Iran: Urgent Action for Amir Abbas Fahkravar: Medical Student, Writer and Journalist
Amnesty International URGENT ACTION: FAKHRAVAR
Legal concern/fear for safety/medical concern IRAN
Amir Abbas Fakhravar (also known as Syavash), (m), aged 26
Medical student, writer and journalist
Amir Abbas Fakhravar was beaten in front of Bench 26 of the
Revolutionary Court, in the north of the capital Tehran. He is currently in
Qasr prison, amongst common law prisoners, where he has been denied medical
treatment for severe injuries sustained in court and an existing foot injury.
He had been granted leave from Evin prison in Tehran, when he received a telephone
call from Bench 26 of the Revolutionary Court in North Tehran ordering him to
hear an appeal against his eight year sentence for writing a book which was
critical of the Iranian state.
He was ordered to appear in court on 18 March and his family were threatened in
order to make him appear. When Amir Abbas Fakhravar appeared in court, he was
denied representation by the two lawyers who had represented him on previous
occasions.
After an argument with the judge, he was beaten in front of judges, court
officials and both his parents, before being transferred to prison.
It is thought that Amir Abbas Fakhravar may have been targeted after jointly
writing an open letter to the authorities together with imprisoned student
Ahmad Batebi. In the letter, written on 4 February 2003, the two men criticized
the Iranian government, called for a boycott of all elections and demanded a
fair referendum on the future government of Iran.