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Urgent Action Update - Siamak Pour vd
12 December 2001
Further information on UA 298/01 (M'DE 13/04612001, 27 November 2001) -
Dis.apjpeaxa'n:ce/possib'Ie.extr judicial execution
IRAN SiamakPourzand (m') intellectual and manager of the
Majmiu:e-ye Farhangi-ye Hona ri-ye ijeLtran (Teh ran Cultural Centre)
It appears that Siamak Pourzand was arrested aifier he leifi his sister's house in central
Tehr ta on 24 November.. OEere has not. been, as far as Amnesty international is
aware, offcial acknowledgement that he is in custody.
On 7 tL)eceniber his sister, ‘Mahin P urzand . was repoitedly told to bring a c1ia ge of
ck t.lnes for him. to the Ostad tah wi Street. offlec t& Comi ii ttee for P pag Li xi .
of Virtue and Prohbit oi o Vice. WFen she asked. where her brother was and what.
he had been charged wiII, she was re portedl told tt t. i..t was none of her business..
This ogaoesati:on maintains discipline on matters of mo .raIity , such as. dress x.des ‘
I P ” of alcoi o1 ar I mixirg of the sexes..
On 10 December an Iranian television station based in the United States broadcast an
interview with one o.f'his daughters, Banafsh h Zand. A student reportedly called the
station aifierwards arid said he had seen Sian ak Pourzand “last week” at the
Eshratabad prison, in north central Tehran. He apparently told them that Siamak
Pourzand was “clean” and in good health.
Amnesty International wrote to the Head of the Judiciary on the same day, seeking
urgent clariffication of the fate of Siamak Pourzand.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as
quickly as possible, in English, French or your own language:
- urging the I-lead of the Judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence to reveal where
and when Siamak Pourzand was arrested, and to make public where he is detained
and what charges he faces;
- expressing concern that he appears to be a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely
for the peaceful expression of his beliefs;
-urging the authorities that, unless he is to be charged with an internationally
recognised criminal oLence, Sian-iak Pourzand should be released immediately and
unconditionafry;
- reminding the authorities of their obligations under Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that: “Everyone shaft have the
right to ffleedom of expression; this right shall include ffleedorn to seek, receive and
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impart infovrnatitin and ideas of aft kinds, regardless of fflontiers., eithet orafry, in
writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any ether m di of bis choice.”
APPEALS TO:
Leader of t .1 s t iarri Republic:
His Excefrbncy Ayatollah S'ayed ‘Au Khamenei,
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue,
Azerballan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegra!m5: Ayatollah Khamenei, Tehran, Iran
Sakitat:ion: Your Excellency
Presid iat.
His Excefrency Ho jato1e.siasn val Moslemin Sayed Moh .arnmad Khatami
The Pr esidency, Palestine Avenue
AzerFa:ijan Intersection, TII.tan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Presidei t Khatarni, Tehran, Iran
E-mail: khatarni president.ir
Salutation: Your .xce-1lency
Head of the Judiciary
His Excefrency Ayatoftah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Head of Judiciary, Tehran, Iran
Faxes: + 98 21 879 6671 (number may be unreliable; please mark “care of
Director of International Affairs, Judiciary”)
Salutation: Your Excellency
M .i iig
His Excefrency Hojjatoleslam ‘Au Yoanesi
Second Negarestan Street
Pasdaran Avenue
Tehran., Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Intelligence Minister, Tehran, Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Minister of Foreign . Affairs,
His Excefrency Kamal Kharrazi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolinajid Keshk-e Mesri Av
Tebran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Foreign ALairs Minister, Tebran, Iran
Faxes: + 98 21 390 1999 (number may be unreliable; please mark “care of
the Human Rights Department, Foreign Ministry)
Salutation: Your Excellency
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Mohsen M.ir IIrn&ii Najafabadi
Article 90 Commission (Kormsyon-e Asl-e Navad), M j1es-e hura-ye Eslami, Jrnar ,
Khomeini Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegra .m Majies, Tehran, Iran
Z142 32 ICAI IR
+ 98 21 646 1746 (Can be diff cult to reach, please be patient)
Sahitation: Dear Sir
PLEASE SEND APPE.ALS il tMEDI.ATELY. Check with the international
Secretariat, or your sec tion aLl e, ifjscndihg appeals affier 23 January 2002
ci
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