September 1, 2007

Her Excellency Louise Arbour, The High Commissioner for Human Rights

In regards to your upcoming trip to Iran to gain a firsthand perspective of the Human Rights situation there, we the Iranian Human Rights activists Groups of the European Union EU and of North America (IHRAG) and the Canadian based International Coalition Against Torture (InCAT) would like to draw your attention to the widespread, planned and systematic violation of Human Rights in Iran, during the first 8 months of 2007.

The summary of the violations are as follows:

Total number of death sentences handed out: 181
Total number of executions performed: 153
Death sentence carried out by stoning: 1
Women awaiting execution by stoning: 8
Youth under 18, currently on death row awaiting execution: 1
Amputation sentences carried out: 5
Journalists, arrested, interrogated and tried: 190
Women’s rights activists, arrested, interrogated and tried: 45
Students’ movement activists, arrested, interrogated and tried: 227
Number of Labour Union movement activists’ rights have been violated: 307
Political, social and cultural activists arrested, interrogated and tried: 270

This is only the tip of the iceberg, there is much more below the surface. Due to the lack of free news and information circulation, censors, and the absence of security for the social and NGOs activities, our report contains an insignificant view of Human Rights violation in Iran.
Hereby we must implore that you visit the victims and involved families affected by these severe Human Right violations to better understand the gravity of their situations. Merely allowing the Iranian government to censor your visit and instead show you their facade of a democratic society would be a horrible blow to creating public awareness of the injustices occurring daily in Iran. Please do not allow them to use your visit as a sign of approval of a regime which systematically violates basic Human Rights, the people’s lives which have been, are being, and will be destroyed by it deserve more from their fellow mankind.

The Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups of the EU and North America (IHRAG) &
The International Coalition Against Torture (InCAT)

Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America (IHRAG)
E-mail: hriran_at_hriran.org
Phone: 1 - 514 - 365 9212 (Canada) or 46 -704-124-500 (Sweden)
Address: BOX 5047, 165 10 Hässelby, Sweden
Human Rights News from Iran: www.hriran.org

March 12, 2005

Urgent call for Peaceful gathering in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva  

The Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America (IHRAG)

Date/Time: Tuesday March 15, 2005 at 14:00

Location: Place des Nations- Geneva

On March 15 th 2005, the 61st session of the United Nation Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) will resume in Geneva. InCat invites all men and women to unite and participate in this peaceful gathering. Support those, whose rights as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have been violated. Lending support will enhance the enforcement of the contents of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Iran and worldwide.

On March 15, 2005 The Iranian Human Rights Activist in EU and North America will present and emphasize the following points pertaining to the endured violation of Human Rights in Iran:

• Condemnation of the Iranian Regime for the widespread, constant, systematic and premeditated violation of Human Rights in Iran,
• The nomination of a UNHCHR permanent and Special Rapporteur for Iran,
• Establishment of a permanent watchdog monitoring Human Rights abuses in Iran.

IHRAG believes that once the above mentioned requests are adopted by the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, it will have a long- lasting impact on Iranian Human Rights situation and will significantly improve the agonizing situation of human rights in Iran.

For additional information:

By phone:

North America 001 514 365 9212 001 514 369 4929

Europe 0046 704 124 5000 0041 79 464 2038

By e-mail:

ihrnena@gmail.com

June 26, 2004

Torture is a gross violation of international law. Torture shocks the human conscience, and degrades human dignity.

On the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the International Coalition Against Torture (InCAT.org), and the Centre International de Resources Jurisdiques (cirj.org) join together to condemn this inhumane practice.

Since September 11, 2001, many governments have used national security and the fight against terrorism as excuses for torture, as the pictures from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq bear witness. The fight against terrorism does not justify torture.

We oppose torture and call for an investigation of those soldiers, commanders and government officials who may be complicit.

Torture is not limited to the fight against terrorism. Many governments carry out acts of torture in the name of religion and national security. We oppose all inhuman or degrading treatment. We condemn the destruction of homes and lands by powerful armies. We condemn the unlawful occupation of lands, unjustifiable wars, unlawful acts of aggression, unlawful and indefinite detention of prisoners of war, discriminatory arrest and indefinite detention of individuals in the name of national security, and suicide bombings.

We condemn the stoning and execution of women for adultery. We oppose discrimination and violence against women in the name of religion. We condemn the inhumane prison conditions that exist in many countries around the world and the unlawful detention of thousands of prisoners of conscience, and we condemn the use of children as soldiers.

Article 3 of the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment provides that:

No State may permit or tolerate torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Exceptional circumstances such as a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked as a justification of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

We stand firmly behind these principles and urge the international community to take positive steps towards ensuring the materialization, and the implementation of such principles.

All states must amend their respective laws regarding state immunity for acts of torture committed abroad. Victims of torture must have access to courts to seek justice against torturing states. We urge all states to amend their domestic laws to permit victims of torture to sue foreign states that have committed such acts.

May 21, 2004

The International Coalition Against Torture (www.InCAT.org) denounces the conduct of the coalition forces in Abu Gharib Prison in Iraq. The acts of torture committed are contrary to human conscience, and in clear violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions. The International Coalition Against Torture expects that those who committed these acts, as well as those senior officials and military commanders who knew, or ought to have known about such violations will be brought to justice.