Detainees Arrested On Charges Of Social Network Membership Are Still In Limbo Status

It has been more than three years that the gathering of people at the left side of Imam bridge, from where the Evin magistrate’s office is located, up the steep hill that leads to Evin’s entrance gate, with a small gray door and it’s small window a, has become normal and does not draw attention anymore.

But when you get closer to the crowd, you can see the differences in the course of the last three years. There were weeks of the distraught and astounded families that were looking for their missing children, both political activists and what the regime called street protesters.

Then there were the days that families of those arrested on 13 Aban were there; then there were the days of those arrested on Qouds day.

There were days that those arrested on Ashura were gathered there and, to no avail, tried to obtain information about their children, but were sent from building to building and from Evin to Moalem center.

Now days, all passers-by in that area hear are of those arrested for their cyber space and Internet activities. Arrests that not only have not been covered in the pro government media, but neither have they been reported in the opposition media.

It’s been nearly two months since the arrests by IRGC’s intelligence of many young people who had Internet activities, and their families still haven’t any information on their status.

According to Kalameh, these days the families of these incarcerated young people go to Evin everyday, trying to obtain the status of their children, but no one gives them any answer.

These arrests began on May 23, 2012, and, so far, twenty people have been arrested from various provinces under these charges. Other than Tehran, among the detainees are people from Ilam, Mashhad, Kermanshah, Rasht, Karaj, Zanjan and Khozestan.

Many of these people were initially detained for days in the city they were arrested, before being transferred to Evin prison in Tehran.

These people were mostly arrested on charges of Internet activity such as membership in social networks like Facebook and also charges of blasphemy in cyberspace.

Most were incarcerated in solitary confinement in IRGC’s Intelligence ward 2-A at Evin prison.

Harassment of the families of those arrested under what is known as the “cyber case”, seems to be the common denominator in reports from the families.

One family says that they are constantly threatened, the conducts towards them are harsh and they will not give them any information about the cases of their children.

According to obtained reports, so far only one of those arrested has been released on bail and, despite bail having been set for four more, they have not yet been released.

A parent of one of the detainees said, in a recent phone conversation with his son, he was told that a number of the detainees are still being interrogated. He continued, “Apparently the Facebook page, in which they have been accused of membership, is still active and they are being pressured to reveal the identity of the other members. This, is in spite of the majority of the detainees not even knowing each other.”

The father of a detained young girl, says that, unlike their usual method of the interrogator acting tough and harassing the detainees, in this case, the investigators seem to harass the families more than the interrogators, to the point that they have even stopped the normal legal process of these cases.

The families of these detainees are constantly threatened by the interrogators not to publicize these arrests. The families are told “Alerting the media will cause further problems for your children.”

According to the latest reports, a number of these detainees have been transferred out of solitary confinement but still are restricted from contacting their families.

A threats that many political prisoners say they heard during their incarceration, was that they continuously heard the phrase “You are going to stay here for a long time”.

* * * *

It’s now three years, and many of the taxi and minibus drivers in this area know their customers well.

I go towards the parked taxis to catch a ride and leave. The driver of a taxi cab that is there by the river on Mondays, close to the back door of Evin, where visitations take place, is standing there trying to attract passengers.

He says, “Sometimes, with some of the families that you see, it is hard to believe that they have come to visit a prisoner. They are so dignified and have so much class that you feel such pity for them having to go through this. Sometimes families have come from faraway cities and are on their way back home, that makes one feel ashamed for their hardship.”

Another cab driver tells me, “Ma’am, last new year, my when mother was very ill, I vowed to give free rides to these old men and women who come here that don’t have much money. Since then, I do this from time to time.

As a friend says, we all need to help and do what we can. I am not a journalist nor a political activist to be imprisoned, so this is my way of helping. One needs to be able to sleep at night.”

In the mean while, I am thinking about the services that Judge Moghayeseh, Judge Salavati and the Judiciary Chief, Sadegh Larijani that they perform for their country which this cab driver has no clue about.

