Author Archives: Free Iran

Her only “crime” is defending human rights and democracy in Iran.

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May 29th, 2011 – Feminist School:
At the request of the judicial authorities, Nasrin Sotoudeh was summoned from Evin prison today May 29th, 2011 to attend a court hearing at the Iranian Bar Association concerning the revocation of her license to practice the law. According to reports received by the Feminist School, however, her court hearing was rescheduled.
While awaiting her court hearing, Sotoudeh wrote a letter to her husband Reza Khandan. The content of Sotoudeh’s letter is as follows:
Scenes of love overcoming the prison guards and repression. Free Nasrin Sotoudeh Now!
My dear Reza,
Much has been said about the loneliness associated with prison. I want to share prison life with you, for it somehow takes you off guard.  Can you imagine the environment that the new generation has created in prison? The same surprising environment that currently exists outside prison is also pervasive within these prison walls, creating a new form of existence both within our society and behind bars. This existence is at times happy and upbeat, at times calm and demure, at times watchful and analytical, but always tolerant and willing to compromise; a tolerance that will eventually lead us to achieve our goals.  You know better than anyone that much like running water that over time creates fissures in rocks, it is our tolerance and flexibility that will be eventually remove the obstacles from our paths.
My dear Reza, everyone ponders about their freedom while in prison. Although my freedom is also important to me, it is not more important than the justice that has been ignored and denied. Like many other prisoners, I too dream of going on a trip with my family, or to walk freely under the rain, to gaze upon the trees in the alley, or to spend the afternoon with my kids in a park.  Do you remember by the way, the joy with which the three of us greeted you every afternoon when you came home from work?  We were a happy family and despite the threats by my interrogator during that first interrogation session when he threatened to obliterate me and my husband from the face of this earth, we remain happy; for my interrogator did not realize that happiness lies within an individuals heart. It goes without saying that I would like to have all these things and that they are all important to me, but nothing is more important than those hundreds of years of sentences that were rendered to my clients and other freedom seeking individuals, accused of crimes they had not committed. Though I had the privilege of representing only a few, I will continue to object to their unjust sentences regardless of whether or not I have a license to practice the law.
They are holding a trial in order to revoke my license to practice the law; a license that I always tried to use with honor. Even if my license is taken from me by a government some day, they cannot strip me of my honor; and that is all I need.
My beloved Reza, as long as such unjust sentences exist and the Revolutionary Court continues to render such shocking rulings, with or our without a license to practice the law, I will continue to object these sentences, for one does not need a license in order to object to unjust sentences.  Tell them they can revoke my license if they wish to do so, but they can’t strip me of my right to justice.
Evin Prison
Ward for Female Political Prisoners
May 2011 [Khordad 1390] Source: Feminist School http://on.fb.me/jfuUp3

About Nasrin Sotoudeh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasrin_Sotoudeh

http://www.payvand.com/news/10/nov/1109.html

 

Iran: Incarcerated Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh: “My Dearest Nima: I Am Knitting You a Large Clown Doll”

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May 29th, 2011 – Change for Equality: Coinciding with her birthday, the website Equality for Change is publishing a letter that Nasrin Sotoudeh, incarcerated human right’s lawyer wrote to her 3 year old son Nima right before their face to face meeting last week.
The content of Sotoudeh’s letter to her son Nima is as follows:
Hello my dearest Nima,
They took the diary I had written for you when they raided our house. After a one week hunger strike, I was finally able to recover some of the personal belongings of you and your sister, but unfortunately since my arrest, I had not had the opportunity my dearest son to write in your diary. Now that I have been transferred to the general ward [at Evin] and have access to pen and paper, I have decided to once again fill the pages of your diary.
Will an iota of the violated rights of my two children and the rights of so many other mothers who have endured imprisonment, ever be compensated for?
My dearest, I have been behind bars for approximately nine months now. During this time, when ever the opportunity arose for us to briefly meet face to face, you seemed so happy. Your sweet chatter hardly gave your sister a chance to say a word and I found myself turning my gaze back and forth to listen to you speak.  I recall how excited you were every time I bought you a chocolate. What you feared  most were the visitations from behind a cabin window. Ever since my transfer to the general ward, we have had three such visitations; after each visitation, you have left distraught. When our visitation time ends and the curtain comes down, you panic and begin screaming. I understand your manly pride. Although feminist wish to deny a man’s pride, I saw how this time you stood a little farther away, folding  your arms, standing sideways, glancing at me through the corner of your eyes as though you were angry. All the female political prisoners present on that day noticed your pride, saying that you paid no attention to them. They don’t know you like I do.  They don’t know the degree of your sweet nature.  You were just overwhelmed, because it has been a few weeks since we’had last had the opportunity to meet face to face and in person.
I am knitting you a large clown doll. It is my motherly love that constantly draws me to your doll every time I have a moment to spare.I am knitting you a rather large clown doll.  Though it takes over my study time, it is my motherly love that constantly draws me to your doll every time I have a moment to spare. I’m a little worried about how it will turn out, but hope that you will like it.
It is the hope that my children and the children of my beloved land will someday experience better days that helps me  endure these difficult days of separation from you, your sister and your father. I have nevertheless asked myself over and over again whether any of my dreams will ever become a reality. I have asked myself whether an iota of the violated rights of my children and the rights of so many other mothers who have endured imprisonment, will ever be compensated for. Of course every mother endures prison with this hope.
Maman Nasrin
Evin Prison
Female Prisoners Ward
Source: Equality for Change: http://we-change.org/spip.php?article7916

Islamic regime in Iran Vows to Unplug Internet

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Islamic regime in Iran Vows to Unplug Internet

Iran is taking steps toward an aggressive new form of censorship: a so-called national Internet that could, in effect, disconnect Iranian cyberspace from the rest of the world.

