Nazila Golestan, Author at Nazila Golestan

International campaign to prevent the execution of prisoner of conscience Mohammad Ali Taheri and his immediate release from incarceration

His Excellency António Guterres Secretary General of United Nations The United Nations
New York, NY 10017

Re: International campaign to prevent the execution of prisoner of conscience Mohammad Ali Taheri and his immediate release from incarceration.

Your Excellency,

It is with utmost urgency that the Iran National Council for Free Elections appeals to the international community to prevent the execution of Mohammad Ali Taheri in Iran, and to facilitate his immediate release. We are extremely concerned about the continuous wave of executions and the declining health conditions of several prisoners of conscience. We are fearful that these innocent men and women will not escape execution without an outcry from the Free World.

On August 16th, the Islamic Republic summarily sentenced Mohammad Ali Taheri to death on the charge of spreading ‘corruption on earth’. Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of the spiritual group ‘Erfan Halqeh’, a pioneer of “holistic” complementary medicine and author in the field of Inter universalist alternative medicine, was first arrested in 2010 on the spurious charge of acting against national security. After being released for a brief period, he was arrested for a second time in May 2011, and convicted to five years for blasphemy, as well as 74 lashes and monetary fines. Mr. Taheri has endured difficult conditions in solitary confinement, hunger strike and deteriorating health conditions in the notorious Evin prison.

Ali Taheri’s sentencing to death has been condemned by Iranians around the world, international human rights organizations, U.S. Department of State and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Despite all these mobilizations, his life is still in jeopardy.

According to IRANNC Human Rights Commission Report of 2017, the Iranian theocratic regime continues to strongly oppress freedom of conscience, belief and expression. The regime’s security apparatus continues to arrest religious and non-religious groups, particularly atheists, agnostics and Baha’is who are persecuted, incarcerated, subjected to various forms of discrimination and apartheid, and even executed.

It is with a great sense of urgency that the Iran National Council for Free Elections appeals to your high office to prevent the execution of Mohammad Ali Taheri, through an immediate and firm diplomatic response to ensure his immediate and unconditional release.

We sincerely thank you for your assistance and consideration to this urgent humanitarian matter. Very truly yours,

Nazila Golestan

Special Envoy for Human Rights

Iran National Council for Free Elections

_________________________________

Iran National Council for Free Elections

115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

Date : September 8, 2017 No: 2067-17

CC:
His Excellency Trudeau Justine, Prime Minister of Canada

His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, The President of the French Republic

Her Excellency Chancellor, Angela Merkel Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Right Honourable Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Honorable Donald Trump
President of the United States of America

********************

Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ms. Asma Jahangir,

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Mr. José Guevara
Chair-Rapporteur, The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Mr. David Kaye,
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary,
Secretary General of the Amnesty International

_________________________________

Iran National Council for Free Elections

115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

دیگه چه خبر؟

در یک گروه مانا نیستانی و پتکین اذرمهر را خواهیم داشت و در گروه دیگر نازیلا گلستان به همراه مهشید حسینی.

https://youtu.be/xN0k88-PJHw?list=PLXiFD28PjqaIqBzkUhtHOtOkWA_hRpbFh

در یک گروه مانا نیستانی و پتکین اذرمهر را خواهیم داشت و در گروه دیگر نازیلا گلستان به همراه مهشید حسینی.
چه خبر؟

British Version : Have I Got News For You – Boris Johnson

Freedom for Iranian Teachers’ Union Leader Esmail Abdi

The Honorable Ms. Asma Jilani Jahangir

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights

In the Islamic Republic of Iran,

OHCHR-Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland

Re: Freedom for Iranian Teachers’ Union Leader Esmail Abdi

Your Excellency,

As you are fully aware and have reported accordingly, many Iranians are frequently arrested merely for voicing their objections to everyday-life’s difficulties and/or violations of their most basic human rights. According to Human Rights Watch’s World Report of 2017, the Iranian government continues to strongly restrict free speech and dissent; authorities continue to arrest journalists, bloggers, and online media activists for exercising their right of expression; and Iranian dual nationals and citizens returning from abroad have been targeted for arbitrary arrests, interrogation and incarceration by the security authorities.

Upon arrest, citizens are often charged with false and groundless allegations. Charges have included “Western agents,” “warring against Islam,” “colluding national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” “enmity against God,” “insulting the Prophet,” and “insulting government officials.”

