United4Iran: Iranians Demand P5+1 Focus on Human Rights

On Saturday, April 14, 2012, talks between Iran and the P5+1 resumed in Istanbul, Turkey behind closed doors. The Iranian people have been excluded from the debate on the international negotiations with their country through brutal repression by their government. Iranians gathered in Istanbul on the occasion of the P5+1 meeting to give voice to millions in Iran who have been imprisoned and silenced.

Here is what they had to say to the world.

Don`t forget: International Human Rights Day 2011

Sixty-three years ago, today, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrined the fundamental human rights to which each of the globe’s citizens are entitled. On this important day, we pay tribute to all of those struggling to attain their basic rights from Homs to Moscow to Tehran. In particular, we honor Iran’s prisoners of conscience, who have inspired us with their struggle and sacrifice. We wish them the patience, strength and perseverance to continue. And we assure them: You are not alone. You have not been forgotten.

Join us this December 10 in celebrating the struggle for human rights in Iran by sending a letter to Iranian authorities and urging their cooperation with the UN’s new human rights mandate on Iran. Help us raise awareness by sharing our tribute video and urging your family and friends to take action. We thank you for your solidarity.

Please support : FREE SOTOUDEH NOW! Project

 

the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran launched a project to help build support for the release of imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and highlight the tragic situation of Iranian prisoners of conscience. The launch coincides with the occasion of Human Rights Day, which is celebrated worldwide on 10 December.

E-Letter: Urge Iran to Address the Country’s Human Rights Situation / English-Farsi

Background

Send an e-letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Judiciary, and various Iranian embassies worldwide expressing your concern for the ongoing crackdown on Iranian political and human rights activists, ethnic and religious minorities, artists, and members of opposition groups. Urge Iranian authorities to stop applying severe punishments, including execution, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances for activities that are not considered crimes under international law. The letter is available to send in both ENGLISH and FARSI.

Write to Iranian officials detailing your concern for Iranian Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who remains at risk of execution for “apostasy;” for the artists, actresses, and filmmakers detained for peacefully exercising their right to expression; for Kouyhar Goudarzi who has been detained with no news available about his condition; and for the four opposition members who are enduring an “enforced disappearance.”Urge the Iranian government to meet its legal obligation to end the human rights crisis engulfing the people of Iran by ensuring Iran’s citizens are afforded basic human and civil rights guaranteed under international law. 

Directions
The e-letter is here. If you choose to add a personal message to the e-letter, please keep it polite, human-rights focused, and without rhetoric. To the right of the e- letter page are the recipients of the e-mail you send. You don’t have to send a letter multiple times (one click will send your message to all of the listed officials). Below the letter are personal fields to fill out. Enter as much information as you feel comfortable. A VALID e-mail address is required; however, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your e-mail, consider making an e-mail account just to use for actions like this. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us at info@united4iran.org.

 

Don’t Let Ahmadinejad off the Hook in New York (Video)

(19 September 2011) As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in New York, four New Yorkers who closely follow developments in Iran talk about why the Iranian people expect the media and UN dignitaries to focus primarily on holding Ahmadinejad accountable for Iran’s human rights crisis during their meetings with him.

Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran is joined by Professor Hamid Dabashi of Columbia University, Bitta Mostofi, a lawyer and human rights activist, and David Fine. Fine, an undergraduate student at Columbia and managing editor in chief of its newspaper, The Current,argues why Columbia students invited to dine with Ahmadinejad should not be “thrilled” and refuse him the occasion for self-aggrandizement.

Imprisoned Journalist in Need of Emergency Medical Treatment

A source close to the family of imprisoned journalist Keyvan Samimi, who is in his 60s, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that a tumor found in Samimi’s liver has caused grave concern to his family and he must be immediately hospitalized to prevent the tumor’s further growth. Judicial authorities continue to refuse furlough for Samimi and decline to comment on the reasons for the refusal.

“Other than the tumor, he suffers from severe arthritis in his neck and legs. He likes to read, so he has asked his family for a desk and a chair, as he is no longer able to sit on the floor to read. His family prepared the desk and table, but prison authorities have not yet delivered the furniture to Mr. Samimi,” said the source.

