Journalistin und Student inhaftiert

Die Journalistin Shiva Kamalipour Azad war zunächst am 17. April auf dem Internationalen Flughafen Imam Khomeini in Teheran festgenommen worden. Sie war auf dem Weg zu einer Konferenz über Journalismus in der muslimischen Welt und wollte über Dubai in die USA fliegen. Am Flughafen konfiszierten Sicherheitskräfte ihren Reisepass, Kamera, Computer und Mobiltelefon. Dann wurde sie ins Evin-Gefängnis von Teheran gebracht und nach vorliegenden Informationen einem Revolutionsgericht vorgeführt. Shiva Kamalipour Azad hatte bis zu ihrer Freilassung gegen Kaution am 24. April keinen Kontakt zur Außenwelt. Sie soll während der Verhöre misshandelt worden sein. Zwei Tage später nahmen Angehörige der Sicherheitskräfte, bei denen es sich um MitarbeiterInnen einer Geheimdiensteinheit gehandelt haben soll, die Journalistin mitten in der Nacht im Haus ihres Großvaters erneut fest. Man verband ihr die Augen und brachte sie zurück ins Evin-Gefängnis, wo sie seitdem festgehalten wird.

Der politisch aktive Student Arash Fakhravar soll bei seiner Ankunft in Teheran festgenommen worden sein, nachdem er aus Frankreich zurückgekehrt war, wo er sich als Asylbewerber aufgehalten hatte. Die genauen Umstände seiner Abreise aus Frankreich sind noch unklar. Auch der gegenwärtige Aufenthaltsort des Studenten ist nicht bekannt. Er könnte dem Verschwindenlassen zum Opfer gefallen sein.

[EMPFOHLENE AKTIONEN]

SCHREIBEN SIE BITTE E-MAILS, FAXE ODER LUFTPOSTBRIEFE MIT FOLGENDEN FORDERUNGEN

• Bitte lassen Sie Shiva Kamalipour Azad und Mohammad Reza Fakhravar (auch bekannt als Arash Fakhravar) sofort und bedingungslos frei, da sie offenbar nur wegen der friedlichen Ausübung ihrer Rechte auf Meinungsäußerung, Vereinigungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit festgehalten werden.

• Ich befürchte, dass Arash Fakhravar dem Verschwindenlassen zum Opfer gefallen sein könnte, und bitte Sie darum eindringlich, umgehend bekannt zu geben, wo er festgehalten wird.

• Bitte stellen Sie sicher, dass die Journalistin und der Student vor Folter und anderen Misshandlungen geschützt werden und gewähren Sie ihnen den regelmäßigen Kontakt zu ihren Familien und Rechtsbeiständen eigener Wahl sowie, falls erforderlich, den Zugang zu medizinischer Versorgung.

[APPELLE AN]

RELIGIONSFÜHRER
Ayatollah Sayed ’Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran,
IRAN
(korrekte Anrede: Your Excellency / Exzellenz)
E-Mail: info_leader@leader.ir
Twitter: @khamenei_ir ("@khamenei_ir must release student activists Shiva Kamalipour Azad and Arash Fakhravar!#Iran risk of torture")

OBERSTE JUSTIZAUTORITÄT
Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
[care of] Public relations Office
Number 4, 2 Azizi Street
Vali Asr Ave., above Pasteur Street intersection
Tehran
IRAN
(korrekte Anrede: Your Excellency / Exzellenz)
E-Mail: bia.judi@yahoo.com (Betreffzeile: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)

KOPIEN AN
LEITER DER STAATLICHEN MENSCHENRECHTSBEHÖRDE
Mohammad Javad Larijani
High Council for Human Rights
[Care of] Office of the Head of the Judicia
Pasteur St. Vali Asr. Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri Tehran 1316814737
IRAN
(korrekte Anrede: Dear Mr Larijani)
Fax: (00 98) 21 3390 4986
E-Mail: bia.judi@yahoo.com
(Betreff: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

BOTSCHAFT DER ISLAMISCHEN REPUBLIK IRAN
S.E. Herrn Alireza Sheikh Attar
Podbielskiallee 65-67
14195 Berlin
Fax: 030-8435 3535
E-Mail: iran.botschaft@t-online.de

Bitte schreiben Sie Ihre Appelle möglichst sofort. Schreiben Sie in gutem Persisch, Arabisch, Englisch oder auf Deutsch. Da Informationen in Urgent Actions schnell an Aktualität verlieren können, bitten wir Sie, nach dem 16. Juni 2011 keine Appelle mehr zu verschicken.

[HINTERGRUNDINFORMATIONEN AUF ENGLISCH]

According to the CIS website, the Confederation of Iranian Students (CIS) is a pro-western, independent student movement of over 7000 members based inside and outside Iran. Its principal objective is "to empower the will and confidence of the Iranian people in their quest for freedom" and it undertakes social, cultural, artistic, literary, and sports activities. It states that it "works tirelessly to promote freedom, human rights and democracy in Iran". The CIS was officially launched in November 2002 and its Secretary General is former political prisoner Amir Abbas Fakhravar, the eldest brother of Arash Fakhravar.

Shiva Kamalipour Azad, a founding member of the CIS and on its Board of Directors, was travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates to collect a visa for the USA. She was due to speak on 8 May 2011 at a conference entitled "US-Iran Relations and New Generation Conference" sponsored by the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. Shiva Kamalipour Azad has been arrested several times previously in connection with her activities for the CIS.

Mohammad Reza Fakhravar (known as Arash) was arrested on 31 December 2010 after participating in demonstrations against the authorities which took place in Iran in late December 2009 during the Ashoura religious commemorations. He was held for 30 days in solitary confinement. A family member told Amnesty International that on 19 January 2011, he was tried on charges of "insulting the Supreme Leader, and taking parts in riots and unrest". He was given a suspended prison sentence, which could be activated if he were to be convicted of having undertaken similar actions at any point over subsequent five years.

In late January 2011, he fled Iran for Iraq where he registered with UNHCR as an asylum-seeker. He travelled to France on 29-30 January, where he was an asylum seeker In March and April 2011, Arash Fakhravar took part in demonstrations against the Iranian government in France.

His family in Iran and abroad have so far been unable to find out where he is since his reported return to the country and they are concerned about the circumstances of his return. In February 2011, Rahim Rostami, a 19-year-old member of Iran’s Kurdish minority who had arrived in Norway as an unaccompanied minor, and whose asylum claim had been rejected by the Norwegian authorities, was forcibly returned by Norway to Iran where he was reportedly arrested. He is believed to still be detained, with bail reportedly having been denied.

On 17 February 2011, an article written by a former Supreme Court judge appeared in Iran newspaper, a daily paper published by the Iranian government. Referring to existing laws that enable Iran’s judiciary to bring charges against Iranians for alleged violations of Iranian law committed while outside Iran, the article stated that failed asylum-seekers could be prosecuted for making up accounts of alleged persecution. On 26 April 2011, Kayhan newspaper, which is controlled by the Office of the Supreme Leader, also reported that Iranians are seeking asylum 'on the pretext of supporting the opposition’.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY

• Calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Shiva Kamalipour Azad and Mohammad Reza Fakhravar (known as Arash) if, as appears to be the case, they are held solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

• Expressing deep concern that Arash Fakhravar may have been subjected to enforced disappearance, urging the authorities to disclose his whereabouts immediately.

• Calling on the authorities to ensure that they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and grant them immediate and regular access to their families, lawyers of their choice and adequate medical care.