URGENT: Jailed Iranian Activist Batebi in Crisis; Wife Detained

Payvand Iran’s News is carrying the latest on jailed Iranian activist Ahmad Batebi. If you are not familiar with his story, Payvand has an interesting summary of the life and suffering of this amazing Iranian student activist and hero.
Hat Tip Greenroses

Amnesty International put out an alert yesterday:
IRAN Ahmad Batebi, (m) aged 28 or 29, former student activist

New name: Somaye Bayanat (f), his wife
________________________________________

Ahmad Batebi is reportedly not receiving adequate medical care at Evin Prison, and in recent days has suffered a series of seizures and prolonged loss of consciousness. His life may be in danger. In a telephone call on 22 February, Ahmad Batebi reportedly told his father that the prison authorities do not care about him and that if he dies, his father should “hold a celebration of my life, rather than a funeral”.

Somaye Bayanat, Ahmad Batebi’s wife, was detained at her house outside Tehran on 21 February. Her whereabouts are not known to Amnesty International. Amnesty International fears that she may be at risk of intimidation, harassment or ill-treatment because of her connection to Ahmad Batebi.

Ahmad Batebi was severely beaten in detention following his initial arrest in connection with a student protest in 1999. Since then he has spent over six years in prison, detained in harsh conditions, worsening his poor health. He suffers from a number of medical problems as a result of being tortured and ill-treated in detention. He, like many other prisoners, has been denied medical treatment or had it delayed.

Ahmad Batebi reportedly suffered several seizures on 16 February and fell unconscious over a period of at least three hours in the course of the day. His fellow prisoners reportedly took him to the prison’s medical facility. Unconfirmed reports stated that Ahmad Batebi suffered a stroke. On 18 February he reportedly suffered another seizure and was taken to Martyrs’ Hospital (Bimarestan-e Shohada) in north Tehran where he reportedly received an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, the results of which are not known to Amnesty International. On 19 February he was reportedly returned to Evin Prison’s medical facility despite the reported objections by doctors who are said to have told prison officials that he requires follow up care in a hospital and that he is not in a fit state to be imprisoned.

According to a 20 February news report, officials at Evin Prison stated that Ahmad Batebi was returned there on account of the “sensitivities aroused by his friends outside of prison”. Following complaints made by Ahmad Batebi’s father, he was again taken to the Martyrs’ Hospital, with hands and feet bound, but was later moved to another hospital. The director of Martyrs’ Hospital reportedly told Ahmad Batebi’s father that he was ordered to have him removed from the hospital. He was later returned to prison. He is reportedly under observation at the prison’s medical facility. While a friend of Ahmad Batebi reportedly stated that the two hemispheres of his brain were showing abnormalities, a spokesperson for the judiciary stated on 20 February that his condition was satisfactory.

It is highly likely that Ahmad Batebi will suffer further seizures unless he receives all necessary medical treatment. In light of a pattern of gross negligence on the part of prison authorities with respect to prisoners’ health, including in respect to cases of death in custody, Amnesty International fears for the life of Ahmad Batebi.

Recommended action-

APPEALS TO:

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: [email protected] / [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency

Director of Evin Prison
Director, Evin Prison
Evin Prison, Chamran Highway, Near Hotel Azadi, Dasht-e Behesht Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 240 3910
Email: [email protected] (on the subject line, please write: Ahmad Batebi – for the attention of the director
Salutation: Dear Sir

COPIES TO:

President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected] OR via website: www.president.ir/email

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: Please send emails via the feedback form on the Persian site of the website: http://www.iranjudiciary.org/contactus-feedback-fa.html
The text of the feedback form translates as:
1st line: name, 2nd line: email address, 3rd line: subject heading, then enter your email into text box.
Salutation: Your Excellency

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 April 2007.

Got that?
Write Mahmoud and tell him to show mercy on and free Ahmad Batebi!

Previously on Jailed Iranian Activists:
Brutal Death of Iranian Activist Akbar Mohammadi Revealed
Iranian Political Activist Ahmad Batebi Re-Arrested in Tehran
Iranian Political Activist Batebi Gets Nine More Years at Evin Prison
Noted Iranian Activist, Ahmad Batebi, in Serious Condition
Harvard Students Will Protest Khatami for Release of Ahmed Batebi
Iranian Activist Sanjari Arrested With Ayatollah Boroujerdi
Students Rally in Tehran for Release of Jailed Activist
Noted Iranian Activist Under Extreme Torture
Today on Iranian “Student’s Day” Remember Ward 209 Evin Prison
Kianoosh Sanjari Released From Evin Prison
Iranian Activist Ahmad Batebi Suffers Stroke in
Evin Prison

Iranian Student Activist Ahmad Batebi Suffers Second Stroke

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