DATE=12/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242786
TITLE=IRAN / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP IS URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF
IRAN TO INVESTIGATE A SERIES OF SUSPICIOUS DEATHS OF POLITICAL
DISSIDENTS. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS
THE CALL FOLLOWS THE DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF A LEADING IRANIAN
POET IN A MORGUE IN TEHRAN.
TEXT: THE DIRECTOR OF THE MIDDLE EAST DIVISION OF THE HUMAN
RIGHTS WATCH ORGANIZATION, HANNY MEGALLY, SAYS HE IS CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF DEATHS AND DISAPPEARANCES
OF POLITICAL DISSIDENTS IN IRAN IN RECENT MONTHS.
/// 1ST MEGALLY ACT ///
WE'VE PUSHED THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE SOME
OF THE RECENT DEATHS AND TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO
JUSTICE. IT SEEMS TO US THAT THE REGIME IS UNABLE TO
DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS THAT IS NOW EMERGING.
/// END ACT ///
MR. MEGALLY'S CALL COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE BODY OF IRANIAN POET
MOHAMMAD MOKHTARI WAS IDENTIFIED IN A MORGUE IN TEHRAN. THE
CAUSE OF DEATH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, ALTHOUGH THE HUMAN
RIGHTS GROUP SAYS MARKS ON THE BODY'S COULD INDICATE DEATH BY
STRANGULATION.
THE LATEST DEATH FOLLOWS THE MURDER LAST MONTH OF VETERAN
OPPOSITION LEADER DARIUSH FAROUHAR AND HIS WIFE WHO WERE FOUND
STABBED TO DEATH IN THEIR HOME. ANOTHER IRANIAN DISSIDENT HAS
BEEN MISSING SINCE AUGUST.
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
DEATHS OF MR. FAROUHAR AND HIS WIFE, AND SEVERAL ARRESTS
REPORTEDLY HAVE BEEN MADE. HOWEVER, MR. MEGALLY SAYS HE IS
WORRIED BECAUSE THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT APPEARS UNABLE OR
UNWILLING TO SOLVE THESE CASES.
/// REST OPT ///
/// 2ND MAGALLY ACT ///
SO, WHETHER IT'S SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TAKING THE LAW
INTO THEIR OWN HANDS OR ELEMENTS WITHIN THE REGIME WHO
ARE PULLING THE STRINGS BEHIND, IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR.
BUT IF THE STATE ACTUALLY TAKES A POSITION AND CLEARLY
GOES AFTER THOSE RESPONSIBILE, THEN IT MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT THE STATE ITSELF IS NOT SUPPORTING THESE ACTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
NOTING THAT THURSDAY MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, MR. MEGALLY SAYS HE IS CONCERNED
OVER WHAT APPEARS TO BE REGRESSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
HE NOTES THAT A NEW PRESS LAW WAS PASSED IN JORDAN THIS YEAR
WHICH HE FEARS MAY RESTRICT CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT. AND IN
EGYPT, HE SAYS A LAW HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
REGULATE THE ACTIVITIES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. MANY FEEL
ITS PURPOSE IS TO RESTRICT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH OFFICIAL WELCOMED THE RELEASE THIS WEEK OF
THE HEAD OF EGYPT'S LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION AFTER BEING
CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING ILLEGAL DONATIONS FROM ABROAD. BUT HE
CONDEMNS THE SUBSEQUENT ARREST OF A LAWYER FOR THE SAME
ORGANIZATION. HE SAYS IT APPEARS THE PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE
EXPRESSION OF CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE REGION IS MORE AND
MORE RESTRICTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
10-Dec-98 12:58 PM EST (1758 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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