Judicial decree to collect the bail money for activist Saeed Kalaanaki

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Per the orders of the Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, CHRR member Saeed Kalaanaki’s parental home that was collateral for his bail, was set for sale before a directive was given to instead pay 100 million Tomans (around $30,000) in cash. His family is ordered to produce a down payment of 21 million Tomans paid in cash followed by monthly payments of 2.5 million Tomans lasting 36 months.

This enforcement mandate has been handed down despite the fact that Kalaanaki’s family does not even have the funds to pay the installments. Saeed Kalaanaki, member of CHRR and former head of The Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his human rights work. He was arrested by Intelligence agents in the years 2002, 20003, 2004 and 2009. During the past 2 years, judiciary officials from Shahid Moghaddas court in Evin prison sent four written subpoenas to Kalaanaki’s family warning them that if he did not present himself, their collateral would be seized.

According to Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Intelligence agents detained Saeed Kalaanaki for the fifth time on November 30, 2009, a few months after the contested presidential elections. After his home was searched, Kalaanaki was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin prison. He was held for 100 days in custody at Evin prison; 28 days in solitary confinement and the rest in a 7-meter cell holding 3 prisoners. He was released on 100 million Tomans bail in March 2010. That same year, Intelligence agents arrested nine CHRR members who were held for long periods of time in solitary cells in Ward 209, Ward 240 and Ward 2-A – under the jurisdiction of the IRGC.

In May 2010, Judge Pir Abassi presiding over Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court handed human rights activist Kalanaaki a 3-year prison sentence on the charges of “membership in Committee of Human Rights Reporters”, “propaganda against the regime”, and “insulting the leadership.” Kalaanaki denied the last 2 charges brought against him.

The founding member of CHRR was summoned numerous times and received threatening phone calls demanding that he cease his human rights activities. From 2003 to 2005 he was detained four times by Security agents and was held in Evin solitary cells in Wards 209, and 240. He also spent time in Hall 3 of Evin prison. Judge Hadad presiding over Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court handed him a fine and a 3-year prison sentence, which was suspended for 5 years. With the two rulings, Kalannaki now faces a 6-year prison sentence.

Shiva Nazarahari, founding member and former head of CHRR has been arrested numerous times stemming from her human rights work. After her last arrest on December 20, 2009, she was handed a 4-year prison sentence and 74 lashes on the charges of “moharebeh” (enmity with God), “propaganda against the regime,” and “Illegal gathering with the intent of disturbing national security.” She was also banned from continuing her education towards a Masters degree. She is spending her prison term behind bars in Evin prison’s women’s ward.

Kouhyar Goudarzi, member and former head of CHRR was arrested numerous times and expelled from Sharif University of Technology due to his human rights work. When he was last arrested on July 31, 2011, his whereabouts and condition were unknown for several months as authorities refused to acknowledge he was in custody. The journalist was later handed a 5-year prison sentence in exile in the remote city of Zabol on the charges of “propaganda against the regime,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Saeed Jalalifar, member of CHRR was granted furlough on June 26 after enduring almost 2 years behind bars. He was arrested on November 30, 2009 during the aftermath of the disputed presidential elections and handed a 3-year prison sentence on the charges of “illegal gathering” and “propaganda against the regime.” On July 31, 2011 he was arrested and transferred to Evin prison after he presented himself at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to prevent the reversal of his bail.

Saeed Haeri, former member of CHRR is spending his 2-year prison sentence behind bars in Evin prison and Navid Khanjani, another former member is spending his 12-year sentence behind bars in Rajai Shahr prison. Parisa Kakai, former CHRR member was handed a 2-year prison term and Ali Kalaei, another former member was handed a 7-year term. Other former members of CHRR who have been harassed and investigated by the security apparatus are Hesam Meysaghi, Sepehr Atefi, and left-wing student activist Saeed Habibi.

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) condemns the oppression and prosecution of all human rights defenders, and demands the unconditional release of all present and former members of CHRR, along with an immediate termination to the harassment and intimidation inflicted on its members by the security and judiciary apparatus.