Situation of human rights in Iran in Bahman 1397 [January-February 2019]

The Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Bahman 1397 [January-February 2019]

Conducting a referendum on the issue of the whole system is the solution for Iran

 

In continuation of its monthly reports, the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Bahman 1397 [Iranian month corresponding to 21 January 2019 to 19 February 2019].

The Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights, which is presided over by Shirin Ebadi, has referred to the structural problems of the Islamic Republic, and declared that holding a referendum outside the constitution and around the issue of the entirety of the political system is the solution for Iran.

This people-instituted organisation has added: ”Without a constitutional amendment, there cannot be a democratic state in Iran. The mistake that took place in the hasty and blind passage of the constitution led to some terrible consequences whose results have come to surface today. The referendum that is envisaged in the current constitution only concerns minor issues.”

The Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has also written in its report: ”Many government officials attribute a lot of the present problems and failures to the United States and foreign enemies but large-scale embezzlement and misplaced economic and political planning and neglect of the environment are purely internal issues, which are not related to external interventions.”

Furthermore, in its report, which is published in both Farsi and English languages, this people-instituted organisation 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 Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights, the text of the report by the said centre for the month of Bahman 1397, which has been published on 1 Esfand 1397 [20 February 2019], is as follows:

 

A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in January-February 2019

Introduction:

The month of Bahman is a reminder of the victory of a revolution that was aimed at establishing justice and spreading freedom. The motto of the revolutionaries was independence and freedom, and they promised that we would reach these two goals in an Islamic Republic system. Unfortunately, after 40 years, we are moving away from the stated ideals day by day. The Islamic Republic has practically become a religious dictatorship because in accordance with Article 72 of the Constitution, all laws and decrees should be in conformity with the Islamic law, and based on Article 96 of the Constitution, the approvals of the Islamic Majlis can be valid and enforceable only after the approval by the jurisprudents of the Guardian Council and their verdict that the legislation conforms with the Shariah of Islam. The jurisprudents of the Guardian Council are directly appointed by the Supreme Leader. Therefore, the will of a single person can be considered as the law of Islam, and as such, it can invalidate the decisions of the Islamic Majlis.

What has been said is only a small part of the structural problems of the Islamic Republic and obviously, there cannot be any progress and development as long as the constitution is not been reformed. This is why we see the level of welfare and prosperity dropping every year, the freedom of expression becoming more limited than ever before, and education quality falling sharply continually. Many factories are closed down and unemployment is rising dramatically. The Judiciary, whose head is appointed by the Supreme Leader, is becoming weaker and more unreliable every day.

Based on the above, without a constitutional amendment, there can be no democratic government in Iran. The mistake that took place in the hasty and blind passage of the constitution led to some terrible consequences whose results and effect have come to surface today. The referendum that is envisaged in the current constitution only concerns minor issues, and the fundamental problems that have been mentioned here are considered as immutable and eternal constants. Therefore, there is no way except to hold a referendum outside the constitution and on the general issue of the entirety of the system. This is a bitter medicine that the state has no choice but to take sooner or later.

The report also provides a summary of the human rights situation in Iran during the month of Bahman 1397, 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 December January-February 2019

 

Section 1: Civil, Cultural and Political Rights

1. A) Situation of Nonconformist Political and Social Activists 
2. During this month, more than 38 people were detained and the names of them have been specified, who were:

Reza Khandan Mahabadi, Bektash Abtin,  and Keyvan Bajan – three members of the Iranian Writers Association; Alireza Kafaei, Hossein Rezaei and Mokhtar Asadi – three teachers’ union activists; Parvin Mohammadi, Mohammad Khanifar, Eqbal Shabani and Jafar Azimzadeh – four labour activists; Mohammad Hossein Khalilardakani – a member of the City Council of Karaj; Yusef Farhadi Babadi, Puria Sepahvand and Sirvan Qorbani – three environment activists; Afsaneh Emami (Naseri), Roya Hosseinzadeh and Farzad Ruhani – three Baha’i citizens – and Mojtaba Dadashi – a university student.

