amount for his release to be [approximately] one hundred thousand dollars (USD). Saeed Jalalifar has been detained in Evin prison by security forces for one hundred days. Saeed Jalalifar was arrested after leaving his house on November 30, 2009. He has also been banned from continuing his studies at Zanjan University.

On March 2, 2010, Saeed Kalanaki, another detained CHRR activist, appeared before branch 3 of the security investigations department of the Revolutionary Court. According to reports, interrogators have threatened him with a long prison term.

Saeed Kalanaki, who has a history of defending political prisoners, was arrested from his work place on November 30, 2009. After the arrest, [regime] agents went to his house and took Saeed Kalanaki along with them. His personal belongings were confiscated after the agents searched his house.

Translation by: Maryam | Persian2English.com

Worker laid off for not participating in elections

Human Rights Activists in Iran

Amir Tavakoli, a contract laborer in the Isfahan Iron Factory was laid off for not participating in the presidential elections. Tavakoli, who was previously a worker in contractor companies and was directly contracted last spring went to the factory Selection Department to complete his files but was told that since his identification papers were blank (without the election stamp) and because he has not participated in any elections, the Iron Factory will not close a contract with him.

Once more: Mullahs cuts off limb of man in Khuzestan, lashes another in publi

Iskanews state-run website

The amputation sentence of an armed robber was carried out in Khuzestan.
The Khuzestan Judiciary announced this and said;

"The amputation sentence of Shoqi Z. was carried out in Karun Prison in Ahwaz
after legal procedures were carried out. In light of the evidence, this person
was a mohareb (at war with God)".

Another troublemaker (propabaly protester! ) was lashed in the Laleh Square in Susangerd.

A court had sentenced Mehdi H. to a year in Hamedan Prison, 74 lashes in the Laleh Square in Susangerd and five years of exile in a far off town.

Happy News : Dr.Maleki,ancient professor of University, released !

After serving 191 days in Evin prison, Dr. Mohammad Maleki was released some moment ago!!

after nearly 7 months in prison, Dr. Maleki`s Family was worried for his health condition, and had allready aksed the international community for help, for releasing of Dr. Maleki!!

Dr. Maleki also served 5 years in prison during the 1980`s!!

U.N. rights chief slams abuses in Iran

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the U.N.'s Human Rights Council she remains "deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran."

Pillay, a former U.N. war crimes judge, said she had talked with Iranian regime's officials about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and suggested her office should visit the country.
"I remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran where there has been a violent crackdown on dissent, including the arbitrary arrest of demonstrators, human rights activists, journalists and prominent political figures. Many have been given harsh sentences, including capital punishment, for their role in post-election protests after questionable trials. I had the opportunity to discuss these issues with the Iranian delegation during the recent UPR, and have suggested that the authorities allow my Office to visit Iran," she said.

Germany criticizes Iranian regime on human rights

The German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Wednesday sharply criticized Iranian regime and said he was opposed to its bid for a seat on the United Nations' Human Rights Council.

Westerwelle made the remarks in Geneva, where he addressed the 47- state council. Voting for the rotating seats on the council is scheduled for May.

"This Council cannot and must not ignore the violent crackdown on demonstrations, the suppression of opinion, and the intolerable disregard for other fundamental human rights. The persecuted human rights defenders, journalists, women and trade unionists, members of religious minorities and many other ordinary citizens are merely asserting the rights they are guaranteed by the Iranian constitution. They demand that Iran meets the obligations it has accepted as legally binding under international agreements. They all should know that we stand firmly by their side," he said.

"A few days ago, the Iranian government made it clear here in Geneva that it does not intend to comply with international human rights standards. I deeply regret this development," he added.
The German Foreign Minister said that: "If Iran rejects international human rights standards and then seeks to become a member of the Human Rights Council, this is an affront to all the values on which the Council is based."

Appeal to stop illegal hanging of 20 Year old accused of Mohareb

The clerical regime’s judiciary, according to state-run dailies on March 1, sentenced Mr. Amin Valiyan, a student from Damghan University, to death charged with ‘mohareb’ (enemy of God).

Deprived of his right to have a lawyer, he was first sentenced to death by Salavati, a henchman acting as judge, in a kangaroo trial. He was accused of carrying stone and chanting “Down with dictator” during the Ashura uprising on December 27. He was charged with “moharebeh, association and collusion against the security of the velayat-e faqih system (absolute rule of clergy).” His sentence was reaffirmed by the so-called appeals court.

The regime sentenced another prisoner to death in a discredited show trial on February 16 charged with “mohareb.” He was identified as Amir Reza Arefi, aged 21.

In fear of a nationwide uprising in the run-up to the traditional Persian Fire Festival, March 16, the clerical regime is trying to impose a reign of terror and intimidation in the country by issuing such barbaric sentences. But, these suppressive and criminal measures only serve to embolden people’s determination to participate in the uprising to overthrow the regime and bring freedom and democracy to Iran.

Pictures to NEVER forget! Unknown Martyres! Who was he?

This scene is one of pain, agony, shock, sorrow and repugnance of in-humanity, savageness and extremism all united in the Iranian mullahs and their supporters!

The young student is said to have run into the intelligence agents on 18 or 20 June 2009, towards the University doors, when he was intervened, dragged on to the ground and in front of unbelieving eyes of by-passers and nearby University staff who were near the gates, his throat leashed open, as he gasped for air, no one believed the brutes of such violence..!!

But this IS the regime that all wish to talk with..
This is the same regime that some have pinned hope of dialogue and discussion with,
this is the same regime, which has mocked us all!
For the Past 30 Years, we have been fooled, by people such as the one holding the knife to cut the throat, those who make up the Assembly of "Experts" are certainly No "experts” in Human rights and Humanism, rather than "interest and power".

So how can one talk with such people?

What would you do, if you were there? Near by, standing and watching this scene?
Would you turn the other cheek?

or Perhaps would you spare your own sister or brother for that Nike?

I am a Christian, but I am thinking about this …

In this regime, the only thing they believe in is their theory of exisitance “ Kill and be alive”..

It is said that Mullah Gillani, "Ordered" the arrest, torture and execution of his two sons! Because they were related to a political group that had been isolated by the "Khomeini" ayatollah, and deemed as Mohareb. (PMOI)

It is also said Mullah Janati , himself praised and fasted for the capture and death (under torture)of his son!!

Yes my friends do we know what Kind of regime this is???

We certainly don’t.
I believe only those who are tasting its tortures and death and blood may have something to say on this!

Regime charges two Baha'i human rights activists with 'moharebeh'

Committee of Human Rights Reporters

On Wednesday morning, a number of security forces went to the homes of Hesam Misaqi and Sepehr Atefi in Isfahan and confiscated their personal belongings after searching their homes. There were not able to arrest these two human rights activists because they were not at home.
These agents carried an arrest warrant issued by the Revolutionary Court. According to their families, these members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran were charged with 'having communications with the Monafeqin (which literally means hypocrites and is referred to the PMOI by the regime)' and 'moharebeh' (enmity with God).
Security forces arrested Navid Khanjani, another member of this committee, last night in Isfahan. Currently 7 members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters are in prison.
Misaqi and Atefi, are also members of the Society to Counter Educational Prejudice. They have been banned from education for following the Baha'i faith.

Regime arrests women's rights activist

Last night at 10 pm, security forces went to the home of Mahboubeh Karami, a member of the One-Million Signature Campaign and human rights activist, and arrested her after conducting a search.

