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Update by Amnesty International On Ali Afshari, Students leader , Mehraangiz
Kar, Human Rights Activist & Shahla Lahij, Publisher , The Jailed Attendants of Berlin conference
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/017/2001
22 May 2001
Further information on UA 103/00 (MDE 13/20/00, 3 May 2000) and follow-up
(MDE 13/16/00, 6 July 2000, MDE 13/34/00, 18 December 2000, MDE 13/005/2001, 17 January 2001) - ill-treatment/prisoners of
conscience/medical concern
IRAN Ali Afshari (m), student representative
Mehrangiz Kar (f), lawyer
Shahla Lahiji (f), publisher
Student leader Ali Afshari appeared on Iranian state television on 16 May,
reportedly at his own request, and without his lawyer present, "confessing"
to a plot to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran, and apologizing to the
Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali
Khamenei for his "mistakes". According to some press reports he looked "pale and strained", and despite official denials it appears that he may
have "confessed" under duress.
Ali Afshari's "confession" was broadcast even though he is yet to be charged or brought to trial. He has been in temporary detention for around
160 days and is still said to be held incommunicado, without access to his
lawyer. He has [apparently] not been allowed medical assistance, although he is in poor health.
Amnesty International considers that the televised "confession" of Ali Afshari implies his guilt before any trial has taken place, and as such is
a breach of Article 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): "Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he
has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence."
Following the broadcast of the "confession", Ali Afshari's father was permitted to visit him. An official was present throughout the meeting, and
the two were prevented from talking about social and political subjects.
Mehrangiz Kar and Shahla Lahiji's appeal hearings are reportedly now in progress. There are unconfirmed reports that Mehrangiz Kar has been
acquitted. Both women were sentenced to four years' imprisonment in January, for acting against national security and disseminating propaganda
against the Islamic Republic of Iran, because of their attendance at a social and cultural conference in Berlin in April 2000.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Four other participants at the Berlin conference were also sentenced to prison terms: Saeed
Sadr, 10 years; Khalil Rostamkhani, nine years; Ezzatollah Sahabi, four years (see UA 182/00 and follow-up); Akbar
Ganji, 10 years in prison to be followed by five years in exile (see Extra 43/00
and follow-ups). Akbar Ganji is reportedly set to be released on bail after
an appeal court overturned his sentence on 15 May. Ezzatollah Sahabi is reportedly in a very poor condition, possibly as a result of prison
conditions. A further six participants have reportedly been acquitted. Amnesty International considers all those detained solely for their
attendance at the Berlin conference to be prisoners of conscience.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English or your own language:
- seeking assurances that Ali Afshari will be treated humanely in custody,
and urging the authorities to allow him immediate access to family, lawyers
and any medical care he needs; - urging an independent investigation into the circumstances of Ali
Afshari's recent televised "confession"; - asking for the results of the investigation by the Article 90 Commission
into the alleged incommunicado detention of Ali Afshari and Ezzatollah Sahabi in late December 2000;
- seeking clarification of the exact charges brought against Ali Afshari and asking when the appeal court hearing relating to the Berlin conference
will take place; - urging that Ali Afshari and all other prisoners of conscience be released
immediately and unconditionally; - urging that the charges against all those convicted on the basis of their
participation in the Berlin conference are reviewed and dropped upon appeal, since the existing charges do not appear to justify the convictions
of the defendants.
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