11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Iranian government continues to prohibit or forcibly disperse peaceful demonstrations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23024]

"The constitution permits assemblies and marches, "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam;" however, in practice the government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to prevent antigovernment protests. Such gatherings included public entertainment and lectures, student meetings and protests, labor protests, women's gatherings and protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings.

Paramilitary organizations such as the Ansar-e Hizballah, a group of vigilantes who seek to enforce their vision of appropriate revolutionary comportment upon society, harassed, beat, and intimidated those who demonstrated publicly for reform. They particularly targeted university students. [...]

[...] On March 4 [2007], days before International Women's Day on March 8, police arrested more than 30 women demonstrating outside a Tehran courthouse, protesting the trials of five women's rights activists charged for peacefully demonstrating in June 2006. All were later released but continued to face harassment by the authorities at year's end. [...]

[...] Some participants arrested during the 2006 International Women's Day commemoration remained in prison at year's end."

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31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Situation of Human Rights activists in 2007 ("World Report 2008") [ID 22516]

"In 2007 the authorities intensified their harassment of independent human rights defenders and lawyers in an attempt to prevent them from publicizing and pursuing human rights violations.

In July Branch Six of Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced human rights activist Emad Baghi, as well as his wife and daughter, to suspended sentences of three years for their work in documenting and publicizing human rights violations. In October court authorities arrested Baghi after he responded to a summons to appear before an interrogator, and at this writing he remains in detention.

The government closed nongovernmental organizations that encourage civil society participation and raise awareness of human rights violations. In March authorities raided and closed the offices of the Civil Society Organizations Training and Research Center, and closed the offices of Rahi Institution, a nongovernmental organization providing legal and social aid to women victims of violence."

Document(s): Open document

04.01.2008 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Two prominent women's right activists released from prison on bail; Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelveh Javaheri, Iranian Internet journalists, were arrested in November and December 2007 on charges related to their writings and activities; they are members of a movement that promotes equal rights for women ("Two Women's Rights Activists Released From Prison") [ID 22161]

Document(s): Open document

04.01.2008 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Two prominent women's right activists released from prison on bail; Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelveh Javaheri, Iranian Internet journalists, were arrested in November and December 2007 on charges related to their writings and activities; they are members of a movement that promotes equal rights for women ("Two Women's Rights Activists Released From Prison") [ID 22238]

Document(s): Open document

01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report on the government's use of security laws as a pretext to detain civil rights activists without charge (women's movement, union and labour activists, students and independent journalists) ("“You Can Detain Anyone for Anything” - Iran’s Broadening Clampdown on Independent Activism") [ID 22165]

"Article 32 of Iran’s constitution requires that “charges with the reasons for accusation must, without delay, be communicated and explained to the accused in writing, and a provisional dossier must be forwarded to the competent judicial authorities within a maximum of 24 hours.” Article 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure also sets 24 hours as the limit within which authorities must provide a detainee with a written reason “in cases where the detainee must be kept in detention in order for authorities to continue their investigations.”

Ordinarily, Iranian law requires a judge to authorize any pretrial detention and provide written charges within 24 hours of any arrest. Article 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that a judge may issue temporary detention orders for cases involving offenses under the Security Laws, allowing authorities to hold detainees without charge beyond the 24-hour period. Article 33 of the code gives the accused the right to appeal his or her detention order within 10 days. While Article 33 also states that the detainee’s case must be resolved in the course of one month, it also allows the judge to renew the temporary detention order. The codes set no limits on how many times this order may be renewed.

Police and judiciary security forces often hold people under investigation for suspected violation of the Security Laws, in pretrial investigative detention, for weeks and months without any criminal charge being brought against them and without the opportunity to appear before a judge to challenge their detention.

Detainees who are released without having been charged often fear being rearrested as a form of harassment. Several of the former detainees Human Rights Watch interviewed for this report claimed that this process is a tactic the government uses to create an atmosphere wherein activists fear that they may be re-arrested at any time. According to these activists, the government deliberately maintains open cases to intimidate its critics."