The leadership in Iran sees the project as a way to end the fight for control of the Internet, according to observers of Iranian policy inside and outside the country. Iran, already among the most sophisticated nations in online censoring, also promotes its national Internet as a cost-saving measure for consumers and as a way to uphold Islamic moral codes. Continue Reading →

Iran:Halt the Execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, convicted to death as a minor!

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Iranian JUVENILE faces execution

The execution of  (now)20-year-old Mohammad Reza Haddadi has been scheduled in the city of Shiraz, southern Iran.  He has been sentenced to death for a crime he allegedly committed while under the age of 18. This is the third time his execution has been scheduled.

Please Sign this petition to Halt the hanging of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, convicted at age 15!  http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40665.html

Background:
Send a letter calling on the IRI’s authorities to halt the imminent execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, who could face death by hanging as soon as 7 July 2010 for allegedly committing a murder when he was 15 years old. His family was told by judicial officials on 4 July 2010 that they should arrange a last visit to their son before becing executed in Adelabad prison in Shiraz.
Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for the murder of Mohammad Bagher. He confessed to the killing initially, but during the trial he retracted this confession, saying that he’d made the confession because his two co-accused said they would give his family money if he did so. Mohammad then denied having taken part in the murder, and there are reports of his co-defendants supporting his claims of innocence and withdrawing their testimony implicating him in murder.

The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, including Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the IRI is signatory.Read more about Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s case: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18864

Directions:
When writing a letter, please be polite, present facts, and keep the content of the letter human rights focused. Below the letter you’ll find 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. To the right are the targets of the e-mail, which includes officials inside the IRI, various IRI embassies, and UN officials.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to in**@un*********.org

Once again, the brutal regime of Iran is at work in Ottawa!

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Invitation Card June 4th

The Islamic republic of Iran is planning to show it’s presence in Ottawa and this time at NAC.
The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) is hosting a “cultural” event in Ottawa on June 4th at National Art Center (NAC). This cultural event is being organized by the
Cultural Centre of Iran which is part of the Iranian consulate in Ottawa.
Islamic Republic of Iran is the land of terror, rape and executions, not the land of “Glory”.
Iran has a glorious history. The first declaration of human rights by King Cyrus 2570 years ago stems with this beautiful land as well. However, in today’s Iran, where religious minorities are persecuted, political thought is severely punished by lengthy prison sentences, torture and rape are common practices against the prisoners and where execution of minors are a regular accordance, the land of glory is a gross exaggeration of the truth about Iran. For the month of May Iranian authorities have executed at least 53 people (including minors) so far.
Canada is a country that stands against unjust persecutions and human rights abuses. Such events organized by the criminal regime of Iran, should not be allowed in Canada. I express my grave concern about the involvement and participation of NAC in the Islamic regime of Iran’s upcoming Cultural Event on  June 4th, 2011. These concerns are based on thirty-two years of Islamic government’s deliberate destruction of Iran’s past and cultural heritage.
Regardless of Canada’s diplomatic relations with Iran, we must rise above political ties with unified voice and declare that Canada would not allow Iranian officials to make a mockery of our Canadian values.I urge you to ask our government officials and NAC to respect the human dignity and the suffering of all Iranians who have immigrated to Canada for a safer life and freedom by cancelling this event.Please take a moment and show your grave protest against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s hosting this “cultural” event at NAC. Please call/ write to National Art Centre as soon as you can and voice your concerns. Thank you.
NAC Contact info:
Ms. Rosemary Thompson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs of NAC (613) 947-7000
Email: Rosemary Thompson@ RT******@na*****.ca
Mr. Peter Herrndorf , CEO and President of NAC (613) 947-7000 Ext. 200

 

 

“Iranian leaders promote culture of murder and brutality”

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Iranian leaders promote culture of murder and brutality” Iran: Young Boy Used to Carry Out Public Execution; Total of 11 Hangings on May 26, 2011

A man was hanged in public  in the city of Qazvin (west of Tehran) early Thursday morning. According to the official Iranian news agencies. Mehdi Faraji, 37, was publicly hanged on the street. He was convicted of murdering five women.

A young boy (probably a minor) was used to carry out the execution by drawing the chair Mehdi was standing on, according to reports and an image released of the execution.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights strongly condemned today’s execution. He said, “The barbaric executions and the act of using ordinary citizens, in particular minors, to carry out executions must be condemned by the world community…Iranian leaders must be held accountable for promoting a culture of murder and brutality in Iran.”

There were 10 other executions carried out on Thursday in Iran: four people in the city of Shiraz (southern Iran), four people in Yasouj prison (western Iran), and two people in Sari prison (northern Iran).

For the month of May Iranian authorities have executed at least 52 people (including minors) so far. State officials and the media are strongly urged to take quick action to aid in halting the overwhelming amount of executions in Iran to prevent further crimes to be committed against humanity.

http://iranhr.net/spip.php?article2108

http://iranhr.net/spip.php?article2110

————-

CONTACT: Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam

International spokesperson of

Iran human Rights (IHR)

E-mail: ir********@gm***.com

Website: http://iranhr.net/