Political Activists Arrested In Lahijan Ahead Of The Presidential Election

As the presidential election nears, a number of political activists have been summoned, homes of some activists searched and a number of activists who were planing to open a campaign office for Hashemi Rafsanjani have been arrested.

Among the arrested are, Hamid Hadisi, Ebrahim Khoshsirat, Mourice Bagheri, and Mr. Jafari the chair of the Participation Front in Lahijan.

Since their arrest six days ago, the detainees have had one short phone call to their families.

All of the activists arrested were transferred to IRGC’s detention center in Rasht. Last Sunday they were all taken back to Larijan and arraigned in court then transferred back to Rasht.

Source: Mizahkhabar

Attorney Masoud Shams Nejad arrested in Orumieh

Masoud shams Nejad, an attorney and on the faculty of Payam Nour and Azad universities in Orumieh, was arrested on Thursday May 9, 2013 and transferred to Orumieh prison after initial interrogation.

According to reports, shams Nejad is currently in Orumieh prison and since his transfer there all phone contacts from the ward he is incarcerated in have been cut off. As of to date reason for his arrest still unclear.

Masoud Shamsnejad is the defense attorney for death row political prisoner Habibollah Golparipour who for unknown reasons three days ago was transferred out of Semnan prison and taken to the central prison in Orumieh.

Habibollah Golparipour was arrested 2007 on charges of affiliation with a banned Kurdish group and was later tried and sentenced to death. His death sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Source: HRANA

Two More Members Of The Association Of Writers Sentenced To Imprisonment

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Pirabbasi, has sentenced Mohsen Ghashghaei to 2 years imprisonment on charges of assembly and collusion with intent to act against the national security.

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Ahmadi, has sentenced Mohamad Reza Ahmadi to 3 years imprisonment on the same charges of assembly and collusion with intent to act against the national security.

Mohamad Reza Ahmadi’s 1 year suspended sentence from a previous conviction, now becomes mandatory and will be enforced.

Previously, three members of the Association of Writers were sentenced to imprisonment. Akbar Amini was sentenced to 5 years, and Pezhman Zafarmand and Mohamad Parsi were each sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.

According to reports, the members of the Association of Writers have been under pressure, a number of them have been summoned by the Intelligence Ministry within the last few weeks, and many have received threatening phone calls.

Following a raid on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 on an Association of Writers meeting, seventy Association members were arrested. All except 17 members were released shortly thereafter. Those 17 members, including Dr. Mehdi Khazali, were transferred that night to Evin prison. Two other members, Pezhman Zafarmand and Mehdi Karimi, were later arrested by agents and taken to Evin prison.

Currently Dr. Mehdi Khazali is the only member that remains in Ward 209 of Evin prison, and is still on hunger strike

Source: Jaras

Green Movement Activists Javad Aboali And Mohamad Danaei Arrested In Behbahan

Following the heightened security atmosphere and added pressure on political activists in cities across the country, city of Behbaha political activists Javad Aboali And Mohamad Danaei have been arrested.

Mohamad Danaei was arrested by agents on April 25, 2013, and Javad Aboali was arrested on May 9, 2013, both in Behbahan.

According to the Kalameh site, Behbahan’s Judiciary officials claim they have no information about these arrests. To date, the arresting agency, the reason for arrest and the detention location of these two activists are still unclear.

Prior to his latest arrest, Javad Aboali had completed his previous sentence on the charge of propaganda against the state.

Source: Kaleme

10 Political Prisoners In Solitary Confinement Have Launched A Hunger Strike

10 political prisoners incarcerated in solitary confinement in Evin Ward 240 have launched a hunger strike following the prison officials’ failure to fulfill their promise to return them to the General Ward 350.

Incarcerated in solitary confinement and demanding to be returned to Ward 350, the following prisoners have launched an open ended hunger strike.

1 – Saeed Madani
2 – Abdollah Momeni
3 – Abolfazl Abedini Nasr
4 – Siyamak Ghaderi
5 – Amir Khosro Dalirsani
6 – Mohamad Hassan Yousefpour Seifi
7 – Saeed Abedini
8 – Kamran Ayazi
9 – Mohamad Ebrahimi
10-Poriya Ebrahimi

Following the transfer of these 10 political prisoners to solitary confinement on Sunday April 28, they had announced they would launch a hunger strike. But due to requests from their fellow prisoners and promises made by the officials, had delayed the launch of their hunger strike. However, due to failure of the officials to keep their promise to move them back to Ward 350, they started their hunger strike as of Monday night.

Reports indicate that these 10 prisoners are in complete isolation and are deprived of basic rights and recess time outside of their cell.

