Iran: Spotlight on Human Rights

Today at the Huffington Post, Ben Cohen spotlights jailed journalist and activist Shiva Nazar Ahari who is facing the death penalty for “anti-regime propaganda”, “acts contrary to national security”, and “…mohareb ‘rebellion against God.’” Ahari has been jailed frequently since her first arrest for attending a vigil for the victims of 9/11. The charge of mohareb in the current case stems from the accusation that Ahari is a member of the MEK or Mojahedin-e-Khalq, an organization that, “…is widely loathed in Iran because of its fealty to the late, unlamented Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 1980-88 Gulf war.” Ahari’s case has even attracted the notice of American politicians, including Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), who is calling for Secretary of State Clinton to publicly denounce the upcoming trial. Secretary Clinton has previously called for the release of Ashari and other jailed Iranian activists.

Update: Freedom House has released a statement demanding the release of Ahari. “The International Solidarity Committee demands that the Iranian government release Nazar Ahari immediately and drop all charges against her.”