IRAN UPDATE:International Human Rights

IRANUPDATE Volume 5, Issue 11 |  December 8, 2017     CHRI's update on the latest human rights developments in Iran  For more, see www.iranhumanrights.org Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Spotlight A message from CHRI's Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi The situation of religious minorities in Iran has worsened during the past few years but the beginnings of a public conversation on the issue offers a glimmer of hope. The same day President Rouhani’s VP for Legal Affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi announced that the government will "find a solution" to the forced closures of Baha’i-owned businesses, reformist MP Mahmoud Sadeghi stated that “even those who are not followers of official religions”—an indirect reference to Baha’is—should be allowed to attend university in Iran. The Iranian press, prohibited from criticizing state policies, seized on the officials’ statements to provide coverage of the matter. Long a taboo issue, discrimination against Baha’is, the most severely persecuted religious minority in Iran, was thrust into the public eye due to the efforts of civil society and rights activists in pressuring officials through various means, especially via social media. Although far from reaching a solution to the problem of religious discrimination in Iran, public acknowledgement of the issue is a positive development that must be pursued. Follow Hadi on Twitter: @HadiGhaemi Press Releases Iran’s Parliament Should Pass Pending Disability Rights Bill​ Nov. 30, 2017—New legislation currently pending in the Iranian parliament will, if passed, strengthen the basic rights of Iran’s persons with disabilities community. CHRI marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by urging Iranian lawmakers to pass this vital legislation. Articles ​Two Iranian Officials Publicly Break Rank and Discuss Discriminatory Policies Against Baha’is Iranian officials are beginning to broach the previously taboo topic of religious discrimination in Iran. On the same day, two government officials publicly discussed discriminatory policies against Baha’is, one of Iran’s most severely persecuted minority faiths. Rouhani Admin’s New “Fair Usage” Internet Rates Violate Net Neutrality Seven months into President Hassan Rouhani’s second term, his Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi has introduced a new pricing scheme for internet usage that violates net neutrality while improving state censorship capabilities. Reformist MPs Call on Science Ministry to Allow “Starred” Student Activists to Attend University The reformist newspaper Jame-e Farda reported that between 150 and 200 graduate and PhD-level students were blocked from enrolling in Iranian universities in the current academic year because they had “stars” on their records. The actual number is likely much higher. Three Activists Sentenced to Prison in Trial “Directed” by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry Political prisoners Majid Assadi, Payam Shakiba, and Mohammad Banazadeh were sentenced to prison and exile after the Intelligence Ministry pressured the court, a family member of one of the prisoners told the Center for Human Rights in Iran.   Tehran Prosecutor Sentenced to Prison for Protestor’s Death Denies Responsibility Former Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, the only official who has been held accountable for the death of a protestor who was tortured in the Kahrizak Detention Center in 2009, has publicly objected to his two-year prison sentence. After Fiery Speech, Iran Censors Ahmadinejad-Related Online Searches Websites affiliated with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were blocked in Iran and the country’s most widely used state-approved video-sharing site barred users from accessing Ahmadinejad-related content after the politician criticized state officials in a recent speech. Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi to Serve Two-Year Prison Term for Protestor’s Death Former Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi has received a two-year prison sentence for being an “accomplice to murder” and the “illegal detention” of Mohsen Rouholamini, who died after being picked up by security forces in Tehran during the widespread protests of 2009. Political Prisoners in Rajaee Shahr Prison Slapped With New Charges for Engaging in Peaceful Protest A relative of one of the prisoners told CHRI the prisoners were charged for allegedly engaging in various means of peaceful protest after more than 50 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience were transferred to the security-enhanced Ward 10 without prior notice or their belongings. Iran’s Snapp Taxi App Violates User Privacy Rights by Spying on Users’ Phone Data DataIn November 2017, the users of an Iranian transportation app known as Snapp received a notification that they would no longer be able to use the app unless they deleted the Waze navigation app from their phone. The ban is a major violation of personal privacy rights. Iran Attempts to Deflect Responsibility by Criticizing UN Resolution on Its Human Rights Record After member states adopted the draft resolution by the UN’s Third Committee on November 14, 2017, the country’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi accused the resolution’s sponsors of being “the biggest violators of human rights.” Intelligence Ministry Pressures Two Sunni Rouhani Campaign Managers to Halt Peaceful Advocacy Within the course of the same week, two Sunni Muslim politicians were warned by President Rouhani's Intelligence Ministry to stop advocating for Sunni Muslims rights, especially the inclusion of Sunnis in the president’s cabinet. 175 Nobel Laureates Call on Iran to Release Swedish Resident Ahmadreza Djalali Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born Swedish resident who has been imprisoned in Iran since April 2016, was sentenced to death for “moharebeh” (enmity with God) based on a forced confession, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned. Previously Imprisoned Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh Refuses to Appear in Court A prominent Iranian lawyer who was previously imprisoned for her peaceful defense of human rights has refused to comply with a summons by the Revolutionary Court in Evin Prison because “I know I will not be fairly treated,” she told the Center for Human Rights in Iran.   Seven Doctors Disagree With Prison Authorities’ Decision to Keep Alireza Golipour Incarcerated  “Mr. Golipour’s physical condition is extremely critical and he could slip into a coma,” lawyer Azita Gharehbeyglou told CHRI. “He was transferred to Tajrish Hospital on Friday night [November 10, 2017]. His blood sugar has dropped severely.” Parastou Forouhar: Iran’s Intelligence Ministry Filed Charges Against Me Based on a Photograph Iran’s Intelligence Ministry pressed charges against activist Parastou Forouhar based on a photo of one of her artworks that created a stir on social media, she told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on November 13, 2017. Intelligence Ministry “Invites” Rouhani Campaign Manager to Stop Advocating for Sunni Muslim Rights President Hassan Rouhani’s chief campaign manager in Iran’s Kurdistan Province was subjected to intimidation tactics while being questioned by Intelligence Ministry agents about his peaceful efforts to include Sunni Muslims in the government. Rajaee Shahr Prison Inmates Fed With Livestock Feed “The prison meals are prepared with bad ingredients in unsanitary conditions and prisoners have found things like cigarette butts, Band-Aids and pieces of rocks in their food. The food is so bad that Shahabi has been forced to get his own and has asked for dry rations instead.” Iranian Official Threatens “Restrictions” on Social Media Networks That Reject State Censorship Policies “Foreign messaging networks should comply with the polices of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not publish immoral material,” said Abolhassan Firouzabadi, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme Cyberspace Council. “If they cooperate with us, there won’t be any problem.  Political Prisoners Transferred to Prison in Northwestern Iran After Being Beaten by Rajaee Shahr Guards Three political prisoners serving life sentences have been unlawfully transferred from Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj to Orumiyeh Central Prison, 444 miles away. CHRI has learned that the prisoners were moved on November 16 after being beaten by guards in the clinic of Rajaee Shahr.                                             Multimedia VIDEO: Tell UK Officials to Put People Before Politics and Demand Iran Free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe We can’t stand idly by while Nazanin loses hope in Evin Prison. Join actress, human rights advocate and CHRI board member Nazanin Boniadi in urging British officials to put their citizens before politics and demand politicians put #PeopleBeforePolitics and free Nazanin now!

This message was sent to anjan.jnss@gmail.com from info@iranhumanrights.org

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