PUBLIC		AI Index: MDE 13/043/2006	
		02 May 2006

Further Information on UA 86/06 (MDE 13/039/2006, 12 April 2006) Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture and ill-treatment/ possible prisoners of conscience

IRAN		Maharam Kamrani (m), medial doctor and editor
		Ebrahim Rashidi (m), engineer

Maharam Kamrani and Ebrahim Rashidi were released on 18 April, on bail of 30 million Rials each (equivalent to US$3,278). They have been charged with “acting against national security”. They have not yet received a date for their trial. 

Maharam Kamrani and Ebrahim Rashidi, both activists for the rights of the Azeri Turk minority community in Iran, were arrested on 30 March by officials from the Ministry of Intelligence. The day before their arrest, they had contacted the authorities in order to obtain a permit to hold a commemorative event, which was denied. They were held in a detention facility run by the Ministry of Intelligence agency in the city of Ahar until 2 April, and then were transferred to another Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in the city of Tabriz. They were held in solitary confinement for the duration of their detention. 

The charge of ‘acting against national security’ is not clearly defined in the Penal Code and as such can be used to prevent human rights defenders and political activists from exercising their internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression and association. If convicted of this offence, Maharam Kamrani and Ebrahim Rashidi could well be prisoners of conscience, in which case Amnesty International would call for their immediate and unconditional release.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:
- welcoming the news that Maharam Kamrani and Ebrahim Rashidi are no longer being held in incommunicado detention and have been released on bail;
- asking for full details of the charges and evidence against them, and to be informed of any trial proceedings;
- expressing concern that they are reported to be facing charges which are vaguely worded and which may infringe their internationally recognized right to freedom of expression and association;
- stating that Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience if convicted.

APPEALS TO:
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Information
Second Negarestan Street
Pasdaran Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: 		iranprobe@iranprobe.com
Salutation:	Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency 
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, 
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: 		via Judiciary website at Iranjudiciary.org/feedback_en.html 
Salutation:	Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax:     	+98 251  774 2228 (mark "FAO the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei") 
Email:  		info@leader.ir or istiftaa@wilayah.org

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 13 June 2006