They confiscated her personal belongings and her brother's personal belongings. There is no information on her whereabouts. According to her brother, Mohsen Karami, the date of the arrest warrant brought by the agents was May 26, 2009 and the charge was participating in gatherings and seditions. Karami said that Mahboubeh had no time for her personal issues and had spent all of last year nursing her ailing father. (Human Rights Activists in Iran

Abolfazl Abedini,Human rights doctor and family arrested

Abolfazl Abedini, human rights activist who is also the doctor of a number of political prisoners was arrested last night by security forces and taken to an unknown location.
Dr. Hesam Firuzi was arrested by 15 agents after going to his house. His wife and child were at the home of the family of Alireza Firuzi (student activist who was arrested 2 months ago. There is no information on his whereabouts).

photo : Alireza Firuzi

After searching his home, these agents went to the home of one his neighbors and after conducting a search, arrested the daughter of the family identified as Hemaseh Ghafari.

Ghafari has not had any political activities and was only arrested for being the neighbor of Dr. Firuzi.

Alireza Firuzi and Hesam FiruziAlireza Firuzi's mother also came to the home of Dr. Firuzi while the agents were conducting the search, and she was interrogated on the spot. Dr. Hesam Firuzi, was released from Evin Prison in May 2009 after serving his 15 month sentence. There is no information on his whereabouts and why he was arrested.

Photo: Dr.Hessam Firuzi, and Ahmad Batebi -Archive

RGC forces brutally beat and arrest human rights activist in Ahwaz

Human Rights Activists in Iran

Abolfazl Abedini, human rights activist and journalist was arrested by security forces.
At 2 am in the morning, agents from the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence arrested Abedini after breaking down his door.
These 50 plus forces that were completely armed were all from the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence in Ramhormoz and Ahwaz. Some of these forces were masked.
After a few hour clash because of the resistance of his family, and while these forces created a atmosphere of fear and terror in his neighborhood, they broke down his door and entered the yard of the house. The agents broke all the windows, and arrested him at about 5 am after brutally beating him.
These forces even broke the windows of his neighbors' homes. Abedini's mother, brother and brother's wife were severely injured in this clash. The arrest warrant which was brought by these forces was illegible and it was not clear what institution had issued it.

Astreh Moludi,Tabriz student tries to commit suicide after being suspended from education

Committee of Human Rights Reporters

On Wednesday at about 3:30 am, Astreh Moludi, a cultural science student at Tabriz University committed suicide after her suspension from university sentence was finalized.
After breaking the dorm window, she cut her vein with a piece of lass but was taken to the hospital and operated on and lived.
After protesting election results last year and holding a sit-in on November 4, 2009, 10 students of this university were suspended from education while Moludi was sentenced to one semester of finalized suspension, one semester of suspended suspension and a university transfer was also suggested for her. Tabriz University officials, have threatened her close friends to refrain from publishing the suicide. These officials have also threatened the friends of this Kurd student not to inform her family regarding this issue yet.

In Honor of Brave Iranian women on 8 March

Nooshin Jafari , journalist freed last night

Nooshin Jafari , journalist of the cultural section of Etmad Newspaper, released finally !

UN needs head of super-agency for women: EU official

UNITED NATIONS, March 1, 2010 (AFP) - A top European Union official on Monday said the United Nations should act now to fulfill its pledge to name a powerful head for its proposed super-agency to tackle women's issues.
"We have spoken long enough about this. It's time to act," said Viviane Reding, the European Commission vice president in charge of justice and gender equality, who is attending the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at UN headquarters.
"I expect a lot of women from a lot of continents to say that they got enough of speaking about this... All the preparatory work has been done.
Who gets the post, I don't care, just do it," she told AFP. "Either this (the UN) is an action-bound organization or this is a talking club. Women would like it to be an action organization."
Last September, the UN General Assembly agreed to set up a powerful new department consolidating the activities of several existing bodies dealing with women's issues.
The 192-member body adopted by consensus a resolution backing formation of the new composite entity, to have a substantial budget and to be led by an undersecretary general reporting directly to the UN secretary general.
Officials here say UN chief Ban Ki-moon is to make the appointment soon. Outgoing Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is said to be among several prominent women under consideration.
Currently, women's issues are dealt with separately by several UN bodies, including the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues (OSAGI) and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).
But none of these agencies, with the exception of UNFPA, are deemed by women's groups to be major players.
The push for a speedy appointment of a powerful woman as head of a consolidated women's agency is likely to figure prominently at the 12-day conference on the status of women that got underway Monday at UN headquarters.
Dozens of government ministers and more than 2,000 women activists are attending the gathering, which aims to review progress since the adoption of the declaration at the 1995 world conference on women in Beijing.
The declaration is the most comprehensive global policy framework to advance the goal of women's empowerment and gender equality around the world.
Reding, who is from Luxembourg, identified violence against women, including sexual violence and genital mutilation, human trafficking, the difference in income between men and women and poverty alleviation as other keys issues on the conference's agenda.
"We Europeans are very proud that the secretary general has nominated Margot Wallstrom as special envoy for violence against women (in conflicts)," she added. "That is the right way to go forward."
Last month, Ban named Wallstrom, a former Swedish minister and former vice president of the European Commission, as his special representative tasked with combating sexual violence against women and children in conflicts.
Wallstrom indicated that she would soon travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where sexual violence against women is rife.
Tens of thousands of women and young girls in DRC's Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces have been assaulted, kidnapped, raped and mutilated by members of armed movements and also by soldiers, according to UN officials. Last September, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to halt the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war. It called for the appointment of a UN special representative to "provide coherent and strategic leadership to address, at both headquarters and country level, sexual violence in armed conflict."

New EP webpage on bringing an end to violence against women

There is a new web page after the Meeting on Iran by the Women Committee in the EP to cover the situation of women world over on 8 March

EP Site

Through the whole month of March this page will bring you coverage of EP
events dealing with this year's theme: ending violence against women. MEPs,
national MPs, special guests, experts and the public will contribute to the
debate in meetings, events and even via Facebook, with ideas on how to prevent
violence and help victims. The theme of the campaign - all documents,
interviews, photos and video - will always be the same: We can stop it!

"Women are vanguard of democratic change in Iran"

SGWFI

In a meeting innovated by EP , female members, a session was arranged to discuss the situation of the uprising and the people's revolt and also and mainly the role played by women in this movement. in this meeting, which seemed to be sponsored by 6 MEPs and co sponsored by 10 more as they gave separate interviews, much was said about the brave role Women play at the forefront of the riots that seek a complete change in the system in that country. 7 MEPs spoke each praising the bravery displayed by Iranian people and their perseverance that has shaken the world over.

1- Eva Brit Svensson, Vice Chair of the EP women committee who welcomed all to the meeting
2- Edit Bauer, member of Bureau of the EPP Slovakia group and member of Women committee on Women
3- Maryam Rajavi, known opposition female leader who has been a major target of Iranian regime propagated smearing campaign

5- Edit Bauer, Member of Bureau of EPP , Slovakia
4- Roberta Angelilli , Vice Chair of the EP
5- Norika Nicolai, Vice Chair of Security and Defense committee
6- Edite Estrela , Vice Chair of EP women's committee
7- Barbar Matera , Vice Chair of EP women's committee
8- Sari Essayah , MEP
9- Maryia Nedecheva, MEP
…….

Student Activist Eftekhar Barzegarian Being Held in Hardened Criminals’ Ward

ICHRI

A source close to the case of student activist Eftekhar Barzegarian told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that six months after this student’s arrest, he remains in Vakil Abad Prison’s dangerous criminals ward. Eftekhar Barzegarian is a Mashad Ferdowsi University student who has been deprived from continuing his education.
Despite earlier news about the Revolutionary Courts’ decision to allow his release on bail and last month’s announcement that his detention orders would end on 25 February 2010, Barzegarian remains in illegal detention and without orders, continuing his state of limbo.
It should be mentioned that Barzegarian had received bail orders, but his case investigator refused to accept the bail for his release. Eftekhar Barzegarian was expelled from his university after he had been deprived from continuing his education for four terms. During recent presidential elections, he was head of Mehdi Karroubi’s student campaign in Mashad.

