Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned for Emadeddin Baghi, a scholar, journalist and recent recipient of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders currently held in Evin Prison. SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging authorities to inquire into the matter and to urge the appropriate authorities to intervene to ensure his well-being pending his earliest release, including ensuring immediate and regular access to legal counsel of his choosing, to family and to any necessary medical treatment.
Scholars at Risk is an international network of over 220 universities and colleges in 29 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of thought, opinion, expression, association and travel. In cases like Mr. Baghi’s involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, Scholars at Risk investigates hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably.
According to reports, Mr. Baghi was arrested at his home on December 28th 2009. He was detained without charge and taken to an undisclosed location. Since then, he has reportedly been held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison, without access to his lawyers or medical care. Reports also indicate that Mr. Baghi has not been permitted regular visits with his family; indeed SAR understands that Mr. Baghi’s wife was able to see him for the first time only recently. All of this suggests apparent disregard of international standards of due process, fair trial and detention, as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is signatory. Most alarmingly, SAR is concerned about recent reports that Mr. Baghi was hospitalized on March 20th after losing consciousness as a result of a respiratory condition worsened by his detention. SAR understands that Mr. Baghi has suffered from respiratory and heart conditions in the past, including three seizures and a heart attack prior to this imprisonment. In light of this, his prolonged detention without access to counsel, family or adequate medical support would appear to constitute a reckless disregard of his health and well-being.
This disregard, coupled with the suddenness and lack of any clear basis for his arrest, raises grave concerns not only about his situation but about the about intimidation of intellectuals generally in Iran and about the ability to conduct world-class research, teaching and scholarship in such an environment. These are suggestions SAR finds particularly distressing given both Iran’s rich intellectual history and the important role that Iran and Iranian scholars in particular could play in the development of knowledge, research and scholarship in the 21st century.
Scholars at Risk therefore respectfully urges authorities to ensure that Iran’s obligations under international law are upheld with regard to Mr. Baghi. SAR respectfully urges authorities to intervene to ensure his well-being including ensuring immediate and regular access to legal counsel of his choosing, to family and to any necessary medical treatment. Given the public reports surrounding his detention, SAR further urges authorities to explain publicly the reasons for his detention or absent this, to arrange for his earliest release.
Scholars at Risk invites letters, emails and faxes be sent:
-respectfully urging authorities to ensure that Iran’s obligations under international law are upheld with regard to Mr. Baghi;
-respectfully urging authorities to ensure Mr. Baghi’s well-being including ensuring immediate and regular access to legal counsel of his choosing, to family and to any necessary medical treatment; and
-given the public reports surrounding his detention, respectfully urging authorities to to explain publicly the reasons for Mr. Baghi’s detention or absent this, to arrange for his earliest release.
PLEASE WRITE TO:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
c/o H.E. Mr. Mohammad Khazaee, Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
COPIES
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
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
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The Honorable _________
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to [YOUR COUNTRY]
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]
(See http://www.mfa.gov.ir/cms/cms/Tehran/en/Missions/ for a list of Iranian embassies worldwide.)
The Honorable _________
Ambassador of [YOUR COUNTRY] to the Islamic Republic of Iran
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]
Scholars at Risk
New York University
194 Mercer Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10012 USA
Fax: +1 (212) 995-4402
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