Iranian rights activists Kouhyar Goudarzi held at Evin Prison

10/26/11

Source: Radio Zamaneh

It has been confirmed that Iranian human rights activist Kouhyar Goudarzi is being held at Tehran's Evin Prison. The Human Rights Reporters Committee reports that he has been held in solitary confinement for the past three months and finally was transferred to section 209.

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The report indicates that Goudarzi, who was arrested last July at the home of a friend, has been denied any telephone calls or visits with his family for the past three months. That has triggered grave concern for his well being.

Goudarzi's mother, Parvin Mokhtareh, was arrested one day after her son and was taken to Kerman central prison.

Their arrests have been condemned by international human rights and media organizations and specifically the National Press Club, which had honoured Goudarzi with its John Aubuchon Press Freedom award in 2009.

Goudarzi was first arrested in December of 2009 during a protest against the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was charged with "propaganda activities against the regime through collaboration with the Human Rights Reporters Committee." He was also charged with "transmitting news and information to terrorist organizations outside Iran and giving interviews and publishing articles in foreign media."

Goudarzi's friends Behnam Ganji, 22 and Nahal Sahabi, 28, were also detained along with him. They underwent interrogations by authorities and released after days of detention. Following their release, Ganji and Sahabi committed suicide on 1 September and 28 September, respectively.

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