E/CN.4/1992/17
page 7
In his meeting with the Special Representative, Mr. Afravi denounced human
rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the alleged
summary execution of his brother Naji Afravi, in January 1989, in Khalkhal.
Mr. Massoud Afravi was arrested on 30 January 1990 at his home and detained at
Shahr Rey prison, Nikonam Street, near Tehran. During his detention he was
allegedly tortured in various ways, and as a result had a large scar on his
left upper arm. During 1990 he was sent for treatment at the Pars hospital on
several occasions, but was sent back to the Shahr Rey prison afterwards, where
torture allegedly resumed. During one stay at the hospital in December 1990
he was able to escape and he eventually fled the country. According to the
source, Mr. Afravi had a medical certificate dated 18 March 1991 concerning
the above-mentioned scar on his left upper arm, stating that the torture
allegation coincided with the results of the medical examination.
C.
Correspondence with Governments
Bahrain
Urgent appeals and Government replies
25. On 3 May 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the
Government of Bahrain concerning Salah Abdullah Habil Al-Khawaja, whose case
had already been transmitted to the Government on 6 June 1990 (see
E/CN.4/1991/17, paras. 25 and 26). By letter dated 6 August 1990 the
Government of Bahrain informed the Special Rapporteur that this person had
been sentenced to a term of seven years' imprisonment, and affirmed that he,
and the other persons named in the above-mentioned letter, had not been
subjected to any form of physical or mental torture. The Special Rapporteur
drew the Government's attention to information he received according to which
Mr. Al-Khawaja and other prisoners went on hunger strike to protest against
their conditions of detention and the ill-treatment to which they were
allegedly subjected. It was further alleged that Mr. Al-Khawaja had been
beaten and injured by police personnel and was subsequently transferred from
Al-Manama prison to Jaw prison, where he was being held incommunicado and was
given no medical treatment. Fears were expressed that his health might
further deteriorate unless he received the necessary medical care.
26. On 26 August 1991 the Government of Bahrain replied that Salah Abdullah
Hubail Al-Khawaja had been brought to trial before the State Security Court on
the charge of engaging in acts of terrorism and weapons training with a view
to changing the State's political system, and that he was serving his prison
sentence. The competent authority had confirmed that the above-mentioned
person had not been subjected to any form of torture and that the allegations
made in this connection were unfounded. The reply also indicated that all the
prisoners enjoyed their legally stipulated rights in regard to family visits
and medical care.
Letters
27. On 18 October 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government
of Bahrain concerning the death as a result of torture of Mamdooh Mahdi Ahmed.
This person was reportedly arrested in 1980, when he was 13 years old, and
taken to the Al Qala'a prison in Manama, where he remained for four years
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