News On Iran

Regime officials threaten students
Following demonstrations and gatherings on 'Student Day' on December 6 and the summoning of more than 35 Shiraz University students to the Disciplinary Committee, regime officials are preparing to suppress students by threatening them in their speeches.
Anjavi Nejad, a cleric and head of a suppressive institution called "Rahpooyane Vesal" in Shiraz threatened students who chanted , "we are the men and women of combat, fight and we shall fight back" in student day protests with execution and said, "These slogans were given by the 'Monafeghin' (referring to the PMOI, main opposition of the Iranian regime). This means waging war with the Islamic Republic and you know that the sentence for those who wage war is death". Last week suppressive forces in Shiraz, issued a statement under the name of the "Student's Basij" in Shiraz University threatening active students with murder.
The Students' Committee calls on all international human rights organizations and student associations to support the struggles of Iranians students for freedom and democracy and take effective steps to stop the suppression against them.

Mounted suppression in Ahwaz University
The Iranian regime has distributed a set of regulations concerning the dress code amongst students in Ahwaz's Free University. Simultaneously, agents have started patrolling the campus giving notices to students who don't follow these regulations.

35 Shiraz University students summoned to "Disciplinary Committee"
Nineteen other Shiraz University students were summoned to this university's "Disciplinary Committee" which puts the total of summoned students to more than 30 so far. These students were charged with participating in Student Day ceremonies on December 6 and December 8 in this university. Some of the summoned students have been suspended from education or summoned before which can lead to their expulsion from university. (Dec. 22, 2008)

Political prisoner not given medical treatment
According to reports from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, a political prisoner, Afshin Bayimani has had severe tooth ache in the last couple of days but prison medical officials have denied him serious treatment.
The assistant of the prison medical center in Gohardasht, Yosefi, has demanded that Bayimani pay a large amount of money to be treated. This is while Bayimani has been in prison for years and does not have this much money. Yosefi has said that Bayimani will only receive the treatment if he pays the money.
Afshin Bayimanin is a political prisoner sentenced to life in prison. He has been in the notorious Gohardasht Prison for close to eight years. He was put into solitary confinement when he was first arrested for many months and was mentally and physical tortured. (Dec. 22, 2008)

3 Azeri activists sentenced to prison
According to reports from Tabriz, three Azeri activists have received sentences from the court of first instance in Western Azerbaijan Province and they will be imprisoned after confirmations from the court of review. Ali Sedighi, Hami Vahid Rezayi Nia and Akbar Hossein Zadeh were trialed and sentenced in the 2nd branch of Tabriz's Revolutionary Court. (Dec. 22, 2008)

Blogger detained in Mahabad
A blogger living in Mahabad, who had been summoned to court, was detained by agents upon arrival in court yesterday and sent to prison. According to reports, Mahabad's City Council and Municipality had filed a complaint against Davood Azadfar for his articles and statements which criticized this institution. (Dec. 22, 2008)

200 workers laid off in Ardebil
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The government appointed management laid off 1,200 workers under the pretext of 'necessary repairs and maintenance' in Ardebil Tire Company located in northern Iran, reported the state-run website Shahabnews on Saturday. Saeed Kazam Mousavi, a mullahs' Majlis (parliament) deputy from the region said, 'It is disappointing. They [referring to Tire company management] throw workers out for what they call 'repairs of the equipments.'''The workers have family to feed,' he added. Mousavi also revealed that in the same area 650 other workers from Ardebil's Textile Factory have not received their salaries for the past six months.He went on to say that two billion Tomons (approximately $2 million) had been allocated to pay the textile workers. However, they did not say where the money went. Hundreds of workshops and factories went on strike over payments in the past year. Factories such as Haft-Tapeh sugar cane mill, Kiyan-Tire making car tires, Iran Khodro car manufacturer are some of the biggest with tens of thousands of workers.
In the past decade, most of Iran's factories have been privatized by the mullahs' regime opening the doors to even more suppressive measures against the Iranian workforce. The new managements were appointed by the government without adequate protection for workers and their families who make the most venerable part of the population.

Students' Committee
(Supporters of PMOI)

News On Iran 2

Date : 2008/12/17

Tehran University students welcome Khatami with cries of "death to dictator"
Students of Tehran University welcomed Khatami, former Iran president, with cries of "death to dictator" and clashed with his supporters. "In the midst of Khatami's speech a number of students chanted 'death to dictator' and in reaction Khatami said,' do not talk of death'", the state-run Fars News Agency reported. "In the middle of Khatami's speech, there was some commotion and clashes amongst the students, because a number of students wanted to ask questions or chanted slogans criticizing Khatami. Khatami supporters booed them and prevented them from talking", said the Fars News Agency. "When Khatami said that he is devoted to Khomeini's path, a student shouted 'this is a lie, this is lie' in protest but was silenced when pro-Khatami students threw crumbled paper at him", added this state run news agency.

