A/HRC/19/82 Constitution forbids torture, the Penal Code stipulates stringent punishment for offenders, and confessions extracted through torture have no legal validity. 5. As referred to the communications report submitted to the Human Rights Council in September 2011,2 the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in a joint communication, expressed concerns at the alleged detention and torture of Mohammad Reza Houtan Kian, a lawyer, who was arrested by security forces on 9 October 2010. After his indictment on 10 October, Mr. Kian was reportedly taken to Evin Prison, where he was allegedly kept in solitary confinement and subjected to frequent torture. On 24 January 2011, following a trial in which he had no access to a lawyer, Mr. Kian was reportedly sentenced to a year in prison and a five-year ban on practising law. Reports received also suggest that Nasser Alboshokeh Derafshan, an ethnic Arab who was reportedly arrested by security forces on 26 January 2012, died under torture during his detention. His family was informed of his death on 30 January 2012. During his detention, Mr. Alboshokeh was neither permitted contact with his family nor granted access to any legal representation. Local authorities reportedly warned the family members to keep the memorial service private as a condition for the funeral to take place. 6. Cases of amputation and corporal punishment, such as flogging, continue to be reported. On 11 December 2011, authorities in Shiraz reportedly amputated the hand and foot of two people. According to the official news agency, the Iranian Students’ News Agency (INSA), the foot amputation was carried out in Adel Abad Prison on an armed robber who had already had one hand amputated. A hand amputation was carried out simultaneously on a second person charged with robbery. The Public Prosecutor of Shiraz stressed in media reports the effectiveness of sharia law in the deterrence of crimes, and that the judiciary was determined to deal decisively with serious crimes. 3 On 29 October 2011, another limb amputation was reported to have been carried out on a thief in Yazd central prison.4 7. Increasing cases of corporal punishment, particularly in public, also remain a cause of utmost concern. On 24 December 2011, a man accused of “forbidden acts” was reportedly publicly whipped in Masjid Soleiman province. 5 On 20 December 2011, authorities in Shiraz carried out sentences of public lashing on three people accused of indecent conduct.6 Furthermore, according to media reports, three people accused of kidnapping were each publicly punished to 99 lashes on 31 October 2011 in Shahrod Province.7 B. The death penalty, including public executions 8. The Secretary-General welcomes the omission of the punishment of stoning and details of this method of execution in the new Islamic Penal Code adopted by Parliament in January 2012. The Secretary-General regrets, however, that the new law fails to fully 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 A/HRC/18/51. ISNA, 11 December 2011. Available from http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1907876. Ibid., 29 October 2011. Available from www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News1879851&lang=p. Ibid., 24 December 2011. Available from www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News1916573&lang=p. Ibid., 20 December 2011. Available from http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1914750 Ibid., 31 October 2011. Available from http://isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1914750.