Kayvan Samimi, Editor-in-Chief of the banned newspaper Nameh, member of the Society in Defense of Press Freedom, and member of the Committee to Pursue Arbitrary Arrests and The Right To Education Committee, was arrested at his home on 13 June 2009, just one day after the disputed presidential election. He was sentenced to six years in prison at Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. He was transferred to Rajaee Shahr Prison in December 2009 along with several other political prisoners. Samimi has gone on multiple hunger strikes in prison.

Source: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2011/08/keyvan_samimi_health/

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2. Shargh Newspaper Raided, Four Arrested A source in Tehran told the International Campaign for Human…
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The Continued Arbitrary Detention of Kouhyar Goudarzi And His Mother

A relative of human rights activist and banned student Kouhyar Goudarzi, who was arrested and transferred to an unknown location on 31 July by unidentified forces, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about Goudarzi’s arrest. “Kouhyar was a guest at a friend’s home when he, his host, and another guest were arrested. Unofficial sources told us that Kouhyar and the other two individuals with him were arrested by Intelligence Ministry forces. However, judicial and security authorities have so far maintained silence about this and we remain in a complete information blackout. We do not know which individuals carried out the arrests and with what intentions. Some of the neighbors of the home in which Kouhyar was arrested have said that plainclothes individuals entered the home by force and without showing a warrant, taking the three with them after a while.”

Imprisoned Blogger Severely Beaten By IRGC Forces after Writing a Letter to Tehran’s Prosecutor

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a blogger arrested after the 2009 presidential election, was beaten by IRGC security forces after writing a letter to Tehran’s Prosecutor detailing his condition in Evin Prison.Ronaghi is currently suffering from severely damaged kidneys and is in need of serious medical attention.In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Zoleikha Mousavi and Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki, Ronaghi’s mother and father, talked about their most recent prison visit with their son and said that the reason for the beating was his letter.

Lawyer to 3 Americans: Eight-Year Prison Sentence Disproportionate With Charges

Massoud Shafiee, the lawyer representing the three Americans on trial in Iran, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he was uninformed of the ruling issued by the lower court in his clients’ cases, as announced on Iranian television today. According to what Iranian media announced today, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were each sentenced to three years in prison for illegal entry and to another five years on charges of espionage. Shafiee told the Campaign that just as soon as the ruling is officially served to him, he will express his opinion about it. Asked whether it is possible to file suit against the judge with the Judges Court for issuing a sentence that is not supported by the evidence in the case, he told the Campaign: “The Judge, unfortunately, is not committed to the requirement of ‘proportionate sentencing;’ we have ways of recourse available to us.”

“The Imprisonment of Kouhyar Goudarzi a Slap in the Face,” says National Press Club President

Following the announcement of the arrests of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother, Parvin Mokhtare, a source close to the case and one of Goudarzi’s friends provided the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran with information about the case. “Kouhyar’s friends have information about him up until Sunday, 31 July. In fact the last news about him is from Sunday morning [31 July]. He had a meeting with one of his friends that afternoon, but he didn’t show up…He has disappeared. The next morning, on Monday, 1 August, his mother was arrested in her home in Kerman. She is currently at the Central Prison of Kerman,” said the source.

On Wednesday, 10 August, Mark Hamrick, President of the National Press Club, issued a statement expressing the Club’s outrage and concern about the arrests of Goudarzi and his mother. The National Press Club had previously named Kouhyar Goudarzi the winner of the 2010 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award. (link) Mark Hamrick said in the statement that “the imprisonment of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother is a slap in the face to the world community.” He also called on the Iranian government “to release Goudarzi, his mother and all other journalists and others who have been incarcerated and mistreated merely for exercising their basic human right to self-expression.”

500 Days In Prison Without Furlough for Human Rights Activist

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, father of Mehdi Khodaee said that 500 days after his son’s arrest, he has not been allowed a single day of furlough. “After my son’s arrest in March 2010, I repeatedly appeared at the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office to find information about his status, but I was not given any straight answers about his condition, until Mehdi himself called us in April 2010 from the [IRGC] 2-A Ward of Evin and we found out that he was well,” he said.

Lawyer and Former MP in Need of Immediate Medical Attention

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Sahandej Sholeh Sadi, wife of university professor, lawyer, and former Member of the Iranian Parliament Ghassem Sholeh Sadi talked about her husband’s new charges and his physical condition in prison. Expressing concern about her husband’s health conditions, Sahandej Sadi said that despite statements by the prison infirmary physician, Mr. Sadi has not yet been transferred outside the prison for examination. “My request is that they review the cases of the prisoners and if the Special UN Rapporteur comes to Iran, that he is able to visit with political prisoners and their families and ask about their requests and see about their conditions,” she told the Campaign.

