June 29, 2006
Detention of Iranian Scholar
Derechos Human Rights sent a letter today to Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Iran's minister of justice, to protest the detention without charges of internationally reknown scholar Professor Ramin Jahanbegloo. Prof. Jahanbegloo was arrested on April, when he was about to board a plane to attend an international conference.
Human rights organizations, academic institutions and academics have all asked the Iranian government to set him freed, so far to no avail. We urge you to continue applying pressure on the Iranian government.
June 29, 2006
DERECHOS HUMAN RIGHTS
46 Estabrook St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
USA
510-483-4005
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr,
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my organization's concern with the arrest and detention without charge of Iranian scholar Professor Ramin Jahanbegloo, the head of the Department of Contemporary Studies at the Cultural Research Bureau in Tehran. Prof. Jahanbegloo is an internationally respected political theorist and philosopher who has earned praise for his efforts to disseminate information about Iran's complex society and its rich contributions to world history.
On April 27, Prof. Jahanbegloo was arrested at Mehrabad Airport outside of Tehran while attempting to travel to an international conference. His arrest was confirmed on May 6 by the Iranian Minister of Intelligence. Formal charges have not been levied against him and he has not been allowed to confer with a lawyer.
Mr. Jahanbegloo detention without charges violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party.
We respectfully request that you secure Professor Jahanbegloo's immediate release or charge him with a crime. In that case, we request that he receive a fair trial in accordance with international standards. We also seek assurances of Professor Jahanbegloo's physical well being while he is in custody pending any release or proceedings.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Margarita Lacabe
Executive Director
Derechos Human Rights