The Voice of Mirza Xazar

On February 19 Eva-Britt Svensson, a swedish member of the European Parliament handed in a written prioritized parliamentary question to the European Commission regarding Mr. Abbas Lisani. In her question (which was also supported by two other Swedish MEPs, Carl Schlyter and Inger Segelström) Ms. Svensson acknowledges Mr. Lisani as one of the most prominent Iranian human righst activists and wonderes what the Commission intends to do specifically in Mr. Lisani´s case and for his release as well as for highlighting the general, cultural and political repression of Azerbaijanis in Iran.
On behalf of the European Commission, Mrs Mrs Ferrero-Waldner on March 16 answered Ms. Svensson´s question. Mr. Ferrero writes that the Commission is aware of Mr. Lisani´s case and that it is seeking further information. The answer also informes that the EU is following closely the human rights situation in Iran, including the linguistic and cultural rights of people belonging to minorities. 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.

Both the question and the answer can be read on the link below: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/omk/sipade3?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+P-2007-0921+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y

(Nergiz Nedaei)

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

The Hague, 07 February 2007 – In continued pursuit of its objective to give a voice to all nations and peoples working without adequate representation at international institutions and organisations, the newly elected Presidency of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) has admitted six new UNPO Members. The UNPO Presidency met from 01 to 03 February 2007 at the European Parliament in Brussels, where it considered several of the countless applications received over the past period and welcomed the following nations and peoples into the organisation:

Hmong ChaoFa – Representing the 300,000 Hmong presently residing in Laos, the ChaoFa Federated State works to promote a greater degree of self-determination for all Hmong communities, as well as an end to the continued violation of their social, political, and human rights.

Inner Mongolia – Following the loss of its independence in 1947, when control of Inner Mongolia was transferred by the USSR to China following the successful expulsion of invading Japanese forces, the Inner Mongolia Peoples Party works to preserve the cultural identity of its people, aspiring to an end of Communist Rule and a confederated union with China.

Iranian Kurdistan – Since Iranian authorities annexed the Republic of Mahabad (Kurdistan) in 1946, the aspirations for autonomy and self-rule amongst Iran’s Kurdish population has been systematically repressed. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan works to promote their national rights, and aspires to a Federal and Democratic Iran with equal respect for all Iran’s minority communities.

Rehoboth Basters – Numbering approximately 35,000, the Rehoboth Basters presently reside in central Namibia. Despite colonial treaties affording their Captains Council a degree of self-determination within their ancestral lands, the Rehoboth Basters have lost control of much of this territory, and are presently campaigning for its rightful return.

Southern Azerbaijan – Working towards improving the conditions of all minorities living within Iran, the Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM) represents its Azeri population, the largest minority community living within Iran, and advocates a peaceful transition towards democracy in Iran.

Tsimshian – The Tsimshian are a Native American and First Nation people, living “inside the Skeena River”, spanning southern Alaska and northern British Columbia. Their Hereditary Chiefs negotiate with Canadian authorities in an effort to secure formal recognition of the rights of First Nations across Canada.

(source: www.unpo.org)

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