A/HRC/28/70
condition is deteriorating. Mr. Sakhravi’s eyesight and physical health have reportedly
suffered from alleged torture he has endured while in prison.
60.
Mr. Golam Abbas Saki, imprisoned at Dezfoul Prison (Khuzestan Province), is
reportedly suffering from prostate cancer and kidney problems. He has allegedly been
deprived of adequate medical care. Mr. Saki is also reportedly suffering from both high
blood pressure and cholesterol. Mr. Saki was reportedly arrested in Syria and transferred to
Iran in 2006. He spent 4.5 years in solitary confinement under the custody of the
Intelligence services, and three months at Evin Prison. Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court
of Ahwaz then reportedly sentenced him to five years in prison for acting against national
security. The Revolutionary Court of Ahwaz, however, reportedly did not consider the time
he had already spent at the Intelligence Center to be time served for his current sentence.
He is still incarcerated in Dezfoul Prison.
61.
In its reply to the Draft Report, the Government stated “prisoners have acceptable
levels to access to medical care both inside and outside of the prison.” It also claimed that
supervisory boards, established by the Judiciary, visit the prisons regularly to ensure
compliance.
62.
The Special Rapporteur warmly welcomes the Government’s announcement, in its
reply to the Draft Report, that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently considering
accession to [the] UN Convention Against Torture.”
F.
Freedom of expression and access to information
1.
Newly arrested, imprisoned or prosecuted journalists, netizens and bloggers (cases
reported since May 2014)
63.
Journalists arrested or prosecuted are often accused of contact with foreign media
and are seemingly targeted due to their criticism of Government leaders or for discussing
sensitive policy issues. This appears to be the result of an overly broad application of
national security provisions and stipulations of the 1986 Press Law (which define 17
instances of impermissible content.) For example, impermissible content is defined as, inter
alia, that which causes damage to “the foundation of the Islamic Republic”; insults “Islam
and its sanctities” or “the Leader of the Revolution and recognized religious authorities”; or
creates “discord between and among social walks of life specifically by raising ethnic and
racial issues.” Moreover, because the majority of cases against journalists are considered
involving “national security”, they are tried in Revolutionary Courts. Thus, negating Press
Law which stipulates journalists be tried by the Press Court in the presence of a jury. In its
reply, the Government noted that the Constitution provides for freedom of expression
“except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the
public.” It argued that imprisoned members of the media have committed “serious”
offenses, including “satellite networks… insistence on propagating lies and perturbing
public peace of mind, and disseminating contents that foment ethnic and religious hatred,
extremism and violence.”
64.
At least 29 journalists, bloggers, and netizens have reportedly been detained,
imprisoned or prosecuted since May 2014. (Mr. Serajeddin Miramadi; Ms. Mahnaz
Mohammadi; Mr. Ali Asghar Ghavari; Mr. Jason Rezaian; Mr. Mohammad Reza
Pourjashari; Mr. Ali Ghazali; Ms. Sajedeh Arabsjorkhi; Ms. Zahra Ka’abi, Mr. Hamid
Hekmati, Mr. Ismael Izadi, Mr. Farid Saremi, Mr. Farjad Salehi, Mr. Ali Chinisaz;
Mr. Hamed Taghipour; Mr. Masoud Behnam; Ms. Yeganeh Salehi; Mr. Amar Kalantari;
Ms. Yaghma Fashkhami; Mr. Saeed Pourheydar; Ms. Reyhaneh Tabataba’ei; Mr. Arash
Honarvar Shoja’ei; Ms. Zahra Khandan; Mr. Mohammed Ghoochani; Ms. Abbas Salimi
Namin; and five journalists from ISNA, including Mr. Arya Jafari.)
36
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