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Monthly Report: November 2007

01 November 2007 Gozaar

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International Condemnation

A United Nations General Assembly committee passed a draft resolution on November 20th expressing “deep concern” regarding human rights violations in Iran. The resolution was approved by a final vote of 72-50 and now goes to the 192-member General Assembly for a final vote. The resolution condemned stoning as a form of torture and execution. Also, it demanded that the Iranian government eliminate discriminatory laws and other human rights violations against religious, ethnic, linguistic, or other minorities.

On October 25, the European Union adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s human rights violations. The resolution states that “the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the exercise of civil rights and political freedoms has deteriorated in the last two years, notably since the presidential elections of June 2005.” The resolution also criticized the increase in executions and urged Iran to reform its laws to abolish stoning. The resolution also names several detained journalists and demands the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience.

Crackdowns

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Islamic Republic’s police, continuing with its moral crackdown, unveiled a list of vices including makeup, un-Islamic clothes, and Western entertainment. The list is part of the crackdowns that began in April which have led to the arrest of vagrants, raids on underground parties, seizure of satellite dishes, and crackdowns on clothing. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has encouraged these crackdowns and has urged the police to continue with its duties “regardless of opposition and propaganda.” For example, the list forbids people from wearing Western-style clothing and make-up and forbids the distribution of movies, among other activities.

Arrests

Ali Azizi, a senior member of student association Tahkim-e Vahdat (Office for the Consolidation of Unity) was detained on November 4th. His mother told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), “Agents came to our house on Sunday and arrested my son.” No reason was provided for his arrest. Members of the Tahkim-e Vahdat and other students have held protests calling for the release of Ali Azizi and other fellow students who have been given jail sentences of up to three years.

Ali Nikunesbati, spokesperson for Tahkim-e Vahdat was detained on November 8th. His arrest is the sixth arrest of student activists in the past ten days. His brother told Radio Farda that Intelligence Ministry agents detained Nikunesbati at his home and confiscated some of his belongings. His family was not told why he was being detained or where he was being taken.

Amir Kabir’s students’ news site, Aut News, reported that on November 11, Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, General Secretary of the Democratic Iranian Front, was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison. Tabarzadi was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison several years ago, but his family and lawyer were able to reduce his sentence to half that time. However, during a “vacation” period, he was suddenly arrested without any prior notice or reason.

On November 13, two journalists for Bahar Weekly, Abolfazl Abedini and Kasra Allah Sevand, were arrested. According to human rights and democracy activists in Iran, Intelligence Ministry agents called Abedini’s home and asked him to meet them in a street close to the Bahar Weekly office for a short talk. Upon arriving, he was brutally beaten, arrested and taken away to an unknown location. Later, one of his colleagues went to the ministry’s office to check on his friend’s status, but he was also detained.

According to RFE/RL, journalist and women’s rights activist Mariam Hassankhah was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison on November 19th. A few days before, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance ordered the shutdown of online magazine Zanestan. Hassankhah, the magazine’s editor, has been accused of “acting against national security.”

On November 8th,Reporters Without Borders accused Iran of violating journalists’ basic rights. The report comes at a time when several journalists have been imprisoned and two Iranian publications were suspended. In further news, Reporters Without Borders condemned the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the death sentence of Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour. The actual ruling was issued on October 22nd but was not made public until the second week of November. Reporters Without Borders urged people to take the sentence seriously because Iran has executed more than 300 people this year. The Kurdish journalist had worked with various news agencies covering Kurdish issues. His lawyer has not been allowed to meet with him privately to inform him of the court’s decision.

Minorities

Around 180 Sufi Muslims were arrested on November 10th near the western city of Boroujerd. The conflict between Sufis and authorities occurred after a cleric labeled the religion “illegitimate.” The clashes reportedly left about 80 people injured. Similar confrontations last year resulted in arrests of around 1,000 Sufis at Iran’s holy city of Qom. While the Sufi religion is recognized by the Islamic Republic, many religious leaders have labeled them unorthodox and a danger to Islam.

According to IRIN, Iran has deported 8,000 Afghan refugees since October 23rd. The government of Afghanistan has called on Iran to stop mass deportations of Afghans without work permit or refugee status. A move earlier this year that deported thousands of Afghans caused a humanitarian problem. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reports that there are 900,000 registered Afghan refugees in Iran.

Censorship

According to Rooz, Deputy Minister for Media Affairs of the Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance Alireza Malekian released a memo outlining new censorship rules for editors of newspapers and news agencies in Iran. The memo demands that news agencies obtain permission prior to publishing news regarding events and activities from the eastern part of Iran. This is not the first time that an agency has issued a memorandum demanding the press to refrain from covering controversial issues.

Executions

Mohammad Reza Tork was executed in the city of Hamadan on November 15. He was sentenced to death when he was 16 and executed at the age of 18. He had been involved in a street brawl with some friends which resulted in the death of a young man. While Iran has accepted an international regulation that prohibits executing minors, adolescents can be kept in prison until they become 18 and then executed as adults. Two other young men were also hanged along with Mohammad Reza Tork in Hamadan on the same day. In 2007, Iran has had the highest number of executions in the world (including the highest number of young adults).

Times Online reported that, in a private meeting, an Iranian politician told several British Members of Parliament that homosexuals should be tortured and hanged. Mohsen Yahyavi is the highest ranking official to admit that Iran believes in the death penalty for homosexuals. A series of reported executions of gays has caused concern in the international community. In 2005, Iran executed two homosexuals who were under 18 in the city of Mahshad. During the meeting, the official said that homosexuality is against human nature and forbidden in Islam. Iran is one of the few countries which still executes homosexuals, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Association.

Government Response to Critics

According to AFP, an Iranian reformist newspaper reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during a visit to Khorasan province, attacked his critics saying they were less intelligent than goats. Ahmadinejad has been criticized by both conservatives and reformists because of his failed economic policies and handling of Iran’s international issues. Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami has accused the current government of “ignorance and lack of expertise.”