Azeri citizens beaten and detained for cheering Turk wrestlers

Savalan Sassi Website- 1 March
During a wrestling tournament in Qom, two fans of Turk wrestling were arrested and several others beaten.
Rahim Hossein Zadeh (employee of the Qom Water and Sewage Organization) and Rohollah Heidari, an Azeri activist, were arrested on February 26 during an international wrestling tournament in Qom.
Security forces attacked and beat Azeri citizens in the Heidarian Stadium in Qom and subsequently arrested these two men. Iran has stepped us its suppression (of Azeri citizens) and has prevented Azeri sentiments in the society and sports arenas in the past few months. Azeri citizens are arrested, abused or beaten for cheering their favorite sports teams.

5 Baha'is sentenced to 10 years of prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters

Five Baha'is in Shiraz were each sentenced to 10 years of prison in the 1st branch of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court on charges of spreading propaganda against the government. They were Haleh Houshmandi, Keivan Karami, Farham (Hadi) Masoumi, Afshin Ehsanian and Vahdat Dana.

March 1, 2010

Jailed political prisoner under increasing pressure, banned from visits

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran

According to reports, the pressure and abuse against political prisoner Monireh Rabiei and her family have increased.

This political prisoner has been under psychological pressure and has been subjected to insults by prison guards. She has also been banned from receiving visits from her family for weeks in the past. She would be offensively body searched and would then be summoned by the assistant head of prison and pressurized after every visit.

On the other hand, her family is insulted and threatened by female prison guards when coming to the visiting hall. One of the female guards body searches them in an insulting manner and uses offensive language when talking to them trying to provoke them into a reaction to ban them from future visits. She also treated Monireh Rabiei's niece/nephew abusively because he/she had some raisins in his/her pocket and the child started crying from terror. When she was met with protests from the family, she started insulting them and threatened to cut off their visits again.

Some time ago, her family was informed via Ms. Rabiei's lawyer that she can be released on bail. This family spent a large amount and money and time and pledged their home ownership document in the Registration Department for this issue. But when they went to court, they were told that the letter for the home ownership pledge was missing. This is while they had confirmed that they had received the letter and this issue was even documented in the court secretariat office.

Monireh Rabiei's case is followed by Pir Abassi, the head of the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court. This person treats her family inhumanely and is the main person who prevents her release.
Political prisoner Monireh Rabiei, 32, was sentenced to 5 years of prison to be served in exile in Berazjan Prison by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court. The exile sentence was only recently announced to her family.
Rabiei and her lawyer protested this heavy and inhumane sentence and her case has been currently referred to the 36th branch of the Revolutionary Court.

On October 7, 2009, this chemical engineer was summoned to the 3rd branch of the Revolutionary Court to answer questions by the head this court branch. She was arrested because she answered a phone call from her uncle who is in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. She was detained in solitary in section 209 in Evin Prison for close to 20 days while being interrogated and physically and psychologically tortured and insulted by an intelligence agency interrogator, nicknamed Alavi. She was then transferred to section 350 in the women's section of this prison.

Rabiei has denied all the charges against her and has announced that (the call with her uncle) was a family call saying that it is a shameful that her family calls are tapped and used against her. Ms. Rabiei and her lawyer believe that her trial was a show trial and her sentence was pre-determined. ( March 1, 2010)

Prime Minister of Spain Urges Respect for Human Rights in Iran

In a response to a request by the Campaign for solidarity in demanding human rights in Iran to the Prime Minister of Spain, the Director of the Cabinet Mr. Jose Enrique Serrano Martinez wrote:
Cabinet Director of The Presidency (Spain)
I reply to your request directed to the Prime Minister, in connection with the regarding the human rights situation in Iran.
On this respect, I inform you that Spain, along with the rest of the EU members, have maintained and will continue to maintain, as one of the main axes of its foreign policy, the urge for the full respect of human rights; and in this context, has expressed to the Iranian authorities the need to respect the international instruments on human rights, signed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
I appreciate your confidence in writing us and receive my kindest regards.
Mr. Jose Enrique Serrano Martinez

Zia Nabavi Writes Detailed Case Report for Ayatollah Larijani

Zia Nabavi’s Letter to the Judiciary Chief Sadeq Larijani

Your Excellency Ayatollah Larijani, Chief of the Judiciary,

My name is Ziaoldin Nabavi. I was born in 1983 in the city of Qaemshahr [county in the province of Mazandaran]. I was arrested in the wake of the presidential election on the night of June 14th while I was at a relative’s house. After spending 100 days in the Ministry of Intelligence ward 209 in Evin prison, I was transferred to the general ward. Currently I am being held in ward 350.

I graduated with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Technology of Babol, and I was prevented from completing my master’s degree in sociology (I am a so-called “starred” student) [i.e. a system developed by Iran’s Ministry of Advanced Education so students with disciplinary issues get penalized with stars. After a certain number of stars, those students are prevented from continuing their education. The system is primarily used against student activists].

Here is a summary of the charges against me and the sentence I received for each:

Conspiracy to act against national security (three years in prison)
Propaganda against the regime (one year in prison)
Disruption of public order (one year in prison)
Agitation of the public’s peace of mind (74 lashes)
Ties and cooperation with Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) (ten years in prison to be served in the city of Izeh, Khuzestan)

There are three main reasons why I am writing you this letter:

First, to appeal such an unbelievably harsh sentence and to protest such irrelevant charges.
Second, to defend and restore the reputation and clear the names of “starred” students who were only defending their rights. They were never part of any political group that supported or opposed the ruling establishment.

Third, to raise concern about my situation (from the time of my arrest to the interrogations and trial). I have a responsibility to open a debate that would possibly lead to a change in (prison) procedures. It is very likely that methods employed have become the norm and are also practiced against other detainees. Justice directly affects the fate of people. Any mistake made is an unforgivable one.

Since the officials’ pursuit of starred students was, in my opinion, the main reason for my arrest, I would like to offer an explanation.

The trend to “star” students and deprive them of their education, as far as my generation can remember, started in 2006. In that same year, some of the students (activists or members of university Islamic student unions and who wanted entry to further their education) were disqualified despite meeting the academic criteria of admission.

Student activists took their grievance to the evaluations office (responsible for overlooking all post-secondary qualifying exams). There they discovered that although they should have been able to gain admission, they were labelled as “unqualified” to continue their education. I became a star student in 2008.

Since 2006, the students deprived from their education have exercised many possibilities to restore their rights. They have met and talked with officials at the Ministry of Advanced Education, members of delegation that deal with violations from the ministry, parliamentary committees responsible for education, cultural organizations, the National Security, members of the Supreme Cultural Council, the Expediency Council, and high officials such as Messrs. Hashemi, Khatami, and Karroubi.

The banned students even took their call for justice to the Government Administrative Tribunal (The tribunal that adjudicated on cases by citizens against government offices). The students’ statements were not only regarded as trivial by the officials, but the existence of starred students was completely denied.

After three years of unsuccessful attempts to restore their rights, students were obliged to set up an organization called “The Council to Defend the Right to Education”. They collectively pursued their cases at a time that coincided with the presidential election. They were hoping the election campaign atmosphere would make it easier for their voices to be heard, since there would be a larger public presence. Students decided to write letters to officials, in addition to contacting presidential candidates and collecting data on “starred” students.

In the wake of the election and the events that followed, the goal of the students was not accomplished. Instead, eight of the most active members were arrested, imprisoned, and tried on false and irrelevant charges like Moharebeh [fighting against God. A charge brought against members of armed opposition groups], affiliation with armed opposition groups, and conspiracy to overthrow the government.

As you know, education and acquiring knowledge have been highly recommended and encouraged by our religious traditions. On the one hand, the right to education is enshrined in various articles in the (Iranian) constitution, as well as in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also considered a fundamental and undeniable right. Therefore, deprivation of the right to education cannot be legally and reasonably justified as punishment.

