Human Rights in Iran Takes a Big Hit

Human Rights in Iran Takes a Big Hit

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran released a statement that declares the human rights society in Iran has taken a big hit [by the government]. The statement also noted that Iranian authorities are attempting to dissolve the Committee of Human Rights Reporters and stop the human rights activities of Advar (Alumni Organization of Iran).

HRANA- Citizen Rights, Thought, and Expression: In this statement released on Wednesday, it notes that members of the above mentioned organizations have been arrested and are under pressure to stop their activities.

According to a report by Radio Farda, Hadi Ghaemi, the spokesperson for theInternational Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said,
“The illegal closing of the independent organization CHRR is an attempt by authorities to protect themselves from national and international laws.”

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) is a organization formed in order to deliver more information in the field of human rights [in Iran]. A statement on the organization’s website reads: “This committee believes and is obligated to the universal declaration of human rights. We demand for its implementation in all aspects of life in Iran.”

Despite the fact that the members of CHRR recognize themselves as an independent organization without any political nature, seven out of its ten members are currently in prison.

Among the members of this committee, saeed kalanki and saed jalalifar were arrested on December 1, 2009. Since then they have been transferred to the public section of Evin Prison. Shiva Nazar Ahari, Koohyar Goodarzi, and Saeed Haeri have also been arrested. Shiva went on a hunger strike last week and became ill as a result. She was transferred to the prison’s hospital.

The International Campaign of Human Rights also gave explanations on how some of these activists were arrested
(for the latest on CHRR members, visit their website)

According to CHRR, the detained members of this committee are under pressure to confess to being involved with the PMOI.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran also added:

Some members of Advar alumni organization have also been arrested (Advar is a committee that reports on human rights violations). On January 2, 2010, Roozbeh Karimi (journalist and member of Advar) and Forough Mirzaei (law and human rights for Advar) were arrested. Rashid Esmaili, a member of the central council of Advar and dismissed masters student of human rights, was arrested on December 24, 2009 in the city of Isfahan.

The Center for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), an organization co-founded by 2003 Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, was closed December 2009. Emad Baghi, the founder of the Association for Defense of Prisoners’ Rights was arrested on December 28, 2009. There is not and so far no information is given about him.

HRANA

- Mana S., Persian2English