Document - Iran: "Disappearance" / torture / ill-treatment, Manuchehr Mohammadi
PUBLIC AI Index MDE 13/015/2003
UA 181/03 “Disappearance” / torture / ill-treatment 20 June 2003
IRAN Manuchehr Mohammadi (m) - student activist and political prisoner
Amnesty International is gravely concerned for the safety of Manuchehr Mohammadi who has reportedly been ill-treated by officials from the Revolutionary Guard. His current whereabouts are unknown, as he has reportedly been removed from Band or Section 3of Evin prison in Tehran on or around 17 June. He had only just returned to the prison following a six day temporary leave.
Shortly after his arrival, Manuchehr Mohammadi was reportedly ill-treated by officials from the Revolutionary Guard. He has been ordered to appear on television, where he is to state that he will not undertake any further political action and that the student group to which he is affiliated, the National Union of Students and Graduates (Ettehadiyeh Melli-ye Daneshjouyan va Fareqoltahsilan-e Iran) has been “dissolved”.
Manuchehr Mohammadi was reportedly beaten by officials from the Revolutionary Guard who angrily criticised media interviews he had given by telephone during his temporary leave between 11 and 17 June. The interviews were transmitted by one radio and one television station run by Iranian citizens based in the United States, who are opposed to the Iranian government. In these interviews, Manuchehr Mohammadi reportedly stated that the youth of Iran and its people must struggle for freedom and democracy and that this must be done without blood letting (khounrizi) or violence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Manuchehr Mohammadi was arrested on 13 July 1999 in connection with his participation in large student demonstrations held to protest press laws limiting freedom of expression and the closure of the newspaper Salam (Peace). He was reportedly held incommunicado detention, ill treated and, on 19 and 26 July 1999, was forced to appear on Iranian state television "confessing" to his involvement with "counter-revolutionary agents"(See UA 170/99, AI Index: MDE 13/19/99, 20 July 1999). Amnesty International is concerned that these "confessions" may have been extracted under duress. (SeeUA 160/99, MDE 13/14/99, 4 November 1999). On 28 October 1999, Manuchehr Mohammadi was reportedly sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in connection with the student demonstrations following a trial whose procedures fell far short of international standards. In November 1999, his sentence was reduced by Bench 21 of the Tehran Appeal Court to seven years.
The National Union of Students and Graduates is also known in Persian as the Anjoman-e Daneshjuyan va Daneshamukhtegan Melli, or National Association of Students and Graduates.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, French or your own language:
- respectfully urging the authorities to ensure that Manuchehr Mohammadi will not be ill treated or tortured while in detention in line with Article 7 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Iran is a state party. It states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment”;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that Manuchehr Mohammadi’s family is promptly informed of his whereabouts, providing unconditional access to him and medical care if required;
- requesting a judicial review of the manner of Manuchehr Mohammadi’s arrest, conditions of pre-trial detention and trial, to ensure that the administration of justice with respect to his case fully adheres to international standards.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed >Ali Khamenei,
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegram: His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: webmaster@wilayah.org (on the subject line write: For the attention of the office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei, Qom)
Salutation: Your Excellency
President
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val Moslemin Sayed Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegram: His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val Moslemin Sayed Mohammad Khatami, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: khatami@president.ir(please resend your message if it does not get through the first time)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegram: Head of the Judiciary,Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 879 6671 (unreliable; please mark "care of Director of International Affairs, Judiciary")
Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com(Public Relations Office of Judiciary; please mark for the attention of HE Ayatollah Shahrudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
His Excellency Kamal Kharrazi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 390 1999 (unreliable; please mark "care of the Human Rights Department, Foreign Ministry)
Salutation: Your Excellency
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 1 August 2003.