All News items from Iran

Front Line has recently learned that Mr Kayvan Samini is being held in solitary confinement again following a period of temporary release while Mr Bahaman Ahmadi Amoee has been sentenced to seven years and 4 months in prison and 32 lashes. 

Front Line has been concerned to learn that Iranian human rights defender, Mr Emad Baghi, has been prevented from leaving Iran to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, where he was due to receive the prestigious Martin Ennals Award (MEA) on 2 November. Emad Baghi was prevented from getting his passport without any explanation on the part of the authorities. He has become the first laureate in the 18-year history of the MEA not be allowed to receive his prize in person. Emad Baghi founded the Society for the Defense of Prisoners' Rights, and has been a vigorous and outspoken opponent of the death penalty in Iran. 

Front Line welcomes the release on 24 August 2009, of human rights defender, Ms Jila Baniyaghoob, on bail of approximately $200,000, after spending two months in incommunicado detention. Front Line remains deeply concerned about Jila Baniyaghoob's husband, Mr Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee, a reformist, and Ms Shiva Nazar Ahara, a blogger and a human rights activist remain in detention. Front Line has also been informed of the release yesterday, 23 August 2009, of Mr. Kaveh Muzaffari, member of the One Million Signature Campaign, and Ms. Haleh Sahabi, a member of the human rights organisation, Mothers for Peace. Original Front Line appeal on Ms Jila Baniyaghoob 

Human rights defenders in Iran continue to face ongoing detention in exceptionally dangerous conditions, judicial prosecution and intimidation following the post-election protests of June 2009. Of the 4,000 protesters who opposed the election results who were initially arrested, most of have since been released. According to Iran's chief prosecutor, approximately 200 opposition members remain in detention, however human rights groups maintain that that number is much higher.

At least 140 individuals, including human rights defenders, politicians, journalists and bloggers, have been put on trial for charges including treason, with the prosecutor at one point asking a judge to give them "the maximum punishment." 

According to the statement "Official Iranian news agencies have published a letter claiming to be from lawyers, university professors, and families of veterans and martyrs, which requests the Justice minister, Gholam-Hussein Elham, to prosecute Iranian Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi for allegedly violating Islamic and constitutional law through her human rights advocacy". 

Iranian authorities have released human rights defender Jinous Sobhani on bail. Sobhani had previously worked at the Tehran office of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, run by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. 

Front Line is concerned at the recent imprisonment of the Campaign for Equality in Iran. According to a recent statement by the Campaign for Equality Alieh Eghdamdoust has been taken into custody to serve her sentence and Nafiseh Azad must remain in prison while the temporary arrest order against her is investigated.