On Monday, the regular visitation day, the families of these prisoners were denied visits with them. Also on Monday, political prisoner Mohamad Amin Hadavi, in protest of the treatment of the 10 prisoners. refused to go to the visitation room .

According to reports, some of these prisoners are in poor health condition:
Saeed Madani is in need of gallbladder surgery.
Abdollah Momeni is suffering from kidney, gums and teeth problems.
Abolfazl Abedini Nasr is suffering from kidney and heart condition.
Saeed Abedini is suffering from gastrointestinal and digestive problems.
Mohamad Ebrahimi has a lung problem.

These prisoners have remained in solitary confinement since April 28, and the Deputy Warden, Javad Momeni, has made additional threats against them. Also, the Judiciary officials have told the wife of Abdollah Momeni that these prisoners will remain in solitary for 20 days.

Source: Kaleme

Beyond The Seas, a poem by Sohrab Sepehri

Beyond The Sea, a poem by Sohrab Sepehri

I will build a boat,
I will cast it in the water,
I will sail away from this strange land,
Where no one in the grove of love,
awakens the heroes.

A boat void of nets,
And a heart void of longing for pearls
I will continue to sail.
Neither will I lose my heart to things that are blue
Nor to the mermaids emerging from the sand
That cast seduction from their locks
On the illuminated solitude of the fishermen.

I will continue to sail.
I will continue to sing:
“One must go faraway, faraway.”
The man of that city had no myths
The woman of that city was not brimful like a cluster of grapes.

No hall of mirrors reprise raptures.
A puddle of water, did not even reflect the light from a torch.
The night has sung it’s anthem,
Now it is the window’s turn to open.

I will continue to sing.
I will continue to sail.

Beyond the seas there is a city,
In which it’s windows open to epiphany,
The rooftops are the domain of pigeons that gaze at the fountain of human intelligence.
The hand of each ten year old child in the city, is endowed with the house of knowledge.
The people in that city look at a clay wall,
As though, it is a flame, a tender sleep.
The earth hears the music of your senses,
And the fluttering sound of the wings of mythical birds are heard in the wind.

Beyond the seas there is a city,
Where the sun is as vast as the eyes of the early morning risers.
The poets are the inheritors of water, wisdom and illumination.

Beyond the seas there is a city!
One must build a boat.

Three Members Of The Writers Association Sentenced To Imprisonment

A total of 11 years imprisonment and a 15 year ban on any political, civil and or online activity has been issued for three members of the Writers Association (Sarai Ahle Ghalam).

Following summons by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, three members of the Writers Association were handed sentences as follows:

Akbar Amini – Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, 4 years on charges of assembly and collusion with the intent to act against the national security, and 1 year for propaganda against the establishment.

As part of his sentence Amini is also banned for 5 years from membership in any political party or group and banned from any online journalistic activities.

Amini was also under a one year suspended sentence from a previous conviction that now has become mandatory and will be enforced.

Pezhman Zafarmand – Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on charges of assembly and collusion with the intent to act against the national security. Zafarmand is also banned from any political activity or any online journalistic activity for 5 years.

Mohamad Parsi – Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, 2 years on charges of assembly and collusion with the intent to act against the national security, and 1 year on charges of propaganda against the establishment. Parsi is also placed on a 5 year ban from membership in any political party or group and any online journalistic activity.

About 70 people were arrested during a raid of the Writers Association meeting on October 30, 2012. Many were released shortly after, but 17 members were taken to Evin prison.

Dr. Mehdi Khazali was one of the members arrested that night. Currently he is the only member that is still incarcerated and is on a hunger strike protesting his illegal arrest and detention.

Pressure and threats continue against the members of the Writers Association since the night of the raid on their meeting. Other members have also been summoned by court.

Source: HRANA

10 Protesting Political Prisoners Continue To Be In Solitary Confinement, Threats Made Against 35 Other Prisoners

Despite a visit by the Deputy Judiciary Chief, the 10 political prisoners who were moved to solitary confinement in Evin Ward 240 on Sunday, are still incarcerated there, and the Deputy Warden of Evin prison has threatened that the other 35 prisoners protesting this illegal move will be confronted and punished.

According to reports by the Kaleme site, the 10 prisoners continue to be in solitary confinement and are also banned from visits.

On Sunday Kalameh reported after the illegal order by Evin officials to remove Saeed Madani as the prisoners’ representative, protests broke out in Ward 350. This ultimately resulted in the special units guards being sent to the ward and the transfer of the following 10 prisoners to solitary confinement:

1 – Saeed Madani
2 – Abdollah Momeni
3 – Abolfazl Abedini Nasr
4 – Siyamak Ghaderi
5 – Amir Khosro Dalirsani
6 – Mohamad Hassan Yousefpour Seifi
7 – Saeed Abedini
8 – Kamran Ayazi
9 – Mohamad Ebrahimi
10-Poriya Ebrahimi

On Monday, the regular visiting day for Ward 350 political prisoners, 35 prisoners protesting the illegal transfer of the 10 prisoners to solitary confinement, refused to go to the visiting room.

