Professional background:
Ezzatollah Sahabi is a veteran independent politician, former minister,
and managing editor of the now-banned journal Iran-e Farda (The Iran of
Tomorrow). It is reported that Sahabi was a top member of the banned
main opposition group, "Freedom Movement of Iran" (FMI), and that he
was previously fined and banned from journalism for one year in December
1998 for publishing "slanderous material."
Case history:
Sahabi was arrested on April 22, 2000 following his participation in
an academic and cultural conference held at the Heinrich Böll Institute
in Berlin on April 7-9 entitled "Iran after the elections," at which
political and social reform in Iran were publicly debated. He was
reportedly released on bail on August 21, 2000 pending trial. The exact
details of charges against him were not made known, although members of
the judiciary apparently considered his attendance at the conference to
be "acting against national security." His trial was scheduled to begin
on November 14, 2000. On December 17, Sahabi was re-arrested on charges
of "insulting the Guide [of the Islamic Republic], Ayatollah Ali Khamenei"
and "propaganda against the regime." He is believed to be charged in
connection with statements he made during an address at Amir-Kabir
Technical University in Tehran on November 26, 2000.
Sahabi was tried by Tehran's Revolutionary Court, and on January 13, 2001
it was announced that he had been convicted and sentenced on charges of
acting against national security and disseminating propaganda against the
Islamic regime for his participation at the Berlin conference.
Current status:
Sahabi was released on bail on March 2, 2002. He is believed to be among
15 members of the National Religious Alliance to have stood trial in
camera on January 8, 2002 on charges of "subversive activities against
the state" and "blasphemy," both of which carry the death penalty. Details
of these new charges against him are not clear.
Ezzatollah Sahabi is also an Honorary Member of the English PEN Center.
PEN remains seriously concerned that Ezzatollah Sahabi is still facing
charges, apparently solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom
of expression and association. PEN seeks further details of the charges
still pending against him, and is calling for all charges against editor
Ezzatollah Sahabi to be immediately and unconditionally dropped if they
violate Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.
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HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please write a polite letter on your personal or institutional letterhead requesting that all charges against Ezzatollah Sahabi be dropped- or copy the one below - and mail to His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei (postage 80˘) and to the Iranian Interests Section (postage 37˘).
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[Date]
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
c/o The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my grave and urgent concern about editor
Ezzatollah Sahabi. Although Mr. Sahabi was recently released on
bail, I understand that he may be among 15 members of the National
Religious Alliance to be facing charges, which may carry the death
penalty. Please order all charges to be dropped if they violate
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
to which Iran is a signatory.
Sincerely,
[Your name and signature]
Cc:
Iranian Interests Section
c/o Embassy of Pakistan to the United States
2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007
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