Say (No.) : 378/ 2006

Tarix (Date): 10 Septambr 2006

BMT, İnsan Haqları Ali Komiserliyi, Cenevrə,

Lütfən bu məktubu Qeyri-qanuni Tutuqlamalar üzrə Özəl Raporterə çatdırasınız

Üzü Xanım Ann Harrison, Amnesty International, London

Vicdan dustağı Abbas Leysanlı

Sayın Cənablar,

MÜRACİƏT: ABBAS LEYSANLI BƏYƏ YÜRÜDÜLƏN İNSAFSIZCA MÜHAKİMƏLƏRƏ QARŞI QALDIRDIĞIMIZ ŞİKAYƏT

Abbas Leysanlı bəyi sərbəstliyindən yoxsun (məhrum) edən İran hökumətinə qarşı biz formal olaraq şikayət edirik və gərəkən axtarış aparmanızı xahiş edirik. Şikayət etmək təşəbbüsü bizimdir və bu baxımdan Leysanlı bəy ilə onun ailəsi yaxud vəkili ilə məşvərət etməmişik. Leysanlı bəyə İyun 2005-inci ildə Babək Qurultayında iştirak etmək üçün bir illik zindan hökmü kəsilmiş; mühakimə 6 Avqust 2006-də keçirilmiş və hökm onun evinə 2 Semtambr 2006-da verilmişdir. Hökmün tərcüməsini sizin diqqətinizə təqdim edirik.

Leysanlı bəy indi Güney Azərbaycanın bir dirəniş simgəsinə (simbol) çevrilmiş ki, Azərbaycan mənliyi dirçəlsin və ana-dilimiz qorunub saxlansın. Demokratik yöndəmlə iş aparmaq bu milli hərəkətin əzmi və bir ayrılmaz hissəsidir. Leysanlı bəy bir vicdan dustağıdır və bunu Amnesty International-ın kampaniyasındakı təcili aksiyalar sübut edir, misal üçün: MDE 13/063/2006, Tarix: 8 İyun 2006 və MDE 13/074/2006 Tarix: 29 İyun 2006

Bu keçmiş 3-4 ilin ərzində Leysanlı bəy dəfələrlə səbəbsiz olaraq tutuqlanmışdır ki, bunun üçün İranın məsul məqamları Beynəlxalq məhkəmədə anlaşılan heç bir suç ortaya qoya bilməyiblər. İndicə Leysanlı bəyə qarşı 5 qondarma dosye gedir və hamısı da siyasidir və biri birindən daha artıq anlaşılmayan suçdurlar.

İran yetgililəri tərəfindən Leysanlı bəyə qarşı yürüdülən məhkəmə gedişatlarının bəzilər aşağıda yığcam açıqlanacaq və elə də gərəkən sənədlər və onların qaynaqları sizə təqdim olunacaq. Biz sizdən xahiş edirik ki, öz mandatlarınızdan istifadə edib və bu məhkəmə gedişatlarına ciddi yetişəsiniz. Biz bu şikayətin nəticəsində ciddi maraqlıyıq və ümid edirik ki, sizin tədbiriniz bu vicdan dustağının durumunu yüngüllətsin.

Hörmət ilə: Böyük Rəsuloğlu

Dünya Azərbaycanlılarının Haqlarını Müdafiə Komitəsinin sədri

LEYSANLI BƏYƏ QARŞI YÜRÜDÜLƏN GEDİŞATIN İCMALI

Gedişat 1 – Bizim Şikayətin Mahiyyəti

Tərcümə Sənədi No. 1 bu keçirilmiş hökmün təfsilatını verir və elə onun qaynaq sənədi də hüzurlarınıza təqdim edirik. Hökm Leysanlı bəyə bir il zindan kəsir və suç İyun 2005-də Babək Qurultayında iştirak etməkdən ibarətdir. Bu hökmdə suçlara və onun yekununa diqqətinizi tuşlamaq istəyirik. Hökmdən bəllidir ki, hakimin ağlı orta-əsrlərə qapanmışdır və sanki insan haqları paradiqması heç onun qulağına dəyməmişdir. Necə ola bilər ki birisi bu hökm sənədini oxuyub və qəzəblənməyə? Biz arxayınıq ki, siz bu hökmdə verilən suçları insan haqlarının tapdanmasında bir uçurum kimi görəcəksiniz. Ümid edirik ki, Güney Azərbaycanın məzlum millətini sovunan (müdafiə edən) Leysanlı bəyi müdafiə edəcəksiniz. Tərcümə Sənədi No. 2 sizə daha gərəkən bilgi verir ki Xanım Rüqəyyə Leysanlı tərəfindən verilmiş müsahibədən ibarətdir.

