Amnesty International calls for the release of Abdullah Bozorgzadeh

Amnesty International has issued a statement calling on the authorities in Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Abdullah Bozorgzadeh Sarbazi, a Baloch civil society activist.

This civil activist was arrested on June 17 for participating in a protest rally against rapes that occurred in Iranshahr city in Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Amnesty International says that this detention is unlawful and arbitrary under international law because Abdullah Bozorgzadeh was targeted by security forces solely for participating in a peaceful demonstration in support of women and girls who are victims of sexual abuse and in protest against the impunity of perpetrators of sexual violence.

Amnesty International has called on the Islamic Republic's authorities to provide information about the whereabouts of this civil activist and to provide him with access to a lawyer until his release.

Abdullah Bozorgzadeh's father has twice staged sit-ins in a mosque in Mohammadabad, Iranshahr, to protest his son's arrest without his knowledge.

Source: Voice of America