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17.12.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW calls on government to drop politically motivated charges against two women's rights activists facing trial this week because of their participation in peaceful protest; authorities should release Jelveh Javahari and Maryam Hosseinkhah without delay ("Iran: Release Women's Rights Activists Immediately") [ID 22143]

Document(s): Open document

16.12.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Two women's rights activists charged with taking part in "terrorist" actions and belonging to militant Kurdish separatist group, investigating judge says ("Two Iranian feminists charged with terrorism: judge") [ID 22147]

Document(s): Open document

05.12.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Women activists rally against discriminatory laws; since start of campaign, 40 activists have been prosecuted ("Women Rejecting The 'Little Miseries'") [ID 22134]

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03.12.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Tehran: Jelveh Javaheri, journalist and women’s rights defender, arrested on 1 December 2007 at branch of Revolutionary Court; she is accused in connection with articles posted on the Internet ("Urgent Action 321/07 [MDE 13/140/2007]") [ID 21822]

Document(s): Open document

03.12.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Tehran: Jelveh Javaheri, journalist and women’s rights defender, arrested on 1 December 2007 at branch of Revolutionary Court; she is accused in connection with articles posted on the Internet ("Urgent Action 321/07 [MDE 13/140/2007]") [ID 22080]

Document(s): Open document

30.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Women rights defender Hana Abdi held in incommunicado detention ("Incommunicado detention of Ms. Hana Abdi, women human rights defender") [ID 21823]

Document(s): Open document

30.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Women rights defender Hana Abdi held in incommunicado detention ("Incommunicado detention of Ms. Hana Abdi, women human rights defender") [ID 22079]

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27.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

The President of the Volunteer Actors Institute (Koneshgaran Davtalab) Razzaghi was released on bail on 22 November 2007 ("Release on bail of Mr. Sohrab Razzaghi [IRN 010 / 1107 / OBS 138.1]") [ID 21828]

Document(s): Open document

27.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

The President of the Volunteer Actors Institute (Koneshgaran Davtalab) Razzaghi was released on bail on 22 November 2007 ("Release on bail of Mr. Sohrab Razzaghi [IRN 010 / 1107 / OBS 138.1]") [ID 22075]

Document(s): Open document

19.11.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Authorities in Iran have detained a women's rights activist after accusing her of undermining national security; pressure has increased recently on women's rights activists and human rights groups ("Women's Rights Activist And Journalist Jailed In Tehran") [ID 22058]

Document(s): Open document

19.11.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Journalist and women’s rights defender, Maryam Hosseinkhah, arrested; accused of "disturbing public opinion","propaganda against the system" and "publication of lies" ("Urgent Action 312/07 [MDE 13/137/2007]") [ID 22059]

Document(s): Open document

16.11.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Sohrab Razzaghi, the Director of Iranian Civil Society Organisations Training and Research Centre (ICTRC), was arrested on 24 October 2007; since his arrest he was not allowed to meet his family or lawyer; in March 2007, Iranian security forces closed the offices of the ICTRC, froze its bank accounts and confiscated computer equipment and documents ("Amnesty International urges immediate and unconditional release of Sohrab Razzaghi [MDE 13/135/2007]") [ID 22056]

Document(s): Open document

11.11.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Lawyer for women's rights activist Delaram Ali, arrested at a demonstration in 2006, says, her sentence was temporarily suspended ("Iran 'Temporarily Suspends' Women’s Activist's Sentence") [ID 21729]

Document(s): Open document

10.11.2007 - Source: BBC News

Human rights groups say an Iranian activist jailed for her part in a women's rights protest should be freed; the activist was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and flogging ("Iran 'must free' woman activist") [ID 21728]

Document(s): Open document

10.11.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW urges the head of Iran´s judiciary to suspend a two and a half year prison sentence against women’s rights activist Delaram Ali; in addition the government should release at least 10 other students and activists detained for their participation in peaceful demonstrations ("Suspend Heavy Sentence for Women´s Rights Activist") [ID 21736]

