Urgent Action 7-2-09

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

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http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
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http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa17509.pdf

Note: Please write on behalf of these persons even though you may not have received the original UA when issued on June 29, 2009. Thanks!

2 July 2009

Further Information on UA 108/09 (29 June 2009) – Fear of torture

IRAN Mohammad Mostafaei (m), human rights lawyer

Mohammad Mostafaei, an Iranian lawyer and human rights defender, has been released on bail. He is accused of “conspiring against state security” and “propaganda against the system”. Mohammad Mostafaei is likely to face prosecution and if imprisoned he would be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his human rights activities and the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association.

Mohammad Mosatafaei was released from section 209 of Evin prison in the Iranian capital, Tehran on 1 July after the payment of one billion Iranian rials (approximately US$ 102,000). Mohammad Mostafaei was arrested in Tehran on 25 June by plainclothes security officials. He was told he is
accused of “conspiring against state security” and “propaganda against the system”. Following his release Mohammad Mostafaei expressed his gratitude and thanked all those who campaigned for his release, stating: “My imprisonment made me more determined than ever to stand firmly for human rights”.

Mohammad Mostafaei is a human rights lawyer who is 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.

BACKGROUND 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 have also been detained. On 16 June lawyer and human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani, was also arrested and detained (please see UA 160/09, 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 and Ardeshir Amir Arjomand who is a professor of law at Shahid Beheshti University. 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.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- welcoming the release of Mohammad Mostafaei;
- seeking specific details of the reasons for his arrest and any legal proceedings he might be facing;
- calling on the authorities to end the harassment of human rights defenders in Iran;
- stating that if he is again detained solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association and his human rights activities, Amnesty International will consider him to be a prisoner of conscience.

APPEALS 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) OR
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

COPIES TO:

Iranian Bar Association
No. 3, Zagros St.,
Argentina Sq.,
Tehran,
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Fax: 011 98 21 8771340 OR 011 98 21 888 6425 OR 011 98 21 888 6426
Email: tamas@iranbar.org OR mail@iranbar.org

Iran does not presently have an embassy in the United States. Instead, please send copies to:

Iranian Interests Section
2209 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
Fax: 1 202 965 1073
Email: requests@daftar.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 13 August 2009.

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This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal.

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Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.544.0200
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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