Tehran University students tear Khomeini's picture"
In the course of Khatami's speech yesterday, students chanted slogans against him. But the protests did not end here and students broke the auditorium door Khatami was giving a speech in. Following this, a troublemaker tore Khomeini's picture posted above the door. Students also burned and threw Khatami's pictures in the trash to protest his presence in the university", the state run Keyhan daily wrote today."There were some handwritten posters to boycott the (upcoming presidential) elections among the participants. Students shouted slogans such as 'freedom, equality, boycott the elections' and 'traditional association (referring to the student association which had invited Khatami) you are a disgrace' and caused tension in the auditorium. This extremist group also chanted slogans against the government", added this state run daily.

1600 Sharif University Students protested suppression in universities
In a letter to Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1,600 Sharif University students demanded an answer for militarizing the atmosphere of universities and suppressing students. "Now that you have decided to come to Sharif University in your last term in office, students have no other expectation from you other than you answering our questions clearly. Answer why you have caused insecurity in the society and established a police state under names such as 'securing the society'. Answer why you have militarized the atmosphere of the university with whispers of a second 'cultural revolution'. Answer why hundreds of students have been expelled and suspended under the pretext that they don't have the competence for education. Answer why Iran is isolated in the world because of (your) irrelevant statements. And finally answer why the society's back is breaking under the weight of a 40 percent inflation (you) call 'justice'", wrote these students in this letter. "This is the best industrial and Science University in the country and no one will listen to irrelevant answers which have been repeated many times in the last three years", they added.

Students' Committee

News on Iran

Freedom of expression and opinion
New phase of repression following peaceful students' ceremonies and cries for freedom

Paramilitary Bassij issued an ultimatum to students in Shiraz
Monday, December 15, 2008In the latest move by the mullahs' regime to suppress student protests following the Student Day on December 9 and 10 in Shiraz University, southern Iran, sends in Paramilitary Bassij Students to do the job, reported the state-run daily Etemaad on Saturday. In an ultimatum apparently issued by Bassijis, they have threaten to 'take the matters in their own hands if the government goes soft on students' participated in the student protests. Immediately following the student moves, the mullahs' security forces threatened to kill student activists for participating in Student Day gathering on December 10 in Shiraz University. They have sent out a statement which reads in part, 'You must die for your sins.'Students are the subject of mullahs' wrath for their widespread protests on Student Day which received public attention by the local residents. Following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Polytechnic University in December of 2006 when students burned his pictures before his eyes, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) hunted down most student activists protesting to the mullahs' suppressive measures.
Some spent months in notorious Evin prison for their actions. Many were permanently suspended from school. This year however, all schools are targeted since the protest gatherings were not limited to just Tehran schools.

Transferring students to Evin Prison
According to reports, number of students who participated in Students Day ceremony held on December 7, 2008 were detained and then transferred to Evin Prison on December 12, 2008. Most of the students were arrested when they arrived to Tehran University by SSF and transferred to Horr Square Detention Center. Two days later, they were taken to Evin Prison. Revolutionary Court ordered them payment of bail amounting to 500 Million Rials (almost $350000) for their freedom. According to informed sources they are a couple of dozens including students from various universities. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Following peaceful ceremonies Shiraz University's students are summoned
On Friday December 12, over 30 students gathered in the dormitory after being summoned by "Harasat" (SSF in university) for their participation in the Student Day ceremony in Eram Pardis, Shiraz. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Isfahan University's publications are seized
Omid-Farda, Eshtrak and Daricheh, Isfahan University's students newspapers are seized. These were critic publications and welcomed by students vastly. It is noteworthy that their chief executives have been condemned by "Disciplinary Committee." -- Suppressive subordinate force of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) in universities. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Paving way to repress Mazandaran University's students
A counterfeit newspaper titled "University is alive" was secretly placed in various parts of the Amir Kabir University with bogus names as its editorial board and chief executive. Its writing style was so similar to state-run newspapers such as Kayhan, full of insults and scurrility. This A4 two pages newspaper charged leaders of students' movements as "Agents of CIA in Iran", "asylums seekers in USA" who are taking sides in benefit of world's capitalism. It wrote world power's agents created '18 Tir' catastrophe – Referral to July 9, 1999 that students were brutality suppressed by Islamic Republic. On December 7, Mazandaran University's students had a brilliant ceremony on Students Day and in protest of security measures imposed on them. (Dec. 13, 2008)

