PEN's letter to President Khatami regarding Morteza Firouzi's case

May 19, 1998
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val-moslemin Sayed Mohammad Khatemi
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Fax: 011-98-21-674-790

Your Excellency,

PEN American Center is writing to express our concern about the death sentence handed down to Morteza Firouzi, the founder and editor of the English-language daily Iran News. Mr. Firouzi has been in detention since approximately June of last year. According to our information, Firouzi was charged with espionage and adultery in January 1998 and sentenced to death at that time. In March, Firouzi's sentence was repealed following your Excellency's intervention and assurances that his case would be returned to the Supreme Court for reconsideration. On May 10, 1998, press reports stated that, following a review of the case, the death sentence against Firouzi has been upheld.

We understand that the decision of the Supreme Court is final and that only His Excellency Ayatollah Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic, has the authority to overturn or reduce the sentence.

We urge you to afford Mr. Firouzi a free and fair trial that is open to the public and international media. Further, we call on you to allow him his fundamental right to legal representation of his choice.

PEN is particularly concerned that Mr. Firouzi faces imminent execution and is disquieted that his trial proceedings to date have not be open to the public. We respectfully ask for some communication to let us know that our concern is acknowledged, and we are particularly eager to hear how your government plans to handle this issue.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Anthony Appiah
Chairman,
Freedom-to-Write Committee

Related links

* Iran News
* Complete list of Iranian online media
* Cover stories
* Who's who

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