The Alahwazi Organization for Human Rights (A.O.H.R) expresses its grave concern and strong condemnation regarding the Iranian judicial and security authorities' insistence on the continued detention of four Ahwazi civil and political activists, despite them having already served over 21 years of arbitrary imprisonment.
According to reliable human rights reports, the life sentences previously imposed on these four detainees were recently commuted to 25 years and one month. Notwithstanding this reduction, A.O.H.R stresses that their continued imprisonment lacks any legal, judicial, or humanitarian justification. We demand their immediate and unconditional release.
Background of Arrests and Unfair Trials
In the autumn of 2005 (1384 Shamsi calendar), a widespread wave of arrests targeted dozens of Ahwazi citizens. Among those detained and placed in intelligence detention centers were four prominent activists: Nazim Sahi Barihi, Yahya Nasseri (Nawaseri), Abdulzahra Helichi (Zuhair Helichi), and Abdulimam Zairi.
Following their arrest, all four activists were subjected to months of enforced disappearance and intense solitary confinement. They endured severe physical and psychological torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. Based on these coerced statements, non-transparent Revolutionary Courts issued harsh life sentences under vague and fabricated national security charges, including "Maharabeh" (enmity against God) and "acting against national security."
These prisoners are currently held in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz and Arak Prison.
Case Details and Health Conditions of the Prisoners
1. Nazim Sahi Barihi:
Prior to his arrest, he was a student of religious sciences and a cultural-religious activist. Arrested at a young age, over two decades of torture and systematic medical neglect have resulted in severe health complications. Denied access to specialized medical care, his physical condition has repeatedly reached critical stages. He is currently held between Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz and Arak Prison.
2. Yahya Nasseri (Nawaseri):
A civil activist who endured months of harsh interrogation in solitary confinement. In April 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), after protesting the appalling health and sanitary conditions in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz, he was again transferred to solitary confinement and deprived of any contact or visits with his family for an extended period.
3. Abdulzahra Helichi (Zuhair Helichi):
A civil activist who was arrested in his early twenties and spent the prime of his youth behind bars. Sentenced to life imprisonment under unfounded charges, he has been systematically denied his basic civil rights, including standard temporary medical or family furloughs throughout his 21 years of captivity in Sheyban Prison.
4. Abdulimam Zairi:
A civil activist whose physical health has continuously deteriorated due to severe gastrointestinal diseases and acute oral and dental infections. Authorities at Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz have repeatedly refused to transfer him to specialized medical centers outside the prison, posing a direct threat to his life and physical well-being.
Legal and Humanitarian Grounds for Immediate Release
The Alahwazi Organization for Human Rights (A.O.H.R) emphasizes that the continued detention of these four activists violates even the internal regulations of the Iranian Judiciary itself:
* Exceeding the Legal Limit: According to the regulations of the Amnesty and Sentence Commutation Commission, individuals sentenced to life imprisonment become eligible for further clemency, reduction, or release after serving a significant portion of their sentence (such as 10 years for an initial life sentence commutation, or 5 years after reduction to 15 years).
* Time Served: Having spent over 21 full years under harsh prison conditions, the recent commutation of their sentence to 25 years and one month should legally and immediately lead to conditional release or a full pardon.
* Systematic Rights Violations: For over two decades, these prisoners have been systematically denied basic rights guaranteed by international standards, including access to adequate medical care, legal furloughs, and fair trial guarantees.
Demands and Human Rights Call
In light of the above, the Alahwazi Organization for Human Rights (A.O.H.R) demands the following:
* The immediate and unconditional release of all four political prisoners (Nazim Sahi Barihi, Yahya Nasseri, Abdulzahra Helichi, and Abdulimam Zairi) and their safe return to their families.
* Immediate access to specialized medical care outside of prison for the sick detainees, particularly Abdulimam Zairi and Nazim Sahi Barihi.
* Urgent intervention by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to pressure Iranian authorities to end arbitrary detentions, medical neglect, and human rights violations against Ahwazi prisoners.
Issued by:
Alahwazi Organization for Human Rights (A.O.H.R)