Kurdigh Human Rights Activist Mohamad Sedigh Kaboudvand On Hunger Strike Again

Human rights activist, Mohamad Sedigh Kaboudvand, incarcerated in Ward 350 of Evin prison, in an open letter addressed to the people of our country, titled “To Those With An Awakened Conscience” announced, to protest the illegal and inhumane acts by the Judiciary officials and the security apparatuses, he launched a hunger strike as of 11 PM, May 28, 2012.

In his open letter Kaboudvand warns that Tehran’s Public Prosecutor is responsible for any ill consequences for him as a political prisoner and for his sick child.

Kaboudvand, the former editor-in-chief of weekly “Payam-e Mardom” previously had once again gone on a hunger strike May 14, but ended his hunger strike later after officials promised to grant him a furlough.

Kaboudvand a Kurdish human rights activist, was arrested July 1, 2007. He was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to 10 years on the charge “acting against national security” for founding the Kurdistan Defense of Human Rights Organization.

He was also sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime” through communication and engagement with international human rights organizations, communication and correspondence with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and interviews with various media outlets.

He has been sentenced to eleven years in total. His ten years sentence has been upheld by Branch 55 of the province of Tehran’s Court of Appeals and is final.

According to Kaboudvand’s family, he had no prior health issues before his arrest. Due to his seven months incarceration in solitary confinement, under harsh conditions, he now suffers from lung disease, kidney and skin problems and even has had a minor stroke.

Following is a translation of Kaboudvand’s letter as provided to the Kalameh site:

In the name of God:

You probably know that the my tenth emergency furlough request for the purpose of offering help and comfort to my gravely ill dear and beloved child who is inflicted with an incurable blood disease, struggling and fighting for his life, lying on a hospital for the last five months, has once again met with rejection by the Prosecutor General and the Intelligence officials.

This, while I have been deprived of any information on the status of my son.

The Prosecutor and the Security apparatuses continue to deny a furlough, because of their hatred, animosity and malice towards me as a human rights activist. This despite my having served half of my illegal and unjust prison sentence and my son’s incurable diseases and acute emergency situation.

Their disapproval of a furlough is an animosity towards my son and a malice towards human rights activists.

Therefore, to protest the illegal and inhumane behavior of these judicial and security officials, I once again have launched an indefinite hunger strike as of 11 PM Tuesday May 28, 2012.

Hereby, I announce to those with an Awakened Conscience that Tehran’s Public Prosecutor will personally be responsible for any ill consequences that comes to this political prisoner and to my sick child.

Mohamad Sedigh Kaboudvand
May 27, 2012
Evin Prison, Tehran

Source: Kalameh

On Day 8 Of Hunger Strike, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, In Dire Health Was Taken To Hospital

Imprisoned Blogger and human rights activist, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki who launched a hunger strike last Saturday was taken to hospital outside of the prison this afternoon due to dire health.

Despite his dire health and against the recommendations by the doctors that Hossein needed to be hospitalized for treatment, he was returned to Evin prison.

Today, this blogger, who is on his eighth day of hunger strike, was taken to Hasheminejad hospital. His security guards had very offensive behavior accompanied with repeated threats and harassment towards Hossein and his family.

Despite doctors’ recommendations for the last three months that Hossein needed to be hospitalized for proper treatment, the security guards did not allow his hospitalization and returned him to Evin after two hours.

In the last few days, after the worsening of his health, Hossein was also taken to Taleghani hospital and returned back to Evin after a short treatment.

Last week Hossein wrote to Ayatollah Khamenei, informing him of the launch of his hunger strike. In it he wrote:
“I protest these illegal practices by launching a hunger strike as of May 26, 2012, and protecting my life is the responsibility of the officials of the Islamic Republic.

The hunger strike is in protest of, and to make a complaint:
- Against the abuse and interventions in judicial matters by the Sepah Intelligence Corps, and the Intelligence Ministry;
- The loss of independence of the Judiciary Branch,
- To restore the Constitution, judicial procedures, judicial independence, and;
- To restore the rights of political prisoners and their families (rights such as, granting of furlough, use of telephone and visitation etc.).”

