In continuation of its monthly reports, Defenders of Human Rights (DHRC), which is presided over by Shirin Ebadi, has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Tir 1393 [Iranian month from 21 June to 21 July 2014].
In its report, Defenders of of Human Rights refers to the worsening tensions between Israel and Palestinians, and the ground offensive against Gaza, which has led to the death of many civilians, including children, and emphasizes the fact that these developments will have detrimental consequences for establishment of peace in the Middle East region.
This people-instituted organization has also alluded to the ethnic violence in the Middle East region, and has warned: “The states which tolerate religious discrimination will in the end become entangled themselves in a confrontation with religious extremists.”
DHRC report explained that one of the most important consequences of violent and expansionist approaches is the destruction of human assets and resources. The report then underlined the need for the establishment of peace and tolerance in the Middle East region.
Furthermore, in its report, which is published in both Farsi and English languages, this people-instituted organization has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran under the three main headings of: “Civil and political rights”, “social and economic rights”, and “cultural heritage and the environment”.
According to the website of the Defenders of Human Rights, the text of the report by the said center for the month of Tir 1393, which has been published on 1st Khordad 1393 [23 July 2014], is as follows:
A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in June-July 2014
Introduction:
During the past month, the manifestations of discrimination and despotism in some Middle East countries began to reveal themselves in the shape of extreme violence. The spread of ethnic violence is happening concurrently with the growth of extremism and the widening of activities by the religious extremist elements. Some examples and manifestations of this situation can now be clearly observed in Iraq and Syria. Amid all these developments, civilians are being killed, the material, spiritual and historical foundations and infrastructures have been destroyed, and the national wealth and resources of these countries are being plundered.
Without any doubt, those governments which tolerate religious discrimination will in the end become entangled in a confrontation with religious extremists.
On the other hand, the heightening of tensions between Israel and Palestinians, and the ground offensive against Gaza have led to the death of many civilians, including scores of children. The current developments will have detrimental consequences for the establishment of peace in the Middle East region.
The report also provides a summary of the human rights situation in Iran during the month of Tir [starting 21 June 2014], as follows. This report is based on information published by various media channels and websites, whose accuracy has been verified. The report is appearing under three separate sections, and in Farsi and English languages.
Human Rights Situation in Iran in June-July 2014
Section 1: Civil, Cultural and Political Rights
A) Situation of Nonconformist Political and Social Activists
1. During this month, about 49 people were detained and the names of them have been specified as follows: Habib Mohebian, a singer; Vahid Ranjbar, a university activist; Abdolsalam Gulnavaz, a Sunni religious activist; Farzad Bahadori, Simin Rasuli, Sahar Bahadori, Nasim Bahadori, Saqi Fadaei, Tanaz Mohammadi, Iraj Lohrasb and Shabnam Isakhani, eight Baha’i citizens; Ziba Mohammadian (the wife of Mohammad Ali Taheri, a prisoner of conscience) and Sivan Hosseinpur, a photographer and cartoonist.
In addition, the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in Firuzkuh City has reported the arrest of a group of eight people anonymously due to the crime of Satanism and the Chief of the Police in Shahrud City has reported the arrest of three people anonymously who produced a “happy video clip”.
On the other hand, some news web sites have reported the detention of Fazli, Banu Farkhondeh, Mitra Sotudeh, Parastu Shahabi and Mohammadreza (who is known as Brother Yusuf), Seyyed Alireza Alihaqnejad (Known as Mathias), Mohammad Roghangir (known as Vahid) and Sorush Saraei, eight newly converted Christians; as well as Khozeir Sharhani, Musa Zargani, Hossein Zargani, Mohsen Zargani, Mohammad Zargani, Hamid Zargani and Salem Zargani – seven newly converted Sunnis; and finally Hossein Sa’buri, a Sunni religious activist; Saleh Tamavoli Tarafi and Adel Sa’duni, two cyber activists; Reza Haji Saleh, Khaled Maleki, Abdolkarim Karimi, Mohammad Darabi, Vahid Darabi, Sami Zobadi Albughobeish, and Fateh Khosravi, seven civil activists.
It should be noted that some of the detainees were released temporarily on bail after a few days until the date of their trial.