Gedişat 2 – Cari Məhkəmə

Leysanlı bəy indicə Ərdəbil zindanındadır. İrəlidə o siyasi zindanlılara yürüdülən yaramaz davranışlara qarşı 50 günlük aclıq aksiya apardı və yalnız görkəmli Güney Azərbaycan fəalları və akademikləri müraciət edəndən sonra aksiyasını dayandırdı. Onun tutuqlu günlərinin cədvəlini sizə təqdim edirik (Tərcümə Sənədi No. 4). Üstəlik, Tərcümə Sənədi No. 3 bir xəbəri sizin diqqətinizə çatdırır ki, İranın məsul məqamlarının hilə etmələrin göstərir. Onlar bu gedişatı Ümumi Cəzalandırma Məhkəməsinin öhdəsinə buraxmışlar ki, öz qeyri qanuniliklərini yayalayıb və ört-basdır etsinlər. Ümid edirik ki siz biz ilə razılaşacaqsınız ki, bu məhkəmə gedişatı məhz siyasidir. Yolsuzluğa baxın ki, bu gedişatı Ümumi Cəzalandırma məhkəməsinə buraxırlar!

Gedişat 3 – Məşrutə Gününün İldönümünü Anma

Leysanlı bəy Təbrizdə İnqilab Məhkəməsinə çağırılmış ki, suçu məşrutə hərəkatının öndəri və Azərbaycan milli qəhrəmanı Bağır Xanın Abidəsi başında ildönüm qeyd etmək idi. Bu bir başqa qondarma məhkəmə gedişatıdır ki, Leysanlı bəyə qarşı yürüdülür. Məlum olası, Təbrizdə İnqilab Məhkəməsi bu gedişatı Ərdəbildə İnqilab məhkəməsinin öhdəsinə buraxmışdır. Bunlara aid xəbərləri Tərcümə Sənədi No. 3 və 5 də oxuya bilərsiniz.

Başqa Gedişatlar

Leysanlı bəyə qarşı 3 başqa məhkəmə gedişatı da var ki, hələ onların təfsilatı yayımlanmamışdır, lakin elə bunlar da qabaqkılar ilə bir bezin qırağıdırlar.

Say (No.) : 378/ 2006

Tarix (Date): 10. 09. 2006

The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva,

Please circulate this letter to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (also for Fair Trials)

CC Mrs. Harrison, Amnesty International, London

Mr. Abbas Leysanli

Prisoner of conscience

Dear sir/madam,

Re RAISING COMPLAINTS AGAINST ARBITRARY TRIALS CONCERNING MR. ABBAS LEYSANLI (LESANI)

This is a formal request for your investigation of the case of Mr. Abbas Leysanli (also known as: Lisani or Lesani) arbitrarily deprived of liberty by the Islamic Republic of Iran sentencing him to one year imprisonment. We are raising this complaint on our own initiative in relation to a court sentence passed against him. In launching this complaint, we have not consulted Mr. Leysanli, his family or his lawyer. The court was convened on 6 August 2006 and the sentence was delivered to his house on Saturday 2 September 2006, a translation of which is attached for your attention. The sentence is one year imprisonment for taking part in the annual event of the Babek Assembly in June 2005.

Mr. Leysanli has now been transformed into a symbol of resistance of Southern Azerbaijan proclaiming our identity and promoting the cause for the preservation of our mother tongue, where the national movement of Southern Azerbaijan is resolutely committed to democratic means. He is a prisoner of conscience as verified by the various urgent actions and statements of Amnesty International, e.g. AI Indices: MDE 13/063/2006 on 8 June 2006 and MDE 13/074/2006 on 29 June 2006.

