Iran urged to release lawyer imprisoned for criticizing juvenile’s execution

          
          Iran urged to release lawyer inçrisoned for crificith g juvenile's execufion.. lttp://wwwanimstyorg/en'news-and-updates/iran.urged-release-lawyer..
          AMNESTY
          I NIERNATI ONAL ________________________
          In your country:
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          Iran urged to release lawyer inçrisoned for crificith g juvenile's execufion ,. lttp://wwwammstyorg/en'news-and-updates/iran.urged-release-lawyer..
          Mohammad Olyaeifard was sentenced to one
          year in prison
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          execution
          IRAN URGED TO RELEASE LAWYER
          IMPRISONED FOR CRITICIZING
          JUVENILE'S EXECUTION
          6 May 2010
          Amnesty
          International
          has urged the
          Iranian
          authorities to
          release a
          human rights
          lawyer who
          was arrested
          after speaking
          out against the execution of one of his clients during
          interviews with international media.
          Mohammad Olyaeifard was detained on 1 May on charges of
          “propaganda against the system” to begin serving a one-year
          jail term. His lawyers have not been informed of his sentence,
          in violation of Iranian law.
          Before his arrest, Mohammad Olyaeifard said that he had
          been convicted because of an interview he gave to Voice of
          America's Persian Service shortly after his client, juvenile
          offender Behnoud Shojaee, was hanged for a murder he
          committed when he was 17 years old.
          ‘The arrest of Mohammad Olyaeifard sends a chilling
          message to lawyers in Iran that if they dare to denounce
          abuses or miscarriages of justice they will face reprisals,” said
          Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East
          and North Africa Deputy Director.
          “All he did was point out to the world that — for the 45th time
          since 1 990 - Iran violated international law by executing
          someone for a crime committed when under 18.
          “Mohammad Olyaeifard has been imprisoned solely for the
          peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and he
          must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
          Shortly after his interviews, Mohammad Olyaeifard was
          summoned for questioning on the basis of a complaint
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          27/07 2010 14:08
        

          
          Iran urged to release lawyer in'çrisoned for crificith' g juvenile's execufion.. http://wwwammsty.org/en'news-and-updates/iran.urged-release-lawyer...
          brought against him by the Tehran Prosecutor and in
          November 2009 he was briefly arrested and charged before
          being released on bail equivalent to about US$50,000.
          He was then sentenced to one year in prison on 7 February
          2010 by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
          He was arrested a second time on 8 March 2010 but was
          released six days later as his lawyers had not been informed
          of his sentence.
          His lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, told Deutsche Welles Persian
          service that Mohammad Olyaeifard was rearrested on 1 May
          when he went to the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to meet a
          court official. He is now held in Section 350 of Evin Prison.
          Mohammad Olyaeifard, who has defended many prisoners of
          conscience and juvenile offenders — those sentenced to
          death for crimes committed when under the age of 18, has
          previously been targeted for his work. He was once
          interrogated and accused of “propagating lies” for
          condemning the torture of one of his clients, while he has
          been a vocal critic of Iran's executions of juvenile offenders.
          Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to
          ensure that while imprisoned, he is granted access to his
          family and lawyers and to adequate medical care. Mohammad
          Olyaeifard requires regular medication for severe migraines
          and fainted on 4 March.
          The Iranian authorities have intensified the already severe
          restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran since the
          disputed presidential election last June, arresting politicians
          and activists, students, human rights defenders and
          journalists, as well as lawyers such as Mohammad Ali
          Dadkhah, Abdolfattah Soltani and Mohammad Mostafaei,
          although all were later freed on bail.
          The arrest of Mohammad Olyaeifard follows attempts by the
          Iranian authorities to undermine the independence of the
          Iranian Bar Association, including by barring candidates from
          standing for election to senior positions.
          ‘This latest move of the Iranian authorities is an indication of
          the expanding realm of repression in Iran. It shows that no
          group is immune. The authorities are seeking to silence
          anyone who is criticizing them. Human rights organizations
          and their members, journalists, opposition figures, students
          and women's rights defenders have been targeted. It is now
          the turn of lawyers”, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.
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          Iran urged to release lawyer inçrisoned for crificith g juvenile's execufion.. lttp://wwwammstyorg/en'news-and-updates/iran.urged-release-lawyer..
          The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers not only
          state that lawyers must be allowed to carry out their work
          “without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper
          interference” but also expressly recognizes that they are
          entitled to freedom of expression, which includes “the right to
          take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law,
          the administration of justice and the promotion and protection
          of human rights”.
          Fran cais Españo l
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