2. Negar Ha’eri- daughter of political prisoner Mashallah Ha’eri’s – was detained and sent to prison to serve her one-year imprisonment term. Sajedeh Arabsorkhi, a journalist and civil activist, was detained and dispatched to jail to serve her one-year imprisonment term. Marzieh Rasuli, a journalist, was detained and sent to prison to serve her two years term. Seyyed Hamid Seyyed Mahdaviaqdam, a religious activist, was detained and sent to the prison to serve his imprisonment term, Shamis Mohajer, a Baha’i citizen, was detained and sent to the prison to serve her/his one-years imprisonment term. Bahman Khaleqi, a civil activist, was detained and sent to jail to serve his six months term. Finally, Sarang Etehadi, a Baha’i citizen, was detained and sent to prison to serve his one year jail sentence .
3. Hadi Esmaeilzadeh, a lawyer and the member of the higher supervisory council of the Centre for the Supporters of Human Rights, was sentenced to four years imprisonment and two-years ban from practicing his law profession and membership in associations and parties. Hossein Nurinejad, a member of the Jebheye Mosharekat Party [the Islamic Participation Front Party] was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Behzad Nabavi, a member of the Mojahedin-e Enqelab-e Eslami [the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution] Organization was sentenced to paying a fine of 10 million Tomans, the cash equivalent in lieu of one year custodial jail term. Roein Otufat, a religious-nationalist activist, was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and two-years ban from membership in political associations and parties. Fardin Aghsani, Farahnaz Moqaddam and Gisu Sheykh Hassanabadi, three Baha’i citizens, were sentenced to six years in jail. Neda Forsatipur, Amir Ma’budi, Nushin Misaqi and Soheila Aqdasi, four Baha’i citizens, were sentenced to six months in jail. Shamim Ruhani, a Baha’i citizen, was sentenced to one year in jail and exile from Khuzestan Province. Mi’ad Ahmadi, a civil activist, was sentenced to two years imprisonment which is suspended for five years in addition to a fine of five million Tomans. Ezzat Golparipur and Shahu Heydari, two civil activists, were sentenced to three months in jail each. Hossein Alimohammadi and Taha Kermani, two civil activists, were each sentenced to three years imprisonment. Rasul Razavi, a civil activist, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment and Fatemeh Hashemi, a civil activist, was sentenced to six months suspended imprisonment. Also, Mohammad Nuri, a [cleric] member of the Gonabadi Darwish Sect, was sentenced to be defrocked permanently. In addition, the Appeal Court has confirmed the six-year imprisonment sentence of Fo’ad Rezazadeh, a Sunni prisoner.
On the other hand, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), eight individuals who were active in the Facebook have been respectively sentenced to 18 years and 91 days imprisonment and paying a fine of one million and 300 thousands Tomans and 50 lashes; 19 years and 91 days imprisonment and paying a fine of one million and 300 thousands Tomans and 50 lashes; 21 years imprisonment, 14 years imprisonment, 20 years imprisonment, eight years imprisonment, 11 years imprisonment and 16 years imprisonment. The Prosecutor General also has reported the definite convictions and the finalization of sentences against seven individual without mentioning their names, who were linked with the incidents after the tenth presidential election. Their prison sentences were between three and 11 years
4. The authorities have prevented Molavi Abdolhamid Esmaeilzehi – a prominent Sunni cleric – from travelling for his study tour to Turkey.
5. The houses of Hossein Rafiei, a religious-nationalist activist, Abdollah Yaqubi, a Gonabadi Darwish Sect member, and Rashin Saberi, a Baha’i citizen, were searched by the security officials, and some of their personal belongings such as their books and their manuscripts were seized. Also, Sadi Qoreishi, Puria Mardukh, Ahmad Qoreishi, Mohammad Karimi, and Mansur Qadermarzi – the members of the Qoran School – have been summoned to the Intelligence General Office and were interrogated. Ramin Hosseinpanahi, a civil activist, was also summoned to the Intelligence Office.
6. Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, a journalist, was released with a 200 million [Toman] bail after he was summoned by the magistrate court, where he was briefed about the allegations against him. Also, Manuchehr Kholusi, a Baha’i citizen; and Serajoddin Mirdamadi and Saba Azarpeyk, two journalists, were tried in the court.
B) Situation Regarding Cultural Rights
The Jury of the Press have announced that two newspapers – “Hafte Sobh” and “Tehran Emruz” – are guilty.
C) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
1. Some seven individuals were executed in this month. The complete names of some of them are still not clear but judicial authorities or government-controlled media have confirmed their executions. Some of the names are as follows: the Justice Department of Gilan Province has reported the execution of “M-H’, “S-G”, “A-D”, “J-Kh”, “A-A”, “A-S” and “B-B” because of the crime of possession and transportation of drugs.
