URGENT ACTION
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/096/2006
18 August 2006
Further Information on UA 165/06 (MDE 13/065/2006, 09 June 2006) Fear for
safety/ fear of torture and ill-treatment
IRAN Abed Tavancheh (m), student and web logger
Yashar Qajar (m), student
Student activist, Abed Tavancheh who was arrested
during or following the May
student demonstrations that took place in Tehran, was reportedly released on
bail on 11 July. Fellow activist Yashar Qajar was released on bail the
following day, 12 July. Bail for both men was set at 500 million Rials (about
US$57,000) and they are expected to face trial in the future. The exact nature
of the charges is not yet known.
Both men had phoned their respective families on 5 June and said that they were
held in Evin Prison. Prior to his phone call, Abed Tavancheh, a student at
with his family and friends since 26 May and could not be reached on his mobile
phone.
Yashar Qajar is the head of
the Islamic Students’ Association (ISA) at
whilst leaving the university. His arrest reportedly took place the day after
the release of a letter written by the ISA addressed to the Office of the
Supreme Leader’s representative in
on the Rooz website, the letter stated: "The
actions of the current cultural
directors of the university have sparked angry reactions among students,"
and
that "restricting the activities of the arts and cultural centres, the
unfair
distribution of opportunities, the implementation of unreasonable policies on
campuses, and the increasing pressures on independent student
publications"
were among the students’ grievances.
Two of
students and police during the night on 23 May 2006. Students in a number of
university campuses across
May 2006 and on several occasions clashed with the police from which injuries
(including of police) and arrests were reported.
A variety of issues prompted the protests. The protests at Tehran University
were reportedly against the recent appointment of new university heads and the
forced retirement of nine professors and in support of the students in Amir
Kabir University who, in turn, were protesting against
the intervention of
members of the Basij volunteer force in the election
for members of the Islamic
Student Association which operates on campus. In the city of
of
the daily state-owned newspaper
Turkish community (who refer to themselves as Iranian Azerbaijanis). The
newspaper was suspended on 23 May and the editor in chief and the cartoonist
arrested.