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Sanandaj: 2 women's rights activists detained; they are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment; both women are active members of the Campaign for Equality, which is seeking an end to legalised discrimination against women ("Urgent Action 297/07 [MDE 13/130/2007]") [ID 21733]

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Confirmation of the sentence against Ms. Delaram Ali, a women’s rights activist involved in a petition campaign; she was sentenced to 10 lashes and two years and 6 months imprisonment for “participation in an illegal gathering”, “propaganda against the system”, and “disturbing public order ("Confirmation of the sentence against Ms. Delaram Ali, women human rights defender [IRN 004 / 0707 / OBS 073.1]") [ID 21734]

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Arbitrary detention of Sohrab Razzaghi, President of Koneshgaran Davtalab (Volunteer Actors Institute), an NGO supporting the development of the civil society in Iran ("Arbitrary detention of Mr. Sohrab Razzaghi [IRN 010 / 1107 / OBS 138]") [ID 21735]

Document(s): Open document

25.10.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Tehran: The head of a nongovernmental group active in promoting democracy has been detained ("Civil Society Activist Detained In Iran") [ID 21813]

Document(s): Open document

13.07.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

AI is greatly concerned by continuing human rights violations in Iran, including new arrests of human rights defenders and high rate of executions, including first execution by stoning confirmed by authorities since moratorium on stonings was announced in 2002 ("Violations of human rights continue unabated [MDE 13/085/2007]") [ID 21610]

Document(s): Open document

05.07.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Ms. Delaram Ali, a women's rights activist, has been convicted by a court to 10 lashes and 2 years and 10 months imprisonment on the grounds of "participation in an illegal gathering", "propaganda against the system" and "disturbing public order" ("Sentencing of Ms. Delaram Ali, a women's rights activist [IRN 004 / 0707 / OBS 073]") [ID 21587]

Document(s): Open document

04.07.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Iranian Kurdish journalist and human rights defender Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand is detained in unknown place, possibly Section 209 of Evin Prison; he was arrested on 1 July 2007 in Tehran by plain-clothed security officers; he may be at risk of torture ("Urgent Action 171/07 [MDE 13/081/2007]") [ID 21440]

Document(s): Open document

03.07.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

An Iranian court has given a women's rights activist a suspended sentence for taking part in a protest last year ("Iran Sentences Women's Rights Activist") [ID 21442]

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Mounting crackdown on dissidents, including labour leaders, universities, press, women’s rights advocates, former nuclear negotiator and Iranian-Americans ("Iran cracks down on dissent, parading examples in streets") [ID 21457]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Saleh Kamrani, an Azeri human rights lawyer detained without a charge; later charged with "propaganda" ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19538]

"On June 14, human rights lawyer Saleh Kamrani, a member of the country's Azeri ethnic minority, was detained without charge and taken into government custody (see section 1.e). Charged with "propaganda against the system," according to AI, he was tried on September 13 and sentenced to one year's imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for five years, and he was released on September 18."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

While attending a demonstration, human rights activist Khoini was arrested, then taken to Evin Prison and held without charge; he was reportedly tortured in custody and released on bail four months after his arrest ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20029]

"On June 12, authorities arrested former Majles deputy and human rights activist Ali Akbar Musavi Khoini, who was reportedly taken to Evin Prison and held without charge. Khoini, who had been attending a women's rights protest when he was detained, was a critic of the government during his 2000-04 term of office, protesting the government's human rights abuses, prison conditions, and the lack of fair trials.

Authorities permitted Khoini to attend a memorial service for his father on September 21, where he told the crowd that he was being tortured and pressured to "repent" for his criticisms of the government. Observers at the service told HRW that Khoini had visible bruises. On October 15, he was released on bail."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Azeri human rights lawyer Saleh Kamrani was taken to Evin prison for 3 months and held without charge ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20030]

"On June 14, the government detained Azeri-Iranian human rights lawyer Saleh Kamrani without charge. Kamrani reportedly defended several individuals, including ethnic Azeri activist Abbas Lisani, who were arrested during the May demonstrations in the ethnic-Azeri majority region of the Northwest (see section 1.a.). Kamrani's family received no information on his whereabouts for several days but later learned that he was detained in Evin Prison. Kamrani was released from Evin on September 18, according to AI."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Center for the Defense of Human Rights, a NGO which represents defendants in political cases, was banned on 3 August 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 21067]

"Lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, is a founder of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), which represents defendants in political cases. On August 3, the government banned CDHR, claiming it had not obtained a proper permit, declared its activities were illegal, and stated that those who continued its activities would be prosecuted.