This blogger and human rights activist has been incarcerated for two and a half years without being allowed any furlough.

He was arrested on December 13, 2009 in the city of Makan near Tabriz, and was immediately taken to Ward 2-A of Evin prison in Tehran.

He was in solitary confinement for ten months, under severe physical and psychological pressure, for the purpose of forcing him to give televised false confession. Finally, Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison. This sentence was upheld by Tehran’s Court of Appeals.

Despite dire health and need for proper medical treatment, he is serving his sentence in section 350 of Evin prison. He has been incarcerated for more than 900 days without being allowed even a single day of furlough.

Source: Madyariran

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s Letter To Arash Sadeghi, Urging Him To Halt His Hunger Strike

On hunger strike, incarcerated blogger and human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi Malki has written a letter to imprisoned student activist Arash Sadeghi, who went on a hunger strike in support of Ronaghi. In his letter Ronaghi urges Sadeghi to halt his hunger strike.

According to reports by Kalameh, imprisoned student activist Arash Sadeghi who launched a hunger strike few days ago, was allowed a visit by his grandfather in the presence of security agents.

During this visit Arash told his grandfather that he had been placed in solitary confinement for the last four months and was interrogated every three weeks.

Allameh Tabatabai university student activist, Arash Sadeghi was first arrested July 09, 2009, during the suppression of the post-presidential election protests. He was released after 50 days in solitary confinement.

Sadeghi was re-arrested on December 09, 2009 after the mass protests of Ahura, and later was released on March 6, 2010.

Arash Sadeghi was sentenced by Branches 28 and 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to three and six years respectively.

The Court of Appeals overturned the 3 years sentence and exonerated him of all charges in that case. The six year sentence was also overturned by the Appeals Court and was changed to 1 year in prison and four years suspended sentence.

This student activist was released after serving eighteen months in prison despite the fact that he was only sentenced to one year in prison by court.

Arash was again arrested last winter while visiting the grave site of his mother with his grandparents. Arash’s mother suffered a heart attack due to the stress and shock of her home being raided by the security forces.

Following is a translation of Hossein Ronaghi’s letter to Arash Sadeghi as published by the Kalameh site:

O gentle breeze, I don’t have the way to my beloved’s house
You are going there, go with health and give my regards

Dear Arash,

The moment my parents told me that you have gone on a hunger strike in support of your friend, I felt both joy and sorrow. I was joyful to have you ever so strong and steadfast by my side and sorrowful that despite your dire health you have launched a hunger strike.

You know well that your steadfastness, your patience, your aptitude, your honesty and your gentle soul are not things that I will ever forget.

My dear brother,

I know after you were arrested by IRGC’s Intelligence on July 9, 2009 and sent to Eshrat Abad detention center, what they did to you and what tortures you endured.

I know you were arrested after Ashura (mass protests of Dec 2009), what Yazids (Ommiad caliph, by whose order Imam Hossein, son of Imam Ali, was martyred) tormented you. Your afflicted injured body and your blackened eyes were the manifestations of this Karbela event (site of the martyrdom of Emam Hosein).

I know that today, you are standing tall in the tyrants’ solitary confinement, enduring all the tortures and hardships. But, you do not accept this humiliation; you hold your head up high and will not bend against tyranny so that we all can learn from you the true meaning of freedom and steadfastness.

I do not know the pain of losing a mother as a result of a viscious raid by the puppeteers of despotism, but you know it very well and you understand this pain and anguish.

My steadfast comrade,

We are in an era who’s humanity values have been totally destroyed and replaced by non-human values. An era in which the freedom seekers and their values are under attack by the oppressors.

With our patience, steadfastness and perseverance, we must remove obscurities and darkness, and replace it with luminosity. We must remove injustice and establish justice.

We both know that before this brotherhood that we have, your steadfastness and your free-mindedness were evident to me.

For this reason, I ask that you put an end to your hunger strike. This is the request of your comrade and your friend. I hope that you ultimately reach this same conclusion my dear friend.

