Writers in Prison Committee
IRAN CAMPAIGN |
Sample Letter
|
|
***** Please write a polite letter to the authorities in Iran expressing concern about the number of writers currently detained there and calling for their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. You may copy the suggested text for your appeal or create your own. Postage is 80¢. ***** [Date] His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali KhameniLeader of the Islamic Republic The Presidency Palestine Avenue Azerbaijan Intersection Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatami
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran. Fax: +98 21 390 1999 or +98 21 311 3149 (please mark "care of the Human Rights Department, Foreign Ministry")
Your Excellencies, I am writing to express my serious alarm at the widespread imprisonment of writers and journalists in Iran, and at their reported ill-treatment in detention. I am particularly concerned that those detained for expressing their views are apparently systematically abused with impunity, particularly while in pre-trial detention, and denied their right to a fair trial as guaranteed by the Iranian constitution as well as international standards. I respectfully remind the Iranian authorities of their commitments to the principles of freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a signatory. I also call for the immediate and unconditional release of Abbas Abdi, Hashem Aghajari, Hojjatoleslam Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari, Amir Abbas Fakhravar, Akbar Ganji, Hossein Ghaziyan, Alireza Jabari, Siamak Pourzand, Taghi Rahmani, Khalil Rostamkhani, Hoda Saber, Said Sadr, , Nasser Zarafshan, Taghi Rahmani, Reza Alijani, Hoda Saber, and all other writers held solely for the peaceful expression of their views. Sincerely, [Your name and signature]
Cc:
Please contact ftw@pen.org if you have any questions. |