URGENT ACTION
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/101/2006
12 September 2006
UA 246/06 Fear for safety/ Unfair trial/ Possible prisoner of
conscience
IRAN Reza Abbasi (m), human rights defender
Human rights defender Reza Abbasi, a member of the
Azeri Turkish minority in
Iran (who sometimes refer to themselves as Iranian Azerbaijanis), has been
detained in the city of Zenjan in northwestern
Iran since 27 June, and is at
risk of torture or ill-treatment. His trial, which does not appear to comply
with international fair trial standards, is in progress. He may be a prisoner
of conscience, detained solely on account of the peaceful exercise of his right
to freedom of expression, including his human rights work.
Reza Abbasi is a member of ASMEK (Association for the
Defence of Azerbaijani
Political Prisoners) and of the Alumni Association of
Amukhtegan-e Iran-e Eslami
[Advar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat]), an organization which
has been active in promoting democracy and human rights. He was reportedly
arrested on 27 June, after he refused to comply with a verbal summons to attend
an Intelligence Ministry facility for interrogation. He is believed to be held
in the Central Prison in Zenjan. According to
reports, the Zenjan office of the
Ministry of Intelligence has been harassing Reza Abbasi’s
family, including by
repeatedly summoning his elderly parents for interrogation.
On 5 September, Reza Abbasi reportedly appeared
before Branch One of the
defence lawyer or his family. A second closed session was held on 11
September, this time in the presence of his lawyer, who afterwards reportedly
stated that Reza Abbasi had been questioned about his
activities in various
student organizations and for ASMEK. The charges against him reportedly
include "insulting the Leader [of the Islamic Republic of Iran] " and
"propaganda against the system". The Court is expected to deliver its
verdict
during the next week.
Reza Abbasi's arrest followed widespread
demonstrations in predominantly Azeri
Turkish areas in May 2006 in protest at a cartoon published on 12 May by the
state-owned daily newspaper
arrest was in advance of the annual
thousands of Azeri Turks gather to celebrate the birthday of Babek Khorramdin,
who lived in the ninth century and is regarded as a hero by Iranian Azeri
Turks. These gatherings have frequently met with repression on the part of the
Iranian authorities, and this year the security forces were reported to have
carried out arrests prior to the event, possibly to prevent certain people
attending (for further information see AI Public Statement:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130742006?open&of=ENG-IRN).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Hundreds of people were reportedly arrested during or following the May 2006
demonstrations (see UA 151/06, MDE 13/055/2006, 26 May 2006 and UA 163/06, MDE
13/063/2006, 8 June 2006). Some of those detained have allegedly been tortured,
with some requiring hospital treatment. Publication of the newspaper was
suspended on 23 May and the editor-in-chief and the cartoonist were arrested.
Azeri sources have claimed that dozens were killed and hundreds injured by the
security forces. The security forces have generally denied that anyone was
killed, although on 29 May a police official acknowledged that four people had
been killed and 43 injured in the town of
ASMEK was reportedly founded in 2002. Four of its founding members, including
Reza Abbasi, are said to have been detained in April
2004 in connection with
their activities.
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AI Index: MDE 13/101/2006 |
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12 September 2006 |
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