E-mail Discussion Lists Using Advocacy to Achieve Democratic Reform

DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

Dear Sir/Madame

I am writing to you to ask for your most urgent help on behalf of Mr. Akbar Mohammdi, a pro-democracy student activist, whose death sentence has been, for the second time, upheld by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In a closed and speedy trial and without the presence of his counsel, Mr. Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned and severely tortured for the last 8 months, was found guilty for conspiracy against the Islamic republic during the July 1999 pro-democracy student demonstrations in Tehran.

According to reports from Tehran,the Islamic authorities have decided to use Mr. Mohammadi as a scapegoat in venting their anger at students who dared to question the clergy's monopoly of power.

Mr. Mohammadi believes that his sentence serves as a punishment for his older brother, Mr. Manouchehr Mohammadi, a well-known student leader, who was also arrested and has also been severely tortured since last July. Mr. Manouchehr Mohammadi has been sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment for his participation in the Student movement denouncing the Human Rights abuses and the unwarrented attack on the student dorms on July 9, 2000 by the Islamic republic Security forces.

It has been reported that Mr. Akbar Mohammadi, has been severely beaten and losing part of his right ear and kidney functions. Meanwhile, hundreds of other pro-democracy students, such as Mr. Ahmad Batebi and other prisoners of conscience remain in the regime's prisons.

I urge you to use all of your organization's humanitarian resources to remind the Islamic regime of the grave consequences that will result if the execution of Mr. Akbar Mohammadi is carried out and the imprisonment of students continues.

At a time when the Islamic Republic is trying to impress the outside world that it is reforming its system, those of us who care about human rights should demand that its treatment of the Iranian students and Mr.Akbar Mohammadi reflect international norms of civilized behavior.



Respectfully Yours,



Name: _____________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

E-Mail: _____________________________________________

Fax: _____________________________________________

Source: SMCCDI

1) The Honorable Kofi Annan,
Secretary General, The United Nations
Fax # (212) 963-4879

2) The Honorable Maurice Danby Capithorne,
Special Representative on Iran,
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
Switzerland
Fax # +44/171/413-5645

3) The Honorable Mary Robinson,
The United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights,
Geneva, Switzerland
Fax: # 011/41-22-9170123

4) Mr. Drewry Dyke,
Amnesty International,
London United Kingdom
Fax # 011/44-171/9561157

5) Mr. William F. Schulz,
Executive Director,
Amnesty International,
New York
Fax # (212) 627-1451 Fax # (312) 427-2589

6) Ms. Nancy Bothne,
Amnesty International Midwest,
Chicago
Fax # (312) 427-2589

7) Director,
Amnesty International,
Washington D.C.
Fax # (202) 546-71427

8) Ms. Cosette Thompson,
Amnesty International,
San Francisco
Fax # (415) 291-8722

9) Mr. Joe Baker,
Amnesty International,
Culver City (Los Angeles)
Fax # (310) 815-0457

10) Ms. Karen Kennerly,
Pen American Center,
New York
Fax # (212) 334-2181

11) Mr. Hanny Megally,
Director of Middle East Watch,
New York
Fax # (212) 972-0905
E-Mail:hrwnyc@hrw.org

12) Human Rights Watch,
Washington, DC
Fax # (202) 371-0124
E-Mail:hrwdc@hrw.org

13) Human Rights Watch,
Los Angeles
Fax # (213) 680-9924
E-Mail:hrwla@hrw.org

14) Human Rights Watch,
London
Fax # (171) 713-1800
E-Mail:hrwatchuk@gn.apc.org

15) World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Geneva/Switzerland
Fax # 011/41-22-7331051
E-Mail:omct@omct.org

(Other officials listed in the web site referenced above)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you out of concern for Mr. Akbar Mohammedi, a pro-democracy student activist, whose death sentence, I understand, was for the second time upheld by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic.

According to reports from Tehran, Mr. Mohammedi is being used as a scapegoat for daring to question the clergy's monopoly of power. His sentence apparently is serving as a punishment for his older brother, Mr. Manouchehr Mohammadi, a well-known student leader, who I understand has also been severely tortured since his arrestlast July for participation in the student movement.

It has been reported that Mr. Akbar Mohammadi has been severely beaten and is losing part of his right ear and kidney functions. Meanwhile, hundreds of other pro-democracy students, such as Mr. Ahmad Batebi and other prisoners of conscience, remain in the regime's prisons.

Mr. ________, those who value freedom and human rights are watching closely to see how this situation is resolved. The continued imprisonment of Mr.Mohammedi and his colleagues does not serve the cause of those in your country who wish to project an image of fairness and basic human decency. Copies of this letter are also being sent to .....

Respectfully Yours,



Name: _____________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

E-Mail: _____________________________________________

Fax: _____________________________________________

Islamic Republic Rulers


1) President Mohammad Khatami
Palastine Ave.,
Azarbayejan Intersection,
Tehran, Iran
Fax # 9821- 649-5880
Phone # 9821-6161,
E-Mail:Khatami@president.ir

2) Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroodi,
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Iran

3) Mr. Kamal Kharazi,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shekh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Ave.
Terhran, Iran
Fax # 98 21 674 790

4) Mr. Mohammad Hassan Ziai-Far,
Secratary, Islamic Human Rights
Commission
P.O. Box 13165-137
Tehran, Iran
Fax # 0119821-204-0541

5) Ayatollah Khameneh'i
Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran Iran
Fax # 98 21 650 203 (via Interior Ministry, ask for fax to be forwarded)

6) Moussavi Lari,
Ministry of the Interior
Dr Fatemi Avenue
Tehran, Iran
Fax # +98 21 899 547/650 203