Iran: Husband of hunger-striking human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh arrested

September 4, 2018

Responding to the arrest in Iran this morning of Reza Khandan, the husband of prominent jailed human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Philip Luther, said:

“First the authorities jail Nasrin Sotoudeh on bogus charges, then harass, intimidate and threaten her family and friends, and now arrest her husband. These callous actions illustrate the lengths to which Iranian authorities will go to silence human rights lawyers, even targeting their families.

“The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release both Nasrin Sotoudeh and Reza Khandan. They must drop all charges against them and stop their harassment of this family once and for all.

“The international community, including the EU given its ongoing dialogue with Iran, must condemn in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrest and detention of both Reza Khandan and Nasrin Sotoudeh, and do everything in their power to expedite the release of these two human rights defenders.”

Reza Khandan’s lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, said in a Facebook post that after his arrest, Reza Khandan was taken to the Office of the Prosecutor in Tehran’s Evin prison where he was charged with “spreading propaganda against the system” and “colluding to commit crimes against national security.” He has also been accused of “promoting the practice of appearing in public without a veil” because of his support for the Iranian women’s campaign against forced veiling (hijab).

Background

Prior to his arrest, Reza Khandan had raised concerns on Facebook about human rights violations in Iran, including the imprisonment of human rights defenders and the prosecution of women who have campaigned against forced veiling (hijab).

…

Iran: Husband of hunger-striking human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh arrested  

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/iran-husband-hunger-striking-human-rights-lawyer-nasrin-sotoudeh-arrested

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/9/3/iranian-rights-activists-join-in-hunger-strike-behind-bars

Husband of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh arrested

https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-detains-husband-of-jailed-rights-lawyer/29470953.html

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Article/147347-husband-of-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested—amnesty

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Husband-of-Iranian-human-rights-lawyer-arrested-566467

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/husband-of-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested-3440265

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-rights-lawyer/husband-of-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested-amnesty-idUKKCN1LK1HD

https://www.todayonline.com/world/husband-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested-amnesty

Husband of Iranian rights lawyer arrested: Amnesty

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/husband-of-jailed-human-rights-lawyer-arrested-in-iran-1.766922

https://www.malaymail.com/s/1669352/amnesty-husband-of-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested

http://www.euronews.com/2018/09/04/husband-of-iranian-rights-lawyer-arrested-amnesty

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/09/05/iran-intensified-crackdown-rights-defenders

Iran’s Assault on Legal Profession Intensifies with Three More Attorneys Arrested

https://www.voanews.com/a/us-rights-groups-denounce-irans-arrest-of-detained-lawyer-s-husband/4558272.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasrin_Sotoudeh

http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2018/09/05/iran-arrestation-du-mari-d-une-avocate-des-droits-de-l-homme_1676761 (FRANCAIS)

https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2018/09/iran-husband-of-hunger-striking-human-rights-lawyer-nasrin-sotoudeh-arrested/ (ESPANOL)

https://www.diariovasco.com/agencias/201809/04/denuncia-detencion-marido-abogada-1252229.html (ESPANOL)

https://www.eldiario.es/politica/AI-denuncia-detencion-Nasrin-Sotudeh_0_810869586.html (ESPANOL)

https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20180904/451623716148/ai-denuncia-la-detencion-del-marido-de-la-abogada-irani-nasrin-sotudeh.html (ESPANOL)

http://iranjournal.org/news/reza-khandan-sotoudeh (DEUTSCH)

