The Voice of Mirza Xazar

To: Ayatollah Sayed `Ali Khamenei
The Office of Supreme Leader, Shoahada Street,
Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Brussels, February 7, 2007
You’re Excellency

It is with great concern that I am following the situation and development of the critical health situation of the Azerbaijani political activist Mr. Abbas Lisani, currently serving a prison sentence for his peaceful involvement in a demonstration in Ardabil on 27 May 2006. Mr. Lisani is personally opposed to violence and did in no way advocate the use of violence by anyone during the demonstration. In accordance with Amnesty International I therefore believe that Mr. Lisani is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the non-violence expression of his opinions. I am also concerned over the fact that Mr. Lisani's family reportedly have been harassed and threatened to be arrested. Considering this, I call on you’re Excellency to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Lisani.

Since the first of January until the 31 of January Mr. Lisani was hunger striking as a protest against the refusal to grant him short-term leave and for the harassment of his family. As a result of torture during his previous prison stays, Mr. Lisani's body has already taken great physical damage. According to Amnesty International he suffers from kidney and stomach problems and needs medical treatment for his injuries. Despite of his need for medical treatment it is not known whether or not Mr. Lisani currently has access to adequate medical care. Mr. Lisani has not been granted any prison leave, apparently because his family has not obeyed the authority’s demands, which are that they should stop publishing his case. In addition, it has come to my knowledge that Mr. Lisani in January was transferred from solitary confinement to Section one of Ardabil prison where he was forced to share cell with non-political prisoners, some of whom were drug addicts. As it is understood that Mr. Lisani previously has been harassed and threatened by cell mates he may have been subjected to this treatment again. According to Amnesty International reports Mr. Lisani was then transferred back to solitary confinement, where he was detained in a very small cell without any heating and prison officials have allegedly threatened him. Considering this, I urge you to allow Mr. Lisani unrestricted access to his family, lawyers of his own choosing, an interpreter and any medical treatment he may require.

I would also like to ensure your state that it is deeply worrying that a nation with such a great history and interesting culture does not manage to deal with political conflicts in a more civilized way.

Respectfully,

Carl Schlyter, Member of the European Parliament (Green-Party)
cschlyter@europarl.eu.int