Next, they are tried in kangaroo tribunals and courts, restricted from lawyer-access during investigation; convicted (possibly based on confessions obtained under torture); imprisoned and, in some cases, executed. Human rights organizations have reported as many as 437 executions in 2016—most of which took place in the second half of the year; many classified as nonviolent crimes[i].

While in the infamous prisons of the Islamic Republic, prisoners face extremely cruel and inhumane conditions including lack of adequate and timely medical care. As a last resort, said prisoners might attempt to protest their confinement with the only means possible—a hunger strike—to acquire the attention of human rights advocates and the international community.

Among the many thousands of political prisoners now rotting away, is Esmail Abdi, an Iranian human rights activist and a member of the teacher’s union board who has been imprisoned solely for protesting the deplorable conditions with which the country’s teachers are confronted every day. He was arrested under fabricated charges of “assembly with intent to create public disturbance,” and “propaganda against the regime.” He was sentenced by Judge Abbass Pir-Abbassi[ii] to serve a six-year prison term.

In a recent letter, Esmail Abdi protested sentences handed down against union activists, guilds and syndicatesunder the dubious charge of “national security,” which carries harsher sentences and penalties. Further, he requested that his case be tried not as a “national security” but a civic matter. On April 30, 2017, Mr. Abdi started a hunger strike, which he aims to continue until his reasonable and legitimate requests are granted.

In his letter, Esmail Abdi further indicated that arresting teachers and/or labor representatives is a violation of the universal standards as defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Labour Organization that the Islamic Republic of Iran has either joined or to which it is a signatory. Mr. Abdi has also noted that the arbitrary arrest of teachers has even increased during the “reformist” presidency of Hassan Rohani.

According to the most recent statistics released by the Statistical Center of Iran, the average monthly cost of living for an urban family of four is $863.00 which is also the poverty line marker. A teacher’s monthly salary is $431.00. Therefore, a teacher with a family of four is unable to have acceptable living and housing conditions, let alone workers and welfare benefits. Yet, Iranian teachers continue to be present in their classrooms to serve the interests of their students.

Unfortunately, the future of education in Iran is unclear, as the teachers’ pension trust has not been funded for many months. In an environment where innocent activists of syndicates and labour unions, journalists, teachers and other civic dissidents are routinely intimidated, harassed, arrested, interrogated, tortured and incarcerated, corrupt regime officials and representatives raid their pension and welfare benefit funds.

Years of mismanagement by corrupt political and economic institutions and individuals have driven the Iranian people’s pension funds to the brink of bankruptcy. According to Raja news, the treasurer of the teacher’s retirement fund has embezzled $3.6 billion. These individuals who participate in institutional embezzlement and international money laundering not only threaten not the economic security of the people of Iran, but also pose an indisputable threat to international security. The Free World must actively confront and address these pressing issues.

It is with an emphasis on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a nonviolent solution for the future of Iran that we seek moral support from, and engagement of, the international community in condemning Iran’s actions and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience.

We appeal to your high office and the international community to join our campaign at #UnityforFreedom. Also, we invite you to become the voice of Iranian teachers and support their rightful demands by joining us at #FreeEsmailAbdi.

We sincerely thank you for your support and attention to this urgent humanitarian matter.

Very truly yours,

Nazila Golestan

Special Envoy for Human Rights

Iran National Council for Free Elections

[i] Human Rights Watch. World Report 2017. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/iran.

[ii] Abbass Pir-Abbasi1 is a Judge for the Tehran Revolutionary Court, branches 26 and 28 according to the Official Journal of the European Union (https://goo.gl/zyX0wl). Pir-Abbassi oversees post-election cases. He commonly issues long-termprison sentences during the unfair trials against human rights activists and has imposeddeath sentences in several cases. In April 2011, the European Union named Abbass Pir-Abbassi as an individual subject to sanctions for human rights violations.

Golrokh Iraee, Atena Daemi were severely beaten by Interrogators in Evin prison

Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee have endured arbitrary imprisonment since they were first arrested. It is with an emphasis on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that we seek engagement of the international community demanding immediate and unconditional release of these women.

N° 2080-18 January 25, 2018

Re: Golrokh Iraee, Atena Daemi were severely beaten by Interrogators in Evin prison

Your Excellency,

On January 24th, Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, imprisoned in the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran, were summoned to court. They had been transferred to Section 2-A for interrogation. Atena and Golrokh have avoided separate interrogations.