#RezaKhandan

#NasrinSotoudeh

فیلیپ لوتر، مدیرتحقیقات بخش خاورمیانه و آفریقای شمالی عفو بین الملل در واکنش به بازداشت امروز رضا خندان، همسر وکیل برجسته حقوق بشر نسرین ستوده، گفت: «مقامات ایران ابتدا نسرین ستوده را با اتهامات واهی زندانی کرده‌اند، سپس دوستان و خانواده اش را مورد آزار و اذیت و ارعاب و تهدید قرار داده‌اند و حالا هم همسرش را بازداشت کرده‌اند. این اقدامات بی رحمانه نشان ‌می‌دهد که مقامات ایران تا چه اندازه عزم خود را جزم کرده‌اند که صدای وکلا و مدافعان حقوق بشر را خفه کنند و حتی خانواده های آنها را هدف قرار دهند.»
مدیرتحقیقات بخش خاورمیانه و آفریقای شمالی عفو بین الملل افزود: «مقامات ایران باید فورا و بدون قید و شرط نسرین ستوده و همسرش را آزاد و آنها را تبرئه کنند و یک بار برای همیشه به آزار و اذیت این خانواده پایان دهند.»
محمد مقیمی، وکیل رضا خندان، در در صفحه فیسبوک خود نوشته است که در شعبه ۷ دادسرای اوین سه اتهام «اجتماع و تبانی علیه امنیت ملی»، «تبلیغ علیه نظام» و «اشاعه و ترویج بی حجاب در جامعه» به موکلش تفهیم و قرار وثیقه به میزان ۷۰۰ میلیون تومان برای ایشان صادر شده است.

پیش از دستگیری، رضا خندان در فیس بوک خود مطالبی در مورد موارد مختلف نقض حقوق بشر در ایران، از جمله بازداشت مدافعان حقوق بشر و تعقیب قضایی کسانی که به حجاب اجباری در ایران اعتراض کرده‌اند، نوشته بود.
او همچنین فعالانه برای آزادی همسرش نسرین ستوده که از تاریخ ۲۳ خرداد در بازداشت به سر می‎برد، اطلاع رسانی کرده بود. نسرین ستوده در زندان اوین است و مورد اتهامات بی اساس امنیتی از جمله «توهین به رهبری» و «اقدام علیه امنیت ملی» قرار گرفته است. اساس این اتهامات دفاع او از زنانی است که به خاطر اعتراض مسالمت آمیز به عمل تبعیض آمیز و تحقیرآمیز حجاب اجباری تحت تعقیب کیفری قرار گرفته‌اند. او از سوم شهریور در اعتراض به حبس غیرعادلانه‌اش و آزار و اذیت خانواده و دوستانش دست به اعتصاب غذا زده است.
عفو بین الملل روز قبل هم با انتشار بیانیه ای به بازداشت سه وکیل و یک فعال حقوق زنان در طی روزهای گذشته اعتراض کرد و گفت مقامات ایرانی با این بازداشت‌های غیرقانونی به دنبال سرکوب کامل جامعه مدنی و قرار دادن مدافعان حقوق بشر در جوی سرشار از ارعاب و خفقان هستند.

(Human Rights in Iran-Amnesty International حقوق بشر در ایران- عفو بین الملل Facebook, 4/9/18)

Reza Khandan arrested this morning in Tehran. His wife, the human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, was arrested in June. Since then Reza never stopped informing the public about her unjust detention. pic.twitter.com/wsqHBZzvqN

— IranHumanRights.org (@ICHRI) September 4, 2018

Kenya: LSK Condemns Assassination Attempt on Lawyer Charles Kanjama

September 4, 2018

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) on Monday condemned a planned assassination of one its members, Lawyer Charles Kanjama.

The body released a statement following revelations in local news sites stating that the lawyer was also targetted by hitman David Mwai who shot former Garissa CEC IdrissMukhtar – being that the latter was his client.

According to the Standard, Ksh400,000 was recovered from suspects linked to Mukhtar’s shooting.

Further investigations revealed that the amount recovered was part of Ksh2.4 Million that was to be paid for the murder of Idriss and Kanjama.

Investigators privy to the case disclosed the hitman had carried out a reconnaissance visit to the lawyer’s office before carrying out the hit.

“They met twice and the lawyer even gave them his business card and agreed they would return. He did not know the day they would return was meant to be to kill or harm him,” an investigator was quoted by the publication.

Following the chilling details, LSK noted with concern the rising number of reported cases of harassment, threats and endangerment of its members in the course of their lawful duties.

“Advocate Kanjama who is also the chairperson of the Nairobi Branch was reliably informed by the police investigator the matter that he is a target for elimination by certain criminals because of providing legal services to his client Mr Idriss Muktar,” LSK President Allen Gichuhi stated.

