The following information was provided to the DIRB in a 5 September 1997 telephone interview with a correspondent for the Persian-language section of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London, who was in Iran at the time of the above-mentioned incident. A birthday party was taking place at the apartment from which Ali Reza Farzaneh-Far fell or was pushed. The party was raided by the police. The police officer in charge of the raid later said that Farzaneh-Far had fallen as he was trying to escape by climbing to another balcony. According to the officer, Farzaneh-Far was drunk and under the influence of drugs at the time. The officer therefore concluded that there was no need for any investigation into the actions of the police. Some party guests were arrested, but they were soon released and no charges were laid.

The following information was provided to the DIRB in a 5 September 1997 telephone interview with an editorial staff member of the Persian-language newspaper Kayhan in London. The source stated that the head of the Iranian judiciary, Muhammad Yazdi, was quoted in the Iranian media two days after the incident as stating that Farzaneh-Far had fallen to his death while trying to escape, and that the matter was being investigated. Information about the investigation into the death of Ali Reza Farzaneh-Far could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Correspondent with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Persian-language section, London. 5 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Editorial staff member, Kayhan, London. 5 September 1997. Telephone interview.

Teheran Times. 18 April-23 May 1996.

Electronic sources: DIRB databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet,

REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).