Source: Amnesty International
Amir
Yaghoub-Ali, an active member of the
men's committee of the Campaign for Equality, was arrested on 11 July in
Tehran. He had
been collecting signatures in support of the Campaign, which aims to collect one
million signatures from Iranians in support of an end to legalised
discrimination against women. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of
conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of
expression. Since his arrest he has been permitted to telephone his relatives once.
Amir
Yaghoub-Ali is a student at
Tehran's Allameh
Tabataba’i University, but was suspended from his studies at the time of his
arrest, because of his student activism.
On 12 July,
his 20th birthday, a Revolutionary Court judge issued a 48-hour
detention order. He should have been released on 14 July, but remained in
custody; on 15 July he was transferred to Section 209 of Evin Prison in
Tehran, which is
run by the Ministry of Intelligence.
The Campaign website (http://www.wechange.info/english/spip.php?article110 ) quoted Ali’s mother as saying, "Mr Sobhani, the judge, informed us
that there are 11 charges against Ali, and that he would have to remain in Evin
prison until these charges are investigated. I asked the judge what exactly
these charges were. My daughter asked what illegal activity has he engaged in?
Is collection of signatures illegal?"
The judge
reportedly replied, "We are not
concerned with its legal or illegal nature. We have to see what the 'leaning'
and intent of his activities were. Amir is a man, why has he concerned himself
with the activities of women? He should go and focus on his
studies."
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
The Campaign for Equality was launched in August 2006. So far, 13 of its
members have been arrested while collecting signatures, an activity which is not
forbidden under Iranian law.
Several students who have recently been released from Section 209 of Evin
Prison have alleged that they were tortured or ill-treated there. This included
severe beatings, solitary confinement in confined spaces, food and sleep
deprivation, and being forced to stand or do strenuous exercise for long
periods.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals
to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian etc or your own
language:
- expressing concern that Amir
Yaghoub-Ali has been detained simply for collecting signatures in support of the
Campaign for Equality;
-
urging the authorities to release Amir Yaghoub-Ali immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner
of conscience, detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of
expression;
- asking the authorities to ensure that,
while he remains in custody, he is protected from torture and
ill-treatment.
APPEALS
TO:
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi
Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran,
Islamic Republic
of Iran
Salutation: Your
Excellency
Email:
info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line: FAO Ayatollah
Shahroudi)
Fax:
+98 21 3390
4986 (please keep
trying, if the called is answered, you should say ‘fax
please’)
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation:
Your
Excellency
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme
Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust
Street
Tehran, Islamic
Republic of
Iran
Email:
info@leader.ir
istiftaa@wilayah.org
Salutation: Your
Excellency
COPIES TO: diplomatic
representatives of Iran accredited to your
country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS
IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if
sending appeals after 6 September 2007.
... Payvand News - 7/31/07 ...