Ebadi noted that according to the constitution, "nongovernmental organizations that obey the law and do not disrupt public order do not need a permit." At year's end CDHR was still reportedly banned."

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Family of imprisoned human rights defender and possible prisoner of conscience, Reza Abbasi, reportedly harassed by the Zenjan office of the Ministry of Intelligence ("Further Information on Urgent Action 246/06 (MDE 13/101/2006, 12 September 2006) [MDE 13/128/2006]") [ID 17859]

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23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

A Kurdish women's right activist and 2 Kurdish journalists arrested, later released on bail; they face charges that can carry the death penalty ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 18828]

"[...] Dr Roya Toloui, a women’s rights activist, and two journalists, Ajlal Qavami and Sa’id Sa’edi, were among the Kurds arrested in August [2005]. All were released on bail in October and were reported to be facing political charges that can carry the death penalty."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani accused of espionage and remained in detention without access to his lawyer ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 18884]

"The registration process for independent non-governmental organizations remained a barrier to their effective operation, and individual human rights defenders remained at risk of reprisal for their work.

In July, Abdolfattah Soltani, a lawyer and co-founder of the Centre for Defenders of Human Rights, was detained. He was reportedly accused of releasing “secret and classified national intelligence” in connection with his work defending an espionage case. He remained in detention at the end of the year with limited access to his family and no access to his lawyer."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Mohammad Reza Nasab Abdolahi, a human rights activist and newspaper editor, sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment and a fine for "insulting the country’s leader and making anti-government propaganda" ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 18900]

"Mohammad Reza Nasab Abdolahi, a student campaigner for human rights and a newspaper editor, was sentenced in January to six months’ imprisonment and a fine for “insulting the country’s leader and making anti-government propaganda”. He was released in August. His pregnant wife, Najameh Oumidparvar, was detained in March for 24 days after posting a message on her weblog that her husband apparently wrote before his arrest."

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Tehran: Security forces used excessive force to disperse about 1,000 women gathering peacefully to commemorate International Women’s Day; scores of women reportedly beaten ("Iran: Amnesty International condemns violence against women demonstrators in Iran [MDE 13/024/2006]") [#46290], [ID 9450]

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Demonstrator arrested while demonstrating for the release of political prisoners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46058], [ID 18652]

"Bina Darabzand, held at Rajai'i Shahr prison, was arrested June 2004 while demonstrating at the UN building in Tehran for the release of political prisons. He was imprisoned, and at year's end he reportedly had medical problems."

Document(s): Open document

13.09.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Journalist, who recently ended 2-month hunger strike and is in very poor health, reportedly sent back from hospital to Evin prison to serve remainder of his 6-year sentence; he was not granted regular access to his family and confidential meetings with his lawyer ("Iran - Further Information on UA 164/05") [#36519], [ID 9451]

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06.09.2005 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Teheran: Prominent journalist Akbar Ganji, who has been imprisoned for more than 5 years, and released in order to be hospitalised, was taken back to Evin prison ("Arbitrary detention") [#36825], [ID 9452]

Document(s): Open document

23.08.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Imprisoned journalist ended his hunger strike which he began on 11 June in protest at being denied access to medical care for chronic asthma; he is at risk of being returned to Evin prison when he leaves hospital, to serve remainder of his 6-year sentence ("Iran - Further Information on UA 164/05") [#35912], [ID 9453]

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22.08.2005 - Source: BBC News

Dissident journalist Akbar Ganji ended his hunger strike which he began in June in protest at his imprisonment ("Iranian dissident calls off fast") [#35723], [ID 9454]