In the course of the last 3-4 years, Mr. Leysanli was arrested several times in an arbitrary fashion, where the government of Iran failed to bring any credible charge against him that is recognisable by international law. Currently, there are five sets of bogus cases open against him, none of which is a recognizable political or criminal but an arbitrary charge.

Some of the cases brought against Mr. Leysanli by various Iranian authorities are outlined below together with the supporting material and their translations. We therefore request you to use your mandates and process our complaint. We look forward to hearing your report in due course towards alleviating the sufferings of this prisoner of conscience.

Yours faithfully,

Boyuk Resuloglu

For and on behalf of

The Committee for the Defence of the Rights of World Azerbaijanis

OUTLINE OF SOME OF THE CASES BROUGHT AGAINST

MR. LEYSANLI

Case 1 – the Substance of Our Complaint

We are raising our complaint on our own initiative in relation to a court sentence passed against Mr. Leysanli by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The particulars of the sentence are outlined in our introductory paragraph and detailed in Translated Document No. 1. We also include its original document issued by the court authority, see Source Document No. 1. The sentence is one year imprisonment for taking part in the Babek Assembly in June 2005. In particular, we draw your attention to the charges and the conclusion made. It is obvious that the wisdom behind the sentence is deeply locked into the medieval mindset and completely disengaged with the paradigm of human rights. It is hard to appreciate how can anyone in sound mind not be outraged with such charges and the subsequent conclusion? We are confident that you will regard these charges as an abyss to the violation of human rights and will not tolerate their persistence by authorities issuing such a sentence. We trust that you will defend Mr. Leysanli who is clearly at the frontline of defending the human rights of the repressed nation of Southern Azerbaijan. Further background to this case is provided in Translated Document No. 2, covering a short interview given by the wife of Mr. Leysanli.

Case 2 – the current case

Mr. Leysanli is currently in detention in Erdebil Prison. Recently he underwent 50 days of hunger strike in protest to ill-treatment of political prisoners and only broke it after persistent requests of distinguished Southern Azerbaijani activists and academics. We attach the chronology of his detention until he the end of his hunger strike for your information – see Translated Document No. 4. Also the news item in the Translated Document 3 shows that the authorities are resorting to inventive ploys in diffusing their illegal acts. We trust that you will concur with us that this case is purely political and cultural. But the authorities have referred the case to a general penal court!

Case 3 – The Case of Commemorating the Constitution Day

Mr. Leysanli was summoned to the Revolutionary Court in Tebriz for commemorating the Constitution Day by gathering around the Mausoleum of Baghir Khan, a leader of the constitutional movement and a national hero of Azerbaijan. He was arrested on 3 August 2005 and he had to attend the court on 3 September 2006. This is another bogus case pressed against Mr. Leysanli, which is still proceeding. Apparently, the Revolutionary Court in Tebriz has referred this case to the Revolutionary Court in Erdebil. The news items in relation to this case are given in Translated Document No 5 and No 3.

Other Cases

Further details on the other 3 cases have not been published yet but are of the similar nature.

P.S.

We tend to transcribe the name of places and persons according to the Latin script of Turkic Azerbaijani but not Persian pronunciations, e.g. we prefer to write Tebriz but not Tabriz.

The Translated Documents

Case 1 – Translated Document No 1: The Court Sentence

Emblem of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Ref: 14-85/5/22

Judicial Authority: Keleyber (Kaleybar) Revolutionary Court

Supreme Authority of the Court: Mr Nemati

Plaintiff: Central Intelligence office

Defendant: Abbas Lesani, of Erdebil (Ardabil), Khiyaban-e-Mojez, Shehid Yusuf Qaffari Street, Number 15P

Accusation: Spreading anti government propaganda

Upon receipt and registration of the accusations with above reference number dated 6 August 2006, the hearing commenced under the authority of the undersigned, Mr Nemati on the time and date ser previously.

