Save Iranian writer and poet sentenced to death
Imprisoned Iranian writer and poet Arzhang Davoodi has been sentenced to death for allegedly supporting the banned People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI).
The evidence against him? In prison Arzhang called PMOI its official name Mojahedin, rather than the term the Iranian authorities use, Monafeghin ('hypocrites').
The authorities gave Arzhang less than an hour to present his defence, and neither he nor his lawyer were allowed to appear before the court which issued the verdict.
Arzhang is a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. He has no links with PMOI or any armed groups.
It's not the first time that Arzhang has been subjected to grossly unfair verdicts based on flimsy evidence.
In 2005 he was sentenced to 25 years in prison on spurious charges for peacefully expressing his rights to freedom of expression and association, including directing a cultural education centre in Tehran and taking part in making the documentary Forbidden Iran.
Call on the Iranian government to overturn Arzhang Davoodi's death sentence.
To: Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic
Subject: Overturn Arzhang Davoodi's death sentence
Your Excellency,
I call on you to overturn Arzhang Davoodi's death sentence and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
I remind you that under international law, the death penalty can be imposed only for "the most serious crimes", interpreted as "intentional killing" and after proceedings that comply with the most rigorous internationally recognised standards for fair trial.
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Yours sincerely,
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