Iran: Arrest and detention of student rights activists
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that student rights activists Mr Abbas Hakimzadeh, Mr Mehdi Mashayeki, Mr Nariman Mostafavi, Mr Ahmad Qasaban, Ms Sanaz Allahyari, Ms Nasim Roshana'i, Ms Maryam Sheikh, and Mr Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far have been recently arrested and detained, and may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment.
Further Information
Abbas Hakimzadeh is a member of the Central Council of the Office for Strengthening Unity; Mehdi Mashayeki, Nariman Mostafavi and Ahmad Qasaban are members of the Amir Kabir University Islamic Students Association; and Sanaz Allahyari, Nasim Roshana'i, Maryam Sheikh and Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far are members of the student rights body Daneshjouyan-e Azadi Khah va Beraber Talab (Students for Freedom and Equality).
On 23 February 2009, the above student rights activists were involved in peaceful demonstrations against the burial of soldiers killed during the war between Iran and Iraq (1980-1988) inside the campus of Amir Kabir University in Tehran. The Government's decision to bury soldiers there is viewed as a way to allow access to the campus by non-students, and thus control student rights groups by sending personnel into the campus.
During the demonstration of 23 February, many students were arrested and allegedly ill-treated. Some were taken to Police Station 107 in Palestine Square. Most students were released the following morning. However, on 24 February 2009, Abbas Hakimzadeh, Mehdi Mashayeki, Nariman Mostafavi and Ahmad Qasaban were arrested at their respective homes. They are now held incommunicado under the supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence in Section 209 of Evin Prison. On 1 March 2009, Ms Sanaz Allahyari, Ms Nasim Roshana'i, Ms Maryam Sheikh, and Mr Amir Hossein Mohammadi-Far were arrested. They have reportedly also been detained in Evin prison.
Front Line believes that the aforementioned student rights activists have been detained because of their peaceful and legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the student rights activists while in detention as they are allegedly at risk of torture and ill-treatment.
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