With reference to the contents of the dossier, the following ruling was issued by the court. Particulars of the accused Mr Abbas Lesani, (an educated individual) are as follows:

Fathers name: Esed

Age: 38

Profession: Butcher

Marital status: Married

Place of residence: Erdebil

Accusations: Actively making propagandas against the Islamic Republic of Iran

With reference to the contents of the dossier, report and the extensive research of the Central Intelligence office of Erdebil, detailed accusations against him are as follows:

1. Actively participating in many special and illegal ceremonies such as annual assembly at Babek Castle,

2. Encouraging other members of the public to participate in that Assembly,

3. Preparing placards of various sizes in Turkic Azerbaijani written in Latin alphabet,

4. Reciting Azerbaijani poems, preparing and reading other relevant materials to other participants,

5. Preparing and distributing Turkic National Calendar within the province and nationwide,

6. Keeping in close contact with people of similar opinions and other compatriots,

7. Intending to promote Azerbaijani Turkic nationalism and independence,

8. Keeping in touch with other individuals of similar ideologies within Iran and abroad, using the Internet to send messages to various websites etc.

The Sentence

Mr Lesani’s above listed activities are a clear indication of his involvement in corrupting peoples’ minds and promoting opposition to the Sacred Islamic Republic of Iran.

After considering the accusations and discovery of above the mentioned equipment (Translator’s Note: we assume the equipment to be computers and CDs) in his home and workplace, his confessions for involvement in above activities, lack of adequate reason for defence and with reference to the prosecution order number 4011-82/9/4 issued by General Revolutionary Court of Erdebil, he is therefore found guilty and in accordance with section 500 of Islamic Penal Codes, he is hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment.

The sentence was issued at presence of the accused which can be referred to the Honourable court of appeal of Eastern Azerbaijan within 20 days of the date of its declaration.

