(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 March 2002, RSF noted its serious concern about the suspected ill-treatment of an elderly Iranian journalist, 71-year-old Siamak Pourzand, who is currently on trial in Tehran for a range of alleged offences, including subversion. RSF noted that five journalists were recently released from jail after making large bail payments, but the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 March 2002, RSF noted its serious concern about the suspected ill-treatment of an elderly Iranian journalist, 71-year-old Siamak Pourzand, who is currently on trial in Tehran for a range of alleged offences, including subversion.
RSF noted that five journalists were recently released from jail after making large bail payments, but the organisation is worried about possible psychological pressure on Pourzand to confess, as has happened in cases involving government opponents.
RSF also protested the serious failure to respect international standards at the trial, which began on 6 March, when the journalist was charged with nine offences, including “working to undermine state security” and “spying”.
Pourzand reportedly confessed at his 6 March hearing that he had worked with Savak, the former secret police under the Shah’s regime, which was overthrown in 1979, to “foil subversion plots by dissident students and make propaganda” in support of the regime and the Shah personally.
At the second hearing on 11 March, Pourzand reportedly made more confessions, saying he had had “direct and indirect links with monarchist elements abroad.” He also told the government daily “Iran” that he accepted all the charges against him and said he had no defence.
Pourzand was detained by security police as he was leaving his sister’s house on 29 November 2001. The authorities said nothing about his disappearance and during his first four months in a secret place of detention he had no access to a lawyer or medical care.
On 8 March, the journalist phoned his daughter in Washington (United States) and told her his trial had begun, adding, “You can consider me a dead man from now on.” The next day he called again and stressed that his family should make no statement to the media.
As head of Tehran’s artistic and cultural centre, Pourzand was also a cultural commentator for several reformist newspapers that have since been shut down.
Five journalists were recently released in Iran. They include Ezatollah Sahabi, 75, former editor of the fortnightly magazine “Iran-é-Farda”, who was released on 2 March on payment of two billion rials (approx. US$1.15 million; 1.3 million euros) bail, after spending fifteen months in jail. On 10 March, Abbas Dalvand, editor of the magazine “Lorestan”, was freed after paying bail of one billion rials (approx. US$574,000; 652,000 euros) following two months in prison. Hoda Saber, also of “Iran-é-Farda”, was released on 12 March on payment of 1.3 billion rials (approx. US$746,500; 847,400 euros) after being detained for 409 days. He had been tried from 4 to 6 March and had conducted his own defence. On 13 March, Reza Rais-Toussi of “Fath” was released after spending a year in jail. He paid bail of one billion rials. His trial date has not been announced. He was taken to hospital as soon as he came out of prison because he was paralysed above and below the waist. Saidi Madani of “Iran-é-Farda” was released on 14 March on payment of one billion rials bail after spending a year in prison. He was tried on 10 and 11 March and conducted his own defence.
