A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced on Wednesday that Mohammad Mostafaei, who refused to turn himself in to Iran’s judicial system, is in Turkey and has the option to seek asylum. Mostafaei was detained by Turkish authorities and taken to an unknown location when problems were detected with his passport. Turkey Radikal newspaper who reported the news did not provide any additional information on the passport problems. Citizens of Iran do not require a Visa to enter Turkey.
Metin Corabatir, a UNHCR spokesperson in Turkey, announced, “We are monitoring developments concerning the case…The channels are open for him to apply for asylum.”
A European diplomat in Ankara said Turkish authorities had contacted several Western embassies to see if they were willing to offer the lawyer asylum. The diplomat asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the case.
Turkey’s Interior Ministry, in charge of police and asylum cases, declined to comment.
Amnesty International last month accused Iran of harassing Mostafaei and said his wife and her brother had been detained. The lawyer maintained a blog that helped generate a wave of international outrage over death by stoning. Britain and the United States called for the practice to be scraped.
Iran said last month it would not carry out the stoning against Mostafaei’s client, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, for the time being, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging for adultery and other offenses.
Mohammad Mostafaei Writes a Letter to His Wife and Daughter: Happy Birthday
On August 1, 2010, the day of his daughter’s birthday, Mohammad Mostafaei wrote a letter to his wife Fereshteh Halimi and their daughter Parmida. Fereshteh Halimi’s birthday is on August 4, 2010.
Persian published by the Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners
Letter by MOHAMMAD MOSTAFAEI | August 1, 2010
Translation AZITA ERAANI for PERSIAN2ENGLISH
Dear Fereshteh and my darling Parmida,
Happy Birthday to both of you.
Seven years ago today (August 1st), my dear Parmida was born to a sweet mother who is now imprisoned while committing no crime. Parmida is very lonely today, because her mom and dad are not there to wish her a happy birthday. We had planned a birthday party for her and all her friends were invited. We wanted to tell her how much we love her. But what happened instead? Her mother was unjustly and illegally arrested and taken hostage. And worse yet, her uncle and grandfather were arrested as well. My Parmida is so lonely today. What has she done to deserve the sorrow of missing both her parents? She has not seen her mother now for one week; a mother who has focused her time and energy on the care of her child. Today Parmida cannot hear her mother call out her name or her father wish her a happy birthday.
Is the justice from a country that claims to be a pillar of Islam the separation of a family? Does justice mean to take a mother away from her child and illegally send her to prison? I wonder, if the same happened to you, would you find it acceptable? I wish you would at least consider her release for a day so she would be able to wish her only child a happy birthday. It has been one week and Fereshteh has only been allowed to speak with her mother once. She did not provide any information on her condition or her surroundings. Is this what you call humanity? Who would accept this kind of treatment for a mother?
Get over yourselves and call forth your conscience. Do not let the curse of a mother follow you. Do not torment a young child by keeping her away from her mother. Please do not let my little girl suffer like this, [living] in the void left by the absence of her mother and father. You are depriving Parmida of her mother’s nurture that she needs and depends on. Please allow this mother to take her child in her arms. I swear, in the seven years of Parmida’s life, her mother has never taken her eyes off of her once. She has dedicated herself entirely to her child’s best possible upbringing. She has never for a moment neglected or hesitated from loving her child, but today, you are depriving this child from that love, by keeping her innocent mother in jail. I swear to God, unjustly separating a mother from her child to trap another person is an unforgivable sin. If you are not afraid of justice in this world, be very afraid of Judgment Day! Free Parmida’s mother now!
I have said it before and will say it again: she is innocent. I emphasize that Fereshteh Halimi and her brother have no information on my whereabouts. It is only too clear that they are taken as hostages.
My darling Parmida,
Every time I look at the beautiful drawing that you made for me, I cry. I cannot wait to see you. I want to see you soon and take you to the playground in the park. Happy birthday and I wish you all the best. I promise that you will have every opportunity in this world and the brightest future. I send you and your dear mom kisses. May God be with you both. Your mom’s birthday is in three days (August 4th). I wish her a happy birthday as well. Your mother has tolerated my absence for the last ten years so that I could help the innocent, the needy, and all those unjustly sentenced to death by execution, hanging, or stoning. I ask you to tolerate our absence today.
My dearest Fereshteh and Parmida, I wish you a happy birthday and I kiss you both.
- Mohammad Mostafaei
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