URGENT ACTION APPEAL- From Amnesty International USA

For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa11312.pdf

UA 113/12

Issue Date: 26 April 2012

Country: IranIRANIAN-CANADIAN FACING EXECUTION IN IRANA

man with dual Iranian-Canadian nationality, Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, appear to be at imminent risk ofexecution. His family was told on 15 April that his death sentence had been passed to the bodywithin the Judiciary that carries out executions.

Hamid Ghassemi-Shall was arrested on 24 May 2008 while visiting his elderly mother in Iran. Hisolder brother, Alborz Ghassemi-Shall, have been arrested about two weeks earlier. Both brothers wereheld in solitary confinement without legal representation, in Tehran's Evin prison for 18 months; inNovember 2009 the brothers were transferred to a section of the prison holding other prisoners.

On 29 December 2008 both men were sentenced to death following an unfair trial by a RevolutionaryCourt. They were convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) for espionage and cooperation with theproscribed People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Amnesty International understands thatthe evidence used against the brothers during trial included a "confession" and an email theauthorities alleged Hamid Ghassemi-Shall had sent to his brother Alborz Ghassemi-Shall, who hadpreviously worked as a mechanical engineer in the Iranian army, which he denied sending. On 7November 2009, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. In January 2010 Alborz Ghassemi-Shall, who wassuffering from stomach cancer, died in prison.

Hamid Ghassemi-Shall have said that while in Evin Prison, before he had access to legalrepresentation, he was under "extreme pressure" to "confess". "Confessions" made under torture arefrequently accepted as evidence in Iranian courts, violating the right to a fair trial. The Iranianauthorities had previously threatened to arrest the brothers' sister Mahin Ghassemi-Shall, who hassince died, for speaking out on behalf of her brother.

Please write immediately in Persian, English or your own language:

- Urging the Iranian authorities to stop the execution of Hamid Ghassemi-Shall;

- Urging them to retry him in proceedings which fully comply with international fair trial standardsand without recourse to the death penalty;

- Calling on them to ensure that Hamid Ghassemi-Shall is given immediate and regular access to hisfamily, his lawyer and any necessary medical treatment.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 JUNE 2012 TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic                                                                         Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei                                                                           The Office of the Supreme Leader                                                                Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street                            Tehran                                                                                                         ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN                                                                           Email: info_leader@leader.ir                                                                      

Twitter: "Call on #Iran leader @khamenei_ir to halt the execution of HamidGhassemi-Shall"                                                                           Salutation: Your Excellency                                                                             Head of the Judiciary                                                                                Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani                                                                              [Care of] Public Relations Office                                                                  Number 4, 2 Azizi Street intersection                                              

Tehran                                                                                                        ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN                                                                            Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (SubjectLine: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani)                                                                                                        Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:                                                                                           Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights                                      Mohammad Javad Larijani                                                                                High Council for Human Rights                                                                       [Care of] Office of the Head of the Judiciary                                               Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e Jomhouri                                       Tehran 1316814737                                                                                    ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN                                                                              Email: info@humanrights-iran.ir   (subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani 

**Iran does not presently have an embassy in the United States. Instead, please send copies to:                                                                                Iranian Interests Section                                                                                   c/o Embassy of Pakistan                                                                                       2209 Wisconsin Ave NW                                                                              Washington DC 20007                                                                                       Tel: 1 202 965 4990 -OR- 1 202 965-4991                                                          Fax: 1 202 965 1073                                                                                           Email: requests@daftar.org                                                                               Please check with AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the above date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION                                                                                  Hamid Ghassemi-Shall's wife, Antonella Mega, who lives in Canada, told Amnesty International on 20April 2012 that her husband had called her on 15 April, and told her that his mother and his sister,Parvin Ghassemi-Shall, had been allowed to visit him at Evin Prison earlier that day. They had metin the office of a judge from the Office for the Implementation of Sentences. His mother and sistertold him that another sister, Mahin Ghassemi-Shall, had died following an illness. The judge, whowas present, immediately told the grieving family that Hamid Ghassemi-Shall's death sentence was "onhis table" and that he was awaiting orders from Tehran Province's Chief Prosecutor to carry outHamid Ghassemi-Shall's execution.

