E/CN.4/1995/34
page 77
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Information transmitted to the Government
402. By letter dated 9 November 1994 the Special Rapporteur informed the
Government that he had received reports indicating that the practices of
amputation and flogging as a means of punishment were continuing. In
this connection, it was reported that Mohammad Hossein Honar Bakhshi and
Karim Gol-Mohammadi had four of their right hand fingers amputated around
March 1994 in Qom central prison in the presence of other prisoners, after
having been found guilty of stealing.
403. Another case of flogging was that of Mary Jones, an American-Iranian
interpreter, who was reportedly sentenced to 80 lashes in Shemiran,
northern Tehran, on charges of obtaining wine from a Christian church for
drinking and having illegitimate links with a man. She maintained during
trial that she had obtained Iranian citizenship following her temporary
marriage with that man. The sentence was reportedly carried out in public in
April 1994.
404. The Special Rapporteur also transmitted the case of Feizollah Mekhoubad,
aged 77, who was accused in May 1992 of having links with Israel, sentenced
to death in May 1993 by an Islamic Revolutionary Court, and executed
on 25 February 1994. He was said to have been active in charitable work and
not engaged in political activities, but was allegedly charged based on the
supposition that he had contacted various family members living in Europe, the
United States, and Israel. During his time in detention prior to execution,
he was said to have undergone three operations for unknown reasons.
Throughout his prison term, he was reportedly kept in chains and in solitary
confinement for prolonged periods, and was only permitted visits for a maximum
of 20 minutes once every few months. During the final six months of his
imprisonment, he was allegedly beaten brutally and flogged on his back, limbs,
and face. Some time prior to his execution, he reportedly had both of his
eyes gouged out. Observation of his body, which was unearthed by members of
his family for purposes of reburial in accordance with Jewish rites, was said
to reveal marks of severe disfigurement, including missing teeth, two missing
fingers and swelling and bruising attributable to blows.
Urgent appeals sent and replies received
405. The Special Rapporteur made three urgent appeals on behalf of the persons
mentioned in the following paragraphs. The dates on which the appeals were
transmitted appear in brackets at the end of the corresponding summaries.
406. Hengameh Amini, daughter of the well-known singer Marzieh, was arrested
in mid-October 1994, allegedly in connection with her mother’s decision to
join the National Council of Resistance. She was reportedly being held
incommunicado in Evin prison (3 November 1994).
407. On 9 December 1994 the Government replied that Hangameh Amini had been
acquitted of charges against her following investigation.
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