On the other hand, if we agree that the deprivation of education is a legitimate punishment, then the officials need to explain the legal process in which the students were tried, convicted, and banned from their education. Moreover, it is clear that the deprivation measures were taken as a response to the activities of students during their post-secondary studies. For example, in the report by the Ministry of Intelligence against me, it states: ‘The individual who had an operational role in student protests and the strike in Babol University (which by the way was not a political protest and simply concerned the poor quality treatment of students), is suspended from his education for the year 2006.”

Even if we do not accept the argument that a trial is necessary before a student can lose their right to education, the question still remains why students, who had already faced punishment from the university disciplinary committee (I was suspended for two semesters), get additionally punished by having their right to education revoked.

The most unfortunate and painful matter is the denial of the existence of starred students by the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Evaluations Office, and even the president himself while in the media. However, this is not the end of the story. This tragedy was concluded by the arrest and trial of some of the students charged with Moharebeh. Now, a mistake on the part of the officials was complemented by a bigger one. A problem that could have been avoided by a little leniency from the officials has turned into a catastrophe that manifested into a cruel 15-year imprisonment sentence. The amount of years given to me is unprecedented for a student activist.

In the text of the verdict and sentencing read out by the judge, some noteworthy points appear.

It seems these points have been the basis for the verdict. We were never provided the written text, and as a result, I rely on my memory to lay out as many of these points that I can remember:

The accused has given no confession with regard to the allegations.
Some of
the members of the family and relatives of the accused have been a member of the
MKO, and are currently residing in Camp Ashraf (MKO’s base in Iraq).
The
accused has formed a society along with other students deprived of education,
and has engaged in political activities and meetings.

The accused has
been interviewed by foreign media regarding the deprivation of education.
The accused prepared reports of the conditions of some of the deprived
students and sent them to Amirkabir news site (belonging to Tehran’s Polytechnic
University students).
Last year, someone from Iran News Agency contacted the
accused, but the accused considered the call suspicious and did not respond.

In 2009, an individual called Ashkan who had returned from Camp Ashraf, contacted the accused and asked him to establish contact with the MKO. The accused refused his request.
In June 2009, someone that introduced himself as a freelance journalist contacted the accused, but the accused considered the contact suspicious and did not respond.

The accused was present on the June 25th [demonstration] from 4:30 to 5:30pm between Enqelab Square and the Ministry of Labour.

Here are my explanations about these points:
I have never stated anything but the truth during the course of my interrogation, despite severe psychological and sometimes physical pressures (sit ups, kicks, blows to the back of the head, insults, and humiliation, etc.) .

I have not confessed to crimes I never committed. My activities have always been apparent and open for everyone to see.


Every person is, without a doubt, responsible for their own actions. Therefore, condemning someone for the actions and records of his relatives is illegal and unjust [referring to the regime's accusation that Zia is Mujahedin] . If such a condemnation was justified, there would be no innocent person on earth [due to every person's likely affiliation with at least one person who has committed an offence].

I have never denied my membership to the Council to Defend the Rights to Education, and as I said during the interrogations, I was the one with the most responsibilities in the group. However, the point is that the actions of this group was only concerned with restoring the right to education for starred students. No illegal activity ever took place, especially any that could be considered hostile toward the establishment.

Since the officials denied the existence of starred students, and national media (due to national restrictions) did not report on the students’ deprived situation, which if they did, could have helped demonstrate that the injustice students endure is real. The students were left no choice but to speak to foreign media. What was said in the interviews cannot be considered instances of lies, propaganda against the regime, or agitation of the public’s peace of mind.

Due to the susceptibility of my family, I was always careful not to, even unconsciously, establish contact with the MKO. Also, as it has been noted in the Ministry of Intelligence report, I never responded to any suspicious contact (even when it came from a news agency). It is unbelievable that my refusal to establish contact has been used against me to justify a 10-year prison sentence on the charge of collaboration with the MKO.

I was only present at the June 25th gathering at 4:30 to 5:30pm, between Enqelab Square and the Ministry of Labour. I decided to participate on my own, and was not coordinated with any group. In this period of time, no violence broke out, thus a charge of conspiracy to act against national security and disturbing public order cannot hold.

Since my arrest seven months ago, I have not seen any arrest warrant or any renewal thereof (if such renewal took place at all). The only written document I have ever seen was shown to me on the 70th day of my detention, titled: Request for Reduction [of bail]. The space for the amount of bail was left empty. I hastily signed the document due to the insistence of a ward 209 guard. The document is available in my file, and the space for the amount now reads $500,000 (USD).

During the interrogations, I was under pressure to [falsely] accept the Council to Defend the Rights to Education as an organization by the MKO, and I was their operative. However, I clearly stated during the interrogation and the course of the trial that I have no common interest or belief with the MKO, and I resent any political ideology based on violence and blind obedience. I have repeatedly stated that if there was the smallest evidence of my ties with this group (phone calls, e-mails, etc.), or even if one of my friends or co-defendants stated that I was a supporter or sympathizer of the MKO, I would not even object to a death sentence.

Moreover, whoever knows me is aware that I have a critical personality, and I am not able to be a blind follower of a group or association. This personality trait is evident in my writings as well as in my conduct and activities during my studies. This matter cannot be unknown to the Ministry of Intelligence, and that is why I am perplexed about the logical basis behind the harsh sentence I have received.

In any case, for the sake of justice, the dignity of deprived students, and the call for justice from an oppressed person, I implore you to take a look at my case to see the injustices I have endured. I welcome, in advance, any attempt to shed light on my case, even by publishing to the media the text of the interrogations and the contents of my case. This way, my claim regarding the lack of any evidence pertaining to charges against me can be proven.

Since adjudicating is a complicated form of acquiring knowledge, the conduct of the judicial system emanates from the common theoretical and knowledge-based presumptions in society.

Therefore, as an individual interested in theoretical discussions, I find it necessary to draw attention to a point:

One of our main problems is understanding the social phenomenon of reductionism: the analysis of complex issues by simplifying and focusing on one factor of a problem. The motive behind the reductionist approach, aside from uncovering the truth, is to release oneself from the stresses caused by when facing a new phenomenon dishonestly. Unfortunately, I witnessed this way of thinking during the course of my interrogations.

Experts [expert is the term used to refer to the person who is in charge of the case and/or the interrogation] who are supposed to dissect problems to find the root of it and who were faced with the issue of ‘educationally deprived students’, chose to simplify the solution by denying such students exist entirely. After the denial plan failed, the experts then linked students to opposition and hostile political groups.

Although a thousand reasons can be offered to show that making such attributions to students is horribly illogical and unjustified, the only advantage here is the peace of mind that intelligence and security officials receive for their formed (albeit incorrect) understanding of the problem that causes them to raise the price for the pursuit of the right to education.

Believe me that during the course of my interrogations, my wish was not to be released, but to find an opportunity to have a conversation with the expert of the case. I wanted to explain to him how the problem of the starred students started, and what they endured all these years, in addition to many other issues. This never became possible due to the environment of the interrogation sessions and the prevalent pressures. Every conversation was contingent on confessing to a crime I had never committed or imagined.

In any case, this is a request that has been left unanswered, and all these years that we have been deprived from pursuing our studies, no officials from the Ministry of Advanced Education, the judiciary, or the Ministry of Intelligence has called on us to explain our grievances or to express our demands. We hope that after the many anguishes and distresses on our parts, this letter becomes the pretext under which conversations can take place.

Honourable Chief of the Judiciary,

Please put yourself in the place of a person, who despite possessing academic skills and qualifications, is deprived from continuing education and advancing academically. What is more unfortunate is that students, due to their endeavour to restore their rights, have received harsh sentences such as imprisonment. You can see that the hidden repression in this injustice is truly painful.

Again, I implore that my case and the cases of other starred students be reviewed from a completely legal perspective, away from any political bias. Also, justice should be carried out in the appeals stage, and at least the charge of ties with the MKO be eliminated so other starred students and I can reclaim our dignity and clear our names.

