Daughter of Jailed Activist Calls on International Community to Save Father
Published by Ali on December 10, 2018
Hengameh Vahedian, daughter of Human Rights activist, Abbas Vahedian, addressed the European Union representatives and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Mr. Javaid Rehman, regarding her father who has been imprisoned since 11 October this year.
Hengameh Vahedian said that, her father, Abbas Vahedian, Huiman Rights activist, was arrested in September 2018, by the security forces, and after her long discussion with the prosecutor they decided to release him on bail.
She continued: “However, when I produced the documents for his release to the prosecutor, Mr Soleimaninejad, he responded that he does not see his release in the best interest of the country, and his interrogation should continue for further 10 days.
When I objected that he and the prosecutor had agreed to his release during our last meeting. He replied that he no longer sees his release in the best interest of the country and if I were to protest his decision he would throw me out of the court and not allow me to return.
Mr Soleimaninejad’s word cannot be counted on as he constantly seems to change his mind. For one day he says, I will release your father without delay, but then the next day he requires documents. However, then despite me bringing the documents he does not release my father.
It seems that the only choice open to me is to bring forth my case to international institutions like the European Parliament and to persons like Mr Javaid Rehman, the UN special human rights rapporteur for Iran.
By doing so, I hope I can secure my father’s release, as I am all alone here and I have no one else to help me in securing my father’s release. As the Iranian prosecutor, does not respond to my requests, and he doesn’t even allow my father to have his own legal representation.
My father, who was interrogated for forty days and has always, maintained his innocence. He has stated that without being provided his own choice for legal representation any case against him will have no legal merit. The prosecutor in response has told my father that he can only have a lawyer chosen by the court system and is not allowed having his own legal representative.
It is for this reason, why I think they have refused to release him. Further they keep changing the charges against him, as one day they say the charges against him are in regards protesting against the regime and the next day, they say it regards the threats he poses against national security. This is why I am appealing to you to help me in any way you can.”
A teacher, author and a member of The Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), Abbas Vahedian, was arrested on 11 October, at his home in Mashhad on the eve of the sit-in strike by security agents who raided his house, confiscated his personal belongings and took him to an unknown location.
He was taken to an Intelligence Department detention center on 29 November, despite the fact that prosecutor had ordered to release Vahedian on bail.
Earlier on 21 November, Mr. Vahedian was faced national security charges, including “disrupting national security” and “trying to topple the Iranian regime” at the revolutionary court of Mashhad.