There were serious flaws in the fairness of the brothers' trial. They were held for monthsundergoing interrogation but without access to legal representation. Access to a lawyer from theoutset of detention is essential to ensuring a fair trial. International fair trial standardsrequire that anyone accused of a serious crime has access to a lawyer not only during the trialitself, but also immediately on arrest and throughout all subsequent proceedings, in particular incases of offences carrying the death penalty. At the beginning of their interrogation and in court,the brothers denied the charges and the only evidence produced in the trial appears to have been thedisputed email and a "confession" made by Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, apparently under duress, that he hadobtained confidential military information from his brother. Under international law, no one shouldbe forced to confess guilt; international law also prohibits the use of confessions extracted undertorture as evidence except against those who carry out such torture.

The brothers were sentenced to death on the basis of Article 186 of Iran's Penal Code. It statesthat members and supporters of a group which has "waged armed struggle against the Islamic State areregarded to be moharebs provided they know the position of that group; are in active pursuit oftheir aims while the central [structure] of that organization or group exists." The article appliesto all members and supporters of such groups even though they may not have taken up arms.The PMOI is a banned opposition group based in Iraq which advocates the overthrow of the Iraniangovernment.

The PMOI has previously engaged in armed action against the Iranian government.

The Iranian authorities resort extensively to the imposition of the death penalty, with over 600executions reported in the country from official and unofficial sources in 2011. So far this year,the Iranian authorities have acknowledged the execution of at least 85 people, 19 of them put todeath in public. Amnesty International has received credible reports of 41 other executions whichwere not officially acknowledged, mostly of people convicted of drugs offences. Among others in Iranfeared to be facing imminent execution are Habibollah Golparipour, Zaniar Moradi, Loghman Moradi(all members of Iran's Kurdish minority) Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari,Mansour Heidari, and Amir Muawi (or Mo’avi), Aref Hamidian (all members of Iran's Ahwazi Arabminority), Abdolreza Ghanbari and Saeed Malekpour. For further information regarding the use of thedeath penalty in Iran in 2011, see Amnesty International: Death Sentences and Executions in 2011,(MDE ACT 50/001/2012), 27 March 2012, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ACT50/001/2012/en.

The UN Human Rights Committee, which oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civiland Political Rights (ICCPR), expressing concern at the large numbers of death sentences andexecutions, has called on the Iranian authorities to "consider abolishing the death penalty or atleast revise the Penal Code to restrict the imposition of the death penalty to only the 'mostserious crimes'" which it has interpreted to mean intentional crimes with lethal consequences. TheUN Human Rights Committee also stated its concern about the use of solitary confinement in Iran.Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception as the ultimatecruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and as a violation of the right to life, and is calling forall death sentences in Iran to be overturned or commuted.Name: Hamid Ghassemi-Shall (m)Issue(s): Risk of imminent execution, Legal concern, Torture---------------------------------**

POSTAGE RATES **Within the United States:$0.32 - Postcards$0.45 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)To Canada:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)To Mexico:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)To all other destination countries:$1.05 - Postcards$1.05 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop actiondate (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal.Urgent Action NetworkAmnesty International USA600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th flWashington DC 20003Email: uan@aiusa.orghttp://www.amnestyusa.org/uanPhone: 202.509.8193Fax: 202.675.8566----------------------------------END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL                   

IRAN

Iran: 5 Arab men at imminent risk of execution

UA: 77/12 Index: MDE 13/013/2012 Iran Date: 8 March 2012

URGENT ACTION

5 ARAB MEN AT IMMINENT RISK OF EXECUTION

5 members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority, including 3 brothers, their cousin and another man are at imminent risk of execution in public , after their death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court. The sentences may be intended to deter Ahwazi Arabs in Iran from demonstrating on the 15 April anniversary of protests held in 2005 .

The 3 brothers, Abd al-R ahman Heidari , Taha Heidari and Jamshi d Heidari, their cousin Mansour Heidari and Amir Muawi (or Mo ’av i ) were arrested in April 2011 in Ahvaz, during unrest taking place across Iran’s south-western Khuzestan province. Since their arrest, their whereabouts have not been disclosed to their families. On or around 5 March 2012, Ministry of Intelligence officials informed their families that the Supreme Court had upheld death sentences against the 5 men, after they were convicted of the killing of at least one individual, said to be a law enforcement official, on 15 April 2011. The Ministry of Intelligence also told the men's relatives that they would be executed in public “in the next few days”. It is not known when their initial trials took place or if they had any legal representation. ”Confessions” extracted under duress are frequently accepted as evidence before courts in Iran.

