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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/078/2008
5 June 2008
UA 158/08 Fear for safety /
Fear of torture and other ill-treatment / Possible prisoners of conscience
IRAN Hasan Asadi, (or Hesen
Esedi) (m), aged 30 ]
Ali Sadeqi
(or, Eli Sediqi) (m), aged 35 ]
Hojjat
Tarverdian (m) aged 40 ]
Akbar
Hosseinzadeh (m), aged 34 ]
Ahad Razavi (or, Ehed Rezevi),
(m) aged 20 ] Azerbaijani cultural rights activists
Amir
Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq (m) ]
And hundreds of others
The men named above are among
hundreds of people detained since 16 May. There have recently been widespread
demonstrations marking the anniversary of demonstrations against the
publication in May 2006 of a cartoon in a state-run newspaper, which was
considered offensive to a great many Azerbaijanis. They are at risk of torture
or other ill-treatment.Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq and Ahad Razavi (also spelled
as Ehed Rezevi) are said to have been tortured in recent days.
Azerbaijani rights activist Hasan
Asadi (also spelled as Hesen Esedi) disappeared several days before 22 May
2008, the anniversary of the demonstrations. Family members are reported to
have no information regarding his whereabouts and have been threatened if the
authorities were to learn of attempts to bring his case to public attention.
Nevertheless, they have decided to seek publicity. Hasan Asadi previously spent
several months in detention in 2007, during which time he was tortured.
Ali Sadeqi (also spelled as Eli
Sediqi) was arrested by security officials at his place of work in the city of
Tabriz around midday on 16 May. Searching his place of work, security officials
found leaflets about demonstrations marking the anniversary of the original
2006 demonstrations against the publication of the cartoon. The officials then
searched Ali Sadeqi's house without a warrant, and removed personal items including
computer, books, CDs and posters. According to the Canada-based Association for
the Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP), searches of his
house continued until 22 May. On 22 May, Ali Sadeqi's family discovered that he
is being held incommunicado at the Ministry of Intelligence’s Bagh-e Shomal
facility in Tabriz. It is not known whether he has been charged with any
offence.
Hojjat Tarverdian was arrested at
the start of a demonstration held in Tabriz on 21 May. Demonstrators were
attacked by security officials and beaten. Officials sprayed an eye irritant
into the faces of demonstrators and while many participants fled, Hojjat
Tarverdian was taken away. On or around 27 May family members were informed
that he is held at the Ministry of Intelligence’s Bagh-e Shomal facility in
Tabriz. There are no known charges against him.
Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq, and
Ahad Razavi (also spelled as Ehed Rezevi) were arrested at their homes while
printing leaflets related to the anniversary of the publication of the cartoon.
According to detainees recently released from detention centres under control
of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz, Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq and Ahad
Razavi have been tortured and are in immediate need of medical treatment. The
continual beating of Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq has aggravated an exisiting leg
injury. The released detaineesclaim that he is in severe pain, and that
Ministry of Intelligence officials have refused him access to medical
treatment.
Akbar Hosseinzadeh was arrested
in the evening of 19 May at his shop in Tabriz. Witnesses reported to the ADAPP
that four members of the intelligence services of the Revolutionary Guard
entered the shop, ordered customers out and proceeded to search the premises.
They took at least four computers, various CDs, books and papers, arresting
Akbar Hosseinzadeh at the same time. Following his arrest, family members
attempted to locate him, without success.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Iranian Azerbaijanis, who are
mainly Shi’a Muslims, are recognized as the largest minority in Iran and are
generally believed to constitute between 25-30 percent of the population. They
are located mainly in the north and north-west of Iran. Although generally
well-integrated into society, in recent years, they have increasingly called
for greater cultural and linguistic rights, such as the right to education
through the medium of the Azerbaijani Turkic language, which they believe is
provided for under the Constitution, and to celebrate Azerbaijani culture and
history at cultural events. However, these demands have often been suppressed
by the Iranian authorities.
In May 2006, widespread
demonstrations took place in mainly Azerbaijani north-western towns and cities
of Iran in protest at the publication in a state run newspaper of a cartoon
offensive to Azerbaijanis. Hundreds, if not thousands, were arrested and scores
reportedly killed by the security forces, although official sources downplayed
the scale of arrests and killings. On the anniversaries of the 2006
demonstrations, hundreds of Azerbaijanis have taken to the streets to emphasise
and assert their cultural identity as Azerbaijanis.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please
send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Turkish, Persian or
your own language:
- urging the authorities to
ensure that Azerbaijani rights activists Hasan Asadi, Ali Sadeqi, Hojjat
Tarverdian, Akbar Hosseinzadeh,
Ahad Razavi and Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq
are not facing torture or ill treatment;
- urging the authorities to allow
the six individuals immediate and regular access to their family and a lawyer
of his choice, and to any medical treatment they may require;
- reminding the authorities that
the use of confessions extracted under duress is prohibited by Article 38 of
the constitution of Iran
- calling on the authorities to
release all those detained since 16 May unless they are to be charged with a
recognizably criminal offence and given a prompt and fair trial. If held solely
on account of their peaceful activities organizing demonstrations or supporting
greater cultural rights for Iranian Azerbaijanis, then they should be released
immediately and unconditionally.
APPEALS TO:
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second
Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
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: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
(In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Parliamentary representatives for
Tabriz, Azar Shahr and Oskou
Ali Reza Manadi Safidiyan,
Shoukour Akbarnejad and Masoud Pezeshkiyan
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami,
Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21
3355 6408
and to diplomatic representatives
of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending
appeals after 17 July 2008.
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