Iran: Further information on prisoners of conscience/ill-treatment
AI Index: MDE 13/031/2007
Further Information on UA 52/07 (MDE 13/021/2007, 5 March 2007) and follow-ups (MDE 13/026/2007, 8 March 2007 and MDE 13/028/2007, 12 March 2007) - Prisoners of conscience/ ill-treatment/ fear of Torture
IRAN Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh (f)
Shadi Sadr (f) - women human rights defenders
Prisoners of conscience Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Shadi Sadr were released from Evin Prison, Tehran, on bail of 200 million toumans (over US$215,000) on 19 March. They are likely to face trial in the future, possibly on charges including "disturbing public order" and "acting against state security", but Amnesty International currently has no information as to whether they have yet been formally charged with any offence. They had been held in solitary confinement between 6 and 15 March.
On 15 March, the Raahi Legal Centre, a centre founded by Shadi Sadr which provides legal advice for marginalized and under-represented women, and the Non-governmental Organizations Training Centre, founded by Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, were shut down by Revolutionary Court officials. The officials reportedly inspected the premises, took pictures and sealed the offices shut. Another non-governmental organization, Volunteer Activists (Koneshgaran-e Davtalab), was also shut down on the same day, and its director Dr Sohrab Razzaghi was interrogated for several hours and had personal property removed from his home by security officials.
Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Shadi Sadr were among 33 women detainedon 4 March during a protest in Tehran. Thirty-one detainees were released without charge between 6 and 9 March, although they too may face charges at a later date. Some of the women released earlier have described the cells in which they were held as damp and cold, without toilet facilities. The detainees were apparently forced to sleep on the floor, and were required to share blankets for warmth. Those detained have also reported being blindfolded and interrogated by security forces during the night,depriving them of sleep.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The 33 women, all prisoners of conscience, were arrested in the course of a peaceful demonstration on 4 March held to protest against the prosecution of five other activists in connection with an earlier, peaceful demonstration in June 2006. Shadi Sadr is the lawyer for one of these five activists.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
- welcoming the release on bail of Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Shadi Sadr, detained on 4 March during a peaceful demonstration outside Branch 6 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran;
- expressing concern that they and 31 others detained on the same day may face prosecution in the future;
- calling for all charges to be dropped against anyone chargedin connection with the peaceful demonstration on 12 June 2006, or in connection with the peaceful protest on 4 March 2007;
- stating that if anyone is redetained in connection with either of these demonstrations, Amnesty International would consider them to be a prisoner of conscience and would call for their immediate and unconditional release.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
Leader of the Islamic Republic
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shahid Keshvar Doost Street, Tehran. Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 251 7774 2228 (mark "For the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei")
Email: Via website, in English: http://www.leader.ir/langs/EN/index.php?p=sendletter
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
via website: www.president.ir/email
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; send appeals by post or email if you cannot get through)
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line write: For the attention of Ayatollah Shahroudi)
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 1 May 2007.