نيروهاي انتظامي و اطلاعاتي 19 جوان را در ايرانشهر به بهانه "اجراي طرح ارتقا

Stop the Death Penalty of Journalist and Human Rights Activist Mr. Jaqoob Mehrnehad in Iran

Mr. Jaqoob Mernehad, a journalist, a human rights activist and the leader of the NGO Seday-e-Edalat (voice of justice), a youth association, in Balochistan province in Iran has been held in prison since 27^th April 2007. He was arrested after a meeting with the representatives of the local authorities in the capital of the province, Zahedan.

Seday-e-Edalat is an independent, non-political and civil rights NGO established with authorization from the Interior Ministry of Iran. The NGO was formed in 2002 by a number of youth and students in Zahedan. The main goals of the organization were to perform cultural, social and information activities on civil rights of the Baloch people and to help the poor in need.

Mr. Mernehad was elected as the leader of the Seday-e-Edalat three times. In addition, he was a free-lance journalist and writer of critical texts in online internet journals. He was also responsible for distribution of the periodical “Mardomsalary” which is critical to the Iranian authorities. Each year Seday-e-Edalat arranged so-called ”question and answer” meetings with local authorities. The purpose of the meetings was to put questions to the local authorities about different themes, their past and future activities. The authorities were critical to such meetings since they had zero tolerance to criticism. At the last meeting on 27^th April 2007 Mr. Mehrnehad along with five other members of the executive committee were arrested and put in jail in Zahedan. After several months in jail the other five were released whereas Mr. Mehrnehad has been under severe and inhumane tortures without having access to legal and medical help. His family has not been allowed to visit him until recently. On their last visit, his family members found him deeply depressed, weakened with severe weight loss and clear signs of torture on his face and body. Mr. Mehrnehad is married and has three children (3^1/2 years, 5 years and 7 months).

In January 2008 a court was arranged for Mr. Mehrnehad without admitting defence lawyers or his family members. He was then convicted to death by the court. It is noteworthy that the judge is a Shia-cleric who has been sent to “re-establish” law and order in Balochistan. Interestingly, last month, the same judge ordered cutting-off the legs, arms and hands of several innocent people in Balochistan.  

According to the information we have obtained, Mr. Mehrnehad will be executed by the end of this week. We know that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not show any mercy for the critics of the system, human rights activists and their political opponents. Nevertheless, we believe that protests from the international society, foreign governments and the human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other NGOs may have effects. However, it should be acted quickly, firmly and massively. The support of each and every individual, government, NGO, human rights organization is needed in order to saving the life of Mr. Mehrnehad from execution by the Islamic Republic of Iran. We look forward and appreciate to seeing any action taken by the international society against violation of human and civil rights of the citizens of Iran and the injustice and inhumane actions of the Iranian authorities.

Balochistan Human Rights Committee- Norway