Or Saeed Mortazavi’s (former Tehran Prosecutor General) services he performed that the people apparently do not appreciate, from closing of so many newspapers to the events in Kahrizak prison (3 confirmed cases of post-election protesters killed under torture).

Or how people should feel safe and able to sleep soundly at night, when those “in the trenches” of embezzlement and bribery are supposedly keeping them secure.

And the nightly sleep that I don’t understand how the rulers of this Islamic country have been able to experience each night in the past three years.

Source: Kalameh

Concerns Over Dire Health Of On Hunger Strike Political Prisoner Esmaeil Barzegari

Reports are that hospitalized hunger striker, political prisoner Esmaeil Barzegari’s health is in critical condition, but with the Prosecutor ignoring Barzegari’s demands, he is refusing to end his hunger strike.

According to reports by Kalameh, political prisoner Esmaeil Barzegar incarcerated in Ward 350 of Evin prison fell unconscious last week due to complications from his hunger strike and was admitted to hospital.

Despite his dire health condition, Barzegar is refusing to end his hunger strike.

Currently, the life of this political prisoner, who has launched a hunger strike eight times, is in serious danger. Continued lack of attention by the Prosecutor to Barzegari’s case can have devastating consequences.

Esmaeil Barzegari was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by the presiding Judge Pirabbasi, of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of anti-national security acts.

He has launched a hunger strike eight times since his incarceration, which has had devastating effects on his health.

Barzegar launched his latest hunger strike on June 29th. Some of his previous hunger strikes lasted 48 days, 38 days, 25 days and 15 days. During his last hunger strike he was in a coma for 11 days.
Each time he was on a hunger strike, the Judiciary officials promised a review of his case, but that has not occurred as of yet.

Barzegar was arrested by IRGC forces on April, 8, 2011 in Tabriz, and was transferred to Evin prison in Tehran. He was incarcerated in solitary confinement for six months.

Source: Kalameh

Human Rights Activist Dr.Yousef Pourseifi Is Sentenced To Five Years And Six Months In Prison

Dr. Mohamad Hassan Yousef Pourseifi has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison.

According to reports by the Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran, this human rights activist, a member of the Human Rights Activists Organization in Iran and member of the Defense of Child Laborers, was sentenced today, Wednesday July 25, 2012, in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, to five years and six months in prison.

Dr. Pourseifi was convicted according to article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code, and sentenced to three years, on charges of:
– Collusion and conspiracy with intent to commit a crime against the national security through membership in an illegal organization called Human Rights Activists in Iran.
– Providing assistance to those convicted on anti-national security charges and arranging for them to leave the country illegally.
– Providing bail illegally for political prisoners.

Dr. Pourseifi was also convicted under article 513 of the Islamic Penal Code, on charges of blasphemy, for an article he posted on the Sa’ate Deltanki blog about the Fatima Zahra Institute in Mashhad on the subject of Sigheh (temporary marriage), and the status of Women in Iran.

He was also convicted and sentenced to six months under Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code on charges of propaganda against the establishment by posting an article on Sa’ate Deltanki blog on the subject of safety and security plan in Iran and Hejab (Islamic dress code), and also a critical article on the condition and livelihood of workers and child laborers in Iran.

Based on all of his convictions, Dr. Pourseifi was sentenced to a total of five years and six months imprisonment.

Dr. Yousefi has rejected filing for an appeal and will report to Evin prison later part of August of 2012.

Source: HRANA

Seventeen Gonabadi Dervishes Have Been Summoned By The Revolutionary Court In Shiraz

Seventeen Gonabadi Dervishes from city of Kovar have been summoned to the criminal branch of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, on charges of acting against national security, disturbing public order, assault and battery and carrying of illegal weapon.