Copy corresponds with the original

Chief Clerk of Court 1 of Kaleybar General Courts, Fakhri

Supreme authority of Kaleybar Revolutionary Court, Nemati

Signature and seal of Eastern Azerbaijan Revolutionary Court, Keleyber

T R A N S L A T E D D O C U M E N T 2	Case 1 – Translated Document No 2: An Interview with Mrs. Ruqeyye Leysanli
T R A N S L A T E D D O C U M E N T 2	2 September 2006-09-09 http://haqqimiz.blogfa.com http://lesani.blogfa.com The first sentence against Abbas Leysanli – one year of imprisonment The first sentence The sentence for the one of the court cases against Abbas Leysanli in the cities of Erdebil (Ardabil), Keleyber (Kaleybar) and Tebriz (Tebriz) was delivered to his house today. In an interview with the reporter of the Webblog Haq, Mrs. Ruqeyye Leysanli stated that “today I received a letter from from the court in Keleyber containing the the sentence against my husband, Abbas Leysanli. According to this sentence he is sentenced for one year of imprisonment for taking part in the Babek Assemmbly on June 2005.” Mrs. Leysanli further stated regarding her husband current situation that, “I visited him today in the morning. He and his three other fellow activists are being maltreated. This time they are additionally kept with other sick inmates and this creates different problems. Abbas told that we have protested to this situation to the authorities but nobody is listening.” Abbas Leysanli will be tried in the Revolutionary Court, in Tebriz tomorrow on 3 September 2006. Last year he was arrested together with a number of activists when commemorating the anniversary of the Constitution by attending the Mausoleum of Baghir Khan. The detainees on that occasion were all released by meeting bails except Hojjet-ul-islam Ezimi Qedim and now after passage of so much time my husband has been summoned to the court.
T R A N S L A T E D D O C U M E N T 3	Case 2 – Translated Document No 3: A Statement by Mr. Leysanli’s Lawyer
T R A N S L A T E D D O C U M E N T 3	7 September 2006 http://sa-news.blogfa.com/post-127.aspx The dossier of Abbas Leysanli was referred to the General Penal Court The dossier of Abbas Leysanli, one of the detainees of May 2006 also sweeping through the Erdebil Province, was referred to the Penal Court No. 105 of the General Penal Court of the province of Erdebil. Mehemmed Rza Feqihi, the lawyer defending Mr. Leysanli, gave a statement to the reporter of ISNA saying that his client is accused of inciting riot and wrecking public places and also helping with setting fire. He said that: today in the morning I attended in the above court and studies the file of my client. I am expecting to hear the date for the trial. In relation to his client’s part in the May 2006 mass protests, he added that: so far his detention has not been transformed into any decision yet and therefore he still remains in the prison.
D O C U M E N T N O 4 R E V E R S E C H R O N O L O G Y	Case 2 – Translated Document No 4: Reverse Chronology of the Ordeal on Mr. Leysanli (Source document is not given in this submission)
	Date	Events
	29 July 2006	Mrs. Ruqeyye Leysanli, the wife of Mr. Leysanli was finally allowed to visit her husband in the secure unit of the Erdebil Prison. She showed him a letter undersigned by prominent Southern Azerbaijani activists (including the Society of Southern Azerbaijani Academics (AzBilTop) and the Committee for the Defence of Political Prisoners of Southern Azerbaijan – ASMEK) to break his hunger strike. Finally, Mr. Leysanli obliged to the delight of the nation.
	26 July 2006	Mr. Leysanli was taken to the trial court. He challenged all the charges against him and emphasised that he only advocates civil approaches and democratic means for the attainment of the national and human rights of Southern Azerbaijan and charges against him are false.
	22 July 2006	The Message from Mr. Leysanli smuggled out of Prison: “The purpose behind my hunger strike including my refusal for the intake of water is to convey the message of the nation of (Southern) Azerbaijan to the world – freedom. Should I die, then let me join the rank of those who pay the ultimate price of life for the nation of Azerbaijan.”
	21 July 2006	A statement issued by 19 Members of the European Parliament (MEP), asking Iran to release the political prisoners of Southern Azerbaijan.
	16 July 2006	Mr. Leysanli’s family has finally managed to visit him lately in the Erdebil Prison. His conditions were described as deeply worrying, as he was even unable to stand up or sit on a chair. He has been transferred to the hospital in Erdebil and being injected continually with IV drips after being on hunger strike for 35 days with a further 11 days he has even refused the intake of water/liquid. He is extremely pale; his vision is impaired; and due to his continuous hunger strikes, his digestion and kidney systems are extremely upset. His weight is now 85 kg, reduced by 30 kg within 46 days of hunger strike.
	8 July 2006	After approximately 20 days of hunger strike, his physical conditions was reportedly grave and at this time he was transferred for a secure unit in the prison hospital and the prison authorities prevented him to be transferred to a hospital.
	3 July 2006	Mr. Leysanli resumes his hunger strike, as a protest against the behaviour of the prison authorities in mistreating the political prisoners of Southern Azerbaijan.
	30 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli breaks his hunger strike after the insistence of friends and his family members.
	27 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli smuggles a message out of prison on the occasion of the Babek Assembly: “Freedom or Death, as I know of no other way.”
	23 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli was transferred to a Secure unit of the Erdebil Prison.
	12 June 2006 to 14 June 2006	Statements issued or questions raised by various European parliamentarians including: Jonas Sjostedt and Eva-Britt Svensson in Sweeden, European Parliament and Amnesty International.
	11 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli is forced fed by Intravenous (IV) Drips.
	10 June 2006	He is banned from receiving any visitor (due to being tortured).
	9 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli refuses the intake of water on top of his hunger strike.
	8 June 2006	Mrs. Ruqeyye Leysanli was threatened and was ordered not to campaigning for her husband.
	5 June 2006	The authorities shut down Mr. Leysanli’s business.
	4 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli starts his hunger strike.
	3 June 2006	Mr. Leysanli was arrested after security agents broke into his home midnight and subjected him to torture in front of his young children and wife and confiscated his computers, poems, writings and his personal belongings.
	31 May 2006	He gave a long telephone interview to GunAzTV and predicted that he would be imminently arrested.
	27 May 2006	He gave a moving speech to the mass protesters in Erdebil, where 200,000 people were participating and he called them for calm in their anti-apartheid movement.
	24 May 2006	A leaflet was distributed in Erdebil calling them to take part in a mass protest on 27 May 2006.