Iran: Further information: Retired Iranian scholar released on bail: Dr Mohammad Maleki
Further information on UA: 233/09 Index: MDE 13/027/2010
Dr Mohammad Maleki was released on bail on 1 March 2010. He had spent 191 days detained in Evin Prison, Tehran apparently for his criticism of the conduct of the disputed presidential election in 2009. It is possible that he may still be charged and tried.
He has diabetes, heart problems and prostate cancer, and cannot walk unaided. His family had publicly expressed concern on 20 February that they had not been given permission to visit him for 20 days and that they feared his life was in danger.
Dr Mohammad Maleki was arrested at his home on 22 August by five Ministry of Intelligence officials, in the wake of mass demonstrations against the result of the disputed 12 June presidential election. They searched his house and confiscated personal effects including a computer, a mobile phone, notebooks and up to 80 books. The officials filmed the search and detained Dr Mohammad Maleki when it was finished. He was taken to section 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran, which is under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence.
Dr Mohammad Maleki, a 76-year-old scholar and former Chancellor of Tehran University, is not affiliated to any political party and is said not to have voted in the disputed presidential election. He criticized the conduct of the elections but did not publicly express a view about any one of the four candidates who stood for election. Shortly before the election, on 25 May, he had had helped to set up a new organization, Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran. If tried and convicted, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience.
No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.
This is the second update of UA 233/09 (MDE 13/094/2009). Further information:www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/094/2009 andhttp://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/113/2009/en