TAKE ACTION for SHIRKO MOAREFI,

Political Prisoner Under Death Sentence in Iran

Shirko Moarefi is an Iranian social activist who was arrested

on October 31, 2008 and has been detained as a political
prisoner ever since in Saqez Prison.

Shirko’s case is representative of many in the Islamic

Republic’s prisons: he is detained and tortured because he –
like millions of people inside and outside of Iran – condemn
the inhumanity of the regime. The theocratic dictatorship
claims that any opposition to the Islamic Republic is
tantamount to opposition to God, and thus should be
subject to the death penalty.

Shirko’s family wrote on his behalf to request assistance from human rights activists to save Shirko’s
life: “Shirko was charged with Moharebeh (enmity with God) by the Islamic Republic for supporting an
organization (Komeleh) that for years had put aside armed resistance and was only active in cultural
activities. His death sentence was issued after a few minutes in court.”

The Islamic Republic is rapidly executing scores of people inside its prisons. It is critical that
honorable people worldwide demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political
prisoners, and call for an immediate halt to executions in Iran.

Please send emails to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Shirko and all political
prisoners in Iran. A sample letter appears below.

SAMPLE LETTER:
TO: npillay@ohchr.org, urgent-action@ohchr.org, jerzy.buzek@europarl.euro.eu
CC: inquiries@un.org, info_leader@leader.ir
Ms. Pillay:
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you issue a demand for the Islamic Republic to
immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in Iran, including Shirko Moarefi, a 31-
year-old political prisoner held in Saqez prison in Iran. He has been severely tortured, and the Islamic
Republic regime has issued his death sentence, which means he can be executed at any time.

I fully expect the United Nations to finally take action on this and all other cases of political prisoners in
Iran. People of the world do not accept the continued detentions, tortures and executions perpetrated
by the Islamic Republic, and we do not tolerate the UN’s refusal to act substantively in these matters.

Sincerely,
[your name]

MISSION FREE IRAN - http://missionfreeiran.org