Furthermore, since many students have fruitlessly taken their case to Government Administrative Tribunal, I would like to ask you that in line with other positive changes in the judicial system, the way these cases are handled should change as well. Such changes will make it possible for students to return to university and pursue their studies. Freedom is sweet, but freedom without the possibility to study and acquire knowledge is void of any joy.

I thank you in advance for your considerations.

Seyed Ziaoldin NabaviWard 350 of Evin Prison

Bail Amount Forces Zia Nabavi to Remain in Prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Sentenced to 15 years in prison, representative of The Council to Defend the Right to Education Zia Nabavi has not been given the chance to appeal at any branch of the court. Since the issuance of his sentence, his situation remains uncertain.
For this “starred student,” a heavy bail of $500,000 (USD) has been set. Since his family cannot afford to pay the amount, Zia Nabavi is forced to remain in jail, even after already enduring eight months of detention.
According to his lawyer, due to the fact that the branch was not announced and he was not allowed to visit the court for an appeal, Zia Nabavi has not been able to present a request to the Revolutionary Court for an alleviation on the bail amount.
Zia Nabavi was arrested on the night of June 15th while at a friend’s house. Last month, during the court ruling in branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, judge Pir Abbassi sentenced Zia Nabavi to 15 years in prison and 74 lashes.
Recently, Zia Nabavi wrote a letter to the judiciary chief [Sadeq Larijani] about the injustice and illegal actions inflicted on him since his arrest.

Part of the letter reads
I have never stated anything but the truth during the course of my interrogation, despite severe psychological and sometimes physical pressures (sit ups, kicks, blows to the back of the head, insults, and humiliation, etc.) . I have not confessed to crimes I never committed. My activities were open for everyone to see since they were conducted in the office, a room with clearly visible windows.
The powerful letter by Zia Nabavi sparked reactions among civil activists inside and outside of Iran.
Hadi Ghaemi, the spokesperson for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said, “This document provides significant evidence of how Iranian Judiciary doles out lengthy and unjust prison sentences for young people, without any evidence against them.”
Translation by: Maryam Persian2English.com

$800,000 Bail for Abdollah Momeni’s Release

Kaleme – The judge in charge of Abdollah Momeni’s case has announced $800,000 bail for his release. Abdollah Momeni’s wife protests that the family cannot afford to pay the $800,000 bail.
According to the opposition news agency Kaleme, Momeni has lost his job as a teacher during his time in prison, while his family lives in a rental home with no source of income. According to his wife, an official responsible for Momeni’s case has indicated the possibility to lower the amount of bail.
Abdollah Momeni was the spokesperson for the Alumni Organization of Islamic Iran (Advar Tahkim Vahdat), and worked for Karroubi’s campaign during the June 2009 presidential election. He was arrested eight months ago and is currently detained in Evin prison.
Translation by: Xan I. Persian2English.com

Released prisoners forced to interview praising Supreme Leader

Pressure mounts on released prisoners to conduct interviews praising Supreme Leader
Jaras: Many of those released from prison in recent months are informed that they are to be summoned to Evin prison to hold interviews in the prison environment.

According to Jaras, interrogators contact their prisoners and compel them to conduct the interviews. Prisoners include both those who have been given a ruling and those who have not.
Jaras further reports that the entire interview script is given to the prisoners, and the prisoners are expected to read the script. The content of the script is intended to pledge support to the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader.

The prisoners are also threatened that if they do not conduct the interviews, they will be arrested and imprisoned during Nowruz (Iranian New Year), their files will be sent for further reviews, and/or their court sentence will increased.

Jaras in Tehran further reports: The Haei newspaper, which is largely a reformist paper, has been contacted and compelled to publish the interviews. In a recent development, prisoners are escorted to Iranian Labour News Agency to give reports immediately after their release. This has been done with Iranian Student News Agency in the past.

Prisoners are contacted days or months after being released to conduct the interviews, and the interview scripts are sent in writing by the officials to the newspapers for print.

Jaras adds that to counter the resistance to publish the forced interviews by newspaper staff, the heads of the news agencies are threatened to either publish or resign.

One of the prisoners that was summoned by an interrogator told Jaras that there is no difference between home and prison for them, the whole country has turned into a big prison. Even when freed and not engaging in any activities, interrogators continue to pressure us to conduct an interview and praise the Supreme Leader.

Translation by: Ramin J. Persian2English.com

Omid Montazeri sentenced to six years suspended prison term

In a court hearing for Ashura [protesters], Omid Montazeri was sentenced to a six-year suspended prison term.

Montazeri’s sentence was issued to him early morning February 27, 2010 by judge Salavati. Omid Montazeri’s lawyer has not been allowed to participate in the court procedures. His lawyer has also not been allowed to view his client’s file. The court procedure [for Montazeri] is completely illegal and against the principles of the constitution.

Montazeri was arrested on December 28, 2009, upon his arrival at the tracking office of the Ministry of Intelligence to obtain information on the arrest of his mother (Mahin Fahimi) and her guests who were all arrested at his family’s residence. It has been two months now that Omid Montazeri has been in detention. Mahin Fahimi was released on bail on February 9, 2010.
Many human rights activists around the world have demanded the release of Montazeri.

Montazeri was completing his last term in Allameh Tabatabai University to obtain a bachelors degree in law. He is also known as a poet and journalist. The articles he wrote about were culture related or editorials. His work has been published in Iranian newspapers such as Farhang Ashti and Khabar.

Omid Montazeri’s father, Hamid Montazeri, was a political prisoner who was executed by the regime in 1988. Omid's mother is Sohrab Arabi's Aunt.

Translation by: Maryam Persian2English.com

Edit Bauer ;« Un groupe de solidarité avec les femmes iraniennes pour un Iran libre » - eurodéputée

CNRI

Edit Bauer le 23 février au Parlement européen à Bruxelles;

« Alors que les défenseurs de la liberté montrent leur soutien et solidarité avec les Iraniennes dans la résistance pour la liberté et l’égalité, nous annonçons aujourd’hui la formation d’un groupe de solidarité avec les femmes iraniennes pour un Iran libre »

L’eurodéputée slovaque, qui préside le groupe de solidarité, intervenait devant 150 parlementaires et assistants réunis à l’invitation d’Eva-Britt Svensson, présidente de la commission des droits de la femme et de l'égalité des genres, pour débattre sur « Les femmes, avant-garde du changement démocratique en Iran ». L’invitée d’honneur était Maryam Radjavi, présidente élue de la Résistance iranienne. La réunion a été l’occasion d’annoncer la création du groupe parlementaire de solidarité avec femmes pour un Iran libre qu'elle préside.

Voici l’intervention d’Edit Bauer :
Vous serez probablement d’accord avec moi qu’il s’agit d’un événement très spécial pour la célébration de la Journée internationale des femmes. Il n’est pas habituel de commencer nos réunions sur la Journée des Femmes avec un tel document [une liste de 2744 noms et caractéristiques de femmes de l’OMPI exécutées par le régime des mollahs; liste remise par Mme Radjavi à la présidente de la commission Eva-Britt Svensson]. Ce n’est pas habituel d’entendre une telle vision d’un Iran libre en de telles circonstances. Nous découvrons aujourd’hui l’idée que les femmes iraniennes se font de leur avenir.

Certaines de ces revendications [proposées par Mme Radjavi] sont un peu étranges pour des oreilles européennes. Certaines pourraient aussi être rédigées par n’importe quel Etat membre. « Les tribunaux devront considérer les témoignages et déclarations écrites sous serment des femmes comme ayant le même poids que ceux des hommes », c’est vraiment inhabituel.« Les femmes seront libres de choisir leurs propres vêtements », ce n’est vraiment pas habituel. « Afin d’éviter toute inégalité, le gouvernement devra nommer des femmes pour au moins la moitié de ses postes, et les partis politiques seront tenus de choisir des femmes pour au moins la moitié de leurs candidats aux élections législatives. » ça c’est vraiment courageux.

