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Michael Miersch 26.07.2007 10:27 +Feedback
URGENT: THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAN
A Report by Iranian Activists; July 2007
On the 18th of Tir (9th of July) members of the Central Council of the Office to Foster Unity (shoraye markazi daftare Tahkime vahdat), the main reformist student organization in Iran, staged a peaceful protest in front of Amir Kabir University, to mark the anniversary of the popular student uprising in 1999 which ended in violence, widespread arrests and the death of one student activist, as well as the arrest in May of 2007 and continued detention of fellow students at Amir Kabir University (explanation provided below)…
The peaceful sit-in of these six student rights activists and human rights defenders, was violently broken up they were arrested and taken to Section 209 of Evin prison, which is managed by agents of the Security Ministry. The six members of the Central Council of the Office to Foster Unity who were arrested on July 9th include: Bahareh Hedayat, Mohammad Hashemi, Ali Niko Nesbati, Mahdi Arabshahi, Hanif Yazdani and Ali Vefghi
Immediately after the arrest of these students, the office of the Alumni Association of Iran (Advar Tahkim Vahdat) which was founded by former members of Tahkim, and works closely with student groups, was stormed. Shots were fired, the door was broken down, and members of this legally registered (under Amendment 10 of Law of Political Parties—Madeh 10 ghanoon ahzab) political and human rights organization present in its offices were beaten severely and arrested. These members included: Abdollah Momeni, Bahram Fayazi, Morteza Eslahchi, Mojtaba Bayat, Habib Haj Heidari, Massoud Habibi, Saieed Hossein Nia, Arash Khandel and Ashkan Gheysvandi, Mr. Mehrzad and Ezat-ollah Ghalandari (Ezatollah Ghalandari is a member of the staff of the Alumni Organization of Iran and was released after 5 days in detention, some of the accounts about the status of other prisons have been provided by him, as well as the prisoners themselves). The closure of this legally registered organization was in contradiction to Iranian law, where written notices and court appearances are required before such action is taken.
Students of Amir Kabir who had spent over 2 months in prison, on false allegations of inciting public opinion, printing of inflammatory and derogatory materials and insulting state leaders, include the following: Abbas Hakimzadeh (released on July 18) , Ali Saberi (released on July 18), Ahmad Ghassaban, Meghdad Khalilpour, Majid Tavakoli, Pooyan Mahmoudian, Majid Sheikhpour (released Wednesday July 18) , Ehsan Mansouri. According to reports by these students prior to their detention, agents working on behalf of state security organizations, broke into their university offices, and using their stationary printed publications under their names, which were inflammatory. This was a scenario created by security agents in preparation of upcoming elections of the Student organization at Amir Kabir, with the intent of arresting these student leaders and charging them, so that they would not be able to stand for elections of Tahkim.
Since these widespread arrests on the 9th of June, the homes of several of these student leaders have been stormed, their personal properties including computers and notes confiscated, and their families threatened. It is believed that these individuals are being held in solitary confinement and under great pressure to provide false confessions, including possible torture in the form of beatings. Based on accounts provided by those released from prison, or those who accompanied security agents to their homes for search and seizure of property, we have the following confirmed information:
Persons being held in solitary confinement—we have confirmed reports that at least the following 8 persons are being held in solitary confinement (but it is believed that the rest of those imprisoned on the 9th of July and prior are also being held in solitary confinement and in difficult circumstances, ranging from psychological pressure to possible beatings and torture):
1. Bahareh hedayat
2. Mojtaba bayat
3. Abdollah momeni
4. Ali Nikoo Nesbati
5. Hanif Yazdani
6. Ali Vefghi
7. Mehdi Arabshahi
8. Mohammad Hashemi
Search of Homes, Seizure of property and threats against family members: The homes of the following persons have been stormed and their personal properties have been confiscated (based on confirmed reports so far):
1. Bahareh Hedayat
2. Abdollah Momeni
3. Mojtaba bayat
4. Ali Nikoo Nesbati
5. Hanif Yazdani
6. Ali Vefghi
7. Mehdi Arabshahi
Explanations:
Bahareh Hedayat: Bahareh Hedayat’s house was searched, a day following a visit to her family by women’s rights activists. Following this visit, her mother made a decision to conduct an interview with a foreign-based Persian language radio station, during which she expressed concern for the safety of her daughter (the only female arrested among the students) which we believe resulted in a call by Bahareh to her family. In this phone conversation, Bahareh warned her parents that they should prepare themselves for a long period of detention. Bahareh did not accompany security agents to her house, who searched the home, seized property, and treated the members of the household disrespectfully. Immediately following the search of Bahareh’s home, her mother had another interview with foreign-based Persian language radio. After this interview, their phone-line was cut off, in an effort to prevent publicity with respect to Bahareh’s case. We are especially concerned about the fait of Bahareh, as she is the only female among the students arrested. She is also an active member of the women’s movement, and involved in the One Million Signatures Campaign—connection of social movements is seen as a major threat by security forces, and as such, given Bahareh’s involvement in 2 major social movements which have been working in greater connection and concert in recent months, and especially over the past year, we feel that Bahareh is under extra pressure while under arrest. As such, her case should be given special consideration. Bahareh has a suspended sentence of 2 years for her participation in peaceful protest of the 22nd of Khordad (June 12, 2006) in Hafte Tir square. We are especially concerned that with her illegal arrest, this sentence will be implemented immediately. It should be noted that due to the extreme stress caused by Bahareh’s arrest, Bahareh’s sister, who was nine months pregnant, lost her unborn fetus.
