Saturday, August 30, 2014
No: 39-2014
The Hon. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister of Turkey
Vekaletler Caddesi Başbakanlık Merkez Bina
P.K. 06573 Kızılay
Ankara,
Turkey
Re: Suspicious death of Seyed Jamal Hosseini, an Iranian human rights activist and refugee, in Turkey
Dear Prime Minister Erdoğan,
On behalf of the “Iran National Council for Free Elections”, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on your recent election as President of Turkey. The outcome of this election highlights the aspirations of the Turkish people for democracy. Iranians around the world have similar aspirations, and envision the establishment of a secular parliamentary democracy in their homeland. As such, we foresee a bright future for a cordial relationship and lasting partnership between our two countries.
I am writing to you to seek your support in the investigation surrounding the suspicious death of Seyed Jamal Hosseini, one of the founders and editors of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in Nevshehir City, Turkey. According to the latest news reports by HRANA, Mr. Hosseini, an Iranian asylum seeker, was found dead in his apartment on August 4, 2014, with traces of blood on his body [i]. The circumstances of this case are suspicious, and the preliminary evidence points to the likelihood of a politically motivated assassination.
The evidence is partially based on reports that Mr. Hosseini was threatened several times by Iranian security forces, while his application for refugee status had been under review by the United Nations representative since his arrival in Turkey. As over the past three decades the clerical dictatorship in Iran has actively engaged in assassinating political and human rights activists on foreign soil, there are now growing concerns and fear among asylum seekers and refugees in Turkey that the Islamic Republic has resumed its terrorist activities.
The National Council of Iran National Council for Free Elections is deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Hosseini. We believe that it is essential to complete a thorough investigation regardless of political considerations and consequences. We sincerely hope that political and human rights activists in exile can pursue their quest for freedom and democracy in their homeland free from intimidations, and asylum seekers and refugees can begin their new lives in peace under the protection of their host countries.
I thank you sincerely for your consideration and offer my unconditional assistance on this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
Reza Pahlavi
President of the Iran National Council for Free Elections
Cc: Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
