Say (No.):332/ 2006

                                                                                       Tarix (Date): 7 June 2006

Amnesty International, London

CC                High Commiserate of Human Rights, Geneva

Dear Mrs. Harrison

Re       FEAR FOR HEALTH OF MR. HESEN AZERBAIJAN     AND

MAKSHIF DETENTION CENTRE IN ERDEBIL

We have written to you regarding Mr. Hesen Azerbaycan ( Azerbaijan ), (also known as Hesen Demirchi) that he was detained by Iranian authorities purely for his musical activities – see our letter Ref. 327 on 28 May 2006. We cannot emphasise sufficiently that the life of this 65 year old veteran of music is devoted to the music of Southern Azerbaijan and he is suffering from severe heart problems. 

We have just received accurate information that Mr. Hesen Azerbaijan ’s heart was infected in the prison and according to the information released from the hospital of the prison the severity of the risk to his life is high. We have no doubt that hundreds are undergoing similar conditions and the authorities are bearing the responsibility for all these deliberate acts. We therefore request you to campaign for this distinguished fellow human being, as you can play a definitive role in saving his life.

Let us add that according to the reliable information received from inside Erdebil, approximately 400 persons are suffering detention for taking part in the peaceful mass protests for demanding the national rights of Southern Azerbaijanis. An individual judge called “Elai” is responsible for this operation and detaining such a large number of people in a makeshift prison. No one has been acknowledged with the reasons for their detention. Many of these detainees are young and their ages are in their late teens. We sincerely believe that there is a strong case here to campaign for their release as an expression of your humanitarian mission.

Yours Sincerely,

Boyuk Resuloglu

For and on behalf of

The Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the World Azerbaijanis