Iran: Further infromation on Fear for safety/ Fear of torture and ill-treatment
AI Index: MDE 13/077/2007
Further Information on UA 113/07 (MDE 13/054/2007, 15 May 2007) Fear for safety/Fear of torture and ill-treatmentand new concern: Medical concern
IRAN Bejaz Ahmad Qasabian (m) ]
Moqdad Khalilpour (m) ]
Pooyan Mahmoudian (m) (spelling corrected) ] Students at Amir Kabir
Majid Tavakkoli (m) ] University, Tehran
Majid Sheikhpour (m) ]
Babak Zamanian (m) ]
New names: Ehsan Mansouri (m) ]
Abbas Hakimzadeh (m) ]
Ali Saberi (m)] ]
A further three students have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the publication of articles that "insult Islamic sanctities". One student has been released on bail. All those in custody have reportedly denied any involvement in the publication of the articles, and have reportedly been tortured in an attempt to extract confessions.
Babak Zamanian was reportedly released at the beginning of June, on bail of 500 million Riyals (US$54,000). Three other students were reportedly arrested in late May and early June. All the eight students now in custody are reportedly in solitary confinement; they have had no access to their families or lawyers.
Ehsan Mansouri, the secretary of political affairs of the Islamic Student Association (ISA) activist body at Amir Kabir University in Tehran, was reportedly arrested at his home on 22 May. His family had reportedly received threatening phone calls for two weeks before he was arrested. Revolutionary Guards had visited the family home looking for Ehsan Masouri, and reportedly beat some of the family. It appears that Ehsan Mansouri was severely beaten while being taken to Section 209 in Evin Prison, breaking his shoulder.
Abbas Hakimzadeh and Ali Saberi, both ISA committee members at Amir Kabir University, were reportedly arrested at their homes in Mashhad, east of Tehran, on 6 June and taken to Section 209 of Evin Prison by plainclothes security forces. The security forces reportedly searched their houses after they had been arrested, confiscated their personal computers and CDs and told their families to contact the Revolutionary Court for more information about their situation. Abbas Hakimzadeh had recently undergone surgery on his spine; his doctor has reportedly said that he cannot sit or stand up for long periods, and any physical attack could be life-threatening.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The crisis at Amir Kabir University started with the publication of student newsletters carrying articles deemed insulting to Islam on 30 April.
These newsletters, bearing the names and logos of four student publications, were distributed throughout the campus. They contained three controversial articles and two caricatures deemed critical of the Iranian regime and insulting to Islam. This took place one week before the annual elections to the ISA.
One article questioned the infallibility of the Prophet Mohammad, the first Shiite Imam Ali and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Another criticised the government's crackdown on modern female clothing, and a third ridicules Islamic women’s attire.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of the eight students (naming them);
- asking why they were arrested, and what they have been charged with: this should be made public and communicated to the students and their lawyers immediately;
- calling on the authorities to release them immediately unless they are to be charged with recognisably criminal offences;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that they are given immediate and unconditional access to their lawyers, their families and any medical treatment they may require;
- expressing concern that some or all of the detainees may have been tortured or ill-treated, and seeking assurances that they will not be subjected to further torture or ill-treatment;
- calling for an immediate investigation of the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of the eight students.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +98 251 7774 2228 (mark FAO Office of His Excellency Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
via website: www.president.ir/email
Salutation: Your Excellency
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3355 6408
Email: [email protected]
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 August 2007.