Date: 10 August 2012
According to the latest news from prison, Saeed Malek-Pour has been transferred to solitary confinement in Sepah ward in Evin prison. He is sentenced to execution; his sentence has so far been on-hold because of the international pressure on the regime in Tehran. His situation is alarming and the fact that he was transferred to the Sepah ward in Evin, which is a stricture section of this prison, indicates that the prison officials have decided to subject him to further pressure and torture. In the absence of any action to defend him, there is a great risk that the execution of Mr. Malekpour will be carried out away from the international spotlight.
Saeed Malekpour, a Canadian permanent resident, was arrested on October 4, 2008 while visiting his dying father in Iran. Although he was never formally charged, he was arrested for designing software which was used on pornographic sites by third parties. He is presently in prison awaiting imminent execution for acting against the regime, insulting Islam and designing software used for adult content. Saeed is 37 years old and married.
According to his cellmates, Hamid Ghassemi-Shall is under an immense psychological pressure and his mental health and physical is decorating.
Hamid Ghassemi-Shall is a Canadian citizen who had moved to Canada in 1979. He was arrested in May of 2008, when he was visiting his ailing elderly mother in Iran. The authorities had also arrested Hamid’s brother, Alborz an Iranian national, shortly before Hamid’s arrest. In prison, the bothers spent 18 months each in solitary confinement in a 2mX 2m size cells. According to prison officials, Alborz died in prison due to stomach cancer, although there is no way to confirm the cause of death. Hamid has been sentenced to death and currently awaits execution. The Iranian courts rejected an appeal. He was accused of being a spy due to the contents of e-mails exchanged between the brothers. Mr. Ghassemi-Shall is 43 years old.
Taking an action is very important and can save lives of the political prisoners in Iran. The previous actions have proven to be very effective in such a way that has delayed the imminent executions and have improved prisoner’s conditions.
Please take action and provide us with an update on the action you have taken on the case of Saeed Malekpour and Hamid Ghasemi-Shall.