Four newsbits chronicling how blind fanaticism continues to blight the annals of the Iranian regime. Compiled from iranpresswatch.org.
A Letter from Haleh Houshmandi
Posted: 28 Apr 2009
Editor’s Note: During the last two months, Iran Press Watch has reported extensively on the ordeals faced by Mrs. Haleh Houshmandi, but has also celebrated her released two days ago. Iran Press Watch has just received a moving letter from Mrs. Houshmandi, which we share below in translation.
By Haleh Houshmandi
Allah-u-Abha!
Today [Monday, April 27, 2009] is the second day that I have been released from the incarceration facility of the Ministry of Intelligence on a bail of 100 million tuman [equivalent to about $100,000]. Forty days of imprisonment!
It all started a few days days before Naw-Ruz [March 21] when my husband and I were out of town. The agents of the Ministry of Intelligence came to our house and forced my mother to open the door. They raided our home and confiscated our computer, all religious books, other personal items, and they even took children’s CDs belonging to my eight-year old child. It was a most stressful situation. I was ordered to report to the detention centre upon my return which I did and was incarcerated then (March 18).
However, when earlier today I was reading various internet sites, the thought occurred to me that perhaps because of inability to meet with my family for the first four weeks and being allowed to only speak with them by a few short phone calls, and afterwards two visits from behind the glass by phone each lasting only a few minutes, some of the details have not fully reached interested parties.
My heart ailment is from the past and I’ve been under physician’s care. In the stressful environment of constant interrogations and solitary confinement, my conditioned worsened. However, after the second week, when I was examined by the prison facility’s doctor, I was given the required medications.
Because of my neck and back-aches, I was in considerable pain and in the small confinement of the prison cell, I was unable to move and this added considerably to the hardship.
From the fourth week, my dear friend Haleh Rouhi, who has been incarcerated for some 18 months, was allowed to visit my cell and because of her attention and care, I was made more comfortable.
In the fifth week, they took me to a hospital specializing in heart problems and they performed an echocardiogram of my heart to diagnose the cause of my worsening condition, which was determined to be due to stress and emotions associated with my imprisonment.
The next day, dear Haleh Rouhi and Raha Sabet were given their family leave and I spent another week by myself and my pains in their cell which had a television and books.
I am now in the love-filled bosom of my family and under the physician’s care.
I pray for the release of all our dear friends, Mr. Vahdat Danna, Mr. Farham Masumi and Mr. Kayvan Karami, who continue to languish in prison in Shiraz, and all other Baha’i prisoners throughout Iran. I offer my most heartfelt gratitude to all the friends, near or far, throughout the world that have given solace and comfort to me and my family through their ardent prayers.
Haleh Houshmandi, Shiraz.
Download: Persian Original (PDF)
Read a further report on Ms. Hooshmandi's case below.
Serious Health Condition of an Imprisoned Baha'i
Posted: 11 Apr 2009
As previously reported by Iran Press Watch (http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2009/03/arrested-shiraz/), a young Baha'i of Shiraz was arrested on March 18, 2009, under inexplicable circumstances.
The following report was filed by Human Rights Activists of Iran in Persian earlier today and appears below in translation:
Mrs. Haleh Hooshmandi is one the Baha'i countrymen who was arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on March 18, 2009, and presently remains in grave health conditions in prison. No official charges have been stated against her, nor has her case been processed through the legal channels.
According to reports received by our office, Mrs. Haleh Hooshmandi has a history of heart ailment and her physician has stated that any stress or trauma would have an extremely injurious impact on her health.
In a recent contact she had with her family, Mrs. Hooshmandi advised that her condition was not well and deteriorating, and declared her heart situation to be "serious". She asked that her medical records be immediately shared with the Ministry of Intelligence.
The condition of this Baha'i countryman, whose family and physician are disallowed from visiting her, particularly at a time when many prisoners of conscience have died mysteriously while in custody as result of lack of medical attention, has deeply alarmed her family and human rights activists.
It should be noted that security agencies in Shiraz have arrested at least four Baha'i citizens in recent days and summoned for interrogation a number of others.
[Posted in Persian on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at http://hra-iran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=840:321&catid=84:502&Itemid=219. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Baha'is under Attack in Yazd and Semnan
Posted: 11 Apr 2009 02:51 PM PDT
On Thursday, April 9, 2009, Khabar Navard reported that during the nationwide Naw-Ruz festivities, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of Mr. Bahnam Rouhani, one of the Baha'is of Yazd, on March 30, 2009. Agents thoroughly searched the residence and confiscated a number of items, including personal computer and various CDs. No further update on this story is available at this time.
In addition, on April 9, Khabar Navard reported that following recent harassments, attacks and arrest of the Baha'is in Semnan, the Ministry of Intelligence in this town summoned Mr. Ali Ehsani, a resident Baha'i, to their office on April 6, 2009, to answer various questions. The report continues:
After interrogations, a bail of 40 million tumans [about $41,000] was demanded, but since it was at the end of the business day, the bail was not processed.
The following day, his family took the required bail to the court, but without any explanation, the bail was refused. From that date, Mr. Ehsani continues to remain incarcerated in the facilities of the Intelligence Ministry. He remains incommunicado.
Mr. Ehsani is 29 years old and is married with two children, 5 and 7 years old.
In addition to the above-named Baha'i, five other Baha'is are imprisoned in Semnan because of their religion: Sahba Rezvani, Pouya Tabyanian, Adel Fanaian, Taher Eskandarian and Abbas Nourani.
[Source for Yazd story: http://khabarnavard.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post_09.html. For Semnan: http://khabarnavard.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post.html. Translation by Iran Press Watch.]
Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:46 AM PDT
Iran Press Watch has learned that a Baha'i resident of the town of Babol in the province of Mazandaran was arrested on Tuesday, April 14, 2009.
Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence went to the home of the parents of Mr. Mushafiq Samandari armed with court order instructing the search of residence and arrest of Mr. Samandari. The search took place from 10 AM until about 11:30 AM on April 14. In the process, the agents confiscated such items as two cases of computer materials, printer and scanner, in addition to a number of books, CDs, videos and cassette tapes.
Since an order for the arrest of Mr. Samandari was issued previously, he presented himself to authorities at 12 noon and is presently incarcerated. It appears the charge against him stem from a private complaint by a family whose son is a friend of Mr. Samandari and the family has stated that "He is learning about the Baha'i Faith." Authorities in Iran consider any discussion of the Baha'i Faith to be illegal and arrest any Baha'i who has mentioned the Faith in public.
Update on Arrested Baha’is in Hamadan
Posted: 15 Apr 2009 07:44 AM PDT
Further to Iran Press Watch’s recent reports on additional pressures brought upon the Baha’is of Hamadan, it has been learned that Sahba Khademi-Delju was incarcerated incommunicado for one week and released on bail and surety on April 14.
The homes of the following Baha’is were raided on Saturday, April 11, 2009, and some of their personal properties confiscated. They were also arrested and after one day of incarceration and interrogations were released on bail and surety: Miss Sorour Sorourian, Miss Sumayra Ayubi, Mr. Payman Aqdasi and Mr. Faraz Purhamzeh.
Iran Press Watch will bring further updates as they become available.
Read the story of the arrests in Hamadan here.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment