Iran: arrest followed by an enforced disappearance of poet
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PEN International condemns the enforced disappearance of poet Mohammad Bamm who was arrested by members of the Iranian security forces on 31 December 2017 while on his way home in the city of Abadan, Iran. Bamm was arrested along with his friend who was released after a short time. To date, Bamm is still being detained incommunicado with no access to his lawyer or his family. Bamm was previously detained in 2017 on politically-motivated charges which are “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and “blasphemy”.
PEN is deeply concerned about Bamm’s safety and physical integrity, and believes that his detention and the charges against him are solely related to the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression. PEN calls for the full respect of Bamm’s rights as a detainee and to unconditionally release him. PEN also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all other writers currently detained in Iran in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and assembly, in accordance with Articles 9, 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party.
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Please send appeals
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of poet Mohammad Bamm;
Urging the Iranian authorities to ensure that he has full access to family visits, legal representation and adequate medical care whilst detained;
Urging them to end the prosecution and drop all charges against Bamm;
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all other writers currently detained in Iran solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and assembly.
Appeals to
Leader of the Islamic Republic Grand Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei The Office of the Supreme Leader Islamic Republic Street — End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter Twitter: @khamenei_ir English-language account), @Khamenei_ar (Arabic-language), @Khamenei_es (Spanish-language account).
Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani c/o Public Relations Office Number 4, Deadend of 1 Azizi – Vali Asr Street Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani Pasteur Street, Pasteur Square Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: media@rouhani.ir
http://rouhani.ir/register.php Twitter: @HassanRouhani (English) and @Rouhani_ir (Persian)
And copy to the Embassy of Iran in your country. You can find embassy addresses here.
Please inform PEN of any action you take, and of any responses you receive.
Background
Mohammad Bamm was previously detained in 2017, but was released on bail. He was charged with “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran”. In connection with this charge, Bamm was given absolution by the first branch of the revolutionary court in Abadan; however, his case was transferred to the appeal court for final sentence due to the prosecutor’s objection. Bamm has been also charged with “blasphemy” for which he is awaiting trial.
Bamm was born on 31 January 1990. He has won several literary awards for his poems in Iranian literary festivals. He started to write poetry as a professional poet ten years ago. He writes lyrics; some of them have been sung by singers such as Pouya Hatami and Ali Bonyadi. Bamm’s poems and lyrics can be categorized as political and social poems. His lyric, which was sung by Pouya Hatami, is called, “Shat beh Shat” (River To River).
For any further information, please contact Nael Georges, PEN International, Koops Mill Mews, 162-164 Abbey Street, London SE1 2AN | Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 | Email: Nael.Georges@pen-international.org