Human Rights Watch condemns "Berlin" trial
November 2, 2000, New York (Human Rights Watch)-- In an open letter
sent to Iran's chief judicial official, Human Rights Watch called for an
end to the prosecution of prominent independent and reformist figures who
attended an international conference last April.
Human Rights Watch sent the open letter to the Head of Iran's judiciary,
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. At least twelve activists and writers
now face charges of "engaging in propaganda against the national security
of Iran."
They are being tried in secret before the Revolutionary Court in Tehran,
where procedures have in the past fallen far short of international standards
for fair trial.
"Iran should immediately halt the prosecution of these indivisuals
and all charges against them should be dropped," said Hanny Megally,
the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division.
"Those who have remained outside of Iran since the Berlin conference
for fear of prosecution should be assured they will not be subject to reprisals
upon their return."
The trials began on Sunday, October 29. All the defendants received
notice to appear before the court only a few days prior to the commencement
of proceedings, giving them no opportunity to prepare a defense. The charges
against them have not yet been fully disclosed.
A copy of the letter is attached.
November 2, 2000
By Facsimile
H. E. Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi
Head of the Judiciary
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency:
Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about the trials that have started
behind closed doors of at least ten Iranians, apparently for attending
and/or speaking at an international conference in Berlin, Germany on April
7 - 8, 2000. The charges against them, which have not yet been fully disclosed,
include "engaging in propaganda against the national security of Iran."
We are concerned that these individuals, most of whom are prominent
independent and reformist figures, are being prosecuted for exercising
their basic right to freedom of expression. We are also alarmed that they
are being tried before an exceptional court, the Revolutionary Court, whose
procedures have in the past fallen far short of international standards
for fair trial.
Human Rights Watch has learned that one of the defendants, Shahla Sherkat,
the managing director of Women magazine, was summoned recently to appear
before Revolutionary Court 3 in Tehran.
When she arrived at the court on Sunday, October 29, she discovered
that the trial proceedings were about to begin even before her lawyer had
obtained access to the prosecution files. It appears that the remaining
defendants (list appended) also received summonses to appear in court without
allowing their lawyers the opportunity to have access to case files and
to prepare their defense.
In April, the defendants attended an international conference in Berlin
on the future of Iran, which was also attended by banned and exiled political
activists. This has been used by some conservative politicians to portray
the defendants as persons linked to hostile foreign powers. The state-controlled
Iranian media has described the event as anti-Iranian and anti-Islamic.
Hassan Youssefi Eshkevari, a religious scholar, has been held in prison
since his return in August. His trial began in October before a Special
Court for the Clergy. He is facing charges of apostasy, which may carry
the death penalty.
Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer and women's rights activist, and Shahla Lahidji,
a publisher were detained for a few weeks in April and tried on Tuesday
October 31 behind closed doors.
Veteran independent politician Ezzatollah Sahabi, now more than seventy
years of age, was detained upon his return from the conference and interrogated
for more than six weeks before being released on bail. Sahabi was tried
publicly today before the Revolutionary Court along with Alireza Alavi-Tabar,
an editor, and Monirou Ravani-Pour, a writer.
Two participants in the Berlin conference, Akbar Ganji, an investigative
journalist, and Khalil Rostamkhani, have been held in prison since their
return in April and May respectively.
Your Excellency, the prosecution of these individuals is a violation
of Iran's obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression as provided
for in Article 19 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights
(ICCPR), which states: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression;
this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing
or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
Furthermore, we are troubled by the manner of their summonses, which
has not allowed their lawyers adequate time and access to the necessary
court files. The court before which they are appearing raises further doubts
about the fairness of this process. Iranian press reports on October 31
quoted Abassali Alizadeh, the head of Tehran's Justice Department, as saying
that these trials will be held in public, but some sessions have already
begun in secret.
Human Rights Watch is concerned that these prosecutions are a continuation
of a pattern of repression against reformist and independent figures that
has gathered momentum since February's parliamentary elections. Since then
virtually all independent newspapers
have been closed down and leading editors, journalists, and thinkers
have been imprisoned.
Human Rights Watch calls on your Excellency, as head of Iran's judiciary,
to halt immediately the prosecution of individuals for exercising their
right to freedom of expression. All charges against these individuals should
be dropped, and all of those in prison should be released. Those who attended
the conference and have yet to return from abroad should be given assurances
that they will not be subjected to any reprisals for their participation.
Should the trials of these individuals nevertheless continue, Human
Rights Watch respectfully requests permission to send independent lawyers
to observe future sessions and to assist us in assessing the fairness of
the proceedings.
I look forward to your early response.
Sincerely, /s/
Hanny Megally
Executive Director Middle East and North Africa Division
cc: HE Mr. Mohammad Hadi Nejad Hosseinian
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.
Appendix:
Individuals facing trial in connection with their participation in the
Berlin conference
-- Shahla Sherkat, managing director of a women's magazine and a pioneer
in defending women's rights, was interrogated in April and released pending
trial. Her lawyer resigned from the case on Monday, October 30, after being
pressured by court officials.
-- Jamileh Kadivar, a member of parliament and second-most popular candidate
in the Tehran poll, is wife of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
Ataollah Mohajerani, a hate-figure for the conservative right. She was
released pending trial after her interrogation in April.
-- Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer and women's rights' activist, was detained
for a month after her return from Berlin in April, and released on payment
of substantial bail.
-- Shahla Lahidji, a publisher, was detained for a month on her return
from Berlin and freed on bail.
-- Ali Afshari, a student leader, was detained and freed on bail after
his return from Berlin in April.
-- Ezzatollah Sahabi, a veteran independent politician, former minister
and magazine publisher, was detained on his return from Berlin and released
on bail.
-- Ali Reza Alavai-Tabar, a journalist, was interrogated in April and
freed.
-- Monirou Ravani-Pour, a writer.
-- Hamid Reza Jalaei-pour, a newspaper editor, was interrogated in April
and released pending trial.
-- Fariborz Reiss-Dana, a professor of economics.
-- Mahmoud Dolatabadi, a prominent writer.
-- Hassan Youssefi Eshkevari, a religious scholar who delayed his return
from Berlin until August, is currently in prison and facing charges of
apostasy, which may carry the death penalty, before a Special Court for
the Clergy.
Four other participants from Iran attended the conference, but have
not yet been summoned to the court:
-- Akbar Ganji, an investigative journalist, in prison since his return
from Berlin in April.
-- Khalil Rostamkhani, a translator, in prison since May.
-- Two writers, Pahlevan and Kardavani, have not returned to Iran since
the conference.
For more information, please contact:
Elahe Sharifpour-Hicks (in New York)
212-216-1233
Joe Stork (in Washington, D.C.)
202-612-4327
Hania Mufti (in London)
44-20-7713-1995
Jean-Paul Marthoz (in Brussels)
32-2-732-2009
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