International PEN is seriously concerned for the health of Iranian Kurdish journalist Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand, who reportedly suffered a stroke in Evin prison on May 19, 2008, and has been denied access to adequate medical care. He has been held since July 1, 2007, on charges of “acting against national security.” His trial reportedly began on May 25, 2008. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of writer Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). PEN seeks assurances of his well-being and guarantees that his basic rights are respected and that he is given full access to all necessary medical care.

More information: 

Amnesty International

Background Information

Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand, editor of the banned weekly Payam-e mardom-e Kurdestan, was arrested on July 1, 2007, at his place of work in Tehran by plainclothes security officers. Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand was initially taken to his home in Tehran, where security officers confiscated three computers, books, photographs, and personal documents. He was then taken to the Intelligence Ministry’s Section 209 of Evin Prison, where he is said to have been ill-treated. He has had no contact with his family since his arrest. No reason has been given for his arrest, though it could be linked to a previous one-year prison sentence that he never served. His family has been unable to raise the bail that could have enabled him to be freed pending trial.

Kabudvand has written two books on democracy and a third on the women’s movement in Iran, which were not given publishing licenses.

Write A Letter

  • expressing serious concern for the health of journalist and writer Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand and for the denial of his access to medical care;
  • calling for his immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory;
  • expressing concern about the pattern of repression of journalists and human-rights activists in Iran's Kurdish regions.

Send Your Letter To

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street
Qom
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence
Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenu
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: [email protected]

WITH COPIES TO...
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax via Foreign Ministry: +98 21 6 674 790
Note:  "Please forward to H.E. President Ahmadinejad"
E-mail: [email protected]

Kurdistan Human Rights Organization
PO Box 188-13465
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran.
E-mail: [email protected]

Please send a copy of your appeal to the diplomatic representative for Iran in your country.

Please check with PEN if sending appeals after June 20, 2008: ftw [at] pen.org