Iran: Theologian arbitrarily arrested

IRN 001 / 9807 / OBS 043
Arbitrary Detention
IRAN
July 1st, 1998

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of FIDH and OMCT, requests your URGENT intervention
regarding the following situation in Iran.

Description of the situation :

The Observatory has been informed by the League for the Defence of
Human Rights in Iran (« Ligue pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme en
Iran »), LDDHI, member organisation of the FIDH and Human Rights
Watch, of the arrest of Mr. Mohsen Saidzadeh, an independent
intellectual and well-known Iranian theologist, in Teheran, on June
30th.

Author of numerous essays, books and articles on the compatibility of
Islam with modernity, notably on the question of discrimination
against women in Iran, Mr. Saidzadeh has furthermore been the leader
of a popular movement calling for the reform of the family law in
Iran. In November 1997, he was one of the speakers at a conference
organised jointly by the UNICEF and the National Association to
protect Children's Rights based in Teheran.

Mr. Mohsen Saidzadeh was arrested yesterday, at his home, by agents of
the Ministry of Information and taken to an unknown destination.

The Observatory considers that Mr. Saidzadeh was arrested because of
his intellectual activities and his militancy in favour of  the rights
of Iranian women.


 Actions requested :

Please write to the Iranian authorities urging them to :

i.-	order the immediate release of Mr. Mohsen Saidzadeh and guarantee
his physical and psychological integrity ;

ii.-	more generally, abide to the provisions of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and international covenants which
guarantee the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and the
right to carry out freely activities for the promotion and the defence
of human rights.

Addresses :

President of the Islamic Republic His Excellency M. Khatami, The
Presidency. Palestine Ave. Azerbaijan Intersection. Tehran, Islamic
republic of Iran. Fax : Iran  98 21 64 66 415

His Excellency The Minister of Culture, Mr. Mohajarani, Tehran,
Islamic republic of Iran. Fax 98 21 87 57 845

His Excellency The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid,
Keshk-e Mesri Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax : 98-21
674 790


Geneva - Paris, July 1st, 1998

Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the
code number of this appeal in your reply.

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