UN Special Rapporteur Should Visit Iranian Prisons, Says Husband of Imprisoned Actress

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, celebrated Iranian filmmaker Nasser Taghvai said that despite statements made by the Prosecutor General last week, his wife, actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who was arrested more than a month ago for acting a role in the documentary “My Tehran For Sale,” has not yet been released. During a 26 July press conference, Prosecutor General Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said that actresses Pegah Ahangarani and Marzieh Vafamehr were going to be released soon, but Vafamehr remains in prison. Taghvai also asked the United Nations to dispatch Iran’s Special Rapporteur to Tehran as soon as possible to observe the conditions of prisoners up close and to somehow defend them.

Sajjad Jahanfar, Another Kurdish Author and Scholar, Arrested

A local source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Sajjad Jahanfar, a young author and researcher from Gilan-e-Gharb, was arrested on 12 August in Kermanshah. Jahanfar has authored several books, such as the seven-volume book, “Stories of The Medea Land,” in Persian and the Kurdish language.

Sajjad Jahanfar’s arrest took place when security forces showed up to the homes of several literary and cultural activists in Gilan-e-Gharb in the Kermanshah Province during the past two weeks, arresting at least three people.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran earlier announced the names of three arrested individuals, Jamal Khani, Farhad Vakilinia, and Naeem Najafi, who are members of the Banan Literary Society in Gilan-e-Gharb, and contributors to the cultural website Tagh-e-Vossan.

It is not yet clear on what charges the individuals have been arrested and none of them have so far been allowed to contact or see their families.

 

Source: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2011/08/sajjad_jahanfar/

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Despite Delayed Ruling, Lawyer Optimistic about Release of Americans

The court reviewing the case of the three Americans arrested more than two years ago on charges of “illegal entry into Iran” and “espionage,” has not yet issued its ruling, despite the fact that more than a week has passed since the last court session. The lawyer of the three Americans, Massoud Shafiee, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who remain inside Evin Prison, are impatiently awaiting their ruling.

They Keep My Father In Prison For His Criticism of Khamenei, Says Son of Imprisoned Journalist

Mehdi Saharkhiz, son of journalist Issa Saharkhiz, who is currently serving his three-year prison term, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his father has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison. “The new ruling against him is like the other ones. It displays the personal animosity of Mr. Khamenei against my father for his criticisms of Khamenei. Now they are trying to abuse him in whatever way they can and keep him in prison longer,” said Saharkhiz.

Issa Saharkhiz, a political activist who was former head of the National Press Department of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance during the Khatami era, is currently at Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj. On 5 August, he was sentenced to an additional two years in prison for his former journalistic activities. Saharkhiz was arrested in the aftermath of the disputed 2009 election, and Judge Salavati sentenced him to three years in prison at Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propagating against the regime.” During his two years in prison, Issa Saharkhiz has not been allowed one day of furlough.

Prison Visit With Sotoudeh Ends In Detention And Physical Abuse of Family

Reza Khandan, husband of imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, talked to International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about his five-hour detention along with his two children and his sister-in-law, during a recent visit with Sotoudeh. Khandan told the Campaign about the disrespectful treatment of prison staff and the physical abuse of his sister-in-law by a prison employee.

“During our visit, I was, as usual, making notes in my notebook about the things my wife was telling me to do, when a prison personnel tried to grab the notebook by rudely extending her hand in between me and my daughter. I resisted and did not give her the notebook, because it was my personal item and they were not allowed to inspect it. Inspecting people’s personal property requires a judicial order. If there is a limitation to what people can take to prison visits, the authorities should have made an announcement earlier. There were no prison staff at the entrance with whom we could leave our personal items. On principle, there is no limitation to the personal items of the visiting family members of prisoners, and everyone can go to the visitation room with their personal items. I have had this notebook with me during my previous weekly visits, too. Really, I never did find out why the prison staff wanted to take the notebook away. Then that prison official sent another staff member to me, and I didn’t give the notebook to that other person, either,” said Khandan.

Two Years Ago: a look back at the July 25, 2009 Global Day of Action

July 25th, 2009 marked the first Global Day of Action, during which tens of thousands of people across a hundred cities came together in solidarity with the people of Iran. In the aftermath of a brutal government crackdown following the disputed election, activists united to call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt state-sponsored violence, release all prisoners of conscience, and respect the inherent rights of the Iranian people.

