PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/009/2005

24 February 2005

Further Information on UA 157/01 (MDE 13/019/2001, 22 June 2001) and follow-up (MDE 13/027/2001, 2 August 2001; MDE 13/041/2001, 28 September 2001 and MDE 13/044/2001, 12 November 2001) - Death penalty

IRAN Azizullah Shenwari (m) aged 17, Pakistani national

A
zizullah Shenwari was reportedly released from Yazd prison, in Central Iran in February 2005. He is reportedly in the custody of Afghan officials in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, where he is said to be underroutine questioning. According to his uncle, he should be reunited with his family in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan at the end of the week, prior to returning home to Pakistan.

The Iranian authorities are said to have thought at the time of his arrest and conviction that Azizullah Shenwari was of Afghan origin. He is a Pakistani national. They reportedly informed his family in November 2000 that he had been sentenced to death after being arrested and charged with drug trafficking.

Azizullah Shenwari was amongst 3000 prisoners who were released following a decision on 19 January 2005, by the Amnesty and Clemency Commission of the Judiciary (Komisyon-e ‘Afv va Bakhshoudegi) to grant a general amnesty to Afghan prisoners held in Iranian prisons. The prisoners were to be released and then repatriated to Afghanistan. However, if they returned to Iran and committed a new crime, they would be imprisoned for a period which included their previous sentence. The amnesty would apply to, all Afghan prisoners, including those sentenced to death. However, prisoners with ongoing prosecutions would not be included in the amnesty, unless they had been pardoned by those who complained against them.

No further action is requested from the Urgent Action Network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.