IRN 220109.1
Follow-up of case IRN 220109
Release on bail/ Fear for safety
17 March 2009
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has received new information about the following situation in Iran.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a reliable source and Antenna International, a member organisation of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the release on bail of Mr. Aziz Samandari, Ms. Jinous Sobhani, Mr. Payam Aghsani and Mr. Didar Raoufi, all members of the Baha’is community, on 11 March 2009, from Evin prison in Tehran, on payment of a bail of 700,000,000 Rials (about 73’000 USD), an extremely high amount. All had been detained since 14 January 2009 without access to a lawyer and mostly in solitary confinement.
According to the same information received, Mr. Shahrokh Taef, who was detained along with them on 14 January 2009, would still be detained in solitary confinement in Evin prison.
The International Secretariat of OMCT welcomes the release on bail of Mr. Aziz Samandari, Ms. Jinous Sobhani, Mr. Payam Aghsani and Mr. Didar Raoufi. However, it remains concerned for their physical and psychological integrity as well as of Mr. Shahrokh Taef, who remains detained. OMCT recalls that incommunicado detention facilitates torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. OMCT is concerned about these arrests which are consistent with a pattern of persecution and arbitrary arrest of members of the Baha’i minority in Iran[1]. OMCT recalls to Iran that according to article 9 1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention”.
According to the information received, on 14 January 2009 early in the morning, Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials had arrested at their respective homes Mr. Aziz Samandari, Ms. Jinous Sobhani, Mr. Shahrokh Taef, Mr. Payam Aghsani and Mr. Didar Raoufi, after raiding the homes of twelve Baha’is (including of the five) in Tehran. Security agents had reportedly seized laptops, books and photographs related to the Baha’i Faith. The five were all reportedly held incommunicado in Evin Prison. No charges were reportedly brought against them but a relative was informed that they would have been arrested for “threat to inner security and collaboration with hostile countries”.
Please write to the authorities in Iran urging them to:
Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Iran in your respective country.
Geneva, 17 March 2009
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.