According to Majzooban Nour reporter, Misters Mehrdad Keshavarz, Omidali Akbaritabar, Mohamad Ali Shamshirzan, Mohamad Ali Dehghan, Gholamali Bairami, Amir Hamzeh Dehghan, Mohamad Ali Sadeghi, Behyar Rajabi, Kazem Dehghan, Seyed Ebrahim Bahrami, Abozar Malekpour, Abdolreza Aarayesh, Mohamad Aarayesh, Hamid Aarayesh, Mohsen Esmaeili, Manoochehr Zare and Aman Cheraghi are the members of Gonabadi Dervishes order that have been summoned to the criminal branch of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, on July 28, 2012, on charges of acting against national security, disturbing public order, assault and battery and carrying of illegal weapon.

According to this report, these summons were delivered by phone which has no legal grounds.

It should be noted that previously seventeen Gonabadi Dervishes members from city of Kovar were also summoned to the criminal court, presided by Judge Hemati, in Kovar city, on charges of Moharebeh (enmity against God), corruption agents on earth, and carrying of illegal weapons.

But, after referring their cases to the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, the dervishes were acquitted of charges of waging war against God and corruption agents on earth.

Three of these Dervishes, Misters Hamidreza Aarayesh, Mohamad Ali Shamshirzan and Kazem Dehghan were incarcerated in Adelabad prison in Shiraz for five months.

Misters Kazem Dehghan and Hamid Aarayesh were released from Adelabad prison on July 12, 2012 on bail of 150 Million Tomans each.

But Mr. Mohamad Ali Shamshirzan remains incarcerated despite bail of 50 Million Tomans set for him by Judge Kheshti of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, due to lack of approval of his bail by the Prosecutor.

Following last year’s raids by the security and plainclothes forces on the homes and businesses of dervishes residing in city of Kovar, more than 100 Dervishes were arrested, dozens were injured and one Dervish was seriously injured and was martyred as a result of excessive bleeding. And since then a new wave of pressure has been inflicted on the Dervishes.

Source: Majzooban

Execution Date Has Been Set For Political Prisoner Gholamreza Khosravi

Execution date of September 10, 2012 has been set for political prisoner Gholamreza Khosravi. Khosravi who was also a political prisoner in the 80’s has been in the Intelligence Ministry’s detention since 2006.

Gholamreza Khosravi was arrested in 2006 on charges of donating money to an opposition satellite TV station. In 2007, he was tried in a court in Rafsanjan on charges of espionage and donating money to Mohahedin Khalgh Organization (MKO). He was sentenced to three years in prison plus three years suspended sentence.

The Intelligence Ministry appealed Rajsanjan’s court ruling. The case went to Court of Appeals in Kerman which issued a six year prison sentence for Gholamreza Khosravi.

Khosravi’s case entered a new phase with additional charges pressed by the Defense Ministry . After one year incarceration in the Intelligence Ministry’s solitary confinement, Khosravi was transferred to the Defense Ministry’s Prison No. 64.

After a long period of interrogations, Khosravi was put on trial in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Pirabbasi, on Moharebeh charges (enmity against God).

Judge Pirabbasi ruled this defendant’s charges beyond the scope of his court’s jurisdiction.

The ruling issued by Branch 26 was overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was returned to the same court for retrial, which resulted in a death sentence issued in 2010.

This last verdict was also overturned by the Supreme Court on technicality and was sent back to Branch 26 for retrial which ultimately resulted in a death sentence for the defendant in November of 2011.

On April 21, 2012, the Supreme Court upheld Khosravi’s death sentence and forwarded the case to the Enforcement Division in Evin prison.

In the last few days, Khosravi was summoned by Nasiri, the Assistant Prosecutor in Evin’s Enforcement Division and informed that his death sentence will be carried out on September 10.

Gholamreza Khosravi a former political prisoner in the 80’s was incarcerated for five years at the time, on charges of supporting a banned opposition group.

After about four years of incarceration in solitary confinement, in July of 2011, Khosravi was transferred to Ward 350 of Evin prison, where he currently is imprisoned.

Source: HRANA

Shabnam Madadzadeh From Evin: To All The Hearts Beating For Humanity Beyond Geographical Boarders

Imprisoned student activist Shabnam Madadzadeh has written a letter from Evin prison, expressing concern over the recent transfer of two female political prisoners to the notorious Gharchak prison in Varamin, known for its sub-standards and extremely poor conditions.

