Dear sir/madam,

Re    COMPLAINT:     MR. LEYSANLI WAS REARRESTED

With much regret, we have to inform you that the distinguished Southern Azerbaijani activist, Mr Abbas Leysanli, has been rearrested on 31 October 2006 at noon in his home city, Erdebil, Southern Azerbaijan . At this minute, the information is patchy but it has been reported that he was arrested by Ministry of Justice agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and without any warrant or indictment and this move was unexpected. Later in the day, he had called his home from the prison confirming the arrest and that he sentence has been confirmed (apparently, a hearing for his appeal was conducted in his absence to confirm his sentence in a premeditated fashion).

This letter is just for your information at this stage, as we are waiting for more reliable information to arrive. We would like to remind you that our complaint stands, as this latest event seems to be most flagrant violation of Mr. Leysanli’s human rights. We hope you share the concern of the nation of Southern Azerbaijan and are preparing for a country visit to explore for yourselves the violations of human rights of Mr. Leysanli in Erdebil, and other activists, such as maestro Hesen Azerbaijan, in Tebriz, and the human right defender Mr. Rza Abbasi, in Zenjan. Thank you for your attention.

Yours faithfully,

Boyuk Resuloglu

For and on behalf of

The Committee for the Defence of the Rights of World Azerbaijanis