Mr. Mahmoud Salehi, the spokeperson of the Organisation Committee to Establish Trade Unions, was detained on 9 April 2007. Mr. Salehi has only one kidney, suffers from kidney stones, and requires chronic dialysis treatment. DI urged the authorities to release him immediately, noting that he was arrested solely for his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association. In 2008, he was released on bail.
Result of DI Action:
- On 6 April 2008, Mr. Salehi was released on a 40 million toman bail.
Campaign Status: Closed
Name: Mahmoud Salehi
Sex: Male
Authorities: Iranian
Category: fear of torture / prisoners of conscience / concern about the prisoner’s health
The case:
Defend International is concerned about the arrest of civil society activist Mr. Mahmoud Salehi, who has been detained since April 9, 2007. He is dangerously ill and is allegedly not getting the medical treatment that he needs. No visits by his lawyer and family has been allowed. Mahmoud Salehi has been arrested several times.
DI View:
Defend International declares that Mr. Salehi is a prisoner of conscience, arrested exclusively for the peaceful exercise of his civil and political rights, including the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association in connection with the May Day demonstration, and with his peaceful trade union activities. He should be released immediately and unconditionally. His detention is a reminder that those who exercise their guaranteed rights continue to be at risk of imprisonment, intimidation and the threat of arrest.
The Iranian government should show a genuine commitment to allowing its citizens the right to peaceful expression of their opinions.
The prisoner’s health condition:
DI Defenders has reported that Mahmoud Salehi has only one kidney. In addition he is suffering from kidney stones, and requires chronic dialysis treatment for progressive deterioration of renal function. His doctor has sent a letter to prison officials pointing that Mr. Salehi needs treatment programs outside the prison.
His health is deteriorated now as he had begun a hunger strike in protest against arbitrary detention and his conditions in Sanandaj detention, 400km away from where his family live.
DI defenders have also reported that he is suffering from heart disease and other intestinal problems. He was in June 2007 taken to a Hospital in Sanandaj, but then was returned to prison.
Important Years in Prisoner’s Life:
Mr. Salehi is the representative for the Committee to Establish Trade Unions, former leader of the Bakery Workers’ Association in Saqez, and co-founder and spokesperson for the Coordinating Committee to Form Workers’ Organization.
2004: Along with trade union activists, he was attacked by Islamic Republic’s intelligent and security forces during a peaceful demonstration to celebrate the International Workers’ Day in the city of Saqez, Kurdistan province. As a result, 50 participants were arrested. Later they were released.
2005: In November, he was initially sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and three years’ in exile in the city of Ghorveh, in the north western province of Kurdistan. His conviction was overturned on appeal.
2006: On 11 November, after a retrial, he was punished for 4 years of imprisonment by Saqez Revolutionary Court for “conspiring to commit crimes against national security” under article 610 of the Islamic Penal Code. This was reduced to one year’s imprisonment and a 3 year suspended prison sentence after recently appeal.
DI Demands:
Defend International (DI) urges the Iranian authorities to release Mr. Salehi immediately and unconditionally. DI also calls for him to be granted regular access to his family, lawyer, and any medical treatment he may require. DI would like to remind the authorities that they are bound by international standards for fair trail. And that the provisions on the right to freedom of expression must be in line with Iran’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
DI seeks urgent assurances that Mr. Salehi is not being tortured or ill-treated and demands Iran to develop a mechanism to stop putting detainees at risk of torture.
DI campaign:
Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.
With thanks and appreciation
Defend International
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His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street
Qom
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir or istiftaa@wilayah.org
Fax: +98 251 774 2228
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the activist Mahmoud Salehi was reportedly detained on April 2007, and call for his release immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association in connection with the 2004 International Workers’ Day demonstration.
I am also deeply concerned that Mahmoud Salehi was assaulted during arrest, and is now seriously ill in detention in Sanandaj prison. I seek urgent assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated. Hence I additionally call for him to be granted all necessary medical treatment, if necessary in specialist medical facilities outside the prison where he is held.
Furthermore I call for him to be granted regular access to his family and his lawyer.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter!
Respectfully yours,
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His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice,
Park-e Shahr,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the activist Mahmoud Salehi was reportedly detained on April 2007, and call for his release immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association in connection with the 2004 International Workers’ Day demonstration.
I am also deeply concerned that Mahmoud Salehi was assaulted during arrest, and is now seriously ill in detention in Sanandaj prison. I seek urgent assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated. Hence I additionally call for him to be granted all necessary medical treatment, if necessary in specialist medical facilities outside the prison where he is held.
Furthermore I call for him to be granted regular access to his family and his lawyer.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter!
Respectfully yours,
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Iran Embassy
Drammensveien 88 E
0271 Oslo
Faks: +47 2255 4919
E-mail: iremb@iran-embassy-oslo.no
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the activist Mahmoud Salehi was reportedly detained on April 2007, and call for his release immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association in connection with the 2004 International Workers’ Day demonstration.
I am also deeply concerned that Mahmoud Salehi was assaulted during arrest, and is now seriously ill in detention in Sanandaj prison. I seek urgent assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated. Hence I additionally call for him to be granted all necessary medical treatment, if necessary in specialist medical facilities outside the prison where he is held.
Furthermore I call for him to be granted regular access to his family and his lawyer.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter!
Respectfully yours,