Shabnam Madadzadeh, who herself was incarcerated in Gharchak prison for a short time, but was transferred back to Evin after a widespread protest against appalling conditions of Gharchak prison, describes the deplorable conditions of this prison in her letter.

Reports indicate that, after the recent transfer of two prisoners, Evin prison authorities plan to move all of the female political prisoners to Gharchak prison over a period of time.

Shabnam Madadzadeh, the vice secretary of Tehran’s Tahkim Vahdat (student alumni organization), was arrested on February 19, 2009 and has been incarcerated since.

Shabnam was tried, convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of acting against the national security and “enmity against God” at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Moghiseh.

The full text of the letter by Shabnam is as follows:

In the name of God

We are not speaking of the withering of a single leaf; Alas, they are turning a forest into a desert.

To friends and companions that know the pain, to all the hearts beating for human beings and for humanity, and for values beyond geographical borders:

I am speaking as a witness; a witness to the terrible days of a city, where death had hung the weight of it’s cloak on the wall, in a place where you could breathe no more.

Dark dungeons, with high ceilings, without windows or natural light, with two hundred people in each cell, crowded and noisy, and the distressed and agitated inmates, the fights and the bad news….

I witnessed with my own eyes; “The slaughtering of humanity, I witnessed with my own eyes.”

I am speaking as a witness; witness to the uncertain moments, the confounded look of death pouring out the eyes of the prisoners, and the batons of the special units guards used to calm them down.

I speak as a witness, a witness to fights for snatching food and bread in a place they called the lunch hall. All the play acting, and the fake appearance and decorations did not accomplish anything. What they served the prisoners as their food ration was so small that the hungry prisoners collected any left over in plates. And before long, fights would break out over the left over food.

Food trays and chairs were thrown around. And the dirty slippery floor caused some to slip and fall.

A place called the lunch hall, but was called by the prisoners the “beating hall”.

I am speaking as a witness; I witnessed their great efforts to show the visiting families the reverse of the deplorable conditions. The hall that we passed through it’s ruins and sinkholes to reach the visiting room, had on the other side of it’s walls, from the entrance door, flower gardens filled with flowers – (I noticed it the day I was transferred to Evin) – so the families, in the midst of that reedbed feel happy by seeing a few flowers, and forget about their own flowers withering inside. Alas!

The presence of the country’s Prosecutor General in Gharchak, the day we were being transferred back to Evin, for the purpose of denying all those reports in the domestic and foreign news media about Gharchak’s condition, was in itself proof enough of the deplorable conditions of this prison.

There was something there they wanted to deny. The same lunch hall that, for the sake of the cameras they had cleaned and polished it’s floor, had visible blood stains on the floor tiles the day before.

And the days after our transfer back to Evin, what I heard from the guards and people who went back and forth between Evin and Gharchak was: That place is nothing but a hell hole. This according to the jailers themselves. What else is there to deny?

Yes! I am speaking as a witness, a witness to a wasteland called a prison of a city, without any indication of life, where even plants stop growing.

A place that from the time I was transferred there, I called it’s condition deplorable and inhumane, not only for myself but for all the women incarcerated there, regardless of what they were convicted of.

It is a death camp not a prison. A place for gradual death. And I still can hear the sound of the human dignity being crushed to death.

A year and a half have passed since those days, but now I have again recounted those moments.

With the illegal transfer of Kobra Banazadeh Amirkhizi, a 60 year old woman, and Sadigheh Moradi, to Gharchak prison on Wednesday July 11th, I once again felt myself being among those women, under the same circumstances.

My heart aches, but my hands are tied, I could not do anything. At my age, and my physical condition, that place was extremely difficult to endure, much less for these two women with their pre-existing illnesses.

The walls are becoming taller and the metal bars are closing in. I can feel the warmth of my breath on my face. A feeling that I can not put into words. Believe me, I am not able to put into words my indescribable feeling.

Again, I am speaking as a witness, as someone who met Mrs. Banazadeh more than two years ago in Gohardasht prison (Rejaei Shahr), and met Sedigheh Moradi in Evin prison more then eight months ago.