State-run newspapers threaten to murder Shiraz Students
Tehran regime is very much concerned by the ceremonies held on December 6 and 8 by students of Shiraz University. Therefore, the regime's surrogate and militias alongside with university and security officials intend to repress students. Raja News Agency, close to Ahmadinejad and Keyhan, official newspaper, published Bassiji's statement threatening to kill student activists. So-called "moderate" media continue their silence and corroborate on the matter. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Details of student activist's arrest
Subsequent to sit-in of Orumieh University for their student rights on November 4, 2008, mounting pressure on student activists have been ongoing and eventually Rahman Rahimpour from Saqez who was threatened by "Harasat" was summoned by them and then handed over to Intelligence Department of Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Following his disappearance and search by his family, it was found out that he has been still detained without having a lawyer. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Report on two students detained in Evin Prison,
Cellblock 209 Sabah Nasri and Hedayat Ghazali, two Kurdish students are still in notorious Evin Prison and under pressure. On Tuesday October 13, judicial officials ordered to transfer them to cellblock 209 of Evin Prison despite their critical conditions for their participation in hunger strike with Kurdish political prisoners. "Although their bail of a month solitary confinement in the ward 209 of Evin Prison has been over they are still kept in this ward," Mr. Madeh Jamshidi, their lawyer announced. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Abbasi-Javan is on hunger strike in Evin Prison
On Thursday November 13, Mr. Abdullah Abbasi-Javan, professor of Architecture Department of Rajai University in Tehran, was arrested for his participation in a commemoration ceremony of Satar-Khan -- Iran's contemporary late hero who was Azeri, secular and democratic leader -- held in Shahr-e Ray, Tehran's suburb. According to prisoners who were released from Evin Prison, after a month he is still imprisoned in the solitary confinement No. 64 of Cellblock 209 in Evin Prison. In addition, Hussein Husseini – Mr. Abbasi's nephew— an Azeri activist is also held in Cellblock 209 of Evin prison. Abbasi-Javan families are very worried for their loved ones. (Dec. 13, 2008)

Davoodi, educational staff was summoned
Mr. Mohammad-Hassan Davoodi, received a confidential letter on December 7, 2008 and accordingly he must introduce himself to Administrational Court of Education Organization in West Azerbaijan on December 13, 2008. Mr. Davoodi said "I received warning by First instance court of Education Organization in West Azerbaijan for my participation in teachers sit-in and protests on May 1, 2007, and since then my file is left open in this court." (Students Committee, Dec. 13, 2008)Pour-Mohammadi interrogates Shiraz student activistsAhmadinejad has directly appointed Mullah Pour-Mohammadi, former appalling Minister of Interior and a person in charge of 1988 massacre of political prisoners, to consider Shiraz University's environment. In this regard, he interrogates student activists personally and does not allow them to have contact with other students. (Student Committee, Dec. 13, 2008)

15 Boo-Ali Sina University students summoned to disciplinary committee for protesting on Student Day
Boo-Ali Sina University's "Protection Department" gave the names of 15 members of this university's Islamic Association to the head of the "Disciplinary Committee" to be summoned to this committee as soon as possible. (Dec. 9, 2008)

Intelligence agents raid and search student's homes
Last night, December 6 (Student Day in Iran), intelligence agents raided and searched the homes of a number of Tehran University students who belonged to the Pro-democracy Association and confiscated their personal belongings. Intelligence agents told these students to be at the Intelligence Agency tomorrow. (Dec. 7, 2008)

Ilam student detained on Student Day
A construction major in Ilam University, Yaser Bahadori, was arrested and taken to Evin Prison on December 6, national Student Day in Iran. Bahadori was summoned to court for supporting one of his classmates when she was sexually harassed by a university professor. He was later sentenced to 4 months of prison in another court presided over by that same professor. (Dec. 8, 2008)

2 students summoned to Revolutionary Court
Two of Firdawsi University students in Mashhad, Navid Sadeq Saberi and Mohsen San-ati Poor, were summoned to Mashhad's 901 Revolutionary Court. Saberi and San-ati Poor are the editor and manager of the "Kian" student newspaper. (Dec. 8, 2008)

Lack of press freedom
Imprisoned journalists

Journalist jailed for publishing workers sit-in report
Boshehr's Revolutionary Court sentenced a photojournalist to 5 months of prison. Esmael Jafari was detained along with two other journalists while covering a workers' sit-in outside of Boshehr's Provincial Hall. (Dec. 8, 2008)

Repression of social movement and ethnic minorities
Azeri activist sentenced to 5 years prison in exileAsqar Akbarzadeh, a well-known Azeri activist and a chemical major in Payam Noor University in Ardabil was sentenced to five years imprisonment in Zahedan Prison. The first branch of Ardabil's Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Hasan Zadeh sentenced Akbarzadeh on charges of initiating anti-government groups. (Dec. 11, 2008)

Arbitrary arrests
Political arrest

4 students arrested for taking part in Student Day protests
On December 8, four Beheshti University students who had participated in a student day ceremony in Tehran University were arrested in outside their dormitory. These students are Mohammad Salhooqi, Farhad beh-ara, Reza Naqavi and Ahmad Motaveselani. (Dec. 10, 2008)

Students arrested and beaten on Student Day
A number of students in Oromieh have been beaten and arrested in their dormitories by security and intelligence agents and taken to an unknown location. The names of the detained students are as follows: Abdollah Nabi- last term biology major in Oromieh University Hamid Mam Abdollah- 5th term economics major in Oromieh University Rahim Boorsheikheh- 5th term economics major in Kermanshah UniversityShirzad Amir Khani- last term marketing management majorJalal Baraforokht- geographies major in Oromieh University Sharif Ahmad Tash- psychology major who was expelled in 2005 (Dec. 8th, 2008)