The day received support from hundreds of prominent activists, academics, and artists, including Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, and Shirin Ebadi. Click here to watch Desmond Tutu‘s video message and expression of support for the day and for the people of Iran. One of the day’s most notable promotional videos, “Be a Hero,” can be seen here. Among the day’s highlights was the premiere of U2′s new video, to coincide with the global day, before 80,000 people in Dublin’s Croke Park.

This first global day of support for the Iranian people had immense momentum behind it. Emotions ran high as images of students being chased by Basiji remained fresh in the world’s consciousness.

Now, only two short years after the largest show of solidarity with the Iranian people, we must continue forward with the same passion demonstrated by thousands of concerned citizens not so long ago.

Click here to see a slideshow revisiting some of the day’s amazing events!

Prisoners of Persia

List of prisoners of conscience remembered in Perian, Iowa, based on information on rahana.org:

حسین رونقی ملکی
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki

امیرخسرو دلیرثانی
Amir Khosrow Dalirsani

لاله حسن پور
Laleh Hassanpour

محمدصدیق کبودوند
Mohammad Sedigh Kaboudvand

حسین ملک پور
Hossein Malekpour

URGENT: E-letter to UN Officials: Call on the IRI to Halt its Assault on Artists

In the last several weeks, concern has been mounting over Iran’s ongoing and systematic persecution of its own actresses, documentary filmmakers, and bloggers.

Four prominent artists were arrested, though fortunately on of July 27, 2011 it was reported two had been freed on bail. Take action and help highlight the unwarranted treatment of Iran’s artists and of anyone who shows dissent. Please take 30 seconds to send an e-letter!

Also below is a photo-essay produced by the founder of Iranian.com, Jahanshah Javid. During a road trip across the United States, he stopped in Persia, Iowa where he creatively honored and highlighted those unjustly detained in Iran.

Filmmaker Pantea Bahrami is also highlighting the plight of Iran’s citizens by producing a documentary addressing Iran’s human rights situation. She has put out a call to the community asking for its support. Read on to see how you can help make this film a reality!

In Solidarity,
The U4I Team

EIL: Prisoners Declare End of Hunger Strike

On 26 June 2011, twelve prisoners of conscience declared an end to their nine-day long hunger strike. The prisoners started a hunger strike on 18 June to protest rampant impunity and lack of accountability following the deaths of two prominent activists, Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber.

Saber died in captivity from a heart attack on 10 June 2011. Saber had started a hunger strike to protest the death of Haleh Sahabi on 2 June. On 8 June, a prison official beat Saber when he was transferred to the prison clinic. On the morning of Saber’s death, prison officials failed to transfer him to a hospital for six hours after his heart attack.

Concurrent With Admission of Group Executions, 26 More Hanged Secretly in Mashad

Local sources in Mashad told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that 26 more inmates were hanged at Vakilabad Prison on 15 June 2011. At the same time, the Prosecutor of Mashad Mahmoud Zoghi admitted to secret group executions and without mentioning the number of executions over the past two and half years, referred to “the high number of executions.”

Zoghi acknowledged group executions while reporting the large number of drug trafficking cases in Vakilabad prison.

“With such a high volume of drug trafficking cases, the execution statistics are proportionate and foreign media unjustifiably exaggerate in this subject,” Zoghisaid.

Statement from Austrian Foreign Ministry: Stop the violence against women in the Middle East

Original in German | Source in English

Plassnik: Stop the violence against women in the Middle East!
Special Envoy on the latest form of violence against women in Libya, Egypt and Iran

Vienna, 9 June 2011 – As far as the public at the international level is concerned, there has been great progress and a profound paradigm shift in recent years with regard to the topic of violence against women in conflict situations. A statute of the International Criminal Court, for instance, condemns the systematic deployment of rape and sexual violence as war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

“With this in mind, the latest cases of structural violence against women in our southern neighbourhood and in the Middle East are even more upsetting,” said Ursula Plassnik, Special Envoy for International Women’s Issues at the Foreign Ministry, at a press conference today.