On the other hand, some news sources have reported the detention of Arman Vafaei and Shahu Faraji – two environmental activists; Sina Molodian, Esmail Maghrebinejad, Hossein Kadivar, Khalil Purdehqan, Abdolreza Ali Haqnejad, Mohammad Vafadar, Mohammad Eslamdust, Kamal Na’manian – eight newly converted Christians; Saeid Sadeqifar, Shapur Nosratpur, Morteza Sanaei – three citizens from Ardebil; Yusef Shahuzehi – a citizen from Nikshahr; Kiyumars Vaeizi, Jabar Hajimoradi and Hadi Baqeri – three citizens from Sanqar; and Omar Azizi and Isa Azari – two Sunni religious activists.

There are other cases of arrest of citizens in Bahman 1397: the detention of some citizens in Khuzestan Province due to armed attack on police and the detention of some citizens in cities such as Bukan, Sanandaj, Piranshahr, Kamyaran, Oshnavieh and Paveh because of various reasons such as communicating and cooperating with Kurdish opposition parties and the detention of some citizens in Sistan Va Baluchestan Province due to attacking a coach carrying IRGC staff.

It should be noted that some of the detainees were released temporarily on bail after a few days until the date of their trial.

Moreover, some news sources have reported the detention of Atsa Ahmadaei Rafsanjani – a Baha’i citizen; Avat Karimi – a environment activist – and Esmaeil Ebrahimi Viniche – a citizen from Mobarakeh – during the last days of the Month of Dey.

2. Mostafa Tork Hamedani – a lawyer – was sent to prison to spend six months in jail; Mohammad Amin Shilanabadi – a citizen from Oshnavieh – was sent to jail to spend four years imprisonment; Mehran Bandi Amirabadi and Mehran Eslami Amirabadi – two Baha’i citizens – were sent to prison to one year in jail; Shahin Barzegar – a citizen from Tabriz – was sent to prison for three months imprisonment and Mohammadreza (Kasra) Teifuri – a citizen from Esfahan – was sent to jail to spend one year in jail.

In addition, Mehdi Mardani, Abolfazl Sahraei, Mehrdad Rezaei and Mojtaba Shokri – four members of the Gonabadi Darwishes Sect – were transferred to different cities on exile after the end of their prison sentences.

Amin Pishdad – a citizen from Mashhad – was sent to jail for eight months imprisonment during the second half of the month of Dey.

3. Farhad Meisami and Reza Khandan – two civil activists – each were sentenced to six years imprisonment and two years ban from leaving the country and deprivation of membership in parties and political and social groups, media and cyber activities. Mohammad Najafi – a lawyer who is currently in jail – was sentenced to two years imprisonment again and a fine of 40,000,000 IRR; Yashar Soltani – a media activist – was sentenced to five years in jail and two years ban from leaving the country and two years deprivation of membership in parties, groups, political groups, cyberspace, the media and the press; Mehdi Motamedimehr – a member of the Freedom Movement of Iran (Nehzat-e Azadi) – was sentenced to one years imprisonment; Mohamamd Ali Zahmatkesh – a teachers’ union activist – was sentenced to two years in jail and one year exile to Arsanjan; Masud Shamsnejad – a lawyer – was sentenced to six years imprisonment; Mahbub Habibi, Pejman Shahriari and Kurosh Ruhani – three Baha’i citizens – each were sentenced to one year in prison; Sahar Kazemi – a citizen from Sanandaj – was sentenced to five years in jail; Zanyar Dabaghian – a labour activist – was sentenced to one year imprisonment; Seyyed Bahman Tafazolinasab, Ali Ma’adikish, Behnam Qaeidi and Homayun Jafaripur – four citizens form Dehdasht – each were sentenced to pay a fine of 19,000,000 IRR to the state instead of three-months imprisonment and lashes sentences which have been suspended; Yasin Afraz – a citizen from Dehdasht – was sentenced to pay a fine of 10,000,000 IRR to the state which has been suspended; Davud Afruz – a citizen from Dehdasht – was sentenced to pay a fine of 10,000,000 IRR to the state and Kambiz Vahabipur – a citizen from Dehdasht – was sentenced to pay a fine of 19,000,000 IRR to the state instead of three-month imprisonment and lashes sentence. Mansur Farajzadeh – a citizen from Quchan – was sentenced to five month incarceration; Soleiman Mohammadnejad – a citizen from Piranshahr – was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment; Bapir Barzeh – a citizen from Piranshahr – was sentenced to eight months imprisonment; Ahmad Qalateh Rash – a citizen from Piranshahr – was sentenced to five months incarceration.

