Amnesty International Urgent Action Request
|
Mohammad Mostafaei |
Human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei was arrested on 25 June,
probably in relation to his human rights activities and his peaceful exercise of
the right to freedom of expression and association after the disputed
re-election of President Ahmadinejad.
Mohammad Mostafaei is a prisoner of conscience. He is at risk of torture.
Mohammad Mostafaei
was arrested in Tehran on 25 June by plainclothes officials, while he was away
from his home with his wife and daughter. The officials searched the family home
and Mohammad Mostafaei's office, and then took him away. His whereabouts remain
unknown since his arrest.
Mohammad Mostafaei
is a human rights lawyer who is best known for his campaigning against the
execution in Iran of people convicted of crimes committed when they were under
the age of 18. He is representing at least 25 juveniles sentenced to death for
such crimes.
| related story:
Debate Over Child Executions Roils Iran's Presidential Vote
By Farnaz Fassihi, Wall Street
Journal
TEHRAN, Iran -- The day before two of
his young clients were to be hanged, lawyer Mohamad Mostafaei went
to a Justice Ministry office here to request a stay of execution.
Mr. Mostafaei's errand should have
been routine, if solemn: He represents 30 of the 135 criminals under
the age of 18 on Iran's death row. Instead, he says, he was detained
and grilled for an hour and a half, part of Iran's widening
crackdown on human-rights activists.
"Anything can happen to you at any
time," said Mr. Mostafaei, 34 years old. A Justice Ministry
spokesman said the mid-May incident wasn't a detention, and that Mr.
Mostafaei was merely asked the purpose of his visit. (read the
full story) |
PLEASE WRITE
IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
-
calling on the authorities to release Mohammad Mostafaei immediately and
unconditionally, if he has been arrested solely for his human rights activities
and the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association, and is therefore a prisoner of
conscience;
-
urging them to allow him immediate access to his family, a lawyer of his choice
and any medical treatment he may require, and ensure that he is protected from
all forms of torture or other ill-treatment;
-
calling on the authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations by those who wish to
express their opinions on the elections to take place.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE
10 August 2009 TO:
Leader
of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The
Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic
Republic Street - End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic
of Iran
Email:
info_leader@leader.ir
via website:
http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter
(English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter
(Persian)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of
the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh
Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur
St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic
Republic of Iran
Email:
shahroudi@dadgostary-tehran.ir
(In
the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
And
copies to:
Iranian
Bar Association
No. 3,
Zagros St.,
Argentina Sq.,
Tehran,
Islamic
Reppublic of Iran
Fax:
+98 21 8771340
or
+98 21 888 6425/ 26
Email:
tamas@iranbar.org
or
mail@iranbar.org
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to
your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals
after the above date
Additional Information
Since the
announcement on 13 June that President Ahmadinejad had won the previous day's
presidential election, which hundreds of thousands of Iranians dispute, the
Iranian authorities have imposed draconian restrictions on freedom of
expression, association and assembly. Access
to the internet has been blocked or significantly interrupted. Iranian
publications have been banned from publishing information about the nationwide
unrest since the result was declared. Foreign journalists have been banned from
the streets, and some foreign reporters have been expelled from the country.
Scores of people
are reported to have been arrested across the country, including prominent
political figures close to either Mir Hossein Mousavi, fellow presidential
candidate Mehdi Karroubi or former President Khatami, who supported Mir Hossein
Mousavi's campaign. Some human rights defenders, as well as journalists who are
also members of political parties or who campaigned on behalf of opposition
presidential candidates, have also been detained. On 16 June lawyer and human
rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani, was also arrested and detained
(please see UA 160/09, MDE 13/059/2009, 19 June 2009:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/059/2009/en).
On 24
June, 70 academics met leading opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, and
were arrested as they left his office. All but four were later released. Those
still detained include the head of Mir Hossein Mousavi's election campaign, Dr
Ghorban Behzadian. Hundreds of others have been arrested during demonstrations
against the outcome of the election which have been met with excessive use of
force. Many have been beaten and, according to the authorities, up to 21 have
been killed, although the true number is likely to be higher.
See Also the
Facebook
page created for for
Mohammad Mostafaei
... Payvand News - 06/30/09 ... --
