New information
IRN 007 / 0807 / OBS 092.1
Death sentence / Arbitrary detention
Iran
November 13, 2007
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and
the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new
information and requests your urgent intervention in the Islamic
Republic of Iran:
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by the Iranian League for the Defence
of Human Rights (LDDHI) of the confirmation of the sentence to death of
Mr. Adnan Hassanpour, as well as of the quashing of the case of Mr.
Abdoulvahid (also known as Hiwa) Boutimar, two Kurdish journalists
and active members of Iranian civil society.
According to the information received, on October 22, 2007, the Iranian
Supreme Court upheld the sentence to death of Mr. Hassanpour issued on
July 9, 2007 by the Revolutionary Tribunal in Marivan, for, “espionage”, “attacks upon national security”, “diffusion of
separatist propaganda”, “treason” and “collaboration with Kurdish
political opposition parties”. On the same day, the Court quashed the
other 9-July decision of the Revolutionary Tribunal concerning Mr.
Boutimar, for procedural irregularities. He remains detained, awaiting
that his case be referred to another court. However, the decisions of
the Supreme Court have just been made public, and have still not been
notified to the two defenders, which is a precondition for Mr.
Hassanpour to lodge an appeal.
The Observatory expresses its deepest concern regarding the
confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Boutimar, as it appears to be
directly aimed at sanctioning his activities in favour of human rights.
Furthermore, the Observatory recalls that numerous United Nations
bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee
Against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, have called
for the abolition of capital punishment. In addition, international law
(Art. 6 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
in particular) requires that the death penalty be reserved for the most
serious crimes only – this can obviously in no way encompass the
peaceful expression of dissent.
The Observatory also reiterates that as a member of the Human Rights
Council, Iran has accepted to “uphold to the highest standards in the
promotion and protection of human rights”[1].
Background information:
On July 16, 2007, the Revolutionary Tribunal in Marivan sentenced to
death Mr. Adnan Hassanpour and Mr. Abdoulvahid (Hiwa) Boutimar for,
“espionage”, “attacks upon national security”, “diffusion
of separatist propaganda”, “treason” and “collaboration with Kurdish
political opposition parties”. Mr. Hassanpour is a member of the Iranian
Kurdistan Journalist Association as well as a reporter for the /Aso
/newspaper, a publication banned by Iranian authorities. He is also an
active defender of Kurdish cultural rights. Mr. Boutimar is an active
member of the environmental NGO /Sabzchia/. The accused were denied
access to legal counsel throughout the entire legal process. After their
respective arrest in December 2006 and January 2007, they were held
incommunicado in Mariwan prison until July 2007.
The two men have been held in Sanandaj Intelligence Service’s jail and
they were - for the first time since their arrest - accorded a visit
from family members on August 9, 2007. They were both in poor physical
and mental health, and informed their families that the Iranian
authorities had denied them access to appropriate medical treatment.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities in Iran urging them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Adnan Hassanpour and Mr. Abdoulvahid
(Hiwa) Boutimar;
ii. Release Messrs. Hassanpour and Boutimar
immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary as it
only seems to sanction their human rights activities;
iii. Ensure Mr. Boutimar is granted a fair trial when
appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal
representation;
iv. Ensure that they have access to adequate medical
treatment;
v. Put an end to all acts of harassment against all
Iranian human rights defenders;
vi. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that
“everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to
promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights
and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”,
Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely
to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and
knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as
Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary
measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of
everyone, individually and in association with others, against any
violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse
discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence
of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the
present Declaration”;
vii. Ensure in all circumstances the respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human
rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Addresses:
· Leader of the Islamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed
Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shoahada Street, Qom,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98.21.649.5880 / 21.774.2228, Email:
info leader.ir / istiftaa wilayah.org / webmaster wilayah.org;
· President, His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency,
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Fax: + 98.21.649.5880, E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad president.ir;
· Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hashemi
Shahrudi, Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Fax: +98.21.879.6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email:
Irjpr iranjudiciary.com;
· Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Manuchehr
Motaki, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98.21.390.1999, Email:
matbuat mfa.gov;
· Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chemin du
Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7330203, Email:
mission.iran ties.itu.int;
· Ambassador Mr. Ahani, Embassy of Iran in Brussels, avenue
Franklin Roosevelt, 15 A. 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 39
15. Email: iran-embassy yahoo.com
Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Iran in your
respective country.
Geneva-Paris, November 13, 2007
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection
of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in
their time of need. The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human
Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: Appeals fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
[1] mhtml:mid://00000306/ In accordance with GA
resolution A/RES/60/251 establishing the Human Rights Council.