The Deputy Judiciary Chief and the head of Iran’s Bureau of Prisons, Esmaeli, was in Evin on Tuesday to follow up on the situation of the 10 prisoners in solitary and the Ward 350 prisoners.

In the past two days, a number of the 10 prisoners in solitary confinement have been taken to Evin’s clinic in poor health condition but returned back to Ward 240 solitary confinement. Also, prior to transfer of Saeed Madani to solitary, the medical examiner had instructed that he must be sent to hospital for gallbladder surgery. However, at this time it is not known if, or when, Madani will be sent for surgery.

On Sunday, a number of Ward 350 political prisoners had volunteered to also be transferred to solitary confinement as a show of support for the other prisoners transferred to solitary. They are ready to go to solitary confinement if their friends are not returned to the General Ward.

The 10 political prisoners transferred to solitary confinement have threatened to launch a hunger strike if they are not returned to the General Ward 350 by the end of this week.

Javad Momeni, the Deputy Warden at Evin, who’s actions were part of the main reason for the prisoners’ protest on Sunday, has said that the 35 prisoners who refused to go to the visiting room on Monday will be dealt with and will be punished.

Source: Kaleme

Protest At Ward 350, Special Guards Units Sent To The Ward, 10 Prisoners Sent To Solitary Confinement

After tension broke out at Ward 350 of Evin prison, special guards units were sent to the ward and 10 political prisoners were moved to Ward 240 solitary confinement on the direct order of Tehran Prosecutor General.

Political prisoners Saeed Madani, Abdollah Momeni, Abolfazl Abedini Nasr, Siyamak Ghaderi, Amir Khosro Dalirsani, Mohamad Hassan Yousefpour Seifi, Saeed Abedini, Kamran Ayazi, Mohamad Ebrahimi and Poriya Ebrahimi were all moved to solitary confinement after protesting the Deputy Warden demanding the dismissal of Saeed Madani as the representative of Ward 350 political prisoners.

Following this illegal demand by the Deputy Warden, prisoners protesting this illegal order, and in support of their chosen representative, chanted slogans and sang anthems in the public area of the Ward.

The prisoners were demanding the dismissal of Deputy Warden Momeni, and halting of his interference with the Ward 350 affairs.

Also, the prisoners’ chanting of “Death to the dictator” resulted in the Special Units guards being sent to the Ward and threats made against the prisoners

In recent weeks, Ward 350 prisoners’ representative, Saeed Madani had voiced prisoners’ complaints regarding the inappropriate treatment of prisoners, the state of the prison store, it’s financial mismanagement and irregularities, and repeated insults by officials in the visiting room.

According to the latest report, these ten political prisoners, in addition to being placed in solitary confinement, are now also banned from visits. These prisoners have threatened to launch a hunger strike if the situation is not remedied.

All other political prisoners have also threatened to stop going to the visiting room if this situation continues as is.

The Prosecutor General’s representative and officials from the Intelligence Ministry were present at the meeting between the prisoners’ representatives and the prison officials and explicitly said that the Prosecutor had ordered the protesting prisoners be punished.

Source: Kaleme

Mohsen Dogmechi Died While A Political Prisoner, Now His Widow Summoned To Serve Prison Term

Wife of deceased political prisoner Mohsen Dogmechi has been summoned by the prosecution to serve her 3 years sentence which was upheld by the Appeals Court.

Maryam Aldangi was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Salavati. Her sentence was upheld last year by Branch 36 of the Appeals Court presided by judge Zargar.

Maryam Aldangi is the widow of prominent Bazaar businessman Mohsen Dogmechi. He was arrested on September 7, 2009 on charges of giving financial aid to the political prisoners’ families and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Dogmechi became ill with pancreatic cancer while imprisoned, and due to lack of proper treatment in prison and delay in being sent to a hospital, died March 29, 2011.

October 2009, about a month after her husband’s arrest, Maryam Aldangi was arrested at her home. She was released on bail after 70 days of interrogations and pressure in solitary confinement in the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin prison .

After her husband passed away, she was summoned by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court for holding funeral services for her husband and giving press interviews. She was arraigned on the same charges as her husband’s charges. The court issued it’s ruling for her based on these same charges.

According to the summons she has received, she must report to prison on May 1 to start serving her sentence.

Source: HRANA