Archive for Human Rights

High Hopes, Tempered Expectations: Views from Iran on the Nuclear Negotiations

June 22, 2015 – Iran Human Rights – Civil society in Iran remains steadfast and unequivocal in its support for the nuclear negotiations, and its members hope for an agreement that will end years of sanctions and isolation, according to a new study by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

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Congress asks Iran to release Flint’s Amir Hekmati

Amir Hekmati

06-16-2015 – By Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press – WASHINGTON – The U.S. House voted unanimously Monday for a resolution urging Iran to release a Flint man held in captivity for more than three years and two other Americans as well.

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America Letter: Journalist jailed for reporting on life in Iran

Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and his Iranian wife Yeganeh Salehi in Tehran in September 2013. Rezaian, a dual Iranian-American citizen, has been been jailed since July last year on charges including espionage. Photograph: EPA/STR

06.13.2015 – THE IRISH TIMES – Simon Carswell – Today is US-born ‘Washington Post’ correspondent Jason Rezaian’s 326th day in jail
Jason Rezaian’s article in the Washington Post on July 17th, 2014 was a charming colour feature about how a growing number of Iranians were embracing America’s favourite pastime, baseball.

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Silencing journalist and activists weakens protection of human rights in Iran, UN expert warns

United Nations Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed

GENEVA (5 June 2015) – OHCHR –The detention of journalists and human rights defenders weakens the protection of human rights of all in Iran, United Nations Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed has said today, expressing serious concerns at the arbitrary and unlawful arrest, detention and prosecution of journalists and rights activists in the country.

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Young Activist Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Facebook Posts

Civil rights activist Atena Faraghdani

June 3, 2015 – A Revolutionary Court in Tehran has sentenced artist and civil rights activist Atena Faraghdani to a total of 12.5 years in prison for drawings and content critical of the government that the young activist posted on her Facebook page.

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Iran: Prisoners’ Relatives to Testify

MAY 29, 2015- nytimes- By RICK GLADSTONE – Relatives of three Americans imprisoned in Iran and of a fourth who has been missing there for eight years will be the featured witnesses on Tuesday at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, its chairman, Representative Ed Royce, Republican of California, announced Friday.

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Free Jason, Free Iran

May 29, 2015 – FP- By Lara Setrakian – My friend, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, spent his career trying to overcome the mutual distrust between the United States and Iran. It’s time for Tehran to free him from his jail cell in Evin Prison, and begin the hard work of engaging with the West.

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Washington Post Hits Back Against Iran Court Claims

FILE – In this photo April 11, 2013 file photo, Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American correspondent for the Washington Post, smiles as he attends a presidential campaign of President Hassan Rouhani, in Tehran, Iran. The closed trial of Rezaian detained… View Full Caption AP

May 28, 2015, By The Associated Press -abcNews- The Washington Post hit back Thursday at Iran’s allegation that a jailed journalist wrote a letter to President Barack Obama. The newspaper’s executive editor, Martin Baron, said in a statement that Post reporter Jason Rezaian never wrote directly to the White House. Shortly after the 2008 election, Baron said, Rezaian filled out an online job application but was never hired. Three years later, he began reporting for the Post.

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Iranian artist could draw lengthy prison term for cartoons ridiculing parliament

Atena Farghadani could be facing a long prison sentence for drawing cartoons. (Justice for Iran)

Fr. 29. Mai 2015-foxnews-By Lisa Daftari- Iran’s thin-skinned mullahs have jailed an artist who drew a cartoon disparaging members of parliament over their decision to restrict birth control for women.

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ITF and ITUC give guarded welcome to Iran releases

Iranian trade unionists Davood Razavi and Ebrahim Madadi

21 May 2015 -IranSOS- The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) have given a guarded welcome to the news that Iranian trade unionists Davood Razavi and Ebrahim Madadi have been released on bail. The men had been imprisoned earlier this month.
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