Please write immediately in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:

Urging the Iranian authorities not to carry out the executions and to commute the death sentences of Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari, Mansour Heidari and Amir Mo’avi and anyone else on death row;

Seeking information about the trial of all 5, including whether they had access to a lawyer of their choice;

Calling on them to ensure that all 5 men are protected from torture or other ill-treatment, and are granted immediate and regular access to their families, their lawyers and adequate medical care.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 19 APRIL 2012 TO :

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: info_leader@leader.ir

info_leader@leader.irTwitter: "#Iran leader @khamenei_ir: halt execution of Abd al-Rahman Heidari, Taha Heidari, Jamshid Heidari, Mansour Heidari and Amir Mo’avi”

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani

[care of] Public relations Office

Number 4, 2 Azizi Street

Vali Asr Ave., above Pasteur Street intersection

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (Subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani) or info_leader@leader.ir

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights

Mohammad Javad Larijani

High Council for Human Rights

[Care of] Office of the Head of the Judiciary, Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: info@humanrights-iran.ir

(subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION

5 ARABS AT IMMINENT RISK OF EXECUTION IN IRAN

Additional Information:

The Ahwazi Arab minority is one of many minorities in Iran. Much of Iran's Arab community lives in the south-western province of Khuzestan. Most are Shi’a Muslims but some are reported to have converted to Sunni Islam, heightening government suspicion about Ahwazi Arabs. They often complain that they are marginalized and subject to discrimination in access to education, employment, adequate housing, political participation and cultural rights.

There were mass demonstrations in Khuzestan province in April 2005, after it was alleged that the government planned to disperse the country's Arab population or to force them to relinquish their Arab identity. Following bomb explosions in Ahvaz City in June and October 2005, which killed at least 14 people, and explosions at oil installations in September and October 2005, the cycle of violence intensified, with hundreds of people reportedly arrested. Further bombings on 24 January 2006, in which at least 6 people were killed, were followed by further mass arbitrary arrests. At least 15 men were later executed as a result of their alleged involvement in the bombings.

Scores, if not hundreds, of members of the Ahwazi Arab minority were reportedly arrested before, during and after demonstrations on 15 April 2011. The demonstrations had been called a “Day of Rage” to mark the sixth anniversary of the 2005 mass demonstrations. At least three (according to the authorities) - and possibly many more - people were killed in the April 2011 demonstrations during clashes with the security forces, including some in the Malashiya neighbourhood in Ahvaz. Amnesty International received the names of 27 individuals allegedly killed. Ahwazi Arab sources have claimed the casualty figures were even higher. Amnesty International has been unable to confirm the reports as the Iranian authorities do not allow the organization to visit the country. The authorities maintain a tight control on the flow of information in and out of the province, including by preventing foreign journalists from visiting Khuzestan. At least four Ahwazi Arab men reportedly died in custody between 23 March 2011 and mid May 2011, possibly as a result of torture or other ill-treatment. Others were hospitalized around the same time, apparently as a result of injuries sustained from torture or other ill-treatment.

At least eight Ahwazi Arabs in Iran, including Hashem Hamidi, said to have been aged only 16, were executed between 5 and 7 May 2011, three reportedly in public, for their alleged involvement in the killing of three individuals including a law enforcement official (see Iran: Arbitrary arrests, torture and executions continue, Index: MDE 13/051/2011, 20 May 2011, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/051/2011/en).

Between 10 January 2012and the beginning of February 2012, in the lead-up to parliamentary elections held on 2 March 2012, between 50 to 65 individuals were reportedly arrested in at least three separate locations in the province; at least two deaths in custody have also been reported. Some Ahwazi Arabs, mostly in Shoush, called for a boycott of the elections and arrests in Shoush, north-central Khuzestan, reportedly followed the appearance of anti-election slogans painted on walls. Others may have been pre-emptive arrests aimed at preventing any gathering of Ahwazi Arabs either on the anniversary of country-wide demonstrations held on 14 February 2011 in support of the people of Tunisia and Egypt which were violently repressed, or on the 15 April anniversary of the “Day of Rage”.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee, the authoritative body which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a state party, has found that public executions are “incompatible with human dignity” and in November 2011 called on Iran to prohibit their use.

(source: Amnesty International)

Über die Hälfte seiner 43 Jahre im Todestrakt verbrachte Iwao in Isolationshaft. Da in Japan Gefangenen ihr Hinrichtungstermin erst wenige Stunden vor der Exekution bekannt gegeben wird, müssen diese täglich damit rechnen gehängt zu werden. Dies, in Verbindung mit der Isolationshaft, ist mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit der Grund dafür, dass Iwao psychisch krank ist.

Jeff could not anticipate that a murder would occur. The actual shooter in this case has already been executed by the state of Texas.For further information please visit:http://www.savejeffwood.com/

To read and sign the Petition please visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-jeff-wood-from-the-executioner