Iran must release human rights defender

          
          VA: 32/10 Index: MDE 13/018/2010 Iran
          Date: 05 February 2010
          URGENT
          ACTION
          IRAN MUST RELEASE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
          Human rights defender and journalist Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi was arrested in the west of
          Iran on 3 February by plainclothes officials believed to be Revolutionary Guards. He is a prisoner
          of conscience, held solely for his peaceful human rights activities. His family has not been
          informed of his whereabouts and he is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

          Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi, aged 25, was arrested by seven plainclothes officials at his home in the city of
          Kermanshah, in western Iran. His home was searched and his personal belongings, including his computer and
          documents related to his work, were confiscated. The arresting officials presented him with a warrant that did not
          specify which authority had issued it but accused him of “propaganda against the state”. His family has not been
          informed of his whereabouts.

          Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi is a leading member of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HROK,

          sometimes known as RMMK from its Kurdish name), and a member of the women's rights group, the Campaign for
          Equality, also known as the One Million Signatures Campaign. He is also a journalist for Iranian news website Rooz
          Online, and writes for the HROK and Campaign for Equality websites. He is an active campaigner against the death
          penalty. He reported on the protests against the execution on 11 November 2009 of Ehsan Fattahian, a member of
          Iran's Kurdish minority (see UA: 271/09 Index: MDE 13/119/2009). He was the only journalist who reported on the
          authorities' transfer of Ehsan Fattahian's body for burial in a cemetery in Kermanshah, which took place without the
          knowledge of Ehsan Fattahian's family.

          PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
          Calling on the Iranian authorities to release Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi immediately and unconditionally, as he is
          a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for his human rights activities and the peaceful exercise of his right to
          freedom of expression and association;

          Urging them to disclose his whereabouts immediately, and to ensure that he is protected from torture and other ill-
          treatment, and has access to a lawyer of his own choosing, his family and any medical treatment he may require;
          Reminding the authorities that, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran is
          obliged to uphold the right to freedom of expression and association.

          PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE

          Leader of the Islamic Republic
          Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
          The Office of the Supreme Leader
          Islamic Republic Street— End of
          Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran,
          Islamic Republic of Iran
          Email: info_leader@leader.ir
          via website:
          http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?
          p=letter (English)
          Salutation: Your Excellency_
          19 MARCH 2010 TO:
          Head of the Judiciary
          Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
          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: via website:
          http:llwww.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.a
          px
          First starred box: your given name;
          second starred box: your family name;
          third: your email address
          Salutation: Your Excellency
          And copies to:
          Director, Human Rights Headquarters
          Mohammad Javad Larijani
          Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
          Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of
          Serah-e Jomhuri
          Tehran 1316814737
          Islamic Republic of Iran
          Fax: +98 21 3390 4986
          Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (In subject
          line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
          Salutation: Dear Mr Larijani
          Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
          date.
          AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
        

          
          Date: 05 February 2010
          URGENT ACTION
          IRAN MUST RELEASE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
          The HROK was founded in 2005 and has between 100 and 200 members, though few are now thought to be active. Despite
          HROK's longstanding request for official registration as a non-governmental body, the Iranian authorities have never granted it
          registration. Its founder and Chair, Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, was arrested on 1 July 2007, and sentenced to 11 years'
          imprisonment, comprising 10 years' imprisonment for “acting against state security by establishing the Human Rights
          Organization of Kurdistan (HROK)” and one year's imprisonment for “propaganda against the system”. Amnesty International
          considers him to be a prisoner of conscience.
          The objectives of the HROK include the protection of fundamental rights, notably those set out in the Universal Declaration of
          Human Rights and international conventions; the teaching, dissemination and encouragement of respect towards human rights in
          Kurdistan; and the development of friendly relations between the peoples of Iran based on the principle of equality before law.
          The Campaign for Equality, also known as the One Million Signatures Campaign, is a grassroots women's rights initiative, aimed
          at ending discrimination against women in Iranian law. It was launched in August 2006 with the aim of collecting a million
          signatures of Iranians calling for the reform of legislation which discriminates against women. Over 50 members of the Campaign
          for Equality have been detained for their campaigning activities. For example, Alieh Eghdam-Doust is currently serving a three-
          year prison sentence for her peaceful participation in a 2006 demonstration demanding equal rights for women. Change for
          Equality, the website of the campaign, has been filtered by the Iranian authorities at least 21 times.
          Since the disputed presidential election in June 2009, dozens of people have been killed by security forces using excessive force,
          thousands have been arrested, mostly arbitrarily and many have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated. Well over 180 journalists,
          human rights activists and members of political parties linked to unsuccessful presidential election candidate Mir Hossein
          Mousavi and former President Khatami are reported by opposition Persian news website Jaras to have been detained. They
          include Emaddedin Baghi, recipient of the 2009 Martin Ennals Award, a human rights prize. See UA: 05/10 (Index: MDE
          13/003/2010). Scores have faced unfair trial, including some in mass show trials, with over 80 sentenced to prison terms, and at
          least 12 sentenced to death, although at least one had his sentence commuted to a prison term. Two of these were executed on
          28 January. According to Iranian media reports, Deputy Judiciary Head Ebrahim Raisi said on 1 February that, after the
          execution of two men last week, the nine others will be executed “soon” ,although on 3 February Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Ja'fari
          Dowlatabadi clarified that their sentences were still subject to appeal.. Those sentenced have not been given a fair trial, they
          were denied access to a lawyer in the initial stages of their detention, and some or all appear to have been coerced into giving
          confessions (see http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/shocking-execution-i ran-protesters-
          condemned-20 100128 and http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/n me-risk-execution-over-iran-
          protests-2 0 100202 )
          UA: 32/10 Index: MDE 13/018/2010 Issue Date: 05 February 2010
          AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL