Professional background:
Siamak Pourzand is a journalist and film critic. He is manager of the Majmue-ye Farrhangi-ye Honari-ye Tehran, a cultural center for writers, artists, and intellectuals. In recent years, Pourzand was also a cultural commentator for several reformist newspapers that have since been shut down. He is well known for his articles critical of the Islamic regime, and is said to have been working with foreign-based Farsi language media prior to his detention.
Pourzand is the husband of writer, human rights lawyer, and editor of the now-banned Zan literary review Mehrangiz Kar. Kar, also an Honorary Member of PEN American Center, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for her participation in an academic and cultural conference held at the Heinrich Böll Institute in Berlin on April 7-9, 2000 entitled "Iran after the elections," at which political and social reform in Iran were publicly debated.
Case history:
Siamak Pourzand went missing on November 24, 2001; it was later learned that he was being held incommunicado by the Iranian intelligence. The journalist had reportedly stated to friends and family that he had been followed by motorcycles and one or two cars in the two weeks before he disappeared. On March 6, 2002, Iranian authorities began closed and unannounced proceedings against Pourzand. On May 3, 2002 the Tehran Press Court reportedly sentenced him to 11 years in prison on charges of "undermining state security through his links with monarchists and counter-revolutionaries." It is widely believed that the charges against him are based on confessions that were exacted under duress during the months he was held in incommunicado detention. Iranian authorities have offered no explanation of the charges or case against him to date.
Current status:
PEN is seriously concerned for Pourzand's well being, as he suffers from diabetes and a heart complaint. PEN received reports indicating that he may have suffered one or more heart attacks while in incommunicado detention, and that he was not allowed access to adequate and necessary medical attention. After a series of hospitalizations in 2004, Pourzand was released on medical leave from prison. However, according to his family he is denied permission to travel abroad for necessary medical treatment and to visit his family who is living in exile. His sentence is due to expire on November 23, 2012.
In addition to concerns about Pourzand's health, there are also concerns that his trial was not conducted according to fair standards as articulated in the Iranian Constitution and international treaties.
PEN urges that Pourzand’s freedom from incarceration be made permanent and that he not be returned to prison to serve the rest of his term. His health, already weakened by the imprisonment, will only worsen and reverse any gains made during this medical leave.
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