(WiPC/IFEX) – Morteza Firouzi, the founder and editor of the English-language daily “Iran News”, is reportedly no longer in imminent danger of execution. According to Amnesty International, in early June, the official Iranian News Agency IRNA reported that Firouzi’s case had been referred back to the courts. In a 16 June 1998 fax to a […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – Morteza Firouzi, the founder and editor of the
English-language daily
“Iran News”, is reportedly no longer in imminent danger of execution.
According to Amnesty International, in early June, the official Iranian News
Agency IRNA reported that Firouzi’s case had been referred back to the
courts. In a 16 June 1998 fax to a PEN centre, a source in Tehran confirmed
this report, adding that Judiciary Head Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi had himself
announced the decision for a re-trial to the press. The source added that,
according to his information, the Ayatollah Khamenei – said to be the only
person with the power to order a stay of execution in Firouzi’s case – had
indeed solicited the advice of the Iranian National Security Council on the
original death sentence, and that the Council recommended a re-trial.
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 29 May, 10 February and 29 January 1998; 14 and
10 November 1997**
The source also stated that the weight of international opinion may well
have been effective and that Firouzi himself asked that his “gratitude be
conveyed to all those who had taken an interest in his case.”
PEN retains a watching brief in the matter. Firouzi remains in prison on
charges that remain unclarified.
Background Information
Firouzi, a political analyst, founded “Iran News” three years ago. It has
become a respected newspaper, widely read by foreign diplomats and others.
He was arrested in May or June 1997, and held for several weeks
incommunicado, during which time his family was not informed of his
whereabouts. In October 1997, it was reported in the Iranian press that he
was being held on espionage charges. One report said that he was accused of
spying for “an eastern country”, another that he had spied for the United
States of America. On 28 January 1998, IRNA announced that he had been
sentenced to death (see IFEX alerts).
Recommended Action
You are encouraged to send appeals to authorities:
charges being held against Morteza Firouzi
Appeals To
His Excellency Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 646 5242
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