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11.08.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Kurdistan: At least 17 people killed and hundreds injured when security forces opened fire on demonstrators protesting killing of young Kurdish man; in addition, government forces arrested hundreds of people, including several leading human rights defenders and journalists ("Security Forces Kill Kurdish Protestors") [#35270], [ID 9455]

Document(s): Open document

09.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi urges dissident Akbar Ganji to end 58-day hunger strike ("Iranian Nobel Laureate Urges Dissident To End Hunger Strike") [#35064], [ID 9456]

Document(s): Open document

04.08.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Journalist on 55th day of hunger strike to protest his detention, at serious risk of death; another prisoner, who started hunger strike on 6 July in protest at authorities' refusal to grant him leave from prison to receive medical treatment, fell into coma on July 24 ("Hunger strikers at serious risk of death") [#35005], [ID 9457]

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Teheran: Prominent lawyer arrested by authorities for “revealing secrets relating to the case of nuclear spies.”; Nobel laureate was also threatened ("Iran: Harassment of Rights Defenders Escalates") [#35019], [ID 9458]

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18.07.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Teheran: Journalist Akbar Ganji reportedly hospitalised during his more than month-long hunger strike; there are concerns for his safety ("CPJ concerned about health of jailed Iranian writer") [#34333], [ID 9459]

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14.07.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Concerns for health of investigative journalist, who has been on hunger strike for 33 days in protest at being denied access to medical care for chronic asthma; Teheran: several demonstrators, calling for release of political prisoners, beaten and arrested by police ("Iran - Further Information on UA 164/05") [#34017], [ID 9460]

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13.07.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Concerns for health of imprisoned leading dissident who suffers from acute asthma; authorities repeatedly prevented him from receiving specialist medical care or taking medical leave; in protest of his unfair treatment he began hunger strike last month ("Leading Dissident’s Life in Danger") [#33989], [ID 9461]

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25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights defenders ("Annual Report 2005") [#32306], [ID 9462]

"[...]The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to human rights defender Shirin Ebadi in 2003 contributed to the growth and increasing self-confidence of civil society. Nevertheless, independent non-governmental organizations were hampered by a registration process that was open to undue influence. Human rights defenders also faced limitations on their movements.
Defenders of women’s rights protested against discrimination against women in the justice system and in some criminal cases secured last-minute suspensions of executions or pardons.
In July, the Society for Defence of the Rights of Prisoners was granted permission to operate. The organization aimed to inform prisoners and their families of their rights and to provide material support to detainees, through training and education. However, members of the Society’s Board faced politically motivated criminal charges. For example, Emaddedin Baqi was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment by an appeals court in October on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda. Earlier in the month his passport had been confiscated as he prepared to leave the country to address a number of human rights conferences in North America.
Journalists and human rights defenders Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Omid Me’mariyan were arrested for a period of several weeks each on 28 and 10 October respectively, possibly in connection with their Internet writings and the support they had given to independent non-governmental organizations. Tens of other civil society activists faced harassment though summons and interrogation. Those detained had “confessed” while in custody although later reported to a governmental commission that these were extracted under duress. [...]"

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03.03.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Sanandaj: human rights defenders working on children and women's rights are facing threats and harassment in connection with their human rights work ("Threats against Kurdish human rights defenders must stop") [#29675], [ID 9295]

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28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Political dissidents ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29525], [ID 9463]

"[...]Exiles and human rights monitors alleged that many of those supposedly executed for criminal offenses in the past, such as narcotics trafficking, actually were political dissidents. Supporters of outlawed political groups, or in the case of the Mujahedin-e Khalq, a terrorist organization, were believed to constitute a number of those executed each year. [...]
The Government announced that approximately 4,000 persons--both protesters and vigilantes--were arrested in connection with pro-reform protests in June 2003. As of December, approximately 130 still were detained. [...]
The President stated on April 28 that, "absolutely, we do have political prisoners and people who are in prison for their beliefs." No accurate estimates were available regarding the number of citizens imprisoned for their political beliefs. In November 2003, the UNSR for the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Expression and Opinion estimated the number to be in the hundreds. The Government has arrested, convicted, and sentenced persons on questionable criminal charges, including drug trafficking, when their actual "offenses" were political. The Government has charged members of religious minorities with crimes such as "confronting the regime" and apostasy, and conducted trials in these cases in the same manner as threats to national security. [...]

