Iran: Fear for safety/ Fear of torture and ill-treatment, Kianoosh Sanjari (m)

Amnesty International

Iran: Fear for safety/ Fear of torture and ill-treatment, Kianoosh Sanjari (m)

AI Index: MDE 13/121/2006

UA 284/06 Fear for safety/ Fear of torture and ill-treatment

IRAN Kianoosh Sanjari (m), aged 24, student activist and blogger

Student activist and blogger Kianoosh Sanjari was arrested on 7 October whilst reporting on clashes between security forces and supporters of Shi'a cleric Ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi. Kianoosh Sanjari is being held incommunicado at an unknown location and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

Kianoosh Sanjari, a member of a group known as the United Students Front, had allegedly gone to the home of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in the capital, Tehran, to prepare a report on the clashes that were taking place there. He was reportedly arrested along with scores of Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s supporters and transferred to an unknown location.

Kianoosh Sanjari has been arrested several times in the past. When he was only 17 years old in July 1999 he was arrested during student-led demonstrations against the closure of the newspaper Salam (Peace). He was subsequently held in solitary confinement for many months. Prior to his recent arrest, he lived in Tehran and was reportedly closely monitored by the authorities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SH'IA CLERIC AYATOLLAH SAYED HOSSEIN KAZEMEYNI BOROUJERDI REPORTEDLY ADVOCATES THE SEPARATION OF RELIGION FROM THE POLITICAL BASIS OF THE STATE. HE WAS ARRESTED AT HIS HOME IN TEHRAN ON 8 OCTOBER 2006, ALONG WITH AN UNKNOWN NUMBER, POSSIBLY AROUND 300, OF HIS FOLLOWERS. THE ARRESTS TOOK PLACE DURING VIOLENT CLASHES WITH SECURITY FORCES. A TOTAL OF AROUND 418 OF HIS FOLLOWERS ARE NOW THOUGHT TO BE IN DETENTION (SEE UA 262/2006, MDE 13/114/2006, 29 SEPTEMBER 2006: HTTP://WEB.AMNESTY.ORG/LIBRARY/INDEX/ENGMDE131142006?OPEN&OF=ENG-IRN AND FOLLOW-UP, MDE 13/120/2006, 13 OCTOBER 2006:HTTP://WEB.AMNESTY.ORG/LIBRARY/INDEX/ENGMDE131202006?OPEN&OF=ENG-IRN

- expressing concern for the safety of Kianoosh Sanjari;

- asking for clarification of his whereabouts and of the reasons for his arrest, including any charges against him, which should be made public and communicated to him and his lawyer without delay;

- calling for his immediate release if he is not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence;

- calling for him to be granted immediate and unconditional access to his lawyer, family members, and any medical treatment he may require;

- seeking assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated in detention.

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]

OR [email protected]

Fax: + 98 251 774 2228 (mark "FAO the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei")