Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro
de la Prensa-Basln Özeti
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appeal hearing is thought to have concluded in November 2001 but the
verdict has yet to be confinned. Lahiji remains free. Professional
details: Iran's first woman publisher. Her own publications include
Portrait of Women in the Works of Bahram Beizaie. Film Maleer and
Script Writer (1989); The Quest for Identity: the Image of Iranian
Women in P~history and History VoLl and 11, co-edited with
Mehrangiz Kar (see above) (Vo!.l 1992, volume Il compiled and ready
for print); Women Writers and Iranian literature (compiled, ready for
print); Women in Iranian Dramatic Arts (compiled, ready for print). She
has also translated a number of works. Awarded the Pandora Prize 2001
by 'Women in Publishing' in London. Previous political imprisonmentlproblems:
Shahla Lahiji has reportedly been previously targeted
by the Iranian authorities in connection with her women's rights
activism. Other information: Widowed in 1994 after 34 years of
marriage. She has a daughter and a son, both of whom now live in the
U.S. Lahiji lives and works in Tehran. Honorary member of: Canadian,
English and American PEN.
*Tahmlneh MILANI (f)
D.o.b.: 1960 Profession: Film director and screen-writer. Date of
arrest: 27 August 2001 Details of arrest: Detained by Tehran's
Revolutionary Court for "abusing the arts as a tool for actions which will
suit the taste of counter-revolutionary and maha~b groups". The charges
relate to her new film 'The Hidden Half' , which reportedly focuses on
rebel activists during the political turmoil of the 1980's following the
Iranian revolution. She was released on bail 2 September 2001. No date
has been set for her trial. Honorary member of: PEN Canada
Ibrahim NABAVI
Profession: Journalist for the now-banned publications Jameh, Tous, and
Asr-e-Azadegan. Date of arrest: 12 August 2000 Sentence: Eight
months' imprisonment Details of arrest: Reportedly detained after
being interrogated by the Press Court. Released on bail on 18 November
2000. Details of trial: Sentenced on 10 January 2001 by the press court
for "deceptive publications, insults against officials of the regime and
unfounded accusations". He is thought to remain free pending appeal,
WiPe seeking an update. Previous poUticallmprisonmentlproblems:
Previously detained in 1999 for his writings.
.Mohammad SALAMATI
Profession: Publisher of the now-banned reformist weeldy Asr-e-Ma.
Sentenced to twenty-six months' imprisonment on 15 December 2001
for allegedly spreading a rumour in December 2000 that an attempt had
been made to overthrow President Khatami. Salamati is secretary general
of the Organisation of the Islamic Revolution's Mujahedin, a member of
the coalition supporting reformist President Mohammad Khatami. He
remains free pending appeal.
Shahla SHERKAT (f)
Profession: Publisher and editor of the feminist monthly Zanan magazine,
set up in 1991 to discuss women's rights issues. Sentence: 4
months' imprisonment Details of trial: Charged in connection with her
participation in the Berlin conference held at the Heinrich Böll Institute
on 7-9 April2ooo. On 13 January 2001 the verdicts of the Berlin conference
trials were announced, and she was sentenced to four months'
imprisonment for "propaganda against the Islamic system during the
Berlin conference". She was also convicted of acting against national
security for her participation at the Berlin conference, but the two year
prison sentence she was handed down for this charge was commuted to a
fine. Her appeal hearing is believed to have concluded in November 2001
but the verdict has yet to be confirmed. She remains free.
Facing trial
Mohammad BASTEHNEGAR: Journalist with the banned daily Asr-é-
Azadegan. Arrested on Il March 2001 when security agents raided a
gathering at his home. The gathering constituted 20-30 supporters of th~
'Iran Freedom Movement' ('Nehzat-e Azadi-ye Iran') and Milli Mazhabl
(National Religious Alliance), a broad and informal group of individuals
advocating reform in Iran. According to the head of Tehran's
Revolutionary Court, the group were "conspiring to overthrow the
Islamic government". Over twenty members of the group were arrested,
but most were released the following day. Bastehnegar ISamong fifteen
members of the National Religious Alliance (Melli Mazhabi) to face trial
in camera on 8 January 2002. Other writers or journalists in the group are
Dr. Reza Raïs-Toussi, Taghi Rahmani, Hoda Saber and Ahmad
Zeidabadi(see below) and Ezatollah Sahabi (see 'main case' above).
They are believed to face charges of "subversive activities against the
state" and "blasphemy", both of which carry the death pe~alty. l;Ias been
held in solitary confinement, without access to a lawyer, smce his arrest.
There are concerns that he has been mistreated in prison. Held in Prison
59, an unregulated detention centre in central Tehran.
Taghi RAHMANI: Journalist with Omid-é-Zangan. Reportedly arrested
on Il March 2001 when security agents raided a gathering at the home of
journalist Mohammad Bastehnaghar (see above). Still detained as of end
of December 2001, and said to be held in Tehran's Prison 59. Among
fifteen members of the National Religious Alliance to face trial in camera
on 8 January 2002 on charges of "subversive activities against the state"
and "blasphemy", both of which carry the death penalty. Reported to
have confessed to the charges against him under psychological pressure.
Dr. Reza RAïS- TOUSSI: D.o.b.: 1936. Journalist with the banned daily
Fath. Reportedly arrested on Il March 2001 when security agents raided
a gathering at the home of journalist Mohammad Bastehnaghar (see
above). Raïs-Toussi is among fifteen members of the National Religious
Alliance to face trial in camera on 8 January 2002 on charges of "subversive
activities against the state" and "blasphemy", both of which carry
the death penalty. He is reportedly held in Prison 59, central Tehran. He
reportedly suffers from arthritis and a slipped disc, and his health is said
to have worsened considerably in prison. His wife reported after visiting
him in prison in July 2001 that he was suffering from exhaustion. She has
not been permitted to visit him since. He is kept in solitary confinement,
and has been denied access to his lawyer.
Hoda SABER: Co-editor of the now-banned monthly Iran-é-Farda.
Reportedly arrested on 28 January 2001 and detained incommunicado.
One of fifteen members of the National Religious Alliance to face trial in
camera on 8 January 2002 on charges of "subversive activities against the
state" and "blasphemy", both of which carry the death penalty. Detained
in Prison 59, an unregulated detention centre in central Tehran. Said to
have confessed under psychological pressure.
Ahmad ZEIDABADI: Journalist for the moderate weekly Hamshahri
(The Citizen) and the now-banned bi-weekly Iran-é-Farda. Reportedly
arrested on Il March 200 1 when security agents raided a gathering at the
home of journalist Mohammad Bastehnaghar (see above). Released on
12 or 13 March. At the time of his arrest he was on bail in a separate case.
He is among fifteen members of the National Religious Alliance to face
trial in camera on 8 January 2002 on charges of "subversive activities
against the state" and "blasphemy", both of which carry the death
penalty. Remains free on bail. Previously detained on 7 August 2000,
apparently in connection with articles he wrote for newspapers that have
since been banned. He wa' relea~ed on hail