Abdollah momeni: Abdollah Momeni accompanied agents to his home for search and seizure of property. The search of Momeni’s home was extremely disruptive for his family, especially for his two young sons, aged 11 and 13, who have been traumatized by this experience, and by seeing their father in handcuffs and witnessing the violent nature of the search of their home. Visible signs of beatings could be seen on Abdollah’s body. He had lost a considerable amount of weight due to pressures endured in prison, and he himself during the time in his home, objected to the harsh treatment he was receiving in prison. Based on reports provided by Abdollah Momeni during this visit to his wife, security agents are trying to build a false case against him and are trying to force him to publicly confess (through televised confessions) to crimes he has not committed, especially in relation to being connected with forces outside the country who are seeking to implement a soft revolution or color revolution. We are especially concerned about the situation of Abdullah Momeni as he is a ranking member of the Alumni Organization of Iran (which was shut down in the raid on July 9th). One of the main directors of Advar, and a former member of the Central Council of Tahkim. Momeni has been instrumental in creating links between Advar and Tahkim. Along these lines, in previous court sessions judges have expressed special concern about his role in this relation. Has been targeted by security forces for some time, was under surveillance last year for several months, was threatened on numerous occasions with arrest, was sentenced to prison (a 3 year prison term, the serving of which is mandatory, but its implementation was suspended for a period of 2 years, which could be implemented in relation to this latest illegal arrest, and subsequent to his current imprisonment). As the spokesperson for Advar, he was the voice of all those groups (student activists, women’s rights activists, teachers, labor leaders, and political prisoners, etc) whose human rights and civil rights had been violated, and who did not have other platforms for expressing their concerns, or voicing objections. As such, there is a great deal of sensitivity to Abdollah and his role in advocating for human rights among security agencies and the courts. We feel that he will especially be treated harshly and remains in danger of torture and ill treatment. It should be noted that Abdollah is a teacher by profession.
Mohammad Hashemi: Mohammad’s Hashemi’s home was also searched and property was seized, in much the same manner of the others arrested. Mohammad Hashemi’s mother is also an activist and has provided support to her son and his friends in the past. She has played a major role in organizing other mothers of imprisoned students in the recent crackdown. In fact, this was a major line of questioning that security agents pursued during the search of their home. In particular she was asked about her role in organizing the other mothers and family members. Inquiries were also made about other persons involved in “organizing” mothers and family members with a view toward objecting to recent arrests. During the time the security agents were present in Ms. Hashemi’s home, her phone was cut off (from outside) so that she could not report on the search of her home and seizure of property or interrogations which were conducted of family members.
The Closure of the Alumni Organization (Daftare Advare Tahkim)
The Alumni Organization of Iran, is registered as a Political entity, under amendment 10 of regulations governing political parties. While its status is officially that of a political party, this is the main human rights organization, reflecting news on and objecting to ill treatment of social and political activists, through their website, meetings, protests, etc. It is closely affiliated with the main student organization, Office to Foster Unity (Advar was set by former members of the office to foster unity), and during the increasing pressures on these student organizations (much of it intended to dismantle student groups and organizations, prevent elections, etc.), as well as arrest of its members, Advar has provided student groups with space to hold their elections and a has served as a platform for objecting to the increasing pressure on student activists, including through the holding of sit-in protests, etc. Advar has also increasingly worked closely to provide support to other social movements, in particular the women’s movement, the labor movement, and the teachers movement, and has provided these groups with a platform to express their demands, has reported on crackdowns against their members, has conducted lobbying efforts in support of political prisoners, has initiated the writing of statements and collection of signatures in support of imprisoned members, has provided space for protest meetings, and other public meetings held by members of other social movements (for example meetings were held to protest the arrest of Osanlo, women’s rights activists, students, pressure on ILNA news agency, closure of publications, arrest of scholar ramin jahanbegloo, etc.). In other words, while Advar is registered as a political party, it remains one of the only voices in support of human rights and has taken a lead with respect to objecting to the closing of political/social space. Advar has also served as the home for other movements, besides the student movement, especially the women’s movement. As such, its closure will indeed have an incredibly negative impact on all social/political movements as well as human rights.
Other Arrests:
Amir Yaghoub-Ali, a student at Allameh Tabatabie, University, who was on suspension for student/political activities from his university, was arrested while collecting signatures in support of the One Million Signatures Campaign. Amir is a women’s rights activist, and an active member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, the men’s committee. A link to news reports about Amir’s arrest is provided below (taken from the Change for Equality site). We are especially worried about the status of Amir, as clearly we are aware of the fact that men who support women’s rights are treated especially harshly. For example, during the March 8th peaceful protest in Daneshjoo park, the crowd was attacked with batons in an effort to disperse the protesters. But the men present and participating in the protest were severely beaten by several officers, with batons and in plain sight (we mention this particular protest, because some of us were present and witnessed such treatment of men). Given Amir’s student activities, and his involvement in the women’s movement, and the fact that he is a male, we feel that he will be treated poorly and could possibly be beaten and tortured, like other students currently in prison. It should be noted that Amir is the 13th person involved in the Campaign to be arrested thus far. The sensitivity to the Campaign, despite its extremely peaceful and civil approach, is on the rise, and the pressure on this group of women’s rights activists is increasing (especially since most of these activists have strongly supported the students recently arrested). Additionally, the Campaign will celebrate its one year anniversary in late August. We were just informed that the appeals court for 4 women accused of organizing the peaceful protest of 22nd of Khordaad in Hafte Tir square, Shahla Entesari, Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani, Parvin Ardalan, and Sussan Tahmasebi is scheduled for August. We assume this is intended once again to put undue pressure on women’s rights activists involved in the Campaign with a view toward halting its progress.