I pray that these assailants against the light know that, “Sometimes, flames from a sigh’s wrath can be destructive, and sometimes a lament can break the back of an army”

Source: Kalameh

Journalist Farshad Aswad Arrested On His Way Out Of The Country

Human rights activist, journalist and former Khordad newspaper writer, Farshad Aswad was arrested late last week as he was leaving the country for Malaysia.

According to Jaras sources Aswad had voiced concern about the possibility of being arrested the night before his scheduled departure from the country.

Farshad Aswad is a relative of Reza Khandan, the husband of incarcerated HR attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Aswad was in the process of making a documentary about Sotoudeh and had voiced concern that this might cause his arrest.

According to Jaras sources, his family has had no news from him since his arrival at the airport.

Aswad was also imprisoned after the disputed presidential election of 2009.

Source: Jaras

Incarcerated Blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s Protest Letter To The Supreme Leader Khamenei

Incarcerated blogger and human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has written a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, announcing the launch of his hunger strike.

According to Hossein’s latest CT Scan, his left kidney is non-functioning and must be removed and his right kidney is also not functioning properly and if surgery is not performed immediately, he will lose his the functionality of his right kidney also.

Despite the recommendations by physicians that Hossein needed treatment and recovery outside of Evin prison, the IRGC Intelligence continues to deny a medical furlough for him.

Following is the translation of Hossein Ronaghi’s letter to Ayatollah Khamenei as published on Kalameh site:

Your excellency Ayatollah Sayad Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic,
With respect and greetings:

Those who listen to the word (good and just), then follow the best of it, those are they whom God has guided, and those are the men of understanding.

Considering your very busy schedule, allow me to start without any further ado to remind you of your speech on the first day of the new year in 2009 (The Iranian new year, March 2009):

“I am a supporter of just actions, I say we should be fair, let us look at the actions, this has nothing to do with the election, it is about just and unjust. Supporting those who serve the country is not only my duty but is everyone’s duty.

I support and welcome all good deeds, good actions, good progress, those who serve the people, those who help and offer compassion towards the needy, those who stand against injustice and tyranny.

I thank anyone who has accomplished these deeds, be it a person or a government, this is my duty.”

Surely no fair-minded person could disagree with this statement, but against the guidelines of your viewpoints, I, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki and the other political prisoners, and even the leaders of the Green Movement, Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Hojatol Islam Mehdi Karoubi and Mrs. Zahra Rahnavard, have been imprisoned and have suffered tortures for seeking freedom, justice and for standing against oppression and despotism and for our concern for the future of Iran.

Alas, not that no one offered us any gratitude, but much ingratitude was offered to us.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei,

Surely you remember that Ayatollah Khomeini had stressed in the past, “It is not permissible for one to understand and not to speak up, when one understands, one must speak up. This supporter whomever he may be, this dissident whomever he maybe.”

Your Excellency had likewise pointed out that, “If people are aware and alert, if they see and recognize any signs of over-pride, arrogance and selfishness of the rulers, they must benevolently protest, and if felt that the ruler does not intend to eliminate these diseases, they should stand up to him and object, this will certainly cure these diseases.”

The reality is that most of us have not acted outside of these guidelines. Even beyond that, many of us believed that what we have done are beyond and above our national duty, moral and religious duty.

But unfortunately, what we witness in Iran today, is nothing but despotism, lawlessness and oppression against those who love Iran and freedom and those who stand up for their rights. Those who took a stance of good will and protested the existing unjust situation.

Your Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei,

Security and intelligence apparatuses such as Sepah’s Intelligence and the Intelligence Ministry are under the impression that they can force us to surrender to their illegitimate demands by threats, arrests and by intruding on the privacy of our homes.

Against religion and against the law, these security apparatuses, attacked defenseless protesters, mercilessly beat them, injured hundreds of them, arrested thousands, martyred tens of them, arrested and imprisoned political activists, civil activists, critics and dissidents.

They imposed naked and overt censorship on all the Iranian press. With total control over Seda and Sima (National Radio and TV) and all other pro government media, distorted the facts and published outright lies.