Moreover, the news agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran have reported the issuance of one year imprisonment for five citizens and six months incarceration for eight individuals who have been participated in the protest gatherings in the Mordad 1397 (Jul-Aug 2018). Leila Mirghafari – a citizen form Tehran – was sentenced to pay a fine of 500,000 IRR in one case from his two cases and Seyyed Mahmud Mirlohi – a member of the City Council of Tehran – was sentenced to six months incarceration and lashes sentences.

On the other hand, the appeal courts confirmed the six months imprisonment of Mehdi Qadari – a member of the City Council of Esfahan; 27 months imprisonment of Mohammad Abdol Mohammadzadeh – a citizen form Azarbaijan; six months in prison of Farhad Sarafraz, Shahram Mansur, Vahid Dana, Saeid Abedi and Adib Haqpajuh – five citizens for Fars Province; four months incarceration of Soheil Haqdust – a Baha’i citizen; two years in jail for Morteza Nazari Sedahi, Zahra Zareseraji, Hamid Kabirmehr and Ali Baz Azordeh – four citizens from Baharestan – and two-year imprisonment of Majidreza Suzanchi Kashani – a newly converted Christian.

4. According to the lawyers of some of the environment activists who are now in custody, during theirs trials in this month, the defendants have not been allowed to communicate verbally with their attorneys.
5. Mohammadhossein Gorgij – a Sunni religious activist – was summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy and Mohammadnaser Darwish – the father of Hamzeh Darwish – was summoned to security institutes. Both individuals also have been interrogated.
6. The sentence of Maryam Mombeini – the wife of Kavus Seyeyd Emami, a defendant of the so-called environmental activists who died in prison – was renewed [she is banned from leaving the country].
7. Based on the reports from Iranian state-controlled media, one reporter in Qazvin was released on bail until the end of the trial, after he was briefed on the charges against him.

 

1. B) Situation Regarding Cultural Rights
2. The Press Jury found as guilty the editor in chief and managing editor of Pars News Website and the managing director of ILNA News Agency.
3. Ehsan Karami – a vocalist and theatre actor – has reported that he has been banned from appearance on IRIB (state broadcaster) outlets.
4. The activities of the group and the organisation which is holding Hamid Asgari’s concerts were suspended by the relevant officials.
5. Some news websites have reported the issuance of ban from leaving the country and prohibition of activity for Homayun Al-e Jafar – a vocalist – due to participating in a TV show in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
6. Relevant officials prevented Sepehr Shahidi Qamsari – a Baha’i citizen – from studying. Moreover, Fatemeh Mohammadi – a newly converted Christian – could not register at university.
7. Relevant officials prevented the holding of a memorial ceremony for Foruq Tajbakhsh – the mother of one of the individuals executed during 1360 [1980s]. In addition, relevant officials did not permit the body of Puran Shariat Razavi – a writer and the wife of late Dr Ali Shariati – to be brought to the Husseiniyeh Ershad as part of the funeral route.
8. C) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
9. At least three 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:

One individual in Tabas, one individual in Rajaei Shahr Prison and one individual in Nur were executed. News media in Iran have reported their crime was murder.

On the other hand, some unofficial news websites have reported executions in the prisons of Maragheh, Quchan, Tabriz, Noshahr, Zanjan, Ahvaz, Zahedan and Iranshahr; these reports have not been confirmed or denied by the Judiciary officials or state-controlled media.

