Ali Asker
2003-11-22 21:01:00 UTC
Alarming spiral of human rights violations in Iran mar positive steps
Friday, November 21 2003 @ 12:05 PM CST
Amnesty International
Amnesty International shares the concerns of many lawyers and human
rights defenders in Iran following the reported sentencing to death by
stoning of four men by a court in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.
"Amnesty International recognizes the rights and responsibilities of
states to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences.
However, such sentences consist of cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment that fly in the face of Iran's unreserved commitment to
uphold the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR) to which Iran is a state party," said Amnesty International.
Amnesty International recommends that judicial authorities commute the
death sentences with the aim of identifying an alternative punishment
as requested by the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud
Shahroudi.
The organization is equally concerned about the reported sentencing of
seven women to 50 lashes in Shiraz who allegedly showed disrespect
during the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which
started on 25 October.
Amnesty International welcomes the limited engagement of the Iranian
government with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)
envoys who visited the country on fact-finding missions earlier this
year.
"However, the organization is alarmed at the consequences faced by
vulnerable individuals who have sought meetings with these envoys
during their visit to the country," said Amnesty International.
In February 2003, the mother of Sasan Al-e Kena'n went to Tehran to
seek a meeting with members of the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention. On return to Sanandaj in Iranian Kurdistan, she was told
that her son had been executed during her absence and that she should
not make a 'fuss' and bury him quickly. In November 2003, Ahmad
Batebi, on medical leave from prison, met with the Special Rapporteur
for the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion
and Expression. One hour later he 'disappeared'. Officials at Tehran's
prosecutor's office threatened him with arrest and later admitted that
his son had been re-arrested.
"Judicial authorities in Iran must ensure that those who raise human
concerns with either domestic or international bodies are not harassed
or threatened with arrest," said Amnesty International.
Background:
Amnesty International has recorded human rights violations including
the arbitrary arrest and months of incommunicado detention without
charge or trial of Alireza Alijani and other supporters of the Melli
Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance); the continued closure of
newspapers and imprisonment of journalists on vague charges relating
to 'insult' and 'defamation'; the lack of transparent and independent
investigation into the death of Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian-Iranian
photojournalist who died in custody and the murder, five years ago of
Dariush Forouhar and Parvaneh Eskandari (Forouhar) who were murdered
at their house by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in November
1998.
The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly which deals
with human rights concerns is considering a draft resolution on the
human rights situation in Iran. These concerns include the increased
arrest and detention without charge or trial of persons for peaceful
expression of political and personal views and the continuing
executions without regard to international safeguards and the use
torture and other cruel punishments. The draft resolution calls on the
Iranian government to meet its human rights obligations, to respond
fully to the recommendations made by the UN's human rights experts who
visited the country, and encourages visits by other UN experts:
notably those with mandates on extrajudicial executions and torture.
Taking such steps would, in Amnesty International's views, would
greatly contribute to the effective protection of human rights in
Iran.
http://www.dozame.org/article.php?story=20031121122551416
Friday, November 21 2003 @ 12:05 PM CST
Amnesty International
Amnesty International shares the concerns of many lawyers and human
rights defenders in Iran following the reported sentencing to death by
stoning of four men by a court in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.
"Amnesty International recognizes the rights and responsibilities of
states to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences.
However, such sentences consist of cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment that fly in the face of Iran's unreserved commitment to
uphold the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR) to which Iran is a state party," said Amnesty International.
Amnesty International recommends that judicial authorities commute the
death sentences with the aim of identifying an alternative punishment
as requested by the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud
Shahroudi.
The organization is equally concerned about the reported sentencing of
seven women to 50 lashes in Shiraz who allegedly showed disrespect
during the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which
started on 25 October.
Amnesty International welcomes the limited engagement of the Iranian
government with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)
envoys who visited the country on fact-finding missions earlier this
year.
"However, the organization is alarmed at the consequences faced by
vulnerable individuals who have sought meetings with these envoys
during their visit to the country," said Amnesty International.
In February 2003, the mother of Sasan Al-e Kena'n went to Tehran to
seek a meeting with members of the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention. On return to Sanandaj in Iranian Kurdistan, she was told
that her son had been executed during her absence and that she should
not make a 'fuss' and bury him quickly. In November 2003, Ahmad
Batebi, on medical leave from prison, met with the Special Rapporteur
for the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion
and Expression. One hour later he 'disappeared'. Officials at Tehran's
prosecutor's office threatened him with arrest and later admitted that
his son had been re-arrested.
"Judicial authorities in Iran must ensure that those who raise human
concerns with either domestic or international bodies are not harassed
or threatened with arrest," said Amnesty International.
Background:
Amnesty International has recorded human rights violations including
the arbitrary arrest and months of incommunicado detention without
charge or trial of Alireza Alijani and other supporters of the Melli
Mazhabi (National Religious Alliance); the continued closure of
newspapers and imprisonment of journalists on vague charges relating
to 'insult' and 'defamation'; the lack of transparent and independent
investigation into the death of Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian-Iranian
photojournalist who died in custody and the murder, five years ago of
Dariush Forouhar and Parvaneh Eskandari (Forouhar) who were murdered
at their house by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in November
1998.
The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly which deals
with human rights concerns is considering a draft resolution on the
human rights situation in Iran. These concerns include the increased
arrest and detention without charge or trial of persons for peaceful
expression of political and personal views and the continuing
executions without regard to international safeguards and the use
torture and other cruel punishments. The draft resolution calls on the
Iranian government to meet its human rights obligations, to respond
fully to the recommendations made by the UN's human rights experts who
visited the country, and encourages visits by other UN experts:
notably those with mandates on extrajudicial executions and torture.
Taking such steps would, in Amnesty International's views, would
greatly contribute to the effective protection of human rights in
Iran.
http://www.dozame.org/article.php?story=20031121122551416