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Independent Investigation Needed into Mysterious Death of Iranian Doctor

The body of Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani was discovered in a room at Tehran police headquarters on 10 November 2009. The Chief of Police General has said that 26 year-old Dr. Pourandarjani, had committed suicide and that a letter found near his body suggested that he had been depressed, after initially saying he had suffered a heart attack in his sleep and later that he had died of poisoning.

Dr. Pourandarjani treated detainees who had been tortured at Kahrizak and had been interviewed by a special parliamentary committee charged with investigating allegations of abuses during the post-election unrest. Before his death he reportedly received threats to prevent him from revealing the abuses he had witnessed at Kahrizak. Because of the unusual circumstances of his death, Amnesty International believes it is essential that the investigation be fully transparent and that reputable independent experts be called in to insure the integrity of the investigation.

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Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei - His Excellency

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Ali Larijani - His Excellency

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Parviz Sorouri - His Excellency

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Dear (recipient name),

Your Excellency:

I am writing to you to express my concern about the case of Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani, whose body was discovered in a room at Tehran Police Headquarters on 10 November 2009. The Iranian authorities have provided multiple versions of the cause of death, first saying that he died of a heart attack, then that he was poisoned, and finally that he had committed suicide.

Dr. Pourandarjani had performing his required military service at the Kahrizak Detention Center, used to hold those arrested during the post- 12 June presidential election unrest. Iranian officials have confirmed persistent reports of widespread torture and abuse at Kahrizak. At least three people died as a result of torture there, including Mohsen Rouhalamini, the son of a top aide to presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei, who reportedly died of cardiac arrest and bleeding in his lungs two weeks after he was detained on 9 July; his body bore the marks of severe torture. On 29 July, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the closing of the Kahrizak detention center.

As part of his duties Dr. Pourandarjani treated detainees who had been tortured at Kahrizak. Dr. Pourandarjani had been interviewed by a special parliamentary committee charged with investigating allegations of abuses during the post-election unrest.  Before his death he reportedly received threats to prevent him from revealing the abuses he had witnessed at Kahrizak. He had also reportedly been forced to say that one detainee had died of meningitis.

I welcome the announcement by the office of Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi that an investigation into the death would be taking place. I urge that the investigation be fully impartial, thorough and independent. I also urge that international forensic experts, such as representatives from Physicians for Human Rights, be permitted to take part, in order to insure the integrity and transparency of the investigation.

Thank you very much for your attention.

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