Follow-up of the case IRN 040311

Whereabouts located/ Arbitrary detention/ Fear for thephysical and psychological integrity

The International Secretariat of the WorldOrganisation Against Torture(OMCT) has received new information on thefollowing situation in Iran.

New information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a reliable sourcethat Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, two opposition leaders[1], who had disappeared around24 February 2011 along with their wives, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard andMs. Fatemeh Karroubi,werereturned to their homes, approximately beginning/mid of March 2011 (the exactdates are unknown). No information is currently available on the placeswhere they have been held.

According to the same information received, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr. MehdiKarroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi are currentlydetained with no arrestwarrant, summons or charge in their respective homes which are surroundedby security forces.

OMCT welcomes the fact that Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms.Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi were returned to their respectivehomes, but OMCT reiterates its grave concern about their safety andarbitrary detention. OMCT urges thecompetent authorities to guarantee their physical and psychological integrityat all times, in accordance with international human rights law, in particularthe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which also states that noperson shall be subjected to arbitrary detention.

Backgroundinformation

OMCT had earlier been informed about the enforceddisappearances of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mr.Mehdi Karroubi,along with their wives, Ms.Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi around 24February 2011. OMCT was gravely concerned about their safety given the Iranian intelligence and security serviceswell-established track record of using torture against opponents.

According to the informationreceived by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, theaforementioned persons were confined, on 14 February 2011, in their homes, in Teheran, under anillegal “house arrest”, with no arrest warrant, summons or charge, after MirHossein Mousavi and Mr. Mehdi Karroubi had called for public demonstrations insolidarity with Egyptian and Tunisian pro-democracy activists[2].Their homes were reportedly surrounded by uniformed and plain-closed securityforces. Family members and associates were not allowed to their homes andcommunication, including the phone, was cut off.

Accordingto the same information, around 24 February 2011, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr.Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi were transferredfrom their homes to an unknown location, reportedly a “safe house”[3].Some reports indicated that they may have been moved to HeshmatiyehPrison, in Tehran. Authorities had, on their side,denied any transfer and stated that the four were still confined in their homesprohibited from communication. However, according to the same informationreceived, their homes were empty at that time. Despite numerous requests fromtheir families to the authorities for information on their whereabouts, thefamilies were unable to receive any information.

Actionrequested

Please write to the authorities in Iran urging them to:

i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychologicalintegrity of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr MehdiKarroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi as well as of theirfamilies;

ii. Grant Mir HosseinMousavi, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. ZahraRahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi prompt and unconditional access to a lawyer of their choice and their families, aswell as guarantee that they are examined by independent doctors and receiveadequate medical care, in accordance, inter alia, the UN Standard Minimum Rulesfor the Treatment of Prisoners;

iii. Ordertheir immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that areconsistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist,bring them before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal andguarantee their procedural rights at all times;

iv. Carry out aprompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the enforceddisappearances of Mir Hossein Mousavie, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavardand Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi, the results of which must be made public, in orderto bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartialtribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided bylaw;

v. Ensure that an effective remedy, includingthe right to full redress with compensation and rehabilitation be granted tothe victims concerned;

vi. Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamentalfreedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws andinternational human rights standards.

Addresses

Ø Leader of the Islamic Republic, His ExcellencyAyatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, ShoahadaStreet, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98 21 649, + 98 21 649 / 21 7742228, Email: info@leader.ir / istiftaa@wilayah.org / webmaster@wilayah.org /info_leader@leader.ir

Ø PresidentMr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, Palestine Avenue,Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, IslamicRepublic of Iran, Fax: +98 21 649 5880. Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

Ø Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency AyatollahSadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic ofIran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com / bia.judi@yahoo.com

Ø Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republicof Iran, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, Email: matbuat@mfa.gov

Ø Permanent Mission of theIslamic Republic of Iran, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax:+41 22 7330203, Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

Ø 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 thediplomatic representations of Iran in your respective countries.

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Geneva, 24 March 2011

Kindly informOMCT of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in yourreply

[1] Both were unsuccessful candidates to the disputed 2009 presidentialelections.

[2] Demonstrations that took place on 14 and 20 February 2011 were reportedly violently repressed by the security forces.

[3] A “safehouse” is considered a location for secret detention of high securitydetainees, which is not under the control of the Judiciary or any othermonitoring mechanisms. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranianintelligence agencies are known for using “safe houses” in order to get forcedconfessions from detainees without scrutiny or pressure from other legalbodies.