Quarterly Human Rights Report by the Defenders of Human Rights Centre
Spring and Summer 1388 (2009)
According to the website of the Centre, the following reports criticize the current human rights situation in the country, particularly the clashes between the government and the civil society following the recent post-election protests. It is based on this report that the DHRC has demanded from the officials to uphold the civil and political rights of Iranian citizens, including their right to freedom of expression and association.
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Open Letter by Shirin Ebadi to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Shirin Ebadi, the Chiar of the Defenders for Human Rights Center has issued an open letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, requesting the removal of a ban placed on the operation of the DHRC, and an end to security and political pressures on civil, political and human rights activists by governmental bodies and officials in his administration. In this letter, Ebadi has reviewed the pressures imposed on the members of the Defenders of Human Rights Center over the past six months. She has further asked the President if these actions and pressures, which are all in contradiction to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, are in fact in line with the best national interests of the government and the country.
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:: Iran
Jelveh Javaheri’s Letter of Complaint to the Head of the Judiciary:
Put an End to My Illegal Detention
Following her illegal arrest in the early hours of the morning on 2nd May and her continuing detention, Jelveh Javaheri sent a letter of complaint to the head of the judiciary requesting an end to her illegal detention and a clarification of her situation. In a similar move, Kaveh Mozaffari also handed a letter of protest to prison officials and requested to know the details of both his and his spouse’s cases.
Observe Due Process and Fair Judicial Standards for Arrested Workers Rights Activists
On May 21, 2009 at the invitation of the Committee on Arbitrary Arrests, a group of political, cultural and social activists went to the home of Hassan Shafa a worker’s rights activist and member of the “Housing, Metal Worker and Mechanics Cooperative” who is currently in detention, to find out more about his status as well as the status of other worker’s rights activists recently arrested. According to the site of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, those present at this visit expressed their objection to the lack of response from officials about the status of arrested members of the “Housing, Metal Worker and Mechanics Cooperative.”
Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections: Assessment of the Limitations and Undemocratic Obstacles Preventing the Convening of Fair and Healthy Elections
On the verge of the Tenth Round of Presidential Elections in Iran, the Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections has once again expressed its support for the creation and unimpeded activity of civil society organizations to provide oversight of elections with the intent of safeguarding the votes of citizens in the upcoming elections. The Committee has further identified the obstruction of activities by civil society organizations to this end as an act designed impede healthy and fair elections. Along these lines, the Committee to Defend Free, Healthy, and Fair Elections has issued a statement critical of the guardian council.
Nargess Mohammadi and Soraya Azizpanah Banned from Travel
Nargess Mohammadi, Head of the Implementation Task Force of the National Council of Peace and Soraya Azizpanah a member of the National Peace Council were barred from travel earlier today while en-route to Guatemala to attend an international Conference on Women. After being barred from travel at the Imam Khomeni International Airport, the passports of these two civil society activists was confiscated and they have been summoned to appear at the Revolutionary Courts to follow-up the case.
Statement of Iranian Journalists and Webloggers Addressed to Judiciary and Security Officials Regarding the Case of Roxana Saberi
We Condemn Taking Advantage of Journalists in Political Games
A group of Iranian journalists and webloggers have issued a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Press Freedoms, May 3, 2009, condemning political games which take advantage of journalists. The statement also calls for the release of Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist currently in prison on charges of espionage, and demands that judiciary officials clarify the judicial review process with respect to her case.
Security Forces Prevent Meeting of the Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections
On Wednesday April 29, 2009 Security forces prevented the meeting of the members of the Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections. This meeting was scheduled to be held in the “Raad” Legal Institute, belonging to Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, member of the High Oversight Council of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.
The Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections, which was set up in August 2007 at the suggestion of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, by a group of social and political activists, as the first national collaborative program of this NGO.
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Civil Society Institutions as Election Observers: An Assurance toward Free, Healthy and Fair Elections
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Statement of a Group of Islamic Jurists, Lawyers and Social and Political Activists in Opposition to the Execution of Juveniles
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Abdolfatah Soltani’s Letter to Ayatollah Shahroudi
On the Case of Roxana Saberi
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Statement of Center for Mine Cleanup on April 4, the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
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Civil Society Demands Due Attention to the Issue of Mines
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Case of those Accused in Shiraz Explosion Failed to Adhere to Due Process Standards
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The Letter of Mothers for Peace to the Head of the Judiciary Urging the Release of Two Women’s Rights Activists
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:: International
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Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General on Iran
New York, 3 January 2009 - The Secretary-General is greatly concerned about reports that Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has been threatened in recent days, her Center for the Defense of Human Rights broken into and materials taken, and that hostile crowds have mobilized today outside her office and home. He calls on the Iranian authorities to take immediate measures to prevent any further harassment and to ensure Shirin Ebadi's safety and security.
