GD Item 5
Sudwind regrets that the Islamic Republic of Iran did not respond to the 4 urgent joint appeals of the special Rapporteurs in the period of 1st February 2015 to 30th April 2015. We would also like to endorse the joint concerns of Dr. Shaheed, the special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, the SRs on freedom of expression, freedom of religion and summary executions over the case of Soheil Arabi, a 30 year old photographer who is sentenced to death with the accusation of “insulting the prophet of Islam” in connection due to contents he allegedly had shared on social media. He was placed in solitary confinement in Evin Prison for two months before being transferred to another section of the prison. Mr. Arabi was reportedly pressured into making a confession of guilt during interrogations. Sudwind is still waiting for the response of Islamic Republic of Iran to the joint urgent appeal dated 1st January by Dr Shaheed, the SRs on Arbitrary detention; Discrimination against women; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers; and Violence against women to further explain the reasons of 45 days of Solitary confinement of Mrs Mahdieh Golru who was arrested after participating in a peaceful protest on 22 October 2014 to denounce a series of acid attacks against women in Isfahan before being moved to another cell. She was freed on bail on 27th January. The perpetrators of acid attacks are still to be arrested. To promote human rights states should respond to Special procedures.
