Iran: Green Protest Launches Campaign Demanding Release Of Opposition Leaders

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Iran
Iran

The Green Protest Campaign has called on Green Movement supporters to sign a petition demanding an end to the illegal detention of the Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi who have been under house arrest along with their wives for more than six months.

As an initial step in this campaign, a petition has been prepared to obtain signatures from people across the world, addressed to the following officials and international bodies:

1- UN Secretary-General
2- State Ambassadors at the UN
3- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
4- United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran
5- Ministers of Foreign Affairs
6- EU Inter-parliamentary delegation for relations with Iran
7- UN Security Council
8- High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
9- Organization of Islamic Cooperation
10 – United Nations Human Rights Committee on Enforced Disappearance
11- Inter-Parliamentary Union

The petition has so far has been signed by over 280 political as well as social and cultural figures, in addition to 21 Human Rights groups and organizations. The petition is hereby available until September 10, 2011 to entice general public’s support so as to obtain further signatures. The Green Protest Campaign will subsequently present the petition to all relevant bodies and organizations, utilizing all means available within the international legal framework to pursue the demands of the petition.

You can take a positive step towards ending the illegal detention of the Green Movement Companions, by signing this petition.

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August 2011

Subject: Open Letter Calling for the Release of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi & Their Spouses
It has been more than six months since the abduction and illegal imprisonment of Iran’s former presidential election candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and their spouses Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi. These individuals were forcibly imprisoned in their own homes by security forces and plain clothes agents, after calling upon the nation of Iran to participate in public rallies on February 14th, 2011, in support of the democratic movements in Egypt and Tunisia. Furthermore, since their illegal arrest, with the exception of a small number of highly restricted contacts with their family members, the aforementioned persons have been completely isolated and banned from all communication with the outside world.

During this period, not a single individual associated with the Iranian State, judiciary or security forces, has accepted responsibility for these transgressions and violations of the law. Moreover, no arrest warrants, summons or any charges have been issued by the judicial authorities against the above mentioned individuals.

Furthermore, the recent reports by the families of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard regarding their grim physical condition, coupled with the ruling government’s refusal to grant them access to reliable medical care and trusted physicians of their choice, has only further increased the concerns regarding their physical and psychological well being.

Given the past history of repeated and systematic arrest and torture of political prisoners at the hands of the Iranian State and judicial authorities, and the repeated past violations of basic prisoner rights, there is increased fear that such violations are similarly occurring against Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and their spouses and that their well being, both physical and psychological, is further threatened and rendered vulnerable. It is worth mentioning that only a short while ago in June, Hoda Saber, a political prisoner at Evin prison, lost his life as a result of similar beatings and abuses at the hands of prison authorities and their negligence in providing timely access to adequate medical treatment.

We the undersigned wish to bring attention to the fact that the behaviour of Iranian State and judicial authorities vis-a-vis the aforementioned four individuals is in violation of basic human rights, international law, as well as national laws in the country, including article 32 of the Islamic Republic’s Constitution, article 583 of the Islamic Penal Code, article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Disappearance.

We also respectfully request that in order to protect the rights of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi, you utilize every international, legal and diplomatic means at your disposal, to ensure that the Iranian government upholds its commitments vis-a-vis the nation of Iran and the international community. We ask in particular, that you demand the following actions from the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran:

* To expedite the immediate and unconditional release of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi;

* To guarantee the physical and emotional well being of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi and their family members under all circumstances and conditions;

* To launch an immediate, accurate, complete and impartial judicial investigation into the identification of those responsible for the kidnapping and forced imprisonment of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi, including the public prosecution and sentencing of such criminals in compliance with the Iranian and internationally recognized laws;

* To uphold the individual rights of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi, including but not limited to such rights as access to defence lawyers of their choice, access to adequate medical care and trusted physicians for the performance of any and all necessary medical examinations.

We thank you in advance for your immediate attention and action in resolving this dire and inhumane situation, and greatly appreciate any and all humanitarian efforts in this regard.

Please click here to sign the petition

GVF

GVF is The Green Voice of Freedom

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