Urgent Action Appeal
[2008-08-14] Iran
Stop the execution of teacher unionist Farzad Kamangar
Dear colleagues,
Farzad Kamangar, a 33-year old teacher and former trade unionist from the Kurdistan Province of Iran, is at risk of execution following the ruling issued at an unfair trial.
In recent weeks, EI has written to the Iranian Government to request a fair trial for Farzad Kamangar and other union activists who are under arrest. In spite of joint efforts from various national and international organisations to have death sentence of Farzad Kamangar communted, it was upheld by the Supreme Court on 11 July 2008. In addition, Iranian trade union colleagues and human rights activists who show solidarity with Farzad are being subjected to pervasive intimidation by the Iranian authorities.
The arrest, detention and condemnation of trade unionists because of their human and trade union activities are not only serious violations of trade union rights, but also create an atmosphere of fear prejudicial to trade union development in Iran.
Background Information
Kamangar, who worked as a teacher in rural areas and was a human rights activist, is accused of being a terrorist through his alleged affiliation to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK. According to his lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, there is no evidence to justify the judgement that Kamangar has “endangered national security”. His lawyer, who was not permitted to defend him, says Farzad’s trial was not in accordance with article 168 of the Iranian Constitution: “Political and press offences will be tried openly and in the presence of a jury, in courts of justice.” In this case, only one judge reviewed the case within five minutes and the defendant was not allowed to speak.
A support committee composed of members of the Teacher Trade Association, former colleagues of Kamangar and human rights attorneys, including Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, was established on July 21, 2008 to defend the civil rights of Farzad Kamangar and to undertake legal actions to have his death sentence commuted. Following the first meeting of the Committee, three teachers were arrested and taken to the Intelligence Detention Centre in Sanandaj, in the Iranian province of Kurdistan. Two – Hassan Ghorbani and Kaveh Rostami- are still in detention, while the third, Ahmad Ghorbani, was released on bail after two weeks. Farzad’s supporters and their family members are regularly intimidated through phone calls by the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security.
In addition to opposing the death sentence, EI condemns the torture of Farzad Kamangar while in detention and the subsequent denial of medical treatment. When his family was last allowed to visit him in prison, his injuries were such that he was unable to walk. EI has urged the Iranian authorities to investigate the reports of torture and to ensure that, in future, no detainee is subject to torture or ill-treatment.
To date, EI has no affiliate in Iran. However EI has received an application for membership from the Iranian Teacher’ Trade Association and a representative of that organisation was invited as a guest to the last EI Congress in Berlin in 2007. Upon his return from the EI Congress, Mohammad Khaksari was harassed by the security forces. Mr Khaksari is also an active member of the ‘Committee to Save Farzad’ and he is among those who are being harassed by the Ministry of Intelligence.
What can you do?
As a national teacher association, you can undertake the following actions:
1.Give visibility to the situation of Farzad Kamangar and of teachers in Iran in your magazine, on your website, during meetings and via other appropriate means.
2.Write to the Iranian authorities > Your organisation is invited to appeal the Iranian government to:
oreview the case of Farzad Kamangar and to give further clarification about the charges against him and other teacher trade unionists currently detained;
ocommute Farzad’s death sentence;
odesist from the use of torture;
oallow Farzad Kamangar to have unimpeded contact with his family and his lawyer;
ostop the harassment against the relatives of Farzad Kamangar and members of the Committee to Stop Farzad Kamangar’s Death Sentence;
obe open for a peaceful dialogue regarding the professional concerns of teachers in Iran.
Please send appeals to:
President Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran 13168-43311
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
Chief of State
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – Shahid Keshvar Doust Street,
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-Mail: info@leader.ir / Fax: +98-21 649 5880 (unreliable)
Minister of Justice
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Office of the Head of Justice
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., South of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 13168-14737
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-Mail: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir / Fax: +98-21 879 6671/640 4018 or 4019 (unreliable)
Please also copy your letter to the Iranian embassy in your country (in some countries, like the USA, the Embassy of Pakistan looks after the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran), as well as to EI (headoffice@ei-ie.org or fax +32 2 224 0606)
EI will of course keep you updated on all developments. For additional information or to discuss possible action, contact the EI Human and Trade Union Rights Coordinator at dominique.marlet@ei-ie.org or +32 2 224 0680
Thank you for your solidarity and ongoing support for our Iranian colleagues.
Yours faithfully,
Fred van Leeuwen
General Secretary