Mais « les femmes bénéficieront des mêmes droits que les hommes en matière d'héritage, de contrats et de gestion des biens » ce n’est vraiment pas quelque chose que nous sommes habituées à entendre souvent ou « Les femmes auront le droit d'obtenir la garde de leurs enfants », c’est crucial.

« La peine de mort contre les femmes sera abolie, la torture et les traitements dégradants et humiliants pour les femmes seront interdits », c’est vraiment d’actualité. « Le viol sera considéré comme un crime partout où il se produira », c’est ce que l’on demande aujourd’hui, au XXIe siècle. « Les lois brutales et épouvantables comme la lapidation seront abolies ».

Il me semble que cela donne une image précise des conditions auxquelles est confronté le mouvement pour la liberté en Iran et le mouvement de femmes qui est en première ligne.
Les violations systématiques des droits fondamentaux des femmes par la dictature religieuse en Iran, ignorant leurs libertés sociales et politiques inquiètent gravement la communauté internationale, particulièrement les militantes de la défense des droits des femmes.
Ces trente dernières années, des dizaines de milliers de prisonnières politiques ont été exécutées et bien plus arrêtées et torturées. Le livre qui vient d’être présenté contient uniquement des noms et des photos. C’est vraiment choquant. Parmi celles qui ont été exécutées, il y a des fillettes de 13 ans et des grand-mères de 70 ans.

Selon des informations des organisations de droits humains, les jeunes, hommes et femmes, sont violés dans les prisons du régime en Iran. Ces derniers mois, un soulèvement populaire de masse contre la dictature religieuse a inspiré beaucoup de gens pour un changement démocratique dans le pays. Les femmes sont en première ligne des manifestations, résistant courageusement aux forces de la répression armée. Beaucoup d’entre elles arrêtées dans les rassemblements sont accusées d’être Mohareb, ennemies de Dieu, et ont été condamnées à mort.

Dans un communiqué, Amnesty International a rapporté que ces derniers mois, les autorités judicaires et politiques du régime ont annoncé à plusieurs reprises que puisque le mouvement d’opposition iranien OMPI existe toujours, tous ses membres et sympathisants, y compris ceux qui sont uniquement engagés dans des actes politiques de propagande sont considérés Mohareb et seront condamnés à mort.
Dans de telles circonstances et alors que les défenseurs de la liberté montrent leur soutien et solidarité avec les Iraniennes dans la résistance pour la liberté et l’égalité, nous annonçons aujourd’hui la formation d’un groupe de solidarité avec les femmes iraniennes pour un Iran libre. Travaillant en coordination étroite avec les « Amis d’un Iran libre », intergroupe informel au Parlement européen créé en 2004 et qui est dirigé par des personnalités comme Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice-président du PE, ou M. Struan Stevenson, notre collègue britannique.

Le groupe aura pour but :- de révéler et de condamner la poursuite des violations systématiques des droits des femmes en Iran, surtout lors du soulèvement national ; - de soutenir les revendication du peuple pour une société ouverte et une république démocratique et laïque ; - Il travaillera à la libération des prisonniers politiques et de ceux arrêtés dans les manifestations, surtout les femmes détenues ; - Il soutiendra les efforts du CNRI et spécialement de sa présidente élue Maryam Radjavi qui œuvre pour l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes dans tous les domaines ;- Il exprimera notre solidarité avec les droits des femmes contre la dictature religieuse, et notre solidarité avec les femmes d’Achraf ;- Il soutiendra la résolution d’avril 2009 pour Achraf et soutiendra la lutte des femmes iraniennes pour un meilleur futur et la liberté.

TimesonLine:Iran accused of murder campaign against Kurds

Iran's religious leadership is orchestrating a campaign of killings and arrests in Kurd provinces as it seeks to prevent pro-democracy protests from spreading to the country's ethnic minorities, an Iranian Kurd leader has said.
In an interview with The Times, Abdullah Mohtadi, secretary general of the Komala Party, said Tehran had ordered a security crackdown that had brought renewed oppression to Kurd areas in the wake of protests against last year's contested presidential election.
He also accused Britain and other Western governments of turning their backs on the plight of the country's Kurdish population, estimated at five million by the US authorities and up to 12 million by Mr Mohtadi. ''We need everything, but we get nothing,'' he said.
About 35 million Kurds live in Turkey, Iraq and Syria, as well as Iran, where Mr Mohtadi said they faced a long history of discrimination, harassment and violence.

The interview took place in Paris a day after Tehran had announced the capture of Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundallah, the Sunni militant group responsible for a series of attacks on Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Mr Mohtadi said that he, too, was being hunted.
With Iran's regime desperate to stop the Green movement sparking rebellion among the minorities that constitute almost half the population, he said intelligence agents would be prepared to capture or kill him anywhere in the world, including Europe. "There are many people like me who really are in danger.''
Unable to operate in Iran, his party has based itself in Iraq, where it has several hundred peshmergas, or armed fighters. Mr Mohtadi said their presence was necessary to prevent assassination attempts on Komala's leadership, but insisted that his party had abandoned violent action in favour of political strategies in Iran.
It has a television station, which is regularly blocked by the Iranian authorities, and a newspaper, which is smuggled across the border to promote calls for a democratic, decentralised political system in Iran. But anyone caught reading the newspaper is almost certain to be summoned by Iranian secret services and detained, said Mr Mohtadi.
''No kind of political activity is authorised'' and retaliation for breaches of the law was ''very rapid and very harsh''. Mr Mohtadi said Tehran had always treated Kurds ''like enemies and looked at the Kurdish people only from a security point of view.''
Now the repression had been stepped up. ''They are arresting more people, threatening more of them, harassing more of them, calling more of them to the intelligence services. There are more clandestine killings going on as well."
He said more than 30 Kurds had been placed on death row, mostly for civil activism. Farzad Kamangar, 32, a teacher, had his sentence commuted to 30 years in prison this week following an international campaign to save him.
On the anniversary of the Iranian revolution this month, Mr Mohtadi said so many military vehicles were sent to Kurdish provinces ''that it was like being in an occupied country. There was an unofficial curfew imposed and helicopters flying over all the main cities.''
The show of strength was designed to nip a Kurdish protest movement in the bud ''because they know that from the moment that happens, it will be difficult to contain,'' said Mr Mohtadi.
Nevertheless, there are signs of armed uprising in Iran's Kurdish provinces. Earlier this month, for instance, Tehran said it had killed four members of a Komala splinter group which it blamed for taking the lives of three policemen in December. This week, the Iranian authorities said they had foiled a bombing by the same faction

« Le courage des Iraniennes à Achraf et en Iran est une grande source d’inspiration »- E-B. Svensson

CNRI

« Mme Radjavi a eu un rôle éminent en encourageant les femmes iraniennes à
prendre de plus grandes responsabilités et un rôle dans la détermination de leur
avenir », a déclaré Eva-Britt Svensson à Bruxelles, au Parlement européen le 23
février.

La présidente suédoise de la Commission des droits de la femme et de l'égalité des genres intervenait devant 150 parlementaires et assistants qu’elle avait conviés à débattre sur le thème « Les femmes, avant-garde du changement démocratique en Iran ». L’invitée d’honneur était Maryam Radjavi, présidente élue de la Résistance iranienne. La réunion a été l’occasion d’annoncer la création du groupe parlementaire de solidarité avec femmes pour un Iran libre sous l’égide de l’eurodéputée Edit Bauer.

Voici l’intervention d’Eva-Britt Svensson :

Je souhaite tout d’abord souhaiter la bienvenue à Mme Radjavi qui a consacré sa vie à l’instauration de la liberté, de la démocratie et de l’égalité dans son pays. Elle a eu un rôle éminent en encourageant les femmes iraniennes à prendre de plus grandes responsabilités et un rôle dans la détermination de leur avenir.