Seven officers, including five men and two women, tried transferring them to another prison but they refused and requested a transfer order. Golrokh and Atena, both political prisoners, were severely beaten under Haji Moradi’s command. Haji Moradi is the magistrate of executions branch of Evin Prison. A few hours later, at 9:30 p.m., they were transferred to Qarchak prison in Varamin by four armed guards.

Iran National Council for Free Elections strongly denounces this egregious violation against both of these women who have been imprisoned solely for their political views. Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee have endured arbitrary imprisonment since they were first arrested. It is with an emphasis on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that we seek engagement of the international community demanding immediate and unconditional release of these women.

Once again, we appeal to your high office and the international community to aid our campaign for immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. It is with reliance on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a non-violent solution for the future of Iran that we seek the support of the international community for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience.

I thank you sincerely for your support of, and attention to, this urgent humanitarian matter. Very truly yours,

Nazila Golestan

Special Envoy for Human Rights
Iran National Council for Free Election

______________________________________________

Conseil National Iranien pour les Elections Libres

115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

CC:

Mr. Antonio Guteres, UN Secretary General

Ms. Asma Jilani Jahangir
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights

The Honorable Nikki Haley
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis
EU Special Representative for Human Rights

Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Mr. Salil Shetty,
Secretary General of the Amnesty International

Mr. Michel Forst
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

Mr. Fernando Gentilini
EU Special Representative for Middle East peace process

______________________________________________

Conseil National Iranien pour les Elections Libres

115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

Golrokh Iraee in Coma, at risk of death after prolonged hunger strike

His Excellency António Guterres Secretary General of United Nations The United Nations
New York, NY 10017

Re: Golrokh Iraee in Coma, at risk of death after prolonged hunger strike

Your Excellency,

N° 2088-18 April 5, 2018

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, imprisoned for writing an unpublished story in Iran. She has been on hunger strike since February 3, protesting her unlawful transfer from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison. The political prisoner, Golrokh Iraee, currently in Qarchak Prison, has been in a coma since Tuesday night, April 3, 2018, the fifth day of her dry hunger strike demanding to be transferred back to the Evin Prison. She has lost a lot of weight, more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Golrokh Iraee suffered a heart attack on day 10th of her hunger strike and 3rd day of the dry. She suffers from kidney dysfunction and swelling of her legs Haji Moradi, the magistrate of executions branch of Evin Prison, has announced that he will not transfer her back to Tehran’s Evin Prison even if she dies. She has reportedly been transferred to un known location (a hospital) near Qarchak Prison. There has been no news of Ms. Iraee after her hospitalization and her family’s inquiries have not been responded to.

On January 24th, Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, imprisoned in the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran, were summoned to court. They had been transferred to Section 2-A for interrogation. Atena and Golrokh have avoided separate interrogations. Seven officers, including five men and two women, tried transferring them to another prison but they refused and requested a transfer order. Golrokh and Atena, both political prisoners, were severely beaten under Haji Moradi’s command. They were transferred to Qarchak prison in Varamin by four armed guards.

Iran National Council for Free Elections strongly denounces this egregious violation against Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, who have been imprisoned solely for their political views. We urged Iranian authorities to ensure that Golrokh Iraee has access, as a matter of utmost priority, to specialized health care in a hospital outside prison, in compliance with international human rights standards and common medical practices.

It is with a great sense of urgency that the Iran National Council for Free Elections appeals to your high office and the international community to take urgent action to save the life of Golrokh Iraee, through an immediate and firm diplomatic response to ensure her immediate and unconditional release.

We sincerely thank you for your assistance and consideration to this urgent humanitarian matter.

Very truly yours, ٔ

Nazila Golestan

Special Envoy for Human Rights
Iran National Council for Free Elections

Conseil National Iranien pour les Elections Libres 115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

Political Prisoner, Arash Sadeghi in Critical Health is Deprived of Medical Treatment

Mr. Peter Maurer
President, International Committee of the Red Cross 19 Avenue de la paix
1202 Geneva, Switzerland

Re: Political Prisoner, Arash Sadeghi in Critical Health is Deprived of Medical Treatment

Mr. President Maurer,

N° 2098-18 July 24, 2018

Iranian prisoner and human rights defender, Arash Sadeghi has been diagnosed with a bone tumor that may be cancerous. He is critically ill, and the Iranian authorities are disregarding medical advice, on the orders of the Revolutionary Guards, that recommends his immediate transfer to a facility specializing in cancer treatment.

As the guardian of the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (“ICRC”) is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.

