PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/033/2001 6 September 2001 EXTRA 62/01 Imminent execution IRAN Samad Eftekhari (m) Mahmoud Jalehdoust (m) Abdorrahim Moallem (m) Amnesty International is gravely concerned that the three men named above are at imminent risk of execution after their convictions were upheld by the Supreme Court following their appeals. According to reports in today's Jomhuri-ye Islami, Samad Eftekhari, Mahmoud Jalehdoust and Abdorrahim Moallem have had their sentences for "economic sabotage - forming a group to take bribes" upheld by the Supreme Court. They were reportedly found guilty of providing "false assessments" for money during their employment as customs officials checking carpets at Iran's Mehrabad airport. The death sentences can now only be commuted by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A fourth man employed with them, Mohammad Taqi-Amini, was recently hanged for the same offence. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Amnesty International has recorded 105 executions as having been carried out so far this year in Iran, 28 have taken place in August alone, although the true figure may be much higher. On 17 August, the organisation issued a public statement in which it expressed its grave concern over the dramatic increase in executions and urged the authorities to urgently consider a moratorium on executions as called for by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2000 and 2001. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party. Article 6 of the ICCPR states "In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes". As there were no lethal consequences in this case and no violence was used, the death sentences should be commuted immediately. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Farsi or your own language: - expressing grave concern that the death sentences against Samad Eftekhari, Mahmoud Jalehdoust and Abdorrahim Moallem have been upheld, and urging that they be commuted by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; -asking to know the details of their trial proceedings, including specific charges, and details of whether they have been allowed to appeal against their convictions and sentences, as guaranteed by Article 6 of the ICCPR; APPEALS TO: Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei c/o The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: Ayatollah Khamenei, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Salutation: Your Excellency President His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatami The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: President Khatami, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Faxes: + 98 21 649 5880 E-mails: khatami@president.ir Salutation: Your Excellency Head of the Judiciary His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi Ministry of Justice Park-e Shahr Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Telegrams: Head of Judiciary, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Faxes: + 98 21 537 8827 (number may be unreliable. A recorded message, in English, will indicate when to send fax - please send before it gives you the tone to leave a voice message) Salutation: Your Excellency COPIES TO: Director, Organisation for Defending Victims of Violence PO Box 16765-911, Tehran, Iran Faxes: + 98 21 653 091 E-mail: odvv@neda.net and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country. IRANS AMBASSAD BOX 6031 181 06 LIDINGÖ FAX 08-765 31 19 PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 4 October 2001. Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom

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