ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL
Farzad Haghshenas, an environmental activist and member of the NGO, Sabzchia (The Green Mountain Society), was released on bail on 1 October.
A member of the Kurdish minority in Iran, Farzad Haghshenas, 35, was released from the Marivan Intelligence detention facility in Kordestan Province, north-western Iran, after the payment of about 520 million rials bail (about US$ 50,000). Throughout his detention he was held in solitary confinement. He is likely to face prosecution in the future.
Farzad Haghshenas was arrested on 18 May in front of his confectionary shop in Marivan by members of the Ministry of Intelligence. No reason was given for his arrest, and it is not known whether he has been charged.
Farzad Haghshenas is a member of the environmental NGO Sabzchia (The Green Mountain Society), whose objective is to ensure that the countryside around Marivan is kept clean.
No further action is required. The team will continue to monitor the situation. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.
This is the first update of UA 195/11. Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/062/2011/en
Name: Farzad Haghshenas
Gender m/f: male
Further information on UA: 195/11 Index: MDE 13/092/2011 Issue Date: 14 October 2011