‘Ala’ al-Saftawi, who was arrested on 6 February 1995 with five other colleagues from Istiqlal newspaper, was released on 2 March on the orders of the mukhabarat (security police). He had not been charged, given access to a lawyer or brought before a judge. His colleagues remain in detention. AI is concerned at the lack of legal procedure in these arrests and detention. At least 47 people reportedly remain in detention without charge.
