Open Letter to Foreign Ministers
Website: www.iranian-republic.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/USRHRIran @USRHRIran
To: Honorable Foreign Ministers
From: Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran
Subject: Human Rights Situation in Iran
Date: May 18, 2020
Honorable Foreign Ministers,
We are writing to you as representatives of your country who deals with Iran in your capacity as Foreign Ministers of your nation to bring to your attention some very disturbing news coming out of Iran.
We are sure just like the rest of the world you are busy to safeguard your citizens from the Coronavirus epidemic. Iran was hit hard by this virus and the government was very late to respond and in some cases concealed the truth to its people and the world. In one case when a team of Doctors without Borders attempted to build a field hospital in the city of Isfahan with prior permission it was turned down.
As the world tries to bring some normalcy to its peoples although very cautiously that is not the fact about Iran.
Our main concern presently are the prisons in Iran. While the Islamic Republic of Iran has released some non-political prisoners, it continues to hold those who have used their right to free speech under a very harsh and dangerous condition, and continues to pass new sentences against those who have already served their previous unjust sentences.
Honorable Ministers,
Allow us to bring to forefront some specific cases that troubles us. Keyvan Samimi, chief editor of Iran Farda magazine, has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of participating in a May 1st rally last year.
Four of the Signatories of a letter known as “statement of 14” Mohammad Nourizad, Hashem Khastaar, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri have been sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison. Ismail Abdi, one of the country's teachers' union activists, was taken to prison after his leave. Prominent prisoners of conscience, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mohammad Nourizad, Hashem Khastaar, Soheil Arabi, Athena Daemi, Golrokh Iraee, Zeinab Jalalian, are still in prison. Renown Human Rights activist Narges Mohammadi although extremely sick was exiled to a prison in Zanjan and has been threatened. Just recently University students Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi have been arbitrarily detained and the Iranian authorities have not provided clear information about the reason for their arrest. Esmail Abdi, a teacher, was given additional prison sentence. Seven member of Bahaii faith have been given a total of thirty-nine years’ prison sentence. Fariba Adelkhah, Franco Iranian sociologist in jail at Evin since June 2019.
Honorable Ministers,
The Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran, is concerned and worried for the safety of our loved ones. We are hoping in your future conversation with your counterpart in Iran do share these concerns and ask for their release. Their lives depend on it! Please don’t let innocent people die.
With Respect,
Mehdi Amini
Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran
International@iranian-Republic.org
CC: Human Rights Organizations
Honorable ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General
Honorable Michaelle bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Honorable Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