During this period I witnessed their deteriorating health in this awful place, besieged behind the metal bars, under inhumane conditions.

From the unsuccessful eye surgery of Mrs. Banazadeh, which caused the loss of vision due to the irresponsibility of the officials, to arthritis in her neck and back and her osteoporosis.

It was just two weeks ago that Banazadeh was hospitalized for a cardiac angiogram. On Wednesday she was expecting to be sent for a heart echogram, not being sent to Gharchak. To Sedighe Moradi’s back problem, arthritis in her neck and spine and her heart condition.

For me, who launched a mission for liberation, on my travel through this path full of injustice, my body bears the wounds of persecution, exile, banishment and limitations have become a part of my life.

While I firmly believe that we must, like water in a river, flow through the river bed, however hard and difficult, removing all the obstacles, thrusting and surging our way to the sea. I believe we must stop tyranny, we must stand firm.

What I witnessed on Wednesday, was shamelessness in cruelty, that they are not even satisfied with the ruling of their own unfair and unjust courts. That, when ever they please, they ignore the court’s ruling and issue a new decree themselves.

At that moment, I felt with my entire being, that if instead of facing a release order for a fellow inmate, we faced their death sentence; there is nothing that we can do.

My companions and friends sharing the same grief! I started my letter without a preamble, for the pen and my mind did not have the strength to arrange the words.

Once again, my tied hands are reaching out to you, so just as in the past, you become my hands in removing the veils and exposing these puppeteer games of so called honor and dignity for women!!!!

Once again I cry out the pain to you, so that you may, like a mountain, echo my voice. In a place where one cannot breathe, you cry out your clamorous wrath.

I ask all the human rights organizations, and of those who even for one moment, had any concern for humanity, wherever in the world they maybe, to not spare any efforts for returning these two women from that dark place.

Shabnam Madadzadeh
July 14, 20112
Evin prison

 

Source: Jaras

Alarming Worrisome News About Imprisoned Human Rights Activist Narges Mohamadi

Some alarming worrisome news has been published about the imprisoned deputy head of Iran’s Defenders of Human Rights Center, Narges Mohamadi.

Narges Mohamadi was admitted to hospital eleven days ago in critical condition and, despite repeated requests by her family to visit her in the hospital, their requests have been denied.

Narges Mohamadi has had no contact with her family since her transfer to hospital eleven days ago.

There are unconfirmed reports that Narges Mohammadi was severely beaten during clashes between prisoners in Zanjan prison before her transfer to Valiasr Hospital. Apparently Mrs. Mohamadi was seriously injured during those clashes.

According to these reports, Narges Mohamadi was severely beaten during the clashes among her inmates and, due to her critical condition, prison officials transferred her to Valiasr hospital in Zanjan.

Mohamadi was initially admitted at the Department of Neurology in Valiasr hospital which could indicate a high probability of serious injuries. She was later transferred to Shahid Beheshti hospital and was admitted in the psychiatric ward.

Unfortunately, there are couple of points that may prove these unconfirmed reports to be true:

First, despite Narges’s family’s daily visit to the hospital in an attempt to see her, they have not been allowed to visit with her.

The hospital officials have failed to provide any reasonable explanation for their denial of family visiting Narges.

The second point is that her attending physicians have not been allowed to see her in the hospital. This, when Mrs. Mohamadi’s acute illness requires treatment by specialist physicians. Therefore, it becomes necessary for her to be seen by her attending physicians who are familiar with her case. But these doctors have not been permitted to attend to her in hospital.

Narges Mohamadi suffers from an acute neurological disorder that leads to muscle paralysis, which is the legacy of her first imprisonment in 2009.

Her sudden paralysis causes her to lose balance and control of herself resulting in falls and injuries.

Narges Mohamadi, in a letter she sent from prison last month, warned that she may meet the same fate as Hoda Saber and Zahra Kazemi. She had warned and stressed that the authorities will be responsible for her death. In her letter she warned that the authorities are planning to implement her slow death plan.

