A/HRC/19/66 33. In a joint statement, the International Federation for Human Rights and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights maintained that the court‟s investigation was not comprehensive and was remiss in examining the death of at least two other detainees, Ramin Aqazadeh- Qahremani and Abbas Nejati-Kargar, who died as a result of torture soon after being released from the detention centre.24 All of the plaintiffs interviewed stated that a number of high-ranking officials, whose names were made available to the Special Rapporteur, enjoy impunity for their abuse of several detainees and for their complicity in the Kahrizak crimes. 34. In an open letter to the Special Rapporteur, the “Mothers of Laleh Park” requested that Special Rapporteur to investigate the deaths of their children – Neda Agha Soltan, Sohrab Arabi, Ashkan Sohrabi, Masoud Hashem Zadeh, Mostafa Karim Beigi, Kianoush Asa and Ali Hsan Pour – during the 2009 elections. To date, the Special Rapporteur has only been able to examine one of these cases. 35. The disappearance of Sohrab Arabi during the 2009 election protests received significant media attention. The exact circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear and initial reports suggested that he might have been shot in the streets during peaceful protests, and either died later in hospital or while in police custody. After 26 days of intensive searching and enquiring with officials, the family discovered that Mr Arabi‟s body was being held by the authorities. The judiciary initially refused to share any information with the family and insisted that Mr Arabi was alive and would eventually be released from prison. The authorities eventually returned his body, which had several bullet wounds. Mr Arabi‟s mother and other family members have been constantly harassed and threatened following their call for an investigation. Authorities have reportedly raided his family‟s home and confiscated photos and other belongings. Family members and close friends have also been prevented from visiting Mr Arabi‟s grave site and are reportedly prohibited from marking the anniversary of his death. The Government has reportedly taken responsibility for the killing of Mr Arabi. In April 2011, the family reportedly received a verbal offer of diyah (blood money), and were subjected to considerable pressure to accept the offer and abandon their call for an investigation. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government to assist him in obtaining further information regarding this and other unsolved cases relating to the post-election protests of 2009. 36. The Special Rapporteur shares the concern of the Human Rights Committee that, to date, a full, impartial and independent investigation into allegations made during and following the presidential elections of 12 June 2009 has still not been conducted. He also shares its concern that responsible high-level officials have not been held accountable. 25 Reports containing allegations of egregious human rights violations that took place in the days and months following the 2009 presidential elections continue to emerge, demonstrating that breaches of the rule of law have not been addressed and that impunity continues to prevail. 37. One such report described the events surrounding the widely publicized raid of Tehran University dormitories aimed at dispersing protestors that gathered on 13 June 2009.26 A student activist (wishing to remain anonymous) claimed that plain-clothed and regular security forces – who are legally prohibited from entering university campuses – 24 25 26 12 Refworld, UNHCR, “Iran: conviction of police officers; impunity for higher officials”, joint statement of FIDH and LDDHI, 5 July 2010. Available from www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,IRN,,4c56acc623,0.html. CCPR/C/IRN/CO/3, para. 15. Video footage of the raid was presented by BBC Persian, and is available from www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZf0JuZxjE&feature=related