Iranian of the Day

ICHRI: The trial session of imprisoned lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh was postponed for the fourth time. Seifzadeh's new court date has been set for October 17 at Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. Seifzadeh's lawyer told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he will refuse to attend this court session as well, due to his belief that this court is unqualified for his trial.

"Like his previous court sessions, he will not participate this court session. His defense bill has been faxed to court through prison authorities. This case is awaiting a ruling; all case investigation has been completed, and each time there is a new court session, Mr. Seifzadeh submits his defense bill to the court. There are no ambiguities and the case is ready for a ruling. We will have to wait and see what happens in court this time and whether a ruling is issued," said Fatemeh Golzar, wife and defense lawyer of Mohammad Seifzadeh in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Mohammad Seifzadeh has been charged with "assembly and collusion against national security" for writing articles and signing group statements by prisoners, and writing a letter to Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami. His first court session was held on 11 January, but it was postponed to March 11 after Mohammad Seifzadeh refused to appear. It was again re-scheduled for July 16, but Mohammad Seifzadeh did not participate in this session, either, only submitting his defense bill by his lawyer. Though the court has scheduled the October 17 date for his next trial session, Mohammad Seifzadeh's lawyer believes that the court has been ready to rule from the very first session.

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Referring to the transfer of another Iranian human rights lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah to prison, Fatemeh Golzar told the Campaign, "All the good lawyers have gathered together inside Evin Prison. We only wish is that all these prisoners are released soon. Continuation of this irrational trend is very difficult for them and for their families.

In October 2010, the prominent human rights lawyer was sentenced to nine years in prison and ten years’ ban on practicing law on charges of “acting against national security through co-founding the Defenders of Human Rights Center. In 2011, an appeals court reduced his sentence to two years in prison. He continues to await results of his two cases on charges of “illegally exiting the country,” and "acting against national security."