Pour ma part je connais depuis longtemps le rôle que les Iraniennes jouent dans la résistance. Mais le courage dont elles ont fait preuve à Achraf ou sur le terrain en Iran a été une grande source d’inspiration, car cela met à l’épreuve le fameux dicton « on peut être déterminant si l’on se concentre sur le prix à payer ».
A propos des droits des femmes en Iran, l’on sait que cela existe depuis plus de cent ans. Les femmes iraniennes ont largement participé à la révolution de 1979.

Mais les intégristes conduits par l’ayatollah Khomeiny ont pris le contrôle de la révolution. Une fois au pouvoir, les intégristes ont trahi les femmes et les hommes en appliquant un système écrasant et un apartheid sexuel. La dictature en place construite sur le préjugé que les femmes sont physiquement, intellectuellement et moralement inférieures aux hommes, éclipse la possibilité d’une participation égale dans n’importe quel domaine d’activités sociales ou politiques.

J’espère vraiment que beaucoup de citoyens et de parlementaires viendront apporter leur soutien. Nous devons le faire. C’est notre responsabilité en tant qu’être humain pour montrer au monde ce qui se passe et que c’est inacceptable, c’est une honte ce qui se passe en Iran. Aussi, je vous appelle à soutenir l’appel à la liberté et la démocratie en Iran.

Sari Essayah, L’eurodéputée finlandaise:« Les slogans en Iran appellent le monde occidental et l’UE, à faire pression »

CNRI

Je crois qu’une unité politique sur l’Iran serait le meilleur moyen de soutenir l’opposition dans sa lutte vers la liberté. Le CNRI prône un Iran sans nucléaire et montre qu’il y aura un pays totalement différent dans le futur. Nous pouvons l’aider dans sa lutte » a déclaré Sari Essayah au Parlement européen à Bruxelles le 23 février.
L’eurodéputée finlandaise intervenait devant 150 parlementaires et assistants réunis à l’invitation d’Eva-Britt Svensson, présidente de la commission des droits de la femme et de l'égalité des genres, pour débattre sur « Les femmes, avant-garde du changement démocratique en Iran ». L’invitée d’honneur était Maryam Radjavi, présidente élue de la Résistance iranienne. La réunion a été l’occasion d’annoncer la création du groupe parlementaire de solidarité avec femmes pour un Iran libre sous l’égide de l’eurodéputée Edit Bauer.
Voici l’intervention de Sari Essayah :
Je suis heureuse d’être ici avec mes collègues et avec vous Maryam Radjavi. J’ai beaucoup d’amis iraniens ici dans le public et ils m’ont dit et informé sur leur histoire. Cela fait 40 ans que les femmes luttent en Iran pour la liberté, le progrès et la démocratie. Beaucoup ont été victimes de la torture et de l’emprisonnement. Comme nous l’a montré ce film, beaucoup d’entre elles n’étaient que des jeunes filles, parfois âgées de 13 ans, et d’autre, les plus vieilles, près de 90 ans. Aussi pouvons-nous imaginer quelle sorte de tyrannie torture et exécute des femmes innocentes et des enfants innocents.
En essayant de justifier ses agissements, le régime accuse et taxe cette opposition de Mohareb, ce qui signifie « ennemi de Dieu ». Le châtiment peut aller de la torture à l’exécution.
Cette tyrannie doit vraiment prendre fin. Le message du peuple dans la rue montre qu’il est déterminé à changer le régime. Les slogans appellent le monde occidental et spécialement l’UE, à faire pression. A mes yeux l’Europe a du retard dans son action pour aider efficacement le peuple iranien. Nous avons entrepris des actions, mais pas suffisamment.
Je crois qu’une unité politique sur l’Iran serait le meilleur moyen de soutenir l’opposition dans sa lutte vers la liberté. Le Conseil national de la Résistance iranienne prône un Iran sans nucléaire et montre qu’il y aura un pays totalement différent dans le futur. Nous pouvons l’aider dans sa lutte.
Il est donc vraiment temps pour l’UE de se montrer ferme et de se concentrer sur des sanctions et de prendre part à cette lutte inéquitable entre les protestataires pacifiques et la tyrannie répressive et violente.
Maryam Radjavi je voudrais vous souhaiter beaucoup de chance dans votre lutte et de rester ferme dans votre action. Que Dieu vous bénisse !

BILLIONS STOLEN BY IRANIAN REGIME AND HIDDEN OVERSEAS!

We are uploading this news only as a reminder !!


iReport — More than 60 members of the Iranian Regime have been exposed by internet activists as having stolen money from the people of Iran. This money is now being held as billions of dollars, British pounds and Euros in banks outside Iran. It amounts to more than :

ONE BILLION US DOLLARS
4 BILLION EUROS
1 BILLION POUNDS STERLING

The full list contains names of some of the most prominent members of the Regime, including Speaker/Leader of the Parliament, Ali Larianji (16 milloin US dollars and 297 million Euros) and Mesbaah Yazdi (Spiritual/religious adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei's son, and one of the most vocal mullahs in the country calling for harsh retribution against peaceful protestors) who has a total of 137 million US dollars, 110 million Euros and 65 million UK pounds stashed around the World.

The full list of the money that has been traced so far is given below. The information comes from a highly-respected and credible source who has a highly-placed role within the banking industry in the Middle East. For obvious reasons, his/her identity must remain protected.

Gholam Hossein Elham : 55.7 million USD
25m USD in Dubai
13m USD in Turkey
17m USD in Switzerland
0.7m USD in Beirut

S.H. Panahian: 11 million USD; 4 million Euros
11m USD in the Islamic Bank of Sharjeh
4m Euros in Malaysia

Masoud Kazemi: 49.2 million USD
45m Euros in Germany
4.2m USD in Dubai

Ali Hashemi Bahramani: 28.2 million USD; 11 million Euros
5.2m USD in Kuwait
11m Euros in Belgium
23m USD in Dubai
An unknown amount in Switzerland

Mohamad Mohamadi: 29 million USD; 8 million Euros
12m USD in Dubai
17m USD in Kuwait
8m Euros in Turkey

Mehdi Ahmadi Nejad: 44 million USD; 63 million Euros
18m Euros in Belgium
45m Euros in Switzerland
44m USD in the Islamic bank at Sharjeh

Naziyeh Khamenehiee : 7 million USD; 65 million Euros, £122 million sterling
7m USD in Turkey
65m Euros in Germany
122m pounds sterling in Great Britain

Sadegh Mahsouli: 24 million USD; 17 million Euros
14m Euros in the United Arab Emirates
24m USD in Turkey
3m Euros in Malaysia

Mojtaba Khameneiee: 766 million USD; 2.2 BILLION Euros; £1 BILLION sterling; +
1 Billion pounds sterling in Great Britain (this has been blocked)
2.2 Billion Euros in Germany
766m USD in Qatar
An unknown amount in Switzerland

Hossein Ma`adi khah: 22 million USD; 45 million Euros
15m USD in Kuwait
45m Euros in Austria
7m USD in the United Arab Emirates

Isa Kalantari: 1.2 million USD; 3.2 million Euros
3.2m Euros in Belgium
1.2m USD in Italy

Hossein Taeb: 122 million USD; 42 million Euros
122m USD in the United Arab Emirates
42m Euros in Italy

Masoud Hajarian Kashani: 105.7 million USD
92m USD in Austria
13.7m USD in Qatar

Sardar Ahmad Vahidi: 219 million USD
32m USD in the United Arab Emirates
65m USD in Turkey
122m USD in Germany (this has been blocked)

Abas Kadkhodaiee: 39.1 million USD; 2.5 million Euros
2.5m EU in Italy
7.1m USD in Kuwait
32m USD in Dubai

Mojtaba Mesbaah Yazdi: 405 million USD; 55 million Euros
184m USD in Dubai
221m USD in the Alnakhl Corporation
55m Euros in Spain

