The Voice of Mirza Xazar

Two extensive reports on human rights practices and democracy prepared by Cyprus MP Christos Pourgourides and Azerbaijan reporter Andreas Gross were discussed at the PACE session yesterday.

In the report, Azerbaijan together with Belarus was cited as a country where pressure is being exerted upon people who are involved in protecting of human rights (NGOs, lawyers, journalists). Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine are mentioned there as countries facing the problem of court independence, and the problem of political prisoners is not settled, Turan news agency informs. Azerbaijan is also mentioned in the context of tortures and cruel treatment and, Sardar Jalaloglu (deputy leader of the Democratic Party — REGNUM) is sited as an example as he was caused damage “not only because of brutal treatment by police officers, but because of unjust investigation as well.” Gross’s report calls Azerbaijan among the countries where pressure is exerted upon the media and journalists are attacked. Particularly, murder of the Monitor magazine Elmar Guseinov was mentioned.

Azerbaijan is also mentioned among the countries where there are no possibilities for peaceful and non-violent change of power, which is an important criterion for functioning democracy.

(IA REGNUM)

Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe engages in Abbas Lisani´s case. Göran Lindblad, the vice president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the chairman of the Swedish delegation to PACE has written a letter to president Ahmadinejad about Abbas Lisani. He regards the arrestment of Mr. Lisani as unjust and condemns it as well as demands Mr. Lisanis immediate release. Mr. Lindblad also states that the arrestment of Mr Lisani is an act of great contradiction since Mr. Lisani is imprisoned only for advocating his statutory rights, thus fighting a legitimate fight in accordance with Iranian law. Göran Lindblad ensures the Iranian president that he will continue to follow the case of Mr. Lisani in the future. Member of the Swedish Parliament, Mr. Lindblad, is a member of the ruling conservative party in Sweden. Mr. Linblad´s letter can be found in the attached file “LindbladLisani” http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=1111&iid=0870805820217 (Nergiz Nedaei Azerbaycan Gencler Federasiyonu Isvech) _____________________________________________ Stockholm 15 February 2007 His Excellency President Ahmadinejad The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Iran Excellency, We wish to draw your attention to the unjust imprisonment of the prominent Azerbaijani political activist, Mr. Abbas Lisani. From the 1st of January until the 31st of January 2007 Mr. Lisani undertook a hunger strike as a protest against the refusal to grant him a short-term leave and the harassment of his family members. During this 30 day period Mr. Lisani was held in solitary confinement in a tiny cell without heating where the temperatures reaches -10 degrees during the nights. Between the 16th and 18th of January he was transferred from solitary confinement to section 1 of the Ardabil prison and was forced to share his cell with non-political prisoners, some of whom were drug addicts. Because of torture during previous detentions Mr. Lisani was prior to his hunger strike already in a poor health suffering from kidney and stomach problems. His health condition was worsened by the prison authority’s obvious negligence of his health through their conscious ill-treatment of him and through the refusal of allowing him any medical treatment. On the 31st of January 2007, Mr. Lisani ended his hunger strike, in response to the desperate requests from his family and supporters. However, his health condition remains critical and he is still in need of acute medical treatment, something that the Ardabil prison authorities still have not provided him with. According to Amnesty International Mr. Lisani is a prisoner of conscience. He is held confined solely because of his peaceful activities for the cultural rights of the Azerbaijanis and the Azerbaijani language in Iran. According to the United Nations there are approximately 30 million Azerbaijanis in Iran. Yet, there is not a single school in the entire country teaching in their language. In paragraph 15 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran it is clearly stated that the use of mother tongue in schools, as well as in the press and media is allowed alongside Persian . Arresting Mr. Lisani for advocating the implementation of these rights is thus a criminal act and an act of great contradiction. Mr. Lisani is protesting with peaceful and democratic means and in accordance with Iranian law. Therefore we condemn the imprisonment of Mr. Lisani and the harassment of his family members. We lay full responsibility of Mr. Lisani´s health problems in the hands of the Iranian prison authorities and strongly urge You, Mr. President, to take all actions necessary in order to guarantee the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Abbas Lisani. I would also like to ensure You, Mr. President that the case of Mr. Lisani as well as the cultural rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran will continue to draw our attention in the future.

The European Commissions answers question about Mr. Lisani. In connection with the re-arrestment of Mr. Abbas Lisani on October 31, the Portuguese member of the European Parliament, Mr. Paulo Casaca, wrote a written question to the European Commission on November 23. The question seeks the answer of the commission on whether or not the commission has followed the case of Mr. Lisani and how the commission can guarantee that he will receive a fair trial Mr. Casaca also wonders what actions the commission will take to ensure respect for the democratic and human rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran? In the attached file and the link below you can read both Mr. Casaca´s question and the answer from the commission. ____________________________ WRITTEN QUESTION E-5287/06 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Abbas Lesani and the rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran In the repercussions from the May-June 2006 extensive demonstrations carried out by Azerbaijanis in the cities of Tabriz, Sulduz, Miyane, Ardebil, Urmiye and Zenjan, one of the most prominent leaders of the fight for the Azerbaijanis' rights, Mr Abbas Lesani, was arrested. I have received reports that while in prison Mr Lesani was exposed to torture, which has led to several current health problems. Mr Lesani was sentenced for vandalism and also for publishing a calendar in the Azeri language and quoting Azeri lyrics. In a series of verdicts in different appeals the case of Mr Lesani has been treated in a way that conflicts with the United Nations Convention on Human Rights. During the entire legal procedure Mr Lesani´s family members were exposed to harassment and threats of being arrested as well. Mr Lesani´s case will be brought up by Iran’s Supreme Court shortly. The case of Mr Lesani is one of the many examples of violations of the rights of the Azerbaijani population in Iran. Has the Commission been following the case of Mr Abbas Lesani and can the Commission guarantee that he will receive a fair trail? What action will the Commission take to ensure respect for the democratic and human rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran? E-5287/06EN Answer given by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner on behalf of the Commission (12.2.2007) The Commission has been made aware of the sentencing of Mr. Abbas Lesani, allegedly in connection with their peaceful activities in favour of the cultural and linguistic rights of Azeri-speaking Iranian nationals. It is seeking further information about these cases. Generally speaking, the EU is following closely the human rights situation in Iran. Through appropriate diplomatic channels, as well as on the occasion of the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue, the EU is raising human rights issues and specific cases with the Iranian authorities. The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the right to freedom of expression and that of freedom from discrimination are fundamental rights, which deserve to be properly implemented, as these are enshrined in United Nations (UN) human rights Conventions, as well as in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. (Nergiz Nedaei Azerbaycan Gencler Federasiyonu Isvech