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:: From Media
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Narges Mohammadi:
Defense of Human Rights Will Not Stop
Maryam Kashani
Following the closure of the offices of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights in Tehran by government agents, Rooz spoke with Narges Mohammadi the spokesperson for the group. She stressed that with the closure of the offices, their work would not stop and that in fact they would work even harder. Read on for the details.
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Attack on Human Rights Center
The office for the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, which is headed by Shirin Ebadi, was shut down yesterday by security and police officers prior to holding a meeting to commemorate the international Human Rights Day.
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The Defenders of Human Rights Center Issues National Call To Action
Stop Child Executions
The Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) has issued a national call to action titled: “Stop Child Executions” demanding the end to child and juvenile executions. This national call to action is the third of such nationally focused efforts spearheaded by the Defenders of Human Rights Center and follows the convening of the “Committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections” in August 2007 and the “National Council on Peace” in November of 2007 by this human rights NGO. The Defenders of Human Rights Center aims to increase public awareness and due attention among experts to this important issue, with the aim of identifying suggestions and strategies for ending the practice of child executions in Iran.
:: Resolution
Defenders of Human Rights Center Issues Statment
Press Charges Against Those Who Have Illegally Banned “Yas- No” Daily
owing the closure of “Yas-e No” daily, at the request of the Head Prosecutor of Tehran and the Revolutionary Courts, the Defenders of Human Rights Center has issued a public statement objecting to these developments. Also in this statement, the Defenders of Human Rights Center has requested that high ranking officials within the Judiciary press charges against those responsible for this illegal action. While objecting to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in preventing this daily from resuming publication, which has resulted in the loss of employment by yet another group of journalists and technical experts, the DHRC has further requested that the ban imposed on the publication “Yas-e No” daily be lifted.
The Defenders of Human Rights Center Issues Statement following the Arrest Order for the President of Sudan by the International Court of Justice
The Era of Impunity for Heads of State who Commit Crimes against Humanity has Come to a Close
Wednesday 29 April, 2009
Following the arrest order of Omar Al-Bashir, the President of Sudan on the charges of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in Darfur, which was ordered by the International Court of Justice, the Defenders of Human Rights Center has issued a statement, claiming that criminal officials can no longer commit crimes against humanity with impunity. This human rights organization, while claiming that the era of turning a blind eye to pursuing and prosecuting of political leaders for their crimes has come to an end, contends that criminal leaders are unworthy of membership in the human community.
Statement issued by the Defenders of Human Rights Center
Free Imprisoned Students
The Defenders of Human Rights Center issued a statement addressed to officials urging them to release all imprisoned students, annul the sentences issued in the cases brought against student which limit their social rights, especially the right to continue with their education, and create a secure and caring environment for students and the youth of the country. This statement, published on March 12, 2009, cites examples of clear violations of human rights in the university environment.
:: Report
:: Article
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Speech of Abdolreza Tajik Delivered via Video at the Seminar titled: “Iranian Development,” Bologna, Italy
The Situation of Iran
Abdolreza Tajik an Iranian journalist was stopped on February 17, 2009, while on his way to Spain, to participate as a presenter in a conference. At the airport he was stopped, banned from travel and his passport was confiscated. Due to this travel ban, he was unable to participate as a speaker in another seminar scheduled for 5-6 March, 2009, in Bologna, Italy, titled: “Iranian Development.” Mr. Tajik delivered his speech to participants at this seminar via video.
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:: Book
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Book Launch of English Translation
“The Rights of Refugees,” by Shirin Ebadi, Unveiled at Ceremony in Norwegian Embassy in Tehran
The unveiling ceremony of the English translation of the book “The Rights of Refugees” authored by Shirin Ebadi, was held on 22 February, 2009 at the Norwegian Embassy in Tehran. Guests at this ceremony included the representative of the High Commissioner on Refugees in Iran, several Foreign Ambassadors serving in Iran, Iranian authors, Iranian activists involved in the fields of refugee rights and human rights, the UN Represenatitive in Iran and Erika Feller Assistant, High Commissioner for Refugees. The Ceremony was dedicated to an introduction on the book and Ms. Ebadi’s activities.
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