URGENT ACTION

Iran/Syria: Further information on Forcible return/Fear of torture and ill-treatment

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/107/2006
25 September 2006

Further Information on UA 132/06 (MDE 24/037/2006, 15 May 2006; MDE
24/041/2006, 2 June 2006; and MDE 13/091/2006, 11 August 2006) – Forcible
return/Fear of torture and ill-treatment

IRAN/SYRIA Faleh ‘Abdullah al-Mansuri (m), aged 60, President of the
Ahwazi Liberation Organisation (ALO), Dutch national
Rasool Mezrea’ (m), ALO member
Taher ‘Ali Mezrea’ (m), aged 40
Jamal ‘Obeidawi (m), aged 34, student and Chair of Ahwazi Student Union in Syria

According to reports, Faleh ‘Abdullah al-Mansuri may be held in Karoon Prison
in Ahvaz city, in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. However the
whereabouts of the three other men, Rasool Mezrea', Jamal ‘Obeidawi and Taher
‘Ali Mezrea' is unclear. Amnesty International remains concerned that all four
men are at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

The four men were arrested by Political Security officers in the Syrian
capital, Damascus, on 11 May 2006 and were reportedly held incommunicado at an
unknown location. Reports at the beginning of August suggested that they were
all forcibly returned from Syria to Iran on 16 May. The forcible return of
Dutch national Faleh ‘Abdullah al-Mansuri, previously a recognized refugee, has
been confirmed by the Syrian authorities and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. However the Syrian authorities have not confirmed the return of the
other three men and it now appears possible that they remain in detention in
Syria in an undisclosed location.

On 15 September 2006, during a press briefing in Geneva, the spokesman of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ron Redmond, expressed
concern about the fate of three Iranian Arabs, believed to be Rasool Mezrea',
Jamal ‘Obeidawi and Taher ‘Ali Mezrea', who, prior to their detention, had been
recognized as refugees by UNHCR and had been accepted for resettlement in
Western European countries. Ron Redmond added that the Syrian authorities had
promised to give UNHCR staff access to the three men several times, but so far
they have not been able to visit the men despite numerous requests.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Much of Iran's Arab community lives in the province of Khuzestan which borders
Iraq. Following mass demonstrations in April 2005, and bombings which took
place in Ahvaz city in June and October 2005 and in January 2006, hundreds have
been arrested and there have been reports of torture and at least two men were
executed following unfair trials. At least 13 Iranian Arabs are reportedly
under sentence of death, apparently having been designated as "mohareb" (at
enmity with God). The charges against some or all of them include involvement
in the bombings, distributing material against the state, and endangering state
security. Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of
governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but is
unconditionally opposed to the death penalty as the ultimate violation of the
right to life.

Syria is a State Party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which prohibits the return
of any individual to a country where they would be at risk of torture or
ill-treatment.

HOME