The Voice of Mirza Xazar

Member of the European Parliament calls practices of Iranian authorities during the International Mother Tongue Day "inhumane" and demands a stop of the extensive violence against Azerbaijanis in Iran

Ms. Inger Segelström, a Swedish member of the European Parliament and the spokesperson for the entire Swedish Social-Democratic delegation in the European Parliament, has written a letter to the supreme leader of Iran condemning the use of extensive violence against Azerbaijanis in Iran during peaceful demonstrations on the International Mother Tongue.

In her letter, the member of the committee on Foreign Affairs questions in the European Parliament, also acknowledges that the prominent and renowned Azerbaijani political activist Mr. Abbas Lisani is a prisoner of conscience solely detained for his peaceful activities for the cultural rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran, and demands his immediate release by the Iranian authorities.

(Nergiz Nedayi)

TEXT OF THE LETTER

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Brussels, April 10, 2007

Your Excellency,

As a member of the European Parliament, I would like to express my concern that Human Rights Defender Abbas Lisani is serving an 18-month prison sentence for his peaceful involvement in a demonstration in Ardabil on 27 May 2006. Abbas Lisani is personally opposed to violence and in no way advocated the use of violence by anyone during the demonstration.

I therefore believe that Abbas Lisani is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the non-violent expression of his opinions, and should be released immediately and unconditionally and I am also asking the authorities to give details of the procedure before the Ardabil Appeal Court, particularly as the review of Lisani's case was conducted so quickly. Because of this I am concerned that the procedure followed may not have provided a genuine review of Abbas Lisani´s case. I would also like to express my concern that the authorities have reportedly been harassing and intimidating Abbas Lisani´s family, including threatening to arrest them.

I strongly urge the authorities to commute his sentence of flogging immediately, as it amounts to torture and call on the authorities to grant Abbas Lisani immediate and unconditional access to his lawyer, continued and regular access to his family, and access to any medical treatment that he requires.

I am also concerned with the reports of police violence during the demonstrations on 21 February on the International Mother Language Day. The use of excessive violence against peaceful and rightful demonstrations is not in accordance with a human rights principles. I strongly urge the authorities to stop this inhuman practice.

Yours sincerely,

Inger Segelström