In March 2002, after a trial behind closed doors but with his lawyer present, Nasser Zarafshan, the attorney representing the families of the victims of the 1998 extrajudicial killings of dissidents by intelligence ministry officials, was sentenced to 5 years in prison (2 years for disseminating state secrets and 3 years for the possession of firearms) and 70 lashes for the possession of alcohol. He was charged with leaking confidential information pertaining to the trial. HRW reported that he was also charged with "having weapons and alcohol at his law firm." Zarafshan was originally arrested in 2000 but released after a month pending trial. An appeals court upheld his conviction in July 2002; he was arrested and taken to Evin Prison in August 2002. In November 2003, the Supreme Court reportedly dismissed his appeal. According to the NGO PenCanada, in September, a group of prisoners in collusion with prison authorities reportedly attempted to kill Zarafshan. Opposition websites reported that Zarafshan participated in a July hunger strike to protest mistreatment of prisoners' families by government officials. Reportedly, since September 2003, prison authorities have given Zarafshan only one leave of 48 hours.

Several other human rights lawyers also reportedly were abused, among them Mohammad Dadkhah, who participated in the defense of members of the Iran Freedom Movement and is a founding member of the Iranian Center for Protection of Human Rights, and Abdol Fattah Soltani, who was reportedly charged for raising accusations of torture during the 2002 defense of a number of political prisoners. In 2002, Dadkhah was sentenced to 5 months in jail and banned from practicing law for 10 years; however, in November, he remained free and was practicing law. However, in October, the Government refused to issue him a passport. In 2002, Soltani was sentenced to 4 months in prison and barred from practicing law for 5 years. At year's end, he was not in jail but still precluded from practicing law. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention included among its recommendations the need for guaranteeing the immunity of counsel in pleading cases as an essential element of the right to due process. [...]

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Abbas Amir-Entezam, was re-imprisoned in April 2003, after his release in 2002 for medical reasons. A longtime political dissident, Amir-Entezam has spent much of the past 24 years in prison. He reportedly was incarcerated for calling for a referendum on whether the country should remain under clerical rule (see Section 1.c.). During the year, he was freed on medical leave due to the Government's inability to treat his medical conditions in prison. As of December, he was receiving medical treatment at his home recovering from back surgery, and his medical leave was extended until early January 2005. [...]"

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16.01.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

An Iranian Revolutionary Court order threatening the arrest of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi places all human rights defenders in Iran at risk ("Iran: Nobel Winner in Danger of Arrest") [#28258], [ID 9464]

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09.11.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Authorities arresting NGO activists in order to cripple the country's growing network of independent NGOs; detainees were accused of propaganda against the regime, endangering national security, inciting public unrest, and insulting sacred belief ("Web Writers Purge Underway") [#26850], [ID 9296]

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28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Lawyers and human rights defenders at risk ("Annual Report 2003") [#13028], [ID 9465]

"Lawyers, who require authorization from the judiciary to practise law, continued to face judicial harassment. Those known as human rights defenders were particularly targeted. Lawyers were occasionally contacted by judicial representatives and told not to represent certain people or face a summons. Following protests by the Bar Association, in at least one case the summons was rescinded.
In August, six lawyers, including Mohammad Ali Dadkhah and Abdolfattah Soltani, all of whom had defended cases concerning freedom of expression and association, were charged with vaguely worded offences such as "spreading lies" in connection with the carrying out of their professional duties. After trials that violated the laws governing the legal profession, they received sentences that prohibited them from practising law and included prison terms, often suspended. The cases sparked widespread protests, including by the Bar Association. Appeals against the sentences were continuing at the end of the year."

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