Shiva Nazar Ahari
Encyclopedia
Shiva Nazar Ahari is a notable Iranian human rights activist and a founding member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters. She has been jailed several times by the Iranian government. The last time was 14 June 2009 and she was held in Evin prison
until September 23, 2009 when she was released on an equivalent of a $200,000 bail. She was in solitary confinement for 33 days. On December 21, 2009 she was arrested once again along with several other activists who were on their way to the city of Qom
to attend the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.
The most recent hearing was held on September 4, 2010 at the 26th branch of Islamic Revolutionary Court
of the Tehran Province
with charges including "attempts to deface the Islamic government", "assembly with intention of conspiring against the Islamic government", "disturbing the public peace of mind" and moharebeh
or "waging war against God". Since her arrest, the court proceeding has met with strong international criticism, the allegation being that it was as an illegal measure taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran to further repress the rights of dissent and freedom of speech in the country, and her immediate release has been called for.
After 266 days in prison, she was released on September 12, 2010 on a bail of five billion Iranian rials roughly equivalent to over $ 500,000.
On Sunday, March 13 2011, it was announced that Shiva Nazar Ahari was the 2011 recipient of the Theodor Haecker prize for "courageous internet reporting on human rights violations". The prize is named after Theodor Haecker, a philosopher, writer and anti-Nazi cultural critic.
Evin Prison
Evin House of Detention is a prison in Iran, located in Evin, northwestern Tehran. It is noted for its political prisoners' wing, where prisoners have been held both before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
until September 23, 2009 when she was released on an equivalent of a $200,000 bail. She was in solitary confinement for 33 days. On December 21, 2009 she was arrested once again along with several other activists who were on their way to the city of Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
to attend the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.
The most recent hearing was held on September 4, 2010 at the 26th branch of Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court is a special court in the Islamic Republic of Iran designed to try those suspected of smuggling, blaspheming, inticing violence or trying to overthrow the Iranian government...
of the Tehran Province
Tehran Province
Tehran Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It covers on area of 18,909 square kilometers and is located to the north of the central plateau of Iran....
with charges including "attempts to deface the Islamic government", "assembly with intention of conspiring against the Islamic government", "disturbing the public peace of mind" and moharebeh
Moharebeh
Moharebeh is the title of a crime in Islamic law. Mohareb refers to the perpetrator of the crime. Moharebeh has been translated in English language media sources variously as "waging war against God," "war against God and the state," "enmity against God." Mohareb has been translated by English...
or "waging war against God". Since her arrest, the court proceeding has met with strong international criticism, the allegation being that it was as an illegal measure taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran to further repress the rights of dissent and freedom of speech in the country, and her immediate release has been called for.
After 266 days in prison, she was released on September 12, 2010 on a bail of five billion Iranian rials roughly equivalent to over $ 500,000.
On Sunday, March 13 2011, it was announced that Shiva Nazar Ahari was the 2011 recipient of the Theodor Haecker prize for "courageous internet reporting on human rights violations". The prize is named after Theodor Haecker, a philosopher, writer and anti-Nazi cultural critic.