Posted
March 24th, 2009
by
English PEN is shocked by the death of Internet writer Omidreza Mirsayafi while in detention in Evin prison, Tehran. He was facing charges of insult and propaganda against the regime, in writings posted on his blog. Prison authorities claim that Mirsayafi committed suicide by taking an overdose; however this is questioned by the family and a prison inmate. English PEN calls on the Iranian authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation into Mirsayafi’s death and for the findings to be made public.
According to our information, Omidreza Mirsayafi, who was in his mid twenties, died on 18 March 2009 after being taken ill in detention. He had been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment on charges of insulting Ayatollahs Khomeini and Khamanei, and propaganda against the regime. He had been free on bail pending appeal until 7 February 2009 when he was summoned again for questioning. Since then, he had remained in Evin prison. Mirsayafi was reportedly suffering from depression and was taking medication. Prison authorities claim that Mirsayafi committed suicide by taking an overdose; but his family maintains that he would not have had enough medication in his possession to kill himself.
Mirsayafi’s health is said to have significantly deteriorated since his recent imprisonment. Prior to his death, Mirsayafi was reportedly in need of medical attention but this was not provided by the prison authorities.
Omidreza Mirsayafi was originally arrested on 22 April 2008, his home was searched and his computer seized. He spent forty days in detention and was released on bail. He was tried on 2 November 2008.
Mirsayafi denied the charges, and in a letter sent to Reporters Sans Frontiers, he stated the following: “I am a cultural and not a political blogger. Of all the articles I have posted online, only two or three were satirical. I did not mean to insult anyone.”
Useful links:
Reporters Sans Frontiers
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Please send appeals:
- Expressing shock at the death of internet writer Omidreza Mirsayafi;
- Calling on the Iranian authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation into Mirsayafi’s death and for the findings to be made public.
Appeals 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
Email: info@leader.ir or istiftaa@wilayah.org
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via Judiciary website: Iranjudiciary.org/feedback_en.html
Salutation: Your Excellency
Copies to:
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: Via Foreign Ministry: 98 21 6 674 790
(mark: “Please forward to H.E. President Ahmadinejad”)
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: www.president.ir/email
If possible, please send appeals via the Ambassador for Afghanistan in the UK, asking for their comments:
His Excellency Rasoul Movahedian
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince’s Gate
London
SW7 1PT
Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/irandetainedwriterdies/