They know very well how to create psychological and mental dilemma for the dissidents and the critics with various torture methods. So much so, that now even the Bureau of Prisons is complaining about the arbitrary actions of these security apparatuses.

Leader of the Islamic Republic,

We must admit that judicial independence is not possible with the existence of so many intelligence and security entities.

We must admit that the society is facing a great explosion, and the current superficial peace is basically due to oppression, intimidation, imprisonments and suppression.

We must know that the thoughts of freedom seekers can not be enchained! Ideologies can not be tortured! Truth can not be suppressed!

We must accept that confronting the people of this land is day by day becoming more inhumane and unbridled. It knows no boundaries and limitations. Every critical act, every critical word is confronted with repression and arrest.

We must look at Evin prison and remember the words of Ayatollah Sayd Hassan Tabatabaei Ghomi: “I know the prisons of this country are filled with political prisoners, however, the arrests of the freedom seeking people continues.”

We must see and hear and, like Ayatollah Khomeini, validate the fact that, “Some of the Pasdaran (The Revolutionary Guards), in parts of the country, over step the boundaries of their statutory mission, and unduly interfere in matters of courts or other institutions.

It is incumbent upon the Heads of Pasdaran through out the country to intervene in these unlawful, and contrary to the Islamic ways, acts and to stop them.”

Your Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei,

Just as you became disturbed over the Tehran University dormitory and Kahrizak detention center events, and ordered an investigation, I hope that you at least pay attention to my dire situation, status of the political prisoners, our families, the illegal detention centers, and the manner of their conduct.

I protest these illegal practices by launching a hunger strike as of May 26, 2012 and protecting my life is the responsibility of the officials of the Islamic Republic.

The hunger strike is in protest of, and to make a complaint against:
- The abuse and interventions in judicial matters by the Sepah Intelligence Corps, and the Intelligence Ministry;
- The loss of independence of the Judiciary Branch,
- To restore the Constitution, Judicial procedures, judicial independence, and;
- To restore the rights of political prisoners and their families (rights such as, use of furlough, use of telephone and visitation right and etc.).

I am of the belief, every human being’s silence against oppression and injustice is a betrayal of the innocent blood of the martyrs of this land.

I believe that my blood is not any bluer than the blood of the likes of Neda and Sohrab and neither is the suffering of my parents above the suffering of their parents. We all know that these institutions exploited the decency and tolerance of the political prisoners.

This time, with patience, I will stand by this action, and perhaps I may find my place beside the late Hoda Saber who lost his life in prison.

I will repeat a quote from the Exalted Prophet Mohamad:

“The land and government will survive under blasphemy but will not last under oppression.”

With Regards,

Sayed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki
Ward 350 – Evin prison
May 26, 2012

Source: Kalameh

Despite Dire Health, Blogger/HR Activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Has Started A Hunger Strike

Protesting lack of proper medical treatment and denial of medical furlough, Imprisoned blogger and HR activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has started a hunger strike.

According to reports by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, in a phone conversation with his family yesterday, Hossein informed them of his hunger strike. He launched this hunger strike despite his dire heath.

According to the radiologists who read Hossein’s latest CT Scan of his kidneys, the left kidney is non-functioning and must be removed.

According to doctors who have studied this CT Scan, Hossein’s right kidney is also not functioning properly and if surgery is not performed immediately, he will lose his right kidney also.

Previously, Hossein Ronaghi had said due to earlier failed Pyeloplasty surgeries he is in need of additional surgery. Delay in surgery will cause him to lose both his kidneys and will result in both kidneys being removed.

It should be noted that to reduce pain, Hossein is being injected on a daily bases with painkillers and with morphine which has caused him to develop gallstones.

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, one of the Managing Directors of Iran Proxy, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court. He has been in prison since December of 2009.

Source: HRANA

Tens Of People Arrested In East & West Azarbaijan Protesting The Drying Up Of Lake Uromieh

Under increased heavy security atmosphere in East and West Azarbaijan, tens of people were arrested by police and Intelligence Ministry in the last two days.

