The Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People's Rights (CODIR) is calling for the release of hundreds of people following mass arrests in Iran on December 27-28, 2009. The arrests followed protests during the Shi'a Muslim festival of Ashura which took place on Dec. 27.

     Amongst those arrested were Leily Afshar, a 29 year old photographer who was pulled from her car by plainclothes officials near a demonstration; Atieh Yousefi, a women's rights campaigner arrested in the city of Rasht; and Reza al-Basha, a Syrian national studying in Iran who works as a part time reporter for Dubai TV.

     Permitted one phone call to her family, Leily Afshar confirmed that she was being held in the notorious Evin Prison section 209. Atieh Yousefi was allowed to meet her family on January 1. It is not known where Reza al-Basha is being held.

     The three are amongst hundreds detained without charge or trial by the government of the Islamic Republic, with little or no access to their families, lawyers or appropriate medical treatment. The arrests follow a long pattern of arrest and detention following the disputed election of June 12, 2009 which saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad installed as the Iranian president for a second term. Subsequent protests have met with violent responses by the security forces.

     The wave of arrests at the end of December was the most extensive yet. Opposition website Jaras suggests that at least 1300 were arrested across Iran, and human rights groups calculate that at least 300 of these prisoners are being held in Evin Prison in Tehran. Jaras also notes that over 180 journalists, human rights activists and members of political parties linked to Mir Hossein Mousavi and former president Khatami have been detained.

     Speaking on Behalf of CODIR, Assistant General Secretary, Jamshid Ahmadi said, "It is simply not acceptable that the government of Iran is able to act with impunity and round up opponents in this manner. The regime is adopting a strategy of both silencing opposition activists and arresting the journalists who can tell the real story of what is going on in Iran. Ensuring that word of their actions reaches the international community is vital. We must make it clear that their behaviour is not acceptable and that people around the world will continue to speak out in solidarity with the Iranian campaigners for peace, democracy and social justice."

     CODIR has urged supporters around the world to contact Iranian authorities to oppose torture of prisoners, to demand their right to see families and lawyers, and to receive fair legal treatment. Established in 1981, CODIR has consistently campaigned to expose human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, working closely with trade unions, Britain's Stop the War Coalition and other peace movements, political parties and other groups.