Free Shahin ZeinAli an Iranian journalist

Appeal on behalf of Mr. Shahin ZeinAli an Iranian journalist who is scheduled to serve a harsh sentence for activities namely membership in a legal political party and participating in peaceful gatherings.

We are writing to you on behalf of Mr. Shahin ZeinAli, a 29-year-old Iranian journalist who is scheduled to serve a harsh sentence for activities that do not appear to constitute a crime under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely membership in a legal political party and participating in peaceful gatherings. What follows is the information that has caused us a great deal of concern.

According to the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in the morning of Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Shahin ZeinAli, a 29-year-old Iranian journalist was sentenced to two years, three months incarceration by Judge Pirabasi of the Revolutionary Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reportedly, two years of the above mentioned sentence was for Shahin's alleged conspiracy against national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran through membership in a political party (Pan-Iranist Party). The remainder of Shain's sentence, 91 days, was for participating in illegal assemblies that resulted in chaos [presumably in the post- June 2009 disputed Iranian presidential election], interview with foreign media. Shahin will also have to pay a monetary penalty, in the amount of one million, five hundred Rial (approximately $150000).

Last year, Shahin was arrested at his residence, detained at Section 240 of notorious Evin prison in the north of Tehran. He was released after serving three weeks in solitary confinement. During the search of his home, his computer, computer files, academic and journalism-related books, news archives and other personal items were confiscated. Shahin has awaite the reurn of his personal property by the authorities to no avail. The security forces refuse to return to him what they have taken illegally from him.

Shahin was asked to present before Section 25 of the Revolutionary Court for last defence after four months of having no information on the status of his case. He attorney, Mr. Mohammad Mustafayee, continued his case to June 16, 2010, at which time he was notified of his two-year-three-month sentence.

We are asking the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the presiding judge, Mr. PirAbbasi, Mr. Larijani, the heard of Judiciary, and Mr. Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to commute this unjust sentence and apologize to Mr. ZeinAli and his family for undue hardship and anxiety caused by Mr. ZeinAli's arrest and related events (search, seizure of property and solitary confinement).

We thank you in advance for your kind and prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

شاهین زینعلی، به دو سال چهارماه جبس تعزیری (زندان) محکوم شده است. نامبرده 20 روز مهلت تجدید نظر درباره این حکم را دارد. وکیل شاهین زینعلی، دکتر محمد مصطفایی، لایحه اعتراض و فرجام خواهی وی را به دادگاه، برای تجدید نظر در حکم ارائه داده است. پس از پایان مهلت 20 روزه، حکم دادگاه تجدید نظر اعلام می شود که ممکن است منجر به ...تعدیل و کاهش مجازات شود، و یا اینکه همین جکم دو سال و چهار ماه، توسط دادگاه تائید شود. بنابر تجربیات به دست آمده در موارد مشابه پیشین، هرچقدر که نهادهای بین المللی و مدافعان حقوق بشر، در این مدت فرجام خواهی، واکنش بیشتری نشان بدهند، احتمال تعدیل مجازات بیشتر خواهد بود. از این روی از همه آزادیخواهان و مدافعان حقوق بشر تقاضا داریم که نسبت به حکم صادره برای شاهین زینعلی، که دلیلی جز عضویت در یک حزب سیاسی و اعتقاد به مرام پان ایرانیسم ندارد، اعتراض کنند و فشار افکار عمومی آزادیخواهان جهان را متوجه این بی عدالتی کنند