Hivos calls for action after imprisonment of Irani activist
11 September 2008 -
Five years ago, Emadedin Baghi was one of the founders of the Society for the Defence of Prisoners Rights (SDPR), and in 2005 he founded two similar organisations in Iran. While SDPR helps Irani prisoners in general, one of the other organisations is involved in helping prisoners who are on death row. Currently Baghi, a well-known human rights activist, is sentenced to three years in prisons. His health condition is growing worse. Hivos calls upon Dutch minister Verhagen to undertake immediate action.
Honorable Mr Verhagen,
Hivos is deeply concerned about the health and safety of the Iranian journalist and human rights defender Emadedin Baghi. We request you to address the Iranian authorities about this case and to make a strong appeal for adequate medical treatment, humane treatment during his detention, and a fair trial.
Mr. Emadedin Baghi is currently detained in the infamous Evin prison for a prison term of 3 years for “undermining national security” and for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” (in fact, by writing about the bomb attacks in Khuzestan in 2005 and 2006). In the meantime, the authorities have prepared new charges against him, for which Baghi will have to justify himself in court again, even before his prison term has ended.
Emadedin Baghi is under high pressure now. Since a few weeks, he is in solitary detention without sanitary facilities, under the direct responsibility of intelligence services, and he is severely ill-treated, both mentally and physically. Baghi’s health has weakened seriously and he has breathing difficulties. He has had a heart attack earlier this year. Recently, medical doctors have diagnosed bladder and kidney problems. His family fears for his life.
H.M. Embassy in Tehran knows the case of Baghi. His case is explicitly described in your official Iran report of July 2008 (page 30-31). Hivos knows Emadedin Baghi as an activist, who peacefully fights for improvement of human rights in Iran, better treatment of prisoners and abolishment of the death penalty.
In 2003 Mr Baghi was one of the founders of the Society for the Defence of Prisoners Rights (SDPR) and in 2005 also of the Guardians of the Right to Life and the Pacifist Association. SDPR works with prisoners in general, whereas the Guardians of the Right to Life work for people, who have been sentenced to the death penalty. The Pacifist Association challenges the concept of war, which is a holy concept for many Iranians, often combined with martyrdom. For years he has been collecting information on all death sentences and executions since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, to his estimation more than 10,000 cases. An article in Baghi’s book ‘Death Penalty and Retaliation’ (September 1999) lead to an earlier conviction for blasphemy and 4 years of imprisonment.
During the past years, Emadedin Baghi has been granted some foreign awards, which he could not accept in person, due to travel restrictions and imprisonment: (1) the Civil Courage Prize of the Northcote Parkinson Fund from the United States (2004), (2) the human rights award from the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de L'homme from France (2005), and (3) the International Journalist of the Year 2008 Award from the British Press Awards in Great-Britain (2008).
Taking into consideration the significance of Mr. Baghi for the struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran and the importance of more openness and transparency in the Iranian society, we strongly request you to bring the situation of Emadedin Baghi under the attention of the Iranian authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Manuela Monteiro
General Director
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