The Voice of Mirza Xazar

In a joint letter to the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamanei, 20 Swedish parliamentarians sitting in the Parliamentary Human Rights Group express their concerns over Abbas Lisani´s imprisonment and demand his immediate release since they believe Mr. Lisani is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for the non-violent expression of his opinions. The undersigned parliamentarians also ask the Iranian authorities to give details of the procedure before the Ardabil Appeal Court, particularly as the review of Lisani's case was conducted so quickly and may not have provided a genuine review of his case. Furthermore they express their concerns that the authorities have reportedly been harassing and intimidating Abbas Lisani´s family, including threatening to arrest them.

The joint letter was initiated by the Azerbaijani Youth Association in Sweden and realized in cooperation with Amnesty International?s Swedish lobby section and the chairwoman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group Ms. Inger René.

Since the Azerbaijani Youth Association in Sweden started their campaign in connection with Abbas Lisani´s hunger strike in January 2007, numerous European parliamentarians have engaged in Mr. Lisani´s case in order for him to be released. In Sweden all seven parties represented in the Swedish Parliament such as the Social-Democratic Party, the Liberal-Party, the Left Party, the Green-Party, the Christian-Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the Conservative-Party, have raised their concerns for Mr. Lisani´s health situation, condemned the Iranian authorities imprisonment of him and demanded his immediate release. Thus, his case is today well known and closely followed by members of the Swedish Foreign Affairs Committee.

During the campaign Mr. Lisani´s case has also been highlighted within the European Parliament, the European Commission and by members of the European Council.


(Nergiz Nedayi)