EXTERNAL AI Index: MDE 13/03/97
9 January 1997
Further information (6) on UA 266/95 (MDE 13/37/96, 26/11/96) and follow-ups
MDE 13/03/96, 22 March; MDE 13/20/96, 26 June; MDE 13/32/96, 20 August; MDE
13/37/96, 21 November) - Fear of Torture /Legal Concern /Fear of death penalty
IRAN Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Mohammad Taqi Dhakeri
Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Mohammad Fazel Mohammad al-Saffar - RELEASED
Hojjatoleslam Fu'ad Fujian
Mohammad Ghaffari - RELEASED
Hadi Dhakeri
Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Sayed Morteza Shirazi - RELEASED TEMPORARILY
Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Saleh Hedayati
Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mehdi Shirazi (brother of Sayed Morteza) - RELEASED
TEMPORARILY
and 7 others
Amnesty International has learned that Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Mohammad
Fazel Mohammad al-Saffar was released from detention on 4 January 1997, and
that Mohammad Ghaffari was released on 30 October 1996.
According to reports, Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Sayed Morteza Shirazi was
released temporarily on 1 January 1997 and his brother, Sayed Mehdi, was released
temporarily on 28 December 1996. It is not known whether any date has been
set for their return to detention. Sayed Mehdi Shirazi is said to be ill,
with bladder damage, the failure of one kidney, memory loss and permanent
vertigo. Amnesty International fears that both may be at risk of being taken
back into detention, particularly as Sayed Morteza Shirazi was previously
released for less than 48 hours.
There is still no information as to the fate of seven students arrested on
12 November 1995. Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Mohammad Taqi Dhakeri,
Hojjatoleslam Fu'ad Fujian, Hadi Dhakeri and Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Saleh
Hedayati are still held in detention. Their legal status remains unclear.
Amnesty International is concerned that those detained may be held solely on
account of their relationship to, or their peaceful support for, Grand Ayatollah
Shirazi. If so, they would be prisoners of conscience, and should be released
immediately and unconditionally. In any event, they should be allowed regular
access to family members and to lawyers of their choice. In addition, the
organization is concerned that these men, and others who have since been
released, have been tortured, and that if they are tried and convicted some
could face the death penalty.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/
airmail letters in English, French or in your own language:
- welcoming the release of Hojjatoleslam val muslimin Mohammad Fazel Mohammad
al-Saffar and Mohammad Ghaffari;
- seeking clarification of the legal situation of those who have been temporarily
released;
- seeking details of the legal status of all those who remain in detention
including full details of all the charges and evidence against them and details
of any trial proceedings, judgements and sentences;
- urging that those remaining in detention be released if not promptly and
fairly tried on recognizably criminal charges; any prisoners of conscience
should be released immediately and unconditionally.