2. News media in Iran have reported the issuance of death sentences for one individuals in Birjand, one individual in Alborz Province, one individual in Gilan Province and one individual in Tehran because of the murder and two individuals in Kerman due to the armed robbery.

Moreover, the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentences of two individuals in Tehran Province, one individual in Shirvan and individual in Kordestan Province because of the murder.

3. A Judiciary official has reported the execution of lashes sentences against five employees in Khorasan Shomali Province [North Khorasan] because of negligence in safeguarding public property and other financial offences.
4. News media in Iran have reported the issuance of lashes sentences against an individual in Tehran because of gang fight, one individual in Lali due to robbery, four individuals in Tehran because of conspiracy to create economic disorder and participating in fraud.

Moreover, the Supreme Court has confirmed the lashes sentence for one individual in Tehran due to murder.

5. The health situation of some political prisoners is still reported to be unfavourable to the extent that some of them – such as Saeid Shirzad, Arash Sadeqi, Narges Mohammadi, Nazanin Zaghari, Majid Asadi, Alireza Lak and Ahmadreza Jalali – are sick but no serious action has been taken for their treatment.
6. Some prisoners such as Hamzeh Darwish, Tohid Qoreishi, Abubakr Rostami, Abbas Lesani and Mahmud Naji went on hunger strike in protest at what they claim to be undesirable conditions for prisoners and violations of their legal rights.
7. Tohid Qoreishi who is currently in prison, refused to attend his trial in protest of at non-compliance with legal procedures in the proceedings.
8. Amir Amirqoli was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to the Detention Centre of Ahvaz Intelligence Office. It should be noted that these transfers have been made without mentioning a specific reason and are contrary to the internal rules of the prisons.
9. Police have reported the detention of 40 individuals in Mashhad because of what has been called engaging in provision of massage services, and promoting it in cyberspace.
10. Judiciary officials have reported the detention of 72 individuals in Sari because of attending in a party.

 

Section 2: Social and Economic Rights

 

Reports concerning situation regarding social and economic also point to the continued presence of unfavourable conditions in these areas for example, news reveals unsatisfactory employment and legal rights of workers in a number of units such as:

“Metallurgy Powder Iran” Factory, Fulad Zagros, Qoflkar Factory in Qazvin, “Saman Kashi Borujerd” Factory, Marivan Municipality, Lushan Municipality, “Carton Iran” Factory and Ahvaz Urban Railroad, sacked workers of “Farsit Dorud” Factory, the personnel of Saham-e Edalat, teachers of Sanandaj and Aromieh and nurses of Azadi Hospital in Tehran.

1. Many workers have not received any payments for several months. The names of the offending units, number of workers affected, and the period of time when they have not paid (at the time of writing this report) are as follows:

Workers of Abadan Municipality for two or three months, workers of Sarvabad Municipality for seven months, workers of Tabriz Ball Bearing Factory for seven months, workers of Jahan Edible Oil Factory for five months, workers of “Abjadan Nika” Municipality for eight months, workers of Tohid Municipality for five months, workers of Powder Iran Metallurgical Complex for five months, workers of Zarabad Municipality for seven months, around 40 workers of Daland Municipality for four months, workers of Parsefid Slaughterhouse in Amol for three months, workers of Korayeim Municipality for four months, nurses of Namazi Hospital in Shiraz for seven months.

2. Some nine workers of Mashhad Telecommunication Company and two workers of Lastik Pars Factory in Saveh were fired from their jobs.

 

Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment

One individual was killed due to the explosion of an object suspected to be a mine in Darkhovein. Moreover, two individuals were injured because of two mine explosions in Shush and Dehloran.

Conclusion:

Government officials often announce that they are aware of the problems, but they are trying to placate and silence the citizens by telling them they have security instead. Unfortunately, however, the clashes in the border areas as well as all the armed robberies that are happening prove these claims are wrong. In general, domestic security has deteriorated compared to the situation before the revolution. Many government officials attribute many failures to the United States and foreign enemies but large-scale embezzlement and misplaced economic and political planning and neglect of the environment are purely internal issues, which are not related to external interventions.

END.