Amnesty Alert: Woman detained for human rights activism

 

UA: 196/11 Index: MDE 13/063/2011 Iran Date: 23 June 2011 Date: 23 June 2011

URGENT ACTION

WOMAN detained FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM

Iranian human rights activist, Mansoureh Behkish , was arrested on 12 June 2011. She is a member of the ‘ Mourning Mothers ’ group , which campaigns against human rights violation ssuch as unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances . She is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

Mansoureh Behkish, 54, was arrested by men believed to belong to the Ministry of Intelligence when they recognised her in a street in Tehran, at 8pm on 12 June 2011. She is now held in Section 209 of Evin Prison. She was able to make a short phone call to her mother two or three days after her arrest and again on 20 June, but could not talk about the conditions of her detention. Mansoureh Behkish suffers from a neurodegenerative disease called diffuse myelinoclastic sclerosis, or sometimes referred to as “Schilder’s disease”.

The ‘Mourning Mothers’ group mainly comprises women whose children have been killed, disappeared or detained in post-election violence in Iran since June 2009, but it quickly grew to include relatives of other victims of human rights violations and their supporters. Mansoureh Behkish has lost several members of her family who were executed in the 1980s; since then she has been an activist and has been detained several times before.

Mansoureh Behkish was among 33 women from the ‘Mourning Mothers’ group arrested during their weekly meeting in Laleh Park, Tehran, on 9 January 2010 and held for several days. On 17 March 2010, she was prevented from travelling to Italy to visit her children and her passport was confiscated. She remains banned from travel abroad.

Shirin Ebadi Says Deaths of Political Prisoners is Systematic

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Noble Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi discussed the hunger strike embarked on by 12 political prisoners in protest of the  death of Hoda Saber. Ebadi told the Campaign that the deaths of Iranian political prisoners is systematic, and that the Iranian government has caused the deaths of many political prisoners over the years. “The demands of the hunger strikers are logical and yet simple demands–to identify and hold accountable the individual who caused Hoda Saber’s death. The individual is known and some political prisoners testify that he even told them his name. Also, [they demand that] those who caused the death of Haleh Sahabi must be arrested and tried in a fair trial, where people are allowed to be present, so that the facts are known. These are their demands. Delivering these demands are the Islamic Republic’s responsibility on principle,” Ebadi said.

Sixteen More Prisoners Executed Secretly in Mashad on 23 & 24 May

 

Reliable sources have told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that another round of unannounced secret group executions took place in Vakilabad Prison in Mashad on 23 and 24 May.

Twelve prisoners were hanged during secret group executions on 23 May. All 12 prisoners were allegedly charged with drug trafficking. Four other prisoners were executed on 24 May; among them three sisters. The three sisters are said to have been also allegedly convicted of drug trafficking charges. The fourth executed prisoner was charged with rape.

The Campaign was able to gather more information about the executions carried out in April and May, reported by the Campaign in the past few weeks. According to reports, 10 inmates were secretly hanged at Vakilabad Prison on 6 April. Also, on 13 April, 12 other prisoners were executed.

After Writing Letter Detailing Torture and Abuse, Abdollah Momeni Denied Basic Prisoner Rights

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, activist Abdollah Momeni’s wife, Fatemeh Adinehvand, expressed concern about Momeni’s physical condition. “Mr. Momeni suffers from backache and has a heart condition. Since last week, he has been transferred to the prison infirmary twice. He received painkiller injections twice in order to relieve his back pain. He needs treatment outside the prison, but prison officials do not pay any attention to our requests for granting him furlough,” Adinehvand said.

Abdollah Momeni, a former spokesperson for Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat (Office to Foster Unity) student organization, was arrested following the 2009 presidential election. He is currently serving his prison sentence of four years and 11 months inside Ward 350 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

Saeed Malekpour’s Death Sentence Thrown Out, New Trial Ordered

On June 2, the Free Saeed Malekpour Campaign delivered some outstanding news. The campaign posted that the “Iranian supreme court threw out Saeed’s death sentence and ordered a new penalty trial. Saeed [will be able to] finally meet his IT lawyer… to prepare a defense case for the new trial.”

Authorities Responsible for Death of Imprisoned Dissident on Hunger Strike

Many Other Political Prisoners Vulnerable to “Willful Neglect”

(13 June 2011)  The Iranian Judiciary and prison officials are responsible for the death of Hoda Saber, a prominent dissident who died of a heart attack on 10 June, theInternational Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. Saber had been on a hunger strike.

