Held on an Expired Detention Order. Hossein Derakhshan’s Story

The blogger, Hossein Derakhshan, whose temporary detention order expired on October 10th 2009, is still detained in Evin.

HRA (Human Rights Activists in Iran) has received reports that indicate the blogger, Hossein Derakhshan, arrested on November 2nd 2008, spent the first eight months of his detention in solitary confinement and different wards of the Evin prison upon his return to Iran. During that time he has been subjected to various physical and psychological pressure tactics and multiple transfers. He has been beaten repeatedly and forced to do squats in cold showers. His interrogators have also threatened to arrest his father and his sister unless he confesses to espionage charges.

Last September he was taken to court to sign documents granting permission to his lawyer to represent him. He told the judge that all his confessions had come under pressure. According to the reports received by HRA, Derakhshan had agreed to televised confessions under pressure, but the matter was canceled after one recording.

With the start of the massive arrests after the presidential election, and as result of cell shortages in Evin prison, Derakhshan was transferred to Ward 2A of the IRGC prison, where he shared his cell with newly arrested people.

Derakhshan has been given false promises regarding his release on several occasions including Fajr celebrations and Norooz. Despite such promises he is still being held on a temporary detention order. His detention order has been renewed several times, the last of which expired on October 10th, 2009. Derakhshan reportedly intended to start a hunger strike if his situation remained unchanged after this date. HRA has no information as to whether he has started the hunger strike.