It is with utmost urgency that the Iran National Council for Free Elections appeals to your high office to take urgent action to save the life of Arash Sadeghi through an immediate and firm intervention to ensure his immediate treatment,

In Iran, as you are fully aware and have reported accordingly, there is a silencing war against the public. Many Iranians are frequently arrested merely for voicing their objections to everyday-life’s difficulties and/or violations of their most basic human rights. According to Human Rights Watch’s World Report of 2017, the Iranian government continues to strongly restrict free speech and dissent; authorities continue to arrest journalists, bloggers, and online media activists for exercising their right of expression. Iranian dual-nationals and citizens returning from abroad have been targeted for arbitrary arrests, interrogation and incarceration by security authorities. Upon arrest, citizens are often charged with false and groundless allegations. Charges have included “Western agents,” “warring against Islam,” “conspiracy against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” “enmity against God,” “insulting the Prophet,” and “insulting government officials,” while in the infamous prisons of the Islamic Republic, prisoners face extremely cruel and inhumane conditions including lack of adequate and timely medical care. As a last resort, said prisoners might attempt to protest their confinement with the only means possible—a hunger strike—to acquire the attention of human rights advocates and the international community.

As the ICRC is mandated to promote and act as guardian of international humanitarian law. This involves visiting Iranian prisons, assessing detention conditions, protecting prisoners and preserving their lives, and restoring the dignity of these individuals adversely affected by the kleptocratic regime in Iran.

Among the many thousands of political prisoners now rotting away, inmate Arash Sadeghi is isolated between the prison walls from any external “intrusion” or the eyes of any “unauthorized” persons. He lost his mother,

Farahnaz Dargahi, in November 2009 – four days after she suffered a heart attack following the security agents raid of her home. Arash Sadeghi went on hunger strike in October 2016 to protest against the imprisonment of his wife

____________________________________________________ Conseil National Iranien pour les Élections Libres
115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, also a human rights defender, for writing an unpublished story against the punishment of stoning. Sadeghi’s hunger strike led to a public outcry which compelled the authorities to release Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee on temporary prison leave on January 2, 2010. However, she was immediately rearrested on January 22, 2010 to resume serving her sentence.

According to Amnesty International, Arash Sadeghi, human rights defender, aged 30, is suffering from worsening digestive complications and respiratory problems since his 71st day of hunger strike due to the persistent refusal of prosecution authorities to allow his hospitalization outside of Tehran’s Evin prison.
Iran National Council for Free Elections strongly denounces this egregious violation against Arash Sadeghi and Golrokh Iraee, who have been imprisoned solely for their humanitarian views.

Based on the foregoing, we appeal to the international community to prevent the slow death of Arash Sadeghi in prison through a firm and strong diplomatic response by forcing Tehran to allow the ICRC to visit the prisoners. We are extremely concerned about the continuous wave of the declining health conditions of several prisoners of conscience. We are fearful that these innocent men and women will not escape execution without an outcry from the Free World. Their practices represent a threat not only to Iranian citizens, but also to the dignity of all people. The Iranian regime’s discriminatory policies contradict the numerous international conventions to which Iran is a party. International laws create both rights and duties for member states, and when a state consistently disregards its duties, it cannot expect the rest of the international community to respect its rights.

We sincerely thank you for your assistance in, and consideration to, this urgent humanitarian matter. Very truly yours,

Nazila Golestan

Special Envoy for Human Rights
Iran National Council for Free Elections

____________________________________________________ Conseil National Iranien pour les Élections Libres
115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org

CC:
His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, The President of the French Republic

The Honorable Donald Trump
President of the United States of America

The Right Honorable Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Her Excellency Chancellor, Angela Merkel Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

His Excellency Trudeau Justine,
Prime Minister of Canada
********************
His Excellency François Delattre
Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations

Her Excellency Nikki Haley
United States Ambassadors to the United Nations

His Excellency Matthew Rycroft
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations

His Excellency François Christoph Heusgen
Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations

His Excellency Marc-André Blanchard
Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations

His Excellency Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Her Excellency Asma Jahangir,
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran ********************
His Excellency António Guterres
Secretary General of United Nations

Mr. Javid Rehman,
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Ms. Delia Matilde Ferreira Rubio
The former president of Transparency International’s chapter in Argentina

Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary,
Secretary General of the Amnesty International

____________________________________________________ Conseil National Iranien pour les Élections Libres
115 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France www.irannc.org