Constant Intimidation; Repeated Charges

More than 8 months after the June 12, 2009 presidential election coup in Iran, the mass arrest of political activists and journalists from across the nation continues, and reports reveal continued harsh treatment of prisoners and growing pressure on them and their families.

According to credible reports, families of political prisoners have been prohibited from participating in any interviews.  Security agents have gone so far as to ask the families to report to them any communication that they receive relating to the condition of their loved ones.  In one case, security agents asked the mother of Morteza Simiari, an imprisoned member of Daftar Tahkim Vahdat (Office to Strengthen Unity) student group, to provide them with all the incoming telephone numbers to their house.  

The pressure on the families of prisoners has increased to such a level that Parastu Sarmadi, the wife of Hossein Nourinejad, an imprisoned journalist and member of the Mosharekat (Participation) Front, has finally been forced to leave Tehran.

Meanwhile, interrogators have reverted to new types of pressure on political prisoners.  According to reports, Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s advisors have been placed in prison cells alongside Wahhabi and Baha’i prisoners.  Under the pressure of interrogators, some of the Wahhabi prisoners have insulted the religious beliefs of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s advisors.  

Shirin Alam-Huli, who has been severely tortured at a prison run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in Kurdistan now shares a cell with Leila Tavassoli.  Ms. Alam-Huli has been suffering from severe nervous attacks after enduring horrific tortures at the IRGC’s prison in Kurdistan.

Hamzeh Karami, the head of the news website Jomhouriyat, has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment and a 6 billion Toman fine.  According to witnesses, Karami lost his balance after hearing his sentence and has been very ill since then.  Karami was among individuals who appeared in the confessions court and testified against himself and Hashemi Rafsanjani’s family.  

Mohammad Javad Mozaffar, member of the central committee of the Council for Defense of Prisoners’ Rights, is held in solitary confinement without visitation rights.  

Mozaffar has been in solitary confinement for the past 54 days despite suffering from arthritis and lung conditions.  

Meanwhile, arrests continue to mount in Najafabad as security agents raid the homes of political activists at nights.  

According to a report by Norooz website, dozens of individuals who were arrested at ayatollah Montazeri’s fourtieth day memorial continue to remain in jail.  It is said that the youth who were arrested have been severely beaten.   

Reports also point to the arrest of Morteza Golizadeh, a reformist activists in Arak.  He has been transferred to an unknown facility.

Ali Hassan Shamaeli, one of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s campaign staff in Kermanshah, has also been arrested.