Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

26 April 2011

Since his arrest by Iranian security forces during a raid on his offices on 9 October 2010, human rights lawyer Dr Houtan Kian has reportedly been subjected to repeated tortured and ill-treatment while being held incommunicado and in solitary confinement.

Further Information

Dr Kian is an Iranian human rights lawyer who has worked primarily for clients on death row on a pro bono basis and most recently was assigned as the lawyer of Ms Sakine Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to stoning for allegedly committing adultery.

On 9 October 2010, security officers raided Dr Kian’s offices and arrested Dr Kian, Ms Ashtiani’s son and two German reporters who were interviewing Dr Kian about Ms Ashianti’s case at the time of the raid. Dr Kian was taken to the Intelligence Unit of the Tabriz police where he was kept overnight in solitary confinement. The following day he was charged with 11 offences, including defamation of the Iranian judiciary (by means of his zealous defence of his clients), espionage, the disclosure of secret and classified information as well as fraud and falsifying identity.

It is reported that his belongings, home and car were taken from him and he was flown to Tehran’s Evin prison. It is alleged that from 9 October to 10 December 2010, Dr Kian was again placed in solitary confinement, being fed one meal a day and being subjected to frequent mental and physical abuse. Reportedly, during this time Dr Kian was beaten and kicked by interrogators, he lost nearly 50 kilograms and his nose and twelve of his teeth were broken. It is further reported that he sustained around 60 cigarette burns primarily around this genitals and on his legs, and that at night he was handcuffed, water-hosed and kept in the cold until being brought for interrogation at around 4am.

The impact of these acts of torture resulted in Dr Kian being rushed to hospital where he was kept under medical supervision between 13 December 2010 and 10 January 2011. He was then sent to Tabriz prison where he was rushed the same day to the prison’s medical centre where he remained until 22 January.

On 24 January 2011 Dr Kian was banned from representing Ms Sakine Ashtiani. He is currently being detained at Tabriz Central Prison and is not allowed visitors nor access to doctors. He is still waiting for a trial date to be set. Furthermore his mother’s passport has been confiscated and she is not permitted to leave the country.

Front Line believes the arrest, ongoing detention and reported torture of Dr Houtan Kian are directly related to his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, in particular the practice of his profession as a lawyer. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Dr Kian.

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