2. Arjang Davudi, a political prisoner, was executed because of the crime of “waging war against God” [Moharebeh].
3. The Chief of the Justice Department in Qa’emshahr has reported the issuing of death sentence and stoning and 15 years imprisonment against an individual without mentioning his name because of the crimes of adultery, rape, and possession of alcoholic drinks and satellite equipment. The Chief of the Police in Fars Province has reported the issuing of the sentence of public lashing against two individuals because of the crime of drinking alcoholic drinks, and two other individuals because of the crime of robbery. Furthermore, the Deputy Prosecutor of Kermanshah Province has reported the issuing of the sentence of public lashing against five individuals because of the crime of violating [Ramadan] fasting rules [which ban eating and drinking in public from dawn to dusk]
4. The situation of political prisoners is still reported to be unfavourable to the extent that some of them – such as Latif Hasani, Zeynab Jalalian, Bahman Khaleqi, Ali Salanpur, Abdolrahman Sangani, Aram Mikaeili, Seyyed Mohammad Ebrahimi, Mehdi Haqshenas and Ali Ahmadsoleyman – are sick but no serious action has been taken for their treatment.
5. Despite the law’s emphasis on the classification of prisoners, Omid Behruzi, a lawyer, was exiled from the Ward No.350 to the financial ward of the Evin Prison, and Mohammad Nasiri was exiled to the ward No.8 of the Evin Prison, Latif Hosseini was exiled from the Evin Prison to the Raja’i Shahr Prison in Karaj and Kamran Ayyazi was also exiled to the Raja’i Shahr Prison.
6. The police have prevented the holding of a ceremony in Takht-e Fulad of Esfahan in honour of the Constitutional Movement’s leading revolutionaries.
7. The Secretariat of the Workgroup of Regulating Clothing and Fashion has suspended the activities of two institutions – “Khaneye Mod” [the House of Fashion] and “Violet” – due to the unveiling of four manteaux [loose dresses] which carried imprints of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s flag. In addition, the Chief of Police Department for General Security and Intelligence in Lorestan has reported that 15 cyber cafes were closed down and officially sealed in the province.
8. The State Organization for Civil Registration has announced that over 30 thousand girls under 15 years old have got married during the first nine months of 1392 [year which began on 21 March 2013].
Section 2: Social and Economic Rights
1. The economic conditions in the country are still reported to be unfavourable to the extent that the Minister of Industries, Minis and Commerce has reported that 14 thousands of small and medium industrial units have had to close down during the recent years due to various problems. This is while, the Statistics Centre of Iran has announced the urban inflation rate during the twelve months ending in Khordad (June) in this year is 26.2 per cent and the point-to-point inflation rate is 14.7 per cents.
1. Some 150 contract workers of Phase No.13 in South Pars Project are owed their wages creditor from the contracting company for the months of Tir (June-July), Mordad (July-August) and the first ten days of Shahrivar (August-September) of last year. The salaries of 33 workers of the “Darus Iran” Factory have not been paid for 25 months, while the salaries of 30 workers of the nail-manufacturing factory in Yazd have not been paid for nine months, some 140 workers of the Abfaye Abadan Corporation have not been paid for more than three months, and finally the salaries of 400 workers of the Payandan Corporation have not been paid for six months.
2. More than 50 workers of the Lian Refinery and Trade Company have been sacked from their jobs.
Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment
Reports concerning cultural heritage and environment also point to the continued presence of unfavourable conditions in these areas during the month of Tir.
1. The Director General of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism General Office in Esfahan Province has reported fractures and cracks under the historical bridges of Esfahan due to the continuing drought of the Zayandehrud [river] and land subsidence.
2. The “Zaferani” historical bathhouse in Esfahan has been destroyed.
3. The Commander of the Unit for Protection of Natural Resources and Water Resources of Ilam Province has reported that offenders had chopped down 220 trees, shrubs and plants in the past three months in this province. Meanwhile, the Head of the Forestry Society also said that one million acres of Zagros regions oak forests are infected and are facing the risk of drying.
4. Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) has reported the death of a farmer and the injury of four members of his family due to coming into contact with landmine in Mahabad region.
Conclusion:
Defenders of Human Rights states that one of the most important consequences of totalitarian and violence-mongering approaches is the destruction of human resources, and emphasizes the need for peace and tolerance in the Middle East.
Note: For further information regarding the above reports, please refer to the following news websites: Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Fars news agency, Mehr news agency, Young Journalists Club news agency, CDHR website, JARAS, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Nedaye Azadi, Baztab, HRANA, Ghanoon, Kaleme, Mohebbat News, Sunni Online, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Majzooban-e Noor, Melli Mazhabi, Nedaye Sabze Azadi, Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda and BBC.