According to public statements by Firuzeh Saber, Hoda Saber’s sister, Hoda suffered a heart attack at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, but prison officials failed to transfer him to a hospital until 10:30 a.m.

UNITED4IRAN – June 12 – Global Action – Please support the peoples in Iran

Learn more at 12June.org.

June 12, 2011: A Day to Reconnect, Recommit, & Remember

Today, nearly two years since Iran’s disputed election, many of Iran’s best and brightest face extremely unjust imprisonment and sentences for daring to voice dissent.

Hundreds continue to endure systematic persecution, detentions, torture – and worse – simply for their faith, ethnicity or beliefs. And though the protests in Iran have lessened under the heavy hand of Iran’s authorities, the gross human and civil rights violations have only intensified.

With much of the world’s attention now focused on the Arab Spring movements across the Middle East and North Africa, the focus on struggles for human rights has turned away from Iran.

However, Iran’s movement IS continuing. Nobel Laureate, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, has compared the movement in Iran to a “fire under the ashes” with glowing embers that can re-ignite at any time.

In a 24/7 news cycle world, we often expect quick resolutions and immediate conclusions. However, as history has shown, movements take time. Momentum in movements is challenging to realize and sustain and takes patience, trust and determination. To ensure human rights are adhered to and sustained, grassroots activism and engagement is a necessity in every society. >>Read More

Goals & Demands
The day’s goals involve encouraging activists worldwide to continue highlighting Iran’s human rights violations; to sustain international support for the Iranian people and their aspirations; and to urge the United Nations and governments worldwide to support human rights in Iran and to hold accountable those responsible for rights abuses.

The day’s demands directly call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the universal rights of Iran’s citizens (including the freedom of expression, association, and assembly and the right to hold free and fair elections); to stop discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, or ethnicity; to release all prisoners of conscience; and to institute a moratorium on all execution sentences and move towards the total abolishment of the death penalty. >>Read More

Sponsors
The day’s sponsors include

-Amnesty International
-Baha’i International Community
-Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
-Democracy Coalition Project
-International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
-International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
-Ligue pour la Défense des droits de l’homme en Iran (LDDHI)
-Noble Women’s Initiative

Get Involved! Organize an Event
Various events have already been confirmed across the world, ranging from an art and music event in Amsterdam, to a Race 4 Rights event in Washington DC, to recreating Azadi Square in Chicago and New York, to a panel on religious freedom and women’s rights in London, to a Bike 4 Iran marathon in Madrid.

There are numerous ways you and your organization can get involved, either by organizing an event for the day or by participating in various online actions. Organizing an event can be as complicated as a public art installation to simply meeting friends at a café to write letters or sigh postcards.

The full list of events can be found on the12June.org event map. If you are hosting a human rights focused event you would like to see included on the event map, please e-mail the event details and relevant links to share@united4iran.org.

There are also various toolkits, resources, and materials available for download to help you and your organization. >>Read More

Take Action Online!
U4I welcomes everyone to take part in the day by participating in various online actions, including a pledge drive, downloading and mailing postcards, and sending e-letters to various UN officials and Foreign Ministers.

To send an e-letter reflecting the day’s demands, click here.

To download, print, and mail postcards, click here.

Participate in the Pledge Drive
The online pledge drive is one of the online components of the day. You or your group can commit to completing one or more Iran-focused actions over the coming year.

You can pledge to recommit to anything from ongoing advocacy for a specific prisoner of conscience, to writing and mailing postcards to your government representatives, to passing a Resolution of Support, to organizing events, to building relationships with your local media, and more! The pledge can be found here. >>Read More

What’s Next?
If you or your organization is interested in coordinating an event, please send an e-mail to info@united4iran.org so we can share your plans with the world via the U4I calendar and Google map.

Please share footage of your actions by e-mailing pictures or links to uploaded videos to share@united4iran.org. Please also include a short summary of your event, where it took place, who it was hosted by, and what was done.

Make sure to also take part in the online actions and encourage your friends and networks to do the same! Know the U4I team is here to support you and help you meet your commitments and pledges, whatever they may be! If you have any questions, please e-mail us at info@united4iran.org.

UNITED4IRAN: Global Day 12.Juni 2011 – Berlin- Iran Mahnwache, Pariser Platz

June 12, 2011: A Day to Reconnect, Recommit, & Remember
Today, nearly two years since Iran’s disputed election, many of Iran’s best and brightest face extremely unjust imprisonment and sentences for daring to voice dissent.

