Iran: Human Rights Defender at Risk Appeal Case: Abdolfattah Soltani

Index Number: MDE 13/009/2006
Date Published: 1 February 2006
Categories: Iran, Middle East And North Africa

Abdolfattah Soltani, a lawyer, has been detained without formal charge in Tehran's Evin prison since 30 July 2005. He is said to be detained in connection with disclosing information in a nuclear espionage case in which he is acting as defense counsel. Amnesty International believes that the continued detention of Abdolfattah Soltani is politically motivated, designed to discourage other Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) from pursuing cases against those responsible for committing human rights abuses, or defending people being prosecuted for political reasons. If so, he should be released immediately and unconditionally.