Three Iranian human rights defenders imprisoned without charge or trial
Dr Raimin Jahanbegloo©Hossein Derakhshan20 July 2006
Three prominent human rights defenders, including a pro-democracy author of over 20 books, are being held in the notorious political prisoner section 209 of Evin prison in Tehran, without charge or access to lawyers or family members.
Trade unionist, Mansoor Ossanlu, intellectual, commentator and writer Dr Raimin Jahanbegloo and Head of the Alumni Association of Iran, Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini have been held for seven months, two and a half months and one month respectively and may be at risk of ill-treatment or torture.
Mansoor Ossanlu, a staunch advocate of workers' rights and Head of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, was arrested on 22 December 2005 at his home. 11 of his colleagues were also arrested but were all released by 26 December. Charges have not been officially brought against him but reports suggest he may be facing charges of contact with Iranian opposition groups. He has allegedly been tortured and Front Line is concerned for his well being as he has health problems and may not be receiving adequate treatment.
Dr Raimin Jahanbegloo, head of the Contemporary Studies Department of the Cultural Research Bureau in Tehran and author of numerous books in Persian, English and French was arrested on 27 April 2006 at Tehran's Mehrabad airport on his return from India. In his writings and comments to international media, Dr Jahanbegloo has repeatedly called for democratic reforms in Iran. Despite numerous calls for the release of the academic, who holds dual Canadian-Iranian citizenship, and a petition signed by 400 international figures including Noam Chomsky and Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, he remains in solitary confinement. No formal charges have been made against him but there have been reports that the Iranian Minister for intelligence publicly stated in early May that he was being held for “having contacts with foreigners”.
Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini, former student leader and former member of the Iranian parliament was arrested with 69 others (who were shortly released) on 12 June 2006 at a peaceful protest calling for the end of legal discrimination against women in Iran. It was reported that Iranian police beat him at the time of his arrest. Khoini, the head and founder of the Alumni Association of Iran, an organization that promotes human rights, highlighted many cases of political prisoners through prison inspections during his term in government.
Director of Front line, Mary Lawlor said: “It is shameful that these three human rights defenders are being held without charge or trial. They should be released immediately as they have not been officially charged or tried in accordance with international standards.”
Dissident Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, who was recently released from section 209 of Evin prison after six years, organized a three-day hunger strike from July 16 calling for the release of the three human rights defenders. Hundreds of supporters in cities around the world took part in the hunger strike
Front Line believes that Mansoor Ossanlu, Dr Raimin Jahanbegloo and Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini are being detained solely because of their legitimate peaceful activities in defense of human rights, in particular the rights of freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. Front Line has called on the Iranian government to grant their immediate and unconditional release