Iran: eco-activist Mahfarid Mansourian released
FU on UA: 36/10 Index: MDE 13/024/2010
Iranian environmental activist and interpreter Mahfarid Mansourian was released on bail on 21 February, after two weeks’ detention. Amnesty International does not know the precise conditions of her release on bail and she may face charge and trial in the future.
Mahfarid Mansourian, aged about 46, was arrested from her home in Tehran in the middle of the night between 7 and 8 February 2010 by plain-clothes officials who did not identify themselves. Mahfarid Mansourian’s husband, Ghassem Maleki, had said the officials showed her a general arrest warrant which did not specify Mahfarid Mansourian’s name, but which allowed them to arrest anyone “suspicious”. Her whereabouts were unknown for two days, when she telephoned her family and told them she was held in Evin Prison in Tehran.
Mahfarid Mansourian, who holds degrees in civil engineering and environmental design, is an environmental activist who has previously worked for the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, an independent governmental agency that co-ordinates official development assistance to other countries provided by the government of Japan. She has also worked as an interpreter for foreign journalists visiting Iran.
Mahfarid Mansourian was among scores of journalists, students, human rights defenders and political activists who were arrested in the run-up to the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran on 11 February 2010. Further anti-government demonstrations were expected on that day, following on from protests against the disputed presidential election in June 2009. The mass protests expected were largely repressed by the security forces, which prevented anti-government supporters from gathering, including unsuccessful presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, and beat and tear-gassed some protestors.
No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.
This is the first update of update of UA 36/10, Index: MDE 13/022/2010. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/022/2010/en