Iran: New urgent action for two Kurdish journalists

Widad Akrawi
2007 / 11 / 19

A joint campaign by Defend International and “The Observatory”, the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH, Paris, France) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT, Geneva, Switzerland) aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.


Name: Adnan Hasanpoor
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Name: Adel Wahd (Hiwa) Butimar
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Authorities: Iranian
Category: Death sentence / torture / incommunicado detention


The case:
Defend International has received an appeal from the Observatory, requesting DI’s urgent intervention in the confirmation of the sentence to death of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor, as well as of the quashing of the case of Mr. Abdel Wahd (also known as Hiwa) Butimar, two Kurdish journalists and active members of Iranian civil society.

According to the information received, on October 22, 2007, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the sentence to death of Mr. Hasanpoor issued on July 9, 2007 by the Revolutionary Tribunal in Marivan, for, inter alia, “espionage”, “attacks upon national security”, “diffusion of separatist propaganda”, “treason” and “collaboration with Kurdish political opposition parties”. On the same day, the Court quashed the other 9-July decision of the Revolutionary Tribunal concerning Mr. Butimar, for procedural irregularities. He remains detained, awaiting that his case be referred to another court.
However, the decisions of the Supreme Court have just been made public, and have still not been notified to the two defenders, which is a precondition for Mr. Hasanpoor to lodge an appeal.


DI Demands:
Defend International expresses same deepest concern as The Observatory regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Hasanpoor, as it appears to be directly aimed at sanctioning his activities in favour of human rights.

The organizations recall that numerous United Nations bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee Against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, have called for the abolition of capital punishment.

International law

The ICCPR states:
Article 6.1: E Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.

Article 6.2: In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide…
This can obviously in no way encompass the peaceful expression of dissent.

The organizations also reiterate that as a member of the Human Rights Council, Iran has accepted to “uphold to the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights”.

DI campaign:
Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.
With thanks and appreciation
Defend International

------------------------




Leader of the Islamic Republic,
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader,
Shoahada Street,
Qom,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Faxes: + 98.21.649.5880 / 21.774.2228,
Email: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected];



Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


--------------

President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Fax: + 98.21.649.5880,
E-mail: [email protected];


Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


----------------------------

Head of the Judiciary,
His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi,
Ministry of Justice,
Park-e Shahr,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Fax: +98.21.879.6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567,
Email: [email protected];


Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,

---------------------------------

Minister of Foreign Affairs,
His Excellency Mr. Manuchehr Motaki,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Fax: + 98.21.390.1999,
Email: [email protected];


Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


----------------------------------------------------------------

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28,
1209 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +41 22 7330203,
Email: [email protected];


Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,


-------------------------------

Ambassador Mr. Ahani,
Embassy of Iran in Brussels,
avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 15 A. 1050 Bruxelles,
Belgium,
Fax: + 32 2 762 39 15.
Email: [email protected].


Your Excellency,

I am writing you to express my deepest concern regarding the confirmation of the death sentence of Mr. Adnan Hasanpoor and to welcome the review of Abdel Wahid (Hiwa) Butimar’s case.

I urge you to commute Mr. Hasanpoor’s death sentence immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hasanpoor and Mr. Butimar.

I call on you to release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary, as it only seems to sanction their human rights activities. I also urge you to ensure that they have access to adequate medical treatment and put an end to all acts of harassment against all Iranian human rights defenders.

I call on you to ensure Mr. Butimar is granted a fair trial when appealing his sentence, and have unhindered access to legal representation.

Furthermore I urge you to conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, Article 6 (b) which stipulates that “everyone has the right […] freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, as well as Article 12(2), which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Finally I urge you to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours respectfully,




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