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Previous Action Alerts 05/11/06
May 11, 2006
CHINA: Journalist Yang Xiaoqing detained; health concerns
IRAN: Academic Ramin Jahanbegloo arrested; fears of ill-treatment.
See below for full story and link to MS Word Letters of Appeal
Story Continued...
China:
Click Here for MSWord Sample Letter of Appeal
Full Story from International PEN
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The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the continuing detention of journalist Yang Xiaoqing, who has been held since 22 January 2006. Yang faces charges of extortion and blackmail, but it is widely believed that his arrest is connected to his reporting on official corruption. Yang is being held without access to family visits, and there are serious concerns for his health.
Yang Xiaoqing, a reporter with the Zhongguo Chanjing Xinwenbao (China Industrial Economy News), was arrested by the Public Security Bureau of Longhui County, Hunan Province, on 22 January 2006 after investigating and reporting the alleged corruption of Longhui County officials. He is accused of posting defamatory articles on the Internet after failing to extort up to 800,000 Yuan (US$100,000) from Longhui County officials. The People’s Procuratorate of Longhui County turned the case back to the police for further investigation in March 2006 due to lack of evidence.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) gives the following account of the circumstances surrounding Yang’s arrest and detention:
‘Yang’s wife, Gong Jie, told CPJ that he was under threat for months before his arrest in January, and had gone into hiding after his reporting angered a local Communist Party secretary… Yang, 36, a reporter for China Industrial Economy News, has been formally arrested on suspicion of extortion and blackmail. But Gong believes her husband’s arrest is connected to two articles he wrote in May 2005 alleging corruption in the sale of a state-owned company by local Longhui county officials to private individuals. In
September, his wife said, Yang began to feel that his life was in danger and went into hiding. In late December, according to online writer Li Xinde, police issued a notice offering a reward for information on Yang’s whereabouts. Police accused him of posting defamatory articles on an “illegal Web site” after he failed to extort up to 800,000 Yuan (US$100,000) from Longhui county officials.
Yang was seized at a friend’s house in Hunan Province on January 22, said his wife, who has not been permitted to see him since his arrest. Yang’s colleagues have spoken publicly in his support, and fear that criminal charges have been used to punish him for his work.’
Yang’s wife Gong Jie, who is also a journalist, has launched an appeal for her husband’s release at http://www.gongjie520.sohu.blog.com .
Yang Xiaoqing is held at the Longhui County Detention Centre, Hunan Province. He is said to have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B since his detention. His trial is scheduled to start on 10 May 2006.
Please send appeals:
- expressing serious concern about the detention of journalist Yang Xiaoqing, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release if he is detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in 1998;
- expressing concerns about his health, and urging that whilst detained his basic rights are respected and that he is granted full access to his family and any necessary medical care.
Appeals to:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.
Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People’s Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
P.R.China
(Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. It is recommended that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking that they forward your appeal and welcoming any comments).
- Chinese Ambassador to the US -
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Iran:
Full story from International PEN.
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International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee is extremely concerned for the safety of academic and writer Ramin Jahanbegloo, who has been held incommuncado in Evin prison since 27 April 2006, where he is said to be at risk of ill-treatment. There are unconfirmed reports that he is being held
in the hospital wing. International PEN seeks immediate assurances of his health and safety, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release if held in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.
Academic and writer Ramin Jahanbegloo was arrested at Tehran airport on 27 April 2006 as he was about to leave for an international conference on Iran, and his house was then reportedly searched. His detention was not officially confirmed until 3 May, although the reason for his detention remains unclear and no charges have been made known. There are unconfirmed reports that he is accused of espionage and of having links to monarchist and other opposition groups. He has reportedly criticised the Iranian
government in a series of interviews for Canadian, Spanish and French newspapers in recent weeks. The Canadian government is believed to be making representations on his behalf.
Amnesty international gives the following background:
‘Ramin Jahanbegloo, who is said to be in his forties, is the Head of the Department of Contemporary Studies at the privately-run Cultural Research Bureau in Tehran. The author of over 20 books in Persian, English and French on philosophy and current affairs in Iran, he is also a frequent contributor to international newspapers and journals in which he comments on Iranian affairs. His personal website, the front page of which has been removed, apparently since he was arrested, can be viewed at http://www.iranproject.info/topfram.htm .
…Fundamental flaws in the administration of justice in Iran facilitate the targeting and harassment of intellectuals, journalists and other human rights defenders. The Penal Code contains a number of vaguely-worded provisions relating to association and “national security” which prohibit a range of activities, including many connected with journalism or public discourse which are permitted under international human rights law.
Detainees are often held for weeks or months without access to their families, and are frequently denied access to a lawyer of their choice until the period of interrogation, which has no limits, is completed.’
RECOMMENDED ACTION :
Please send appeals:
· expressing concern for the safety of Ramin Jahanbegloo, who is detained incommunicado in Evin prison;
· seeking immediate assurances that he is not being tortured or ill-treated;
· seeking full details of the reasons for his arrest, including any charges that may have been brought against him;
· calling for his immediate and unconditional release if held in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.
Direct Appeals to:
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir , istiftaa@wilayah.org
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via Judiciary website: Iranjudiciary.org/feedback_en.html
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President:
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: Via Foreign Ministry: +98 21 6 674 790
(mark: “Please forward to H.E. President Ahmadinejad")
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: http://www.president.ir/email
If possible please send a copy of your appeal to the diplomatic
representative for Iran in your country.