IMHRO: Iranian security arrested brothers of execution victim

Iranian minorities’ human right organisation (IMHRO)

Ref.IMHRO.02

2008-02-04

Iranian security forces have arrested the two brothers of Zamel Bavi who has recently been executed in Ahwaz prison.

Zamel Bavi, the 29 year old father and shopkeeper, has been executed after spending two and a half years in solitary confinement. Bavi’s first confession, obtained during interrogation by Iranian Security, was declared too unreliable to enable his execution, so he had to endure a second. During both of these interrogations it is likely that Bavi experienced torture and suffered from inhumane treatment.

His sister has told IMHRO that main charge against his brother was that he had a traditional Arabic wedding. “He was not involved in any illegal activities”.

Bavi’s family were denied a traditional burial of their relative. The Iranian government only allowed his family to bury him an entire four days after his execution, several longer than is the norm. Security forces attended his funeral and requested that after the event his family did not hold any gatherings to commemorate the burial.


The brothers of Bavi, Mohsen aged 35 and Emad (Sohrab) aged 29, were kidnapped just hours after their brother Zamel was executed. It is feared that these men will suffer a similar fate at the hands of the Iranian government.


Background
Ahwaz is the home of 5 million Arabs and has rich reserves of oil and gas. Over recent years, the Iranian government has increasingly oppressed the Ahwazi people.

Since the uprising of the Ahwazi people in 2005, many have been arrested and at least 20 are known to have been executed by the Iranian government. Various human rights organisations estimate that the real number of those executed is much higher.

Confiscation of land by the government is another source of tension in the area. The government forced many Arab farmers to leave their land and sources of income. No compensation was given for this. This land has then been used for new towns and industrial areas employed by non-indigenous Arabs. 85% of Iranian revenue comes from this area. However, the Iranian government refuses to spend even 1% of this in the area. Unemployment is high above the national average.

An Ahwaz human rights organisation reported that thousands of Ahwazi Arabs have been arrested in recent years. Last month alone four Ahwazi Arabs were hanged.

The justice system in Iran is corrupt. Suspects are kept in solitary confinement until their trial date. Confessions made under torture are valid in Iran, so most suspects are tortured until a confession is made. Prisoners are often deprived of access to lawyer and the trial takes place in secret. Many innocent victims are executed.


Take action.

Write to the following organisations and express your concern for
Ahwazi prisoners. Call upon Iranian authorities to release Ahwazi prisoners of conscience including two brothers of Mohsen and Emad (Sohrab) Bavi. Stop the execution of Arab Ahwazi. Ask the world to hold the Iranian
Government accountable for their brutality.

High Commissioner for Human Rights

Mrs. Louise Arbour
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland


Supreme leader of Iran
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
E-mail via web site
http://www.leader.ir/


Iranian president
Mahmud Ahmadinejad
E-mail via web site
http://www.president.ir/en/


Chairwomen of Human Rights Committee in European Parliament
Mrs Hélène FLAUTRE
Chairwomen of human rights committee in European parliament
Bureau d'Hélène Flautre au Parlement européen
8G130, rue Wierz
B-1049, Bruxelles, Belgique

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran
1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran