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.
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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