Hundreds continue to endure systematic persecution, detentions, torture – and worse – simply for their faith, ethnicity or beliefs. And though the protests in Iran have lessened under the heavy hand of Iran’s authorities, the gross human and civil rights violations have only intensified.

With much of the world’s attention now focused on the Arab Spring movements across the Middle East and North Africa, the focus on struggles for human rights has turned away from Iran. However, Iran’s movement IS continuing. Nobel Laureate, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, has compared the movement in Iran to a “fire under the ashes” with glowing embers that can re-ignite at any time.

United4Iran: Great News Out of Iran

It is with great pleasure to share some of the best news that has come out of Iran in months.

The first piece of good news is that detained union activist, Mansour Ossanlou, has been released on bail after nearly four years of imprisonment. This is especially positive news considering the extent to which his health deteriorated while in prison.

 

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which has long pushed for Mansour Ossanlou’s release, published the news, emphasizing the role of the international community: “He is free because trade unionists worldwide demanded justice.”

Another promising development relates to Iranian-born Canadian Resident, Saeed Malekpour, who was initially sentenced to death in Iran on baseless charges of web offenses.

On June 2, the Free Saeed Malekpour Campaign posted that the “Iranian supreme court threw out Saeed’s death sentence and ordered a new penalty trial. Saeed [will be able to] finally meet his IT lawyer… to prepare a defense case for the new trial.”

Many of you took action on behalf of both individuals, whether by mailing postcards, sending e-letters, creating messages of support, and more.

International awareness is key to achieving positive developments in what sometimes seems like dire cases. Your efforts, your passion, and your ongoing commitment have all contributed to carrying their stories and the injustices they face far beyond our individual computer screens.

Torture at Evin Prison: Journalist’s Own Experiences and His Interviews with 19 Political Prisoners

 

In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, journalist Saeed Pourheydar, who was arrested twice after the 2009 election and eventually sentenced to five years in prison, described his prison abuse, charges, his detention conditions inside Evin Prison, and the torture of other political prisoners.

Saeed Pourheydar is a journalist who formerly worked for several reformist newspapers. He told the Campaign that after the 2009 presidential election, he was arrested twice: once on 6 February 2010 at his home when he was arrested by Intelligence Ministry and served one month inside Ward 240 of Evin Prison, and another time on 10 October 2010, when he was detained after being summoned to Evin Prison Court and spent 52 days in prison until his appeals court issued a ruling. When the appeals court upheld his conviction, Pourheydar left Iran and currently resides abroad.

RFE/RL: Iran Releases Trade Union Leader

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) says an Iranian trade union leader was freed on parole today after spending almost four years in prison.

The ITF said in a statement that Mansur Osanloo’s release was “conditional on his “good behavior” and the payment of a bond.Osanloo is the the head of the Vahed Syndicate, a free trade union of Tehran’s bus workers which he co-founded in 2005.

Osanloo, who the ITF says was detained and tortured after he founded the Vahed Syndicate, was re-arrested in 2007 and sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the state.”

In 2010, his sentence was extended by one year.

The ITS said in a statement that Osanloo’s health had worsened in prison.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran_trade_union_leader_released/24213726.html

Related posts:

1. Union Leader’s Dangerous Health Conditions: Immediate Surgery Needed In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights…
2. Labor Leader’s Sister Asks for His Release to Treat Three Blocked Arteries In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights…
3. Workers’ Rights are Human Rights: Support Iran’s Union Activists this May Day What is May Day? Across the world on May 1…

United4Iran/Amnesty- New York, NY: Azadi Square Campaign

June 8, 2011
Iran Mission to the UN in Manhattan (622 Third Avenue)
Please be there by 10:15am – Begins at 10:30am

Amnesty International will carry out an action on Wednesday June 8 at the Iran Mission to the UN in Manhattan, located at 622 Third Avenue.  We invite you to join the action and inform your contacts and encourage them to attend. The purpose of the action is two-fold. We will symbolically rename the location right outside the Mission “Azadi Square” (Freedom Square) as part of the Amnesty International/United4Iran Azadi Square campaign.

Activists will have their photos taken holding signs with Azadi Square written in both Persian and English. The photos will be used in our virtual Azadi Square campaign. The other purpose is to deliver a stack of petitions on behalf of persecuted Iranian film director Jafar Panahi to the UN Mission.