TheInternational Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Iran.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has beeninformed by a reliable source about the enforced disappearance of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, two opposition leaders[1], along with their wives, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard andMs. Fatemeh Karroubi, since 24 February 2011. OMCTfears for their safety.

According to the informationreceived by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, on 14 February 2011, the aforementionedpersons were confinedin their homes, in Teheran, under an illegal “house arrest”, with no arrestwarrant, summons or charge, after Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mr. Mehdi Karroubicalled for public demonstrations in solidarity with Egyptian and Tunisianpro-democracy activists[2].Their homes were reportedly surrounded by uniformed and plain-closed securityforces. Family members and associates were not allowed to their homes andcommunication, including the phone, was cut off.

Accordingto the same information, around 24 February 2011, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr.Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi were transferredfrom their homes to an unknown location, reportedly a “safe house”[3].Some reports indicate that they may have been moved to Heshmatiyeh Prison,in Tehran. Authorities have, on their side,denied any transfer and stated that the four are still confined in their homesprohibited from communication. However, according to the same informationreceived, their homes would be empty. Despite numerous requests from theirfamilies to the authorities for information on their whereabouts, the familieswere unable to receive any information.

OMCT is deeply concerned about the safety of MirHossein Mousavi, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. FatemehKarroubi as their whereabouts remain unknown. OMCTfears that they may be subjected to torture, ill-treatment and/or extrajudicialkilling. Iranian intelligence andsecurity services have a well-established track record of using torture againstopponents. OMCT urges the competentauthorities to guarantee their physical and psychological integrity at alltimes, in accordance with international human rights law, in particular theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and toimmediately locate and disclose their whereabouts.

Actionrequested

Please write to the authorities inIran urging them to:

i. Immediately locate and disclose thewhereabouts of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavardand Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi;

ii. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychologicalintegrity of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mr MehdiKarroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi as well as of theirfamilies;

iii. Grant Mir HosseinMousavi, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. ZahraRahnavard and Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi prompt and unconditional access to a lawyer of their choice and their families, aswell as guarantee that they are examined by independent doctors and receiveadequate medical care, in accordance, inter alia, the UN Standard Minimum Rulesfor the Treatment of Prisoners;

iv. Ordertheir immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that areconsistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist,bring them before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal andguarantee their procedural rights at all times;

v. Carry out aprompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the enforceddisappearance of Mir Hossein Mousavie, Mr. Mehdi Karroubi, Ms. Zahra Rahnavardand Ms. Fatemeh Karroubi, the results of which must be made public, in orderto bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartialtribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided bylaw;

vi. Ensure that an effective remedy, includingthe right to full redress with compensation and rehabilitation be granted tothe victims concerned;

vii. Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamentalfreedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws andinternational human rights standards.

Addresses

Ø Leader of the Islamic Republic, His ExcellencyAyatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, ShoahadaStreet, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98 21 649, + 98 21 649 / 21 7742228, Email: info@leader.ir / istiftaa@wilayah.org / webmaster@wilayah.org /info_leader@leader.ir

Ø PresidentMr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, Palestine Avenue, AzerbaijanIntersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880. Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

Ø Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency AyatollahSadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic ofIran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com / bia.judi@yahoo.com

Ø Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republicof Iran, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, Email: matbuat@mfa.gov

Ø Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran,Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7330203,Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

Ø Embassy of Iran in Brussels, 15 aavenue Franklin Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: +32 2 762 39 15. Email: iran-embassy@yahoo.com

Please also write to thediplomatic representations of Iran in your respective countries.

***

Geneva, 4 March 2011

Kindly informOMCT of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in yourreply

[1] Both were unsuccessful candidates to the disputed 2009 presidentialelections.

[2] Demonstrations that took place on 14 and 20 February 2011 were reportedly violently repressed by the security forces.

[3] A “safehouse” is considered a location for secret detention of high securitydetainees, which is not under the control of the Judiciary or any othermonitoring mechanisms. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranianintelligence agencies are known for using “safe houses” in order to get forcedconfessions from detainees without scrutiny or pressure from other legalbodies.