Yesterday in Tabriz, during scattered demonstrations protesting drying up of Lake Uromieh, Esrafil Omidi a post graduate student at Shahid Beheshti university in Uromieh and activists Mostafa Avazpour and Ghader Norouzi were arrested.

Also yesterday morning, former secretary of the Azerbaijani Association of Tabriz University, Afsaneh Toughi was arrested inside the university by Intelligence Ministry forces.

Akbar Mohajeri, Hassan Mirzakhani and Mohamad Eskandarzadeh were among those arrested in Tabriz yesterday. Their detention location is still unknown.

Security forces arrested the majority of these people by going to their homes without a warrant, performing a search of the home and confiscating personal belongings.

In another large city in Azarbaijan (Uromieh), university students Askar Khanyari, Hamid Nofouzi, Mehrdad Raha, Roholah Khani and IRGC soldier Mehran Keshavarz were arrested.

Also, on May 20, city of Maragheh political activist Hoosein Ahmadian and Tabriz Bazar businessman Ali Aghazadeh were arrested.

Source: HRANA

Deteriorating And Dire Health Of Hossein Ronaghi Maleki In Evin Prison, One Kidney Must Be Removed

In the wake of continued denial of medical furlough, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s health has deteriorated and is in critical condition.

According to the radiologists who read Hossein’s latest CT Scan of his kidneys, the left kidney is non-functioning and must be removed.

According to doctors who have studied this CT Scan, Hossein’s right kidney is also not functioning properly and if surgery is not performed immediately, he will lose his right kidney also.

Previously, Ronaghi’s surgeon had indicated that, due to earlier failed Pyeloplasty surgeries he is in need of additional surgery. Delay in surgery will cause him to lose both his kidneys.

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, one of the Managing Directors of Iran Proxy, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court. He has been in prison since December of 2009.

His kidneys were damaged by blows received during interrogation sessions which resulted in under going 4 different Pyeloplasty surgeries. He was returned to prison prior to complete recovery from the surgeries, and suffered kidney infection and bleeding after each surgery.

Despite the recommendations of the Medical Examiner’s doctors, his surgeons at Hasheminejad hospital and the doctors at Evin’s medical clinic that Hossein needed treatment and recovery outside of Evin prison after each surgery, the IRGC Intelligence continues to deny a medical furlough for him.

Source: HRANA

Student Activist Mohamad Ghafarian Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years In Prison And 70 Lashes

A three and half years imprisonment and seventy lashes sentence was upheld for electrical engineering student at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mohamad Ghaffarian.

According to reports by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, the sentence of three and years in prison plus seventy lashes issued by a lower court and upheld by the Court of Appeals has been delivered to Mohamad Ghaffarian.

He was sentenced to one year in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader, two years in prison for anti-national security acts, six months in prison plus 35 lashes for disturbing the public order and 35 lashes for insulting the president.

This sentence was issued, even though he was only charged with anti-national security acts at the time of arrest and interrogations. The charge of insulting the president was not even mentioned during his trial.

Ghaffarian has twenty days from the date the sentence was delivered to appeal his sentence.

Previously, Ghaffarian was arrested during a protest on February 20, 2010 and was incarcerated for about one month. Despite receiving a rank of 206 on the masters degree entrance exam, he was rejected for Masters degree studies and was suspended from continuing his education.

Source: HRANA

Arrest Of Baha’is In Najafabad, Esfahan

On Tuesday May 15, four Baha’is were arrested in Najafabad.

According to reports received by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, six Intelligence Ministry agents from Najafabad (a suburb of Esfahan) entered the home of a Baha’i with a warrant and, after a search of the home and a brief interrogation of the people present, they arrested four Baha’is.

Bahram Ferdowdian, Mana Pirali, Sholeh Afshari and Azam Tabibi were the Baha’is arrested.

The agents also arrested a Moslem man along with his wife and two children that were in the home.

All the people arrested were taken to Dastgerd prison in Esfahan.

During the search of the home, another Baha’i named Arash Haghighi arrived at the home, the agents asked him to sign the list of items being confiscated and after he refused they physically assaulted and beat him.

Source: HRANA