RSF concerned about journalist's trial

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said today it was "very concerned" about suspected ill-treatment of an elderly Iranian journalist, 71-year-old Siamak Pourzand, who is currently on trial in Teheran for a range of alleged offences, including subversion. RSF noted that five journalists were recently freed from jail after large bail payments, but said it was worried about possible psychological pressure on Pourzand to confess, as has happened in cases involving government opponents. It also protested against the serious failure to respect international standards at the trial, which began on 6 March, when the journalist was charged with nine offences, including "working to undermine state security" and "spying." Pourzand reportedly confessed at the 6 March hearing that he had worked with Savak, the former secret police under the regime of the Shah, overthrown in 1979, to "foil subversion plots by dissident students and make propaganda" in favour of the regime and the Shah personally. At the second hearing on 11 March, Pourzand reportedly made more confessions, saying he had had "direct and indirect links with monarchist elements abroad." He also told the government daily Iran that he accepted all the charges against him and said he had no defence. Pourzand was seized by security police as he was leaving his sister's house on 29 November 2001. The authorities said nothing about his disappearance and during his first four months in a secret place of detention, he had no access to a lawyer or medical care. On 8 March this year, the journalist phoned his daughter in Washington to tell her daughter his trial had begun and added: "You can count me a dead man from now on." The next day he called again and stressed that the family should make no statement to the media. As head of Teheran's artistic and cultural centre, Pourzand was also a cultural commentator for several reformist newspapers that have since been shut down. Five journalists were recently freed in Iran. They include Ezatollah Sahabi, 75, former editor of the fortnightly magazine Iran-é-Farda, who was released on 2 March after 15 months in jail on payment of two billion rials (289,400 euros) bail. On 10 March, Abbas Dalvand, editor of the magazine Lorestan, was freed after paying bail of one billion rials (144,700 euros) following two months in prison. Hoda Saber, also of Iran-é-Farda, was released on 12 March on payment of 1.3 billion rials (184,000 euros) after being detained for 409 days. He had been tried from 4 to 6 March and had conducted his own defence. On 13 March, Reza Rais-Toussi, of Fath, was freed after a year in jail after paying bail of one billion rials (144,700 euros). The date for his trial has not been announced. He was taken to hospital as soon as he came out of prison because he was paralysed above and below the waist. Saidi Madani, of (Iran-é-Farda, was freed on 14 March on payment of bail of a billion rials 144,700 euros) after a year in prison. He was tried on 10 and 11 March and conducted his own defence.