Narges Mohammadi was illegally transferred to prison Zanjan. She was incarcerated among hardcore criminals, prostitutes and addicts.

Unfortunately, serious fights often breakout among the prisoners in this ward. In a few instances during these fights, the guards had to remove Narges from the ward to keep her from being harmed.

These prisoners themselves are victims of the social crises that have engulfed the country.

To resolve Narges Mohamadi’s family’s concerns, the authorities must allow them to visit her in the hospital, or at least allow telephone contact.

The lack of any contact in the past eleven days has increased concerns about her well being. Even if not allowed a visit, a phone call is her right.

source: Melimazhabi

Former Political Prisoner Mohamad Nourizad To Chief Judiciary: Put The Supreme Leader On Trial

Author, Journalist and documentary film maker Mohamad Nourizad known for a series of critical letters he has written to the Supreme Leader, has, this time, written a letter to the Chief Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani.

In this letter he has criticized the lack of independence of the justice system, and calls for the Chief Justice to put his brothers, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, head of the human rights council Javad Larijani, president Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader Khamenei on trial.

Nourizad was arrested December 20, 2009 for writing and publishing letters critical of Khamenei and the regime’s harsh treatment of the post-election protesters. He was released from prison May 2011.

Below are excerpts of Nourizad’s letter to Chief Judiciary Larijani:

Nourizad starts his letter by telling Larijani that, he, as the Chief Justice ranks sixth on the most influential and powerful people in the Judiciary.

He names Raeisi, Prosecutor General Ejee, Hejazi and Judges Salavati, Pirabbasi and Moghayese as all being more influential and powerful than the Chief Judiciary.

Nourizad continues by pointing out eight steps that the Chief Judiciary must take to show the independence of the justice system.

“1- Put your brothers on trial. Both the Speaker of Parliament and your other brother, the humorous one, the one that makes jokes all the time.

The one that from the scarecrow platform of the human rights claims that we do not have political prisoners in Iran, there is no torture in Iran and everything in the system is safe and sound, with integrity, healthy, fair and just.”

Nourizad goes on criticizing Chief Judiciary’s brother, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani’s involvement in politics despite being a military man. He goes on saying that he has documents showing that Ali Larijani has embezzled the people’s money and asks for him to be put on trial for his conduct.

He goes on with questioning the vast amount of land acquired in recent years in Varamin by Chief Judiciary’s brother, Javad Larijani. He also calls Javad Larijani a liar for denying the existence of political prisoners in Iran and denying that torture occurs in Iranian prisons.

Nourizad says, “We know better than anyone what is going on in our judicial system. Does the knife cut it’s own handle?

Ask him (Javad Larijani), could we have put on trial, and imprisoned those Basijis (militia forces) that attacked Tehran university dormitory beating the students black and blue and robbing and destroying their property?”

“2 – If you believe yourself to be at the helm of the Judiciary,, and are independent, then from the position of the Attorney General, for once, just for once, put this Mr. Ahamadinejad on trial, on the charges of humiliating the Iranian people for years and for plundering their wealth, and appointing thieves in positions of power and responsibility.

How so very timid you three brothers are! All of your uproar is nothing but grandiose empty slogans.

Even though Ahmadinejad is no less of a slogans thrower then you three, but at least he has the audacity to dare. Learn from him.”

“One brother in the Parliament, the other one as a head of the human rights apparatus, and you in your own position, let us see you three enable your influence together and create a symphony of not being so timid.”

“You only die once. What are you afraid of?”

“3 – Let me not go any further. Only reason that an inexperienced, unqualified person such as yourself is at the helm of the Judiciary is your ability to abide orders. And of course being a signatory machine.”

“4 – If I wanted to think very idealisticly, I would have said: You, as the head of the Judiciary, must put on trial the Supreme Leader for all his apparent and behind the scene conduct in violating the people’s just rights.

As an example, I would question him about the unspecified and hidden accounts. Why does he not reveal the accurate amount of the people’s wealth and money, and why does he without the people’s permission deposit money in various unknown accounts?”

