(WiPC/IFEX) – In early September 1997, the family of Faraj Sarkoohi, an editor detained in Iran since January 1997, were given permission to visit him in prison. Farideh Zebardsjad, Sarkoohi’s wife who lives in Europe, has issued an open letter giving details of the meeting. In the letter, Mrs Zebardsjad describes the family’s reaction to […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – In early September 1997, the family of Faraj Sarkoohi, an
editor detained in Iran since January 1997, were given permission to visit
him in prison. Farideh Zebardsjad, Sarkoohi’s wife who lives in Europe, has
issued an open letter giving details of the meeting. In the letter, Mrs
Zebardsjad describes the family’s reaction to seeing Sarkoohi: “After a
short wait in an isolated room, the eight assembled members of the family
see a figure emerge from the gloom. All of them wonder silently who this
thin, white-haired, bearded old man can be? When will Faraj be brought in?
What kind of a game is this? Are they amusing themselves at our expense?
Who’s been brought to the wrong visiting room — us or this old man? But the
closer he comes and the more they stare at him, the more the members of the
family begin to realise that the person in front of them is what is left of
the Faraj they once knew. `He’s just a stick — he looks like his father did
just before he died,’ murmurs Faraj’s mother. The white-haired man sits down
on a chair behind the glass screen that separates them. He picks up the
phone, but before anyone has time to say anything tears start rolling down
people’s cheeks. One by one, those in the room break down and allow
themselves to cry. “Two hundred and eighteen days waiting for the tiniest
bit of news about Faraj. When there is no news, you have to content yourself
with whatever rumours are circulating,” Mrs Zebardsjad writes. “Faraj’s
mother keeps asking `What are they saying abroad? Tell them not to forget my
son!’ “The letter contains other descriptions of the family meeting.
**For background to case, see IFEX alerts dated 21 August, 26 June 1997, 15
November 1996, and others**
Please contact Sara Whyatt at the WiPC in London for a copy of the full text.
International PEN continues to protest against Sarkoohi’s imprisonment. It
welcomes reports that trial proceedings are under way and that it will
conclude soon. It is, however, deeply concerned that the charges of
espionage levied against Sarkoohi may not be founded and that they may have
been levied as a means of silencing criticism in Iran. It therefore urges
that the trial be carried out following fair trial procedures as provided in
international standards protecting every individual against unfair trial. It
urges that access to the trial hearings be granted to the public as well as
to the national and international media. Recent reports that Sarkoohi
appears to be in poor health adds to International PEN’s concerns about his
case. It therefore urges that Sarkoohi be released pending trial so that he
can receive any necessary medical attention.
