Arbitrary arrest of five human rights lawyers

IRN 009 / 1110 / OBS 138Arrest / Arbitrary detentionHarassmentIranNovember 19, 2010 The Observatory for the Protectionof Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federationfor Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in the IslamicRepublic of Iran. Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed bythe Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights of the arbitrary arrest offive human rights lawyers. According to the informationreceived, Ms. Sara (Hajar) Sabaghian, Ms. Maryam Karbasi and Ms. MaryamKianersi, three women lawyers active in the defense of journalists,bloggers, young people and in the defense of women sentenced to death, werearrested on November 13 at Tehran airport as they were coming back from a tripto Turkey. Their arrest for “activities againstState security” was confirmed by the Tehran Revolutionary Prosecutor, who addedthat two other lawyers had also been arrested “in relation with the threewomen”, without giving further details. Their names were later revealed (Ms. RosaGharatchorlou and Mr. Mohamad Hossein Hayeri). On November 18, Ms. RosaGharatchorlou and Ms. Maryam Karbasi were released and no information could beobtained as to whether charges were pending against them. The three othersreportedly remained detained in Evin prison as of issuing this urgent appeal. The Observatory denounces thesearrests and arbitrary detentions, which are representative of the increasingwave of harassment against a number of Iranian human rights lawyers, includingagainst Mr. Mohammad Oliaifar, member of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre(DHRC) detained since May 2010 [1], and againstMs. Nasrin Sotoudeh, prominent human rights lawyer, known for defendingjuveniles facing death penalty, prisoners of conscience, human rights activistsand children victims of abuse, in detention since September 4 on accusations of"propaganda against the State" and "collusion and gathering withthe aim of acting against national security" [2]. Actions requested: Please write to the Iranianauthorities and ask them to:

1. Guarantee in allcircumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Sara (Hajar)Sabaghian, Ms. Maryam Karbasi, Ms. Maryam Kianersi, Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mr.Mohammad Oliaifar, Ms. Rosa Gharatchorlou Mr. Mohamad Hossein Hayeri as well asall human rights defenders in Iran;
2. Release Ms. Sara(Hajar) Sabaghian, Ms. Maryam Kianersi, Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mr. MohammadOliaifar, and Mr. Mohamad Hossein Hayeri immediately and unconditionally, sincetheir detention is arbitrary as it only aims at sanctioning their human rightsactivities;
3. Put an end to acts ofharassment - including at the judicial level - against them as well as againstall human rights defenders in Iran;
4. Conform in anycircumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, inparticular:
• article 1, which statesthat “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, topromote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedomsat the national and international levels”,
• article 9 which notablystates that “everyone has the right, individually and in association withothers, inter alia […] to offer and provide professionally qualified legalassistance or other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rightsand fundamental freedoms,
• and article 12.2 whichprovides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure theprotection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and inassociation with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de factoor de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as aconsequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in thepresent Declaration”;
5. Ensure in allcircumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordancewith international human rights instruments ratified by Iran.

Addresses:

• Leader of the Islamic Republic, HisExcellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader,Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98 21 649 5880 / 21774 2228, Email: info@leader.ir / istiftaa@wilayah.org/ webmaster@wilayah.org
• President Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,the Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, IslamicRepublic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880. Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
• Head of the Judiciary, HisExcellency Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran,Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, HisExcellency Manouchehr Mottaki, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh AbdolmajidKeshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999,Email: matbuat@mfa.gov
• Permanent Mission of the IslamicRepublic of Iran, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax:+41 22 7330203, Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of Iran in Brussels, 15 aavenue Franklin Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 39 15.Email: iran-embassy@yahoo.com

Please also write to diplomaticrepresentations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in your respective countries. ***Paris-Geneva, November 19, 2010 Kindly inform us of any actionundertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCTventure, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims tooffer them concrete support in their time of need. To contact the Observatory, call theemergency line:• Email:Appeals@fidh-omct.org• Teland fax OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29• Teland fax FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / 01 43 55 18 80 [1] See Osbervatory urgent appeal IRN 006 / 0910 / OBS 108.1.[2] See Observatory urgent appeal IRN 006 / 0910 / OBS 108.