Gichuhi went further and explained that the unlawful plot was an attempt to silence persons interested in pursuing justice and to defeat constitutional rights to legal representation by an advocate of personal choice as well as other rights guaranteed under the constitution.

…

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/32870-lsk-condemns-assassination-attempt-lawyer-charles-kanjama

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/09/04/death-threats-on-charles-kanjama-in-mukhtar-case-alarms-lsk_c1813159

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001294004/sh0-4m-hit-men-fee-recovered-as-chilling-details-on-botched-murder-of-garissa-cec-lawyer-emerge

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/08/30/plot-to-kill-ex-garissa-official-started-in-may_c1810593

https://hivisasa.com/posts/1259-more-details-emerge-about-lawyer-who-was-to-assassinated-with-cec

https://www.tuko.co.ke/283180-charles-kanjama-biography-career.html#283180

LSK slams assassination bid on lawyer Kanjama in Garissa saga

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktnnews/video/2000160954/lsk-to-seek-private-prosecution-of-those-who-issued-death-threats-to-lawyer-kanjama

https://ntv.nation.co.ke/news/2720124-4745054-ygulku/index.html

Turkey/UK/Scotland: Academic’s indictment reflects the Turkish government’s criminalisation of free speech

September 4, 2018

Despite the lifting of the state of emergency in July, arbitrary arrests and human rights violations continue.

Hanifi Barış, an outspoken Kurdish academic and lawyer, has been imprisoned by Turkish authorities since 4 July 2018. His detention for sharing press articles on social media is another demonstration of the repeated attacks against freedom of expression and critical opinions in Turkey.

Hanifi Barış obtained his Ph.D from the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law at the University of Aberdeen in 2017. Interested in political theory and human rights, he has published several articles and book chapters on Kurdish politics. After completing his dissertation, Barış moved back to Turkey and settled in Istanbul, where he started working as a lawyer. In his roles as an academic and a lawyer, Barış stood out as an ardent defender of human rights. In 2012, he drew public attention for representing a famous conscientious objector and defending his client’s rights to answer to the court in Kurdish. In January 2016, he was one of the Academics for Peace who signed the petition “We will not be a party to this crime”, which denounced the state-sanctioned violence in the Kurdish regions and called on the Turkish government to re-establish peace negotiations.

On 3 July, Barış received a call from Istanbul Bakırköy Police station, asking him to give a statement about his social media posts. The next day, after giving his statement to the police, he was referred to the court, where the prosecutor requested his arrest. He was accused of producing “terrorist propaganda” on the ground of article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law no 3713. Barış had shared news articles and commentaries from international and local media on his Facebook and Twitter accounts. It is worth emphasising that he did not add any of his own commentary on the posts. At the court’s request Barış was sent to prison on the same day. Since then, the appeals of his lawyer, Mehmet Doğan, for his release pending trial have been repeatedly denied. Even worse, when Barış asked to be moved to another dormitory in Silivri Prison, he was sent to an individual cell and remained in solitary confinement for 12 days.

On 23 July 2018, İstanbul’s 29th High Criminal Court accepted the indictment against Barış and re-affirmed his pre-trial detention. The Court based its decision on an ongoing assessment of digital materials that had been supposedly confiscated during an alleged search of his residence and belongings. However, no such search ever took place. This blatant disregard for the rule of law and due process casts serious doubts on Barış’s prospect for a fair trial, highlighting Turkey’s systematic use of pre-trial detention as a means of intimidation.

…

https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2018/09/academics-indictment-reflects-the-turkish-governments-criminalisation-of-free-speech/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug

Turkish prosecutors label Guardian, Foreign Policy articles as ‘terrorist propaganda’

Aberdeen University students make poignant empty chair tribute to imprisoned graduate

Turkish gov’t issues detention warrants for 5 people over alleged links to Gülen movement

Mass transport of judges to presidential palace casts doubt on judicial independence in Turkey

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20180908081615995

https://barisicinakademisyenler.net/

https://cisrul.blog/cisrul-phd-students/hanifi-baris/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/433508947128873/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdzrqaDW2bUV-Vvr3nSi2A1e6zIpsVztBs7s3VDpUZuCOg%3AAdzbQE9dbhXd4QyHYObAQLAGCDqnUzGzcCAolSQszHdpRQ

