DATE=12/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242786
TITLE=IRAN / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP IS URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF 
IRAN TO INVESTIGATE A SERIES OF SUSPICIOUS DEATHS OF POLITICAL 
DISSIDENTS.  V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS  
THE CALL FOLLOWS THE DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF A LEADING IRANIAN 
POET IN A MORGUE IN TEHRAN.

TEXT:  THE DIRECTOR OF THE MIDDLE EAST DIVISION OF THE HUMAN 
RIGHTS WATCH ORGANIZATION, HANNY MEGALLY, SAYS HE IS CONCERNED 
ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF DEATHS AND DISAPPEARANCES 
OF POLITICAL DISSIDENTS IN IRAN IN RECENT MONTHS.

                    ///  1ST MEGALLY ACT  ///

         WE'VE PUSHED THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE SOME
         OF THE RECENT DEATHS AND TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO 
         JUSTICE.  IT SEEMS TO US THAT THE REGIME IS UNABLE TO 
         DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS THAT IS NOW EMERGING. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. MEGALLY'S CALL COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE BODY OF IRANIAN POET 
MOHAMMAD MOKHTARI WAS IDENTIFIED IN A MORGUE IN TEHRAN.  THE 
CAUSE OF DEATH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, ALTHOUGH THE HUMAN 
RIGHTS GROUP SAYS MARKS ON THE BODY'S COULD INDICATE DEATH BY 
STRANGULATION.

THE LATEST DEATH FOLLOWS THE MURDER LAST MONTH OF VETERAN 
OPPOSITION LEADER DARIUSH FAROUHAR AND HIS WIFE WHO WERE FOUND 
STABBED TO DEATH IN THEIR HOME.  ANOTHER IRANIAN DISSIDENT HAS 
BEEN MISSING SINCE AUGUST.

THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
DEATHS OF MR. FAROUHAR AND HIS WIFE, AND SEVERAL ARRESTS 
REPORTEDLY HAVE BEEN MADE.  HOWEVER, MR. MEGALLY SAYS HE IS 
WORRIED BECAUSE THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT APPEARS UNABLE OR 
UNWILLING TO SOLVE THESE CASES.

                       ///  REST OPT  ///

                    ///  2ND MAGALLY ACT  ///

         SO, WHETHER IT'S SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TAKING THE LAW 
         INTO THEIR OWN HANDS OR ELEMENTS WITHIN THE REGIME WHO 
         ARE PULLING THE STRINGS BEHIND, IT'S  NOT  VERY CLEAR.  
         BUT IF THE STATE ACTUALLY TAKES A POSITION AND CLEARLY 
         GOES AFTER THOSE RESPONSIBILE, THEN IT MAKES IT CLEAR 
         THAT THE STATE ITSELF IS NOT SUPPORTING THESE ACTIONS. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

NOTING THAT THURSDAY MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE  
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, MR. MEGALLY SAYS HE IS CONCERNED 
OVER WHAT APPEARS TO BE REGRESSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE 
EAST.

HE NOTES THAT A NEW PRESS LAW WAS PASSED IN JORDAN THIS YEAR  
WHICH HE FEARS MAY RESTRICT CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT.  AND IN 
EGYPT, HE SAYS A LAW HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO  
REGULATE THE ACTIVITIES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.  MANY FEEL 
ITS PURPOSE IS TO RESTRICT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH OFFICIAL WELCOMED THE RELEASE THIS WEEK OF
THE HEAD OF EGYPT'S LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION AFTER BEING
CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING ILLEGAL DONATIONS FROM ABROAD. BUT HE 
CONDEMNS THE SUBSEQUENT ARREST OF A LAWYER FOR THE SAME 
ORGANIZATION.  HE SAYS IT APPEARS THE PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE 
EXPRESSION OF CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE REGION IS MORE AND 
MORE RESTRICTED.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

10-Dec-98 12:58 PM EST (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.