A/HRC/19/58
from Cellblock 4 at Rajayi Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison in Karaj to an undisclosed location
on 27 December 2010.
303. On 4 February and 21 June 2011, the Government transmitted a reply with regard to
certain allegations contained in this urgent appeal. However, no information was provided
with regard to Mr. Reza Sharifi Bukani.
304. The second communication was transmitted on 22 February 2011, jointly with four
other special procedures mechanisms, and concerned reports of arrests and detention of
members of religious minorities, in particular those belonging to the Christian and the
Baha’i faiths. It was reported, inter alia, that Mr. Leonard Keshishian, who is pastor with
the Assemblies of God Church in Isfahan, was arrested on 31 December 2010 and his place
of detention remained undisclosed.
305. The third communication was transmitted on 19 October 2011, jointly with seven other
special procedures mechanisms, and concerned the situation of human rights defenders in
Iran. In this regard, it was reported, inter alia, that on 31 July 2011, Messrs. Kouhyar
Goudarzi and Behnam Ganji were arrested in Teheran by plain-clothed security forces.
They were reportedly brought, along with a third individual, to an undisclosed location and
later transferred to Teheran’s Evin prison. It is further reported that a few days after the
arrest, Mr. Goudarzi’s friends and family requested information regarding his whereabouts
but the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office and the prosecutor’s office in Evin prison denied the
arrest. Furthermore, it is alleged that requests by Mr. Goudarzi’s lawyer to the Government
for information regarding his whereabouts and condition have been denied.
Communications from the Working Group
306. According to the Working Group’s methods of work, the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran received a copy of the case concerning Mr. Taher Eslambolipoor, an
Iranian citizen, which is recorded under the Government of Iraq (see paragraph 315).
Information from the Government
307. The Government transmitted two communications dated 4 February and 21 June 2011,
regarding the urgent appeal transmitted on 11 January 2011.
Information from sources
308. Sources provided information on four outstanding cases. As a result, one case was
clarified.
Clarification
309. Following the information provided by sources, the Working Group decided to clarify
one case.
Request for a visit
310. The Government of Iran agreed to a visit by the Working Group in 2004, which was
delayed at the request of the Government. Reminder letters were sent on 20 July 2009, 16
August 2010 and 18 August 2011, asking the Government to set a date for the proposed
visit. The Government has not yet set a new date for the visit despite the fact that more than
six years have elapsed.
Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding
311. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted 536 cases to the
Government; of those, five cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided
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