Majid Dorri has been serving a six-year sentence since 2010 © Empty Chair Campaign
By Drewery Dyke, Amnesty International’s Iran researcher
To mark Iran’s National Student Day on 7th December, a letter from imprisoned student Majid Dorri has been smuggled out of Behbehan Prison in southern Iran. In it, he says:
“16th of Azar [7 December] is a day when the university stood against oppression; it stood and gave martyrs; it stood and was dragged over the ground and through blood; but it did not leave, it stayed; it trembled but it did not surrender; it was weakened but did not bend.”
Student Day marks the killing of three students by police in 1953. On this day every year, Iranian students hold demonstrations and gatherings calling for reforms. They refuse to be silenced by the ever-mounting tide of repression.
Continue reading ‘Defiance in the face of repression on Iran’s Student Day’
Siamak Pourzand's health deteriorated while he was in prison © Private
By Drewery Dyke, Amnesty International’s Iran researcher
Siamak Pourzand, a veteran journalist and former prisoner of conscience, has committed suicide in Tehran at the age of 80.
Frail, infirm and unable to bear further indignity, without even the solace of his family around him, he let himself fall from a sixth story balcony. In truth, he was killed by the repeated human rights violations he endured, which lead to chronic ill health, at the hands of a judicial system in which human dignity had been lost.
Siamak Pourzand was formerly the head of a Tehran cultural centre and an occasional journalist: three decades earlier he was a foreign correspondent for Tehran’s Kayhan newspaper, and was based in the US.
But in November 2001, his life changed forever.
Continue reading ‘Siamak Pourzand: Persecuted to death, harassed after death’
A Facebook page calls for Bahareh Hedayat's release and collects messages of support © Amnesty International
By Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Iran researcher
I was cheered to see Amnesty International members joining others across the world to wish Iranian Prisoner of Conscience Behareh Hedayat Happy Birthday in an effort to secure her release. A Facebook page has been set up to collect messages and videos of support.
Behareh Hedayat is celebrating her 30th birthday today – her third behind bars – in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran where she is serving a nine and a half year prison term in connection with her activities as a student leader. Continue reading ‘Birthday campaign for release of Iranian student leader’
Shiva Nazar Ahari celebrated her birthday in prison in Iran ©Private
By Ann Harrison, East Gulf researcher for Amnesty International
To coincide with the 12 June anniversary of the disputed election last year in Iran, Amnesty International has prepared a campaign to highlight the situation of political prisoners, many of whom are prisoners of conscience, who are still held in Iran.
The year-long campaign was launched on Wednesday by a report which detailed the journey from protest to prison of ever-increasing numbers of Iranians.
Continue reading ‘A Birthday in Evin Prison – an opportunity to remember Iran’s prisoners’
Journalist Emadeddin Baghi was arrested on 28 December 2009 © Private
To mark the Persian spring holiday of Nowrouz, Amnesty International has launched a campaign to send messages of goodwill to prisoners of conscience in Iran.
The seven cases selected by Amnesty International mirror the “Haft Sin” (seven “s”s) traditionally placed on a Nowrouz table.
The 14 individuals in the seven cases have all been identified as being “at risk”. Many have been sentenced to long prison terms for their beliefs or peaceful activism and several are in poor health.
Continue reading ‘Supporting Iranian prisoners of conscience’
