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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/039/2001
UA 242/01 Medical negligence/prisoner of conscience 21 September 2001
IRAN Abbas Amir Entezam (m), aged 68
Prisoner of conscience, Abbas Amir Entezam, who has recently been diagnosed with a severe prostate infection, haemorrhaging and scrotal oedema (swelling) has been denied urgent medical care by the authorities at Evin prison, Tehran. This treatment has been called by both his own and the court-approved "legal doctor".
Abbas Amir Entezam was given a temporary release from Evin prison last month for treatment which he received over a period of 24 days. On Sunday 16 September 2001 he was reportedly taken from hospital and forced to return to Evin prison. In this course of this week, his family has tried unsuccessfully to have him returned to hospital to continue the treatment which was disrupted.
Prison authorities are only allowing his wife to visit him, saying that as he is not facing charges, he has no need to see his lawyer.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Abbas Amir Entezam is Iran's longest serving prisoner of conscience. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 1980 after an unfair trial lasting only minutes. In 1998 he was charged with defamation, though the prison authorities would not release him to attend the trial, despite the judge's reportedly specific request. The charges were later dropped and even though his bail was reportedly paid, he was never released. In February 1999, a re-trial was set to review these charges. The International Commission of Jurors's request to send an observer to the trial was reportedly denied. The case was then referred back to the Revolutionary Court, which has not set a date for a third trial.
Over the last year and as recently as three months ago judicial officials reportedly told Abbas Amir Entezam that if he were to sign a confession with statements stating that he spied for the United States, and if he asked for a pardon, that it would be given. In reply, Abbas Amir Entezam is reported to have replied that he had spent 22 years in prison following an unfair trial and that all he wanted was a fair and open retrial.
On Sunday July 18, 1999, his wife, Elahe Mizani was arrested and spent 20 days in solitary confinement. She was released following interrogation and on condition that she would 'remain silent'. No trial date has been set.
(See GULRAN 1/99: MDE 13/005/99, 8 March 1999.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, French or your own language:
- urging the authorities to grant permission for Abbas Amir Entezam to receives prompt and full medical care as recommended by doctors;
- urging the judiciary to arrange a fully open and fair trial for Abbas Amir
Entezam, in accordance with international standards for fair trial;
- calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Abbas Amir Entezam if a fair and open trial is not forthcoming, since he is a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for the non-violent expression of his conscientiously held beliefs.
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