Ali Mesbaah Yazdi 137 million USD; 110 million Euros; £65 million sterling
45m USD in the United Arab Emirates
17m USD in Turkey
65m Pounds sterling in Barclays Bank, Great Britain
75m USD in South Africa
110m Euros in Germany

Hessin Firouz Abadi: 505 million USD
320m USD in Malaysia
65m USD in the United Arab Emirates
103m USD in Kuwait
17m USD in Turkey
Unknown amount in account in Switzerland

Parviz Fatah: 38 million USD; 5.2 million Euros
16m USD in Turkey
5.2m Euros in Turkey
22m USD in Switzerland

Hassan Shajooni: 124.7 million USD
66.5m USD in Dubai
39m USD in Kuwait
11.2m USD in Beruit
8m USD in Malaysia

H Asgar Oladi: 853 million USD; 120 million Euros
172m USD in Belgium
120m Euros in Germany
420m USD in the Alnakhl Company
42m USD in Turkey
219m USD in Malaysia
Unknown amount in a secret bank account in Switzerland

Hossein Jannati: 470 USD
288m USD in Dubai
An unknown amount in a bank in Turkey which has been guaranteed for 200m USD
150m USD in Japan
32m USD in Malaysia

Sakineh Khamenehie: 151 million USD
25m USD at Malaysia
14m USD in Qatar
112m USD in Dubai

Esfandyar Rahim Mashaiee: 78.2 million USD
5.2m Euros in Germany
32m Euros in Italy
41m USD in Dubai

H Mohamadi Araghi: 50.8 million USD; 56 million Euros
48.4m USD in Dubai
2.4m USD in Beirut
56m Euros in Spain

Ali Akbar Velayati: 300 million USD; 6 million Euros
244m USD in Germany

6m Euros in Austria
56m USD in Malaysia

Mohamad Mohamadi Reyshahri : 410 million USD; 43 million Euros
241m USD in the Alnakhl Company
121m USD in Dubai
48m USD in Germany
43m Euros in Italy

Mohsen Hashemi Bahramani: 35 million USD; 65 million Euros
35m USD in the United Arab Emirates
65m Euros in Belgium

Masoomeh Hashemi Samareh: 16.9 million USD
11m USD in Qatar
5.9m USD in Malaysia

Ali Larijani: 16 million USD; 297 million Euros
185m Euros in Austria
16m USD in the United Arab Emirates
112m Euros in Malaysia

Abas Akhondi: 14.2 million USD
9m USD in the United Arab Emirates
5.2m USD in the Bank of Beruit

Mohsen Rafighdoust: 265 million USD
129m USD in Belgium
44m USD in Kuwait
92m USD in Malaysia

Hamid Hosseini: 30 million USD; 82 million Euros
30m USD in Malaysia
82m Euros in Spain

Mohamad Hosseini: 24 million USD; £11 million sterling
14m USD in the United Arab Emirates
7m USD in Kuwait
3m USD in Turkey
11m Pounds Sterling in Great Britain

Mahmoud Hosseini: 14.6 million USD
3.2m USD in Turkey
11.4m USD in Kuwait

Mojtaba Hashemi Samareh: 200 million USD; 28 million Euros
28m Euros in Spain
76m USD in the United Arab Emirates
124m USD in Malaysia

Kamran Daneshjou: 7.2 million USD; 76 million Euros
76m Euros in Austria
7.2m USD in Malaysia

Ahmad Reza Radan : 284 million USD
98m USD in the United Arab Emirates
65m USD in Kuwait
121m USD in South Africa

Yadollah Javani: 27 million USD; 23 million Euros
22m USD in United Arab Emirates
5m USD in India
23m Euros in Portugal

Gholam Reza Fayaz: 105.9 million USD
65m USD in Malaysia
40.9m USD in Kuwait

Ali Reza Fayaz: 23 million USD; 24 million Euros
23m USD in the United Arab Emirates
17m Euros in Turkey
7m Euros in Italy

Ali Mobasheri: 61 million USD; 12 million Euros
12m Euros in Belgium
19m USD in Malaysia
42m USD in Kuwait

Mohamad Naghdi: 90 million USD; 142 million Euros
142m Euros in the United Arab Emirates
24m USD in the United Arab Emirates
66m USD in Malaysia

Farhad Daneshjou: 7.9 million USD
2.3m USD in the United Arab Emirates
5.6m USD in Turkey

Khosro Daneshjou: 18 million USD
11m USD in Turkey
7m USD in the Czech Republic

Hamid Hosseini: 32.2 million USD
4.2m USD in Malaysia
28m USD in the United Arab Emirates

Mohamad Bagher Kharazi: 248 million USD
120m USD in Lebanon
86m USD in the United Arab Emirates
42m USD in Barclays Bank, South Africa

Mehdi Hashemi Samareh: 49.7 million USD
5.7m USD in Turkey
44m USD in Kuwait

Hamid Rasay: 76 million USD; 32 million Euro; £18 million sterling
62m USD in Hungry
32m Euros in Germany
18m Pounds Sterling in Great Britain
14m USD in the United Arab Emirates

Hossein Mousavi Ardebili: 163 million USA
21m USD in Kuwait
110m USD in the United Arab Emirates
32m USD in Malaysia

Ali Mobasheri: 22.4 million USD; 7 million Euros
7m Euros in Austria
22.4m USD in the United Arab Emirates

Hossein Shariat Madari: 1.035 BILLION USD; 65 million Euros
225m USD in the United Arab Emirates
54m USD in the Alnakhl Company
65m Euros in HSBC Bank, Great Britain
156m USD in Malaysia
600m USD in St. Petersburg Bank, Russia

Hossein Shahmoradi: 127 million USD
56m USD in the United Arab Emirates
64m USD in Malaysia
7m USD in India

Kamran Daneshjou: 67 million USD
24m USD in Japan
43m USD in Malaysia

Davoud Ahmadi Nezhad: 63 million USD; 48 million Euros
55m USD in the United Arab Emirates
48m Euros in the United Arab Emirates
8m USD in the St. Petersburg Bank, Russia

Abdollah Araghi: 287 million USD
84m USD in the United Arab Emirates
127m USD in The Lebanon
76m USD in Malaysia
An unknown amount in a secret account in Switzerland

Baha-odin Hosseini Hashemi: 125 million USD
45m USD in the United Arab Emirates
80m USD in Malaysia

Mohi Odin Fazel Harandi: 97 million USD
52m USD in Oman
45m USD in Saudi Arabia

Ahmad Jannati: 652 million USD; 450 Euros
450m Euros in Belgium
143m USD in the Alnakhl Company
124m USD in the United Arab Emirates
267m USD in Malaysia
118m USD in South Africa
An unknown amount in a secret account in Switzerland

Ali Janati: 190 million USD; 55 million Euros
35m USD in the United Arab Emirates
155m USD in Turkey
55m Euros in Germany
An unknown amount in a secret account in Switzerland

Hossein Safar Harandi: 58 million USD
38m USD in the United Arab Emirates
20m USD in Malaysia
An unknown amount in a secret account in Turkey

Morteza Rafighdoust: 120 million Euros
120m Euros in Germany
An unknown amount in a secret account in Switzerland

M H Parsa: 55 million USD
43m USD in Turkey
12m USD in Malaysia

Fatemeh Asgar Oladi: 59 million USD
43m USD in Qatar
16m USD in Turkey

Ali Akbar Mohtashemi: 410 million USD
125m USD in Sharjeh
85m USD in Kuwait
200m USD in Malaysia
An unknown amount in a secret account in Switzerland

Yaser Bahramani Hashemi: 14 million USD; 24 million Euros
22m Euros in Germany
12m Euros in Austria
14m USD in the United Arab Emirates

Gholam Ali Haddad Adel : 57.4 USD
12m USD in Turkey
2.4m USD in Malaysia
43m USD in the United Arab Emirates