From: garry_sran@hotmail.com
To: info@leader.ir; dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir; info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
Subject: Free jailed students in Iran now
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:53:45 -0600

I am writing on behalf of over 22,000 students at the University of Manitoba regarding the treatment and safety of students in Iran.

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) condemns the actions of Iranian Authorities against Iranian students. UMSU condemns the violent actions taken by Iranian Authorities which includes the kidnappings and torture of the students detained. Further, the detention of students involved in the peaceful public demonstration, is unjustified and reprehensible.

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union calls upon the Iranian Government to release all students detained in recent weeks if they are prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of their rights, and for any others to be tried promptly and fairly, in accordance with international fair trial standards, on recognizably criminal charges or else released; to make assurances that none of those arrested are subject to torture or other ill treatment; and to ensure that these detainees have unfettered access to relatives, legal representation, and any medical attention they may require.

The mistreatment of students for standing up for their rights does not go unnoticed by the international community, and I urge you to follow international standards and end the persecution of students and activists.

The whereabouts of the following students needs to be made public and for them to be released unconditionally to their family and friends:

- Mehdi Gerailoo

- Saeed A. Habibi

- Abed Tavancheh

- Payman Piran

- Majid Ashrafnejad

- Behrooz Karimzadeh

I look forward to you earliest response and immediate action to address the above concerns. Furthermore, I look forward to hearing about the immediate release of the students and all others that have been detained without just cause.

Sincerely,

Garry Sran
President University of Manitoba Students’ Union
Local 103 Canadian Federation of Students