“Is it not funny that you make a statement such as: “We continue to abide his excellency the Supreme Leader.”, when in all actuality you should be independent?”

Nourizad continues in his letter to criticize Chief Judiciary Larijani for the lack of independence of the justice system in Iran. He also criticizes the IRGC and Intelligence Ministry for not having returned all the personal effects items that were confiscated from him by their agents three years ago

He concludes his letter by challenging Larijani to show his independence and authority as the number one man at the helm of the Judiciary by returning of his confiscated personal items.

Source: Kalameh

Political Prisoner Esmaeil Barzegar’s Health Deteriorating Due To Hunger Strike

Health of political prisoner Esmaeil Barzegar, incarcerated in Ward 350 of Evin prison, is deteriorating due to hunger strike.

Barzegar, a dentist, has been on a hunger strike a total of eight times since his incarceration began.

In the past few days, Barzegar’s health had deteriorated and he was taken to Evin’s medical clinic several times.

Esmaeil Barzegar was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison by the presiding Judge Pirabasi of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of anti-national security acts.

Barzegar has been on a hunger strike a total of eight times to protest his conviction and sentence.

Barzegar launched his latest hunger strike on June 29th. Some of his previous hunger strikes lasted 48 days, 38 days, 25 days and 15 days. During his last hunger strike he was in a coma for 11 days.

Each time he was on a hunger strike, the Judiciary officials promised a review of his case but that has not occurred as of yet.

Barzegar was arrested by IRGC forces on April, 8, 2011 in Tabriz and was transferred to Evin prison in Tehran. He was incarcerated in solitary confinement for six months.

This political prisoner has served 15 months of his sentence. He has denied the charges of espionage, separatism and Pan-Turkism that are mentioned in his case.

He considers himself an Iranian believing in the sovereign nation of Iran, and has shown his dedication to the Iranian nation and it’s culture by attending many of the ceremonies commemorating the martyrs. He is also a talented signer and song writer and has written many nationalistic songs such as “Iran, my home”.

Source: Kalameh

Journalist And Human Rights Activist Nasour Naghipour arrested To Start Serving A Seven Years Sentence

Following the Appeals Court’s upholding of the seven years in prison sentence of journalist Nasour Naghipour, he was summoned on July 9th by the Magistrate in Evin prison, where he was arrested and transferred to Ward 350, to start serving his prison term.

Nasour Naghipour who was not a member of the Human Rights Activists Agency in Iran, but was arrested by IRGC’s Intelligence Corps on March 2, 2010 and incarcerated in Ward 2-A of Evin prison, on the charges of designing the website of the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Journalist and human rights activist Nasour Naghipour was tried and sentenced to seven years in prison, in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Pirabbasi, on the charges of membership in the Human Rights Activists Agency in Iran and propaganda against the regime. His sentence was upheld by the Appeals Court.

29 years old Nasour Naghipour, a university student majoring in Information Technology and a researcher in philosophy and political ideologies, was managing a website archiving articles written in Farsi on the field of Humanities.

After 110 days of incarceration in solitary confinement in Ward 2-A of Evin prison, this journalist and human rights activist was released on bail on June 20, 2010.

Naghipour, one of the more well known-figures in designing Farsi websites, had a major role in developing quality content in cyberspace and the blogosphere.

He was also fired at his job due to his activities.

In the early morning hours of March 2, 2010, Iranian security forces launched a wave of arrests of human rights activists in Iran.

Given the unprecedented nature of this organized and orchestrated mass arrests, with it’s axis the Human Rights Activists Agency, was in itself unique and unprecedented.

This wave of mass arrests of the human rights activists in Iran resulted in 46 arrests, more than a cumulative of 67 years and 3 months prison sentences, 24 undecided cases and 10 people indicted and under warrant for arrest.

Also, a large number of people were summoned and interrogated, monetary fines in the millions were issued, large number of activists were fired from their jobs, 6 websites were damaged and 33 sites were blocked and removed from the web.

Source: HRANA