Iran: Further information: Iranian student released on bail
Further Information on UA: 17/10 Index: MDE 13/012/2010
Iranian student Payam Jahangiry was released on bail on 17 January after six weeks’ detention without charge in the city of Shiraz in south-western Iran. He had been arrested two days before nationwide student protests against the government took place on 7 December and had no access to a lawyer during his detention.
Payam Jahangiry, a 28-year-old student of political science at Shiraz University, is a supporter of the opposition movement in Iran, known as the Green Movement, which emerged after the contested presidential election in June 2009 and contributes to the cultural website Rooznamak. He was arrested on 5 December, his birthday, at his home in Shiraz, where he lives with his wife, Newsha Nayestani. Several security officials arrived at his home, claiming that they were workers from the electricity provider and needed to check his flat. They forced their way in as he opened the door, identified themselves as security officials and searched his home. They arrested him and confiscated various personal belongings, including four computers and various documents and photographs.
Payam Jahangiry was held in the Artesh Sevvom detention centre in Shiraz. He was allowed visits from his family on two occasions. To secure his release on bail, deeds to two homes belonging to relatives were surrendered.
Dozens of students and others were arrested before, during and after student demonstrations marking National Student Day in Iran, which commemorates the killing of three students by security forces on 7 December 1953. Students opposed to the government used the event to protest against it.
Other students arrested around National Student Day include Majid Tavakkoli, arrested on 7 December as he left Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran, where he had given a speech at a National Student Day event (see UA: 341/09 Index: MDE 13/131/2009). He has since been sentenced to eight years and six months in prison by a Revolutionary Court.
This is the first update of UA: 17/10 (MDE 13/008/2010). Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/008/2010/en