Re: Call for the Release of Massumeh Dehghan, spouse of Abdolafattah Soltani
To: Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic; Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary
From: Hugh Gwillim
Date: December 3, 2012
Lawyers’ Rights Watch of Canada (LRWC) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Massumeh Dehghan. LRWC submits that the sentencing of Massumeh Dehghan is arbitrary and is an attempt to sanction human rights activities of her husband, Abdolafattah Soltani.
LRWC understands that on October 29, 2012, Ms. Massumeh Dehghan was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, suspended for five years, and banned from travelling abroad for five years on charges of “propaganda against the system.” Ms. Dehghan was previously detained in solitary confinement, from July 5 to 10, 2011, by the Islamic Revolution Court and was pressured to make false confessions against her husband Mr. Abdolafattah Soltani. Mr. Soltani is a founding member of the Defenders for Human Rights Centre, and is currently detained in Evin prison and sentenced to 13 years in prison in internal exile.
LRWC calls for the sentence of Ms. Dehghan to be overturned and for all intimidation against Ms. Dehghan to cease immediately. Further, LRWC calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all human rights activists detained. We urge you to provide a response.
Write to LRWC by mail, e-mail, or fax to advise us of your actions to do the following:
- Overturn the sentencing against Massumeh Dehghan;
- Allow Massumeh Dehghan to return to work and to travel abroad;
- Cease all harassment and intimidation against Massumeh Dehghan; and
- Release immediately and unconditionally all human rights activists detained.