#FreeHanifi

#HanifiyeÖzgürlük

We left an empty chair for our keynote speaker and PhD graduate Dr Hanifi Bariş at our Radical Democratic Citizenship conference @aberdeenuni today. This is in protest of his continued incarceration and in defence of the right to academic freedom #FreeHanifi #HanifiyeÖzgürlük pic.twitter.com/DuI7FNan44

— The #FreeHanifi Bariş Campaign (@freehanifi) September 3, 2018

Fantastic initiative today from Barış İçin Akademisyenler / Academics for Peace for our#FreeHanifi #HanifiyeÖzgürlük campaign: “Our hearings have resumed with the start of the legal year: We gathered once again at the Çağlayan Court House to demand the release of our colleague#HanifiBarış, student #BerkayUstabaş and condemn attacks on the #SaturdayMothers and the#VigilforConscienceandJustice!”

(The Free Hanifi Bariş Campaign Facebook, 5/9/18)

Belgium/Spain/Catalonia: Abogados europeos dan apoyo a Boye y reclaman su amparo

4/9/18

#AmparoAbogacía La red de Abogados Europeos Demócratas expresa su apoyo a @boye_g @JaumeAlonsoCuev y compañeros belgas de forma rotunda en este comunicado tras el realizado por @JM_AlonsoPuig Decano del @icam_es en defensa de Llarena pic.twitter.com/fb5lFgWxOK

— José Ramón Antón (@jrantonb) September 4, 2018

La asociación Abogados Europeos Demócratas han expresado su indignación ante el acoso que sufren los abogados de los exiliados Gonzalo Boye, Paul Bekaert, Michèle Hirsch y Christophe Marchand “por su eficiente defensa” del presidente Carles Puigdemont y los consellers Lluís Puig, Meritxell Serret y Antoni Comín.

Abogados Europeos exige que se ponga fin a estos ataques y se dirige a los Colegios de Abogados de los respectivos letrados a fin de que insten a las autoridad españolas a adoptar las medidas necesarias para que los abogados sean protegidos en el desarrollo de su actividad profesional.

El comunicado tiene lugar después de que el abogado Gonzalo Boye pidiera el amparo del Colegio de Abogados de Madrid ante las amenazas, injurias y calumnias que asegura que está recibiendo en el ejercicio de su tarea profesional. Curiosamente, el decano de los abogados madrileños hizo una nota en favor del magistrado Pablo Llarena el mismo día que Boye pidió el amparo.

La asociación denuncia que los cuatro abogados han sido víctimas de manifestaciones de odio y declaraciones difamatorias que atacan su reputación y su independencia a la hora de ejercer su profesión. También recuerda que han sido objeto de amenazas contra su integridad física.

https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/abogados-europeos-apoyo-boye_301500_102.html

https://www.ara.cat/politica/eurodiputat-Enrique-Calvet-Puigdemont-Belgica_0_2081791983.html

https://cat.elpais.com/cat/2018/09/04/espana/1536043013_030334.html

https://confilegal.com/20180904-hoy-arranca-en-bruselas-el-proceso-por-la-demanda-de-los-fugados-contra-llarena-y-no-va-a-ser-rapido/ (ESPANOL)

https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20180903/juicio-llarena-bruselas-7016287 (ESPANOL)

http://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-abogado-puigdemont-solicitada-amparo-colegio-madrid-tiene-pendiente-resolver-si-le-sanciona-20180903132708.html (ESPANOL)

https://confilegal.com/20180903-el-decano-de-los-abogados-de-madrid-se-pronuncia-a-favor-de-apoyar-a-llarena/ (ESPANOL)

https://defendlawyers.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/comunicado-aed-defensa-abogados-09-2018-castellano.docx

Communiqué AED Defense Avocats 09.2018 Français

http://www.aeud.org/2018/09/harcelement-des-avocats/#.W45H_54GjXw.facebook (FRANCAIS)

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/puigdemont-s-lawyer-paul-bekaert-helped-separatist-terror-suspects-c2tbd68hv (ENGLISH)