Abbas Lisani, aged 39, is an activist for the rights of the Iranian Azerbaijani minority. He has been held in Ardebil Prison since 31 October 2006, when he was arrested by members of the security forces, apparently without a warrant, in violation of Iranian law. He is currently serving two prison sentences: one of 18 months and the other of one year. Abbas Lisani undertook a hunger strike between 1 January and 31 January 2007 in protest at being denied short-term prison leave and at the harassment of his family. Amnesty International believes him to be a prisoner of conscience, held for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and of association.

Whilst the health of Mr. Leysanli was reaching the verge of a slippery slope, Southern Azerbaijan lived a tense episode manifested in the form of a diverse range of campaigns and initiatives. One of these initiatives was particularly fruitful as out of 50 distinguished Southern Azerbaijani activists some 15 were allowed an unprecedented visit with Mr. Leysanli. They were in reality the delegates of the nation of Southern Azerbaijan to persuade him to listen to his nation’s pleas by stopping the hunger strike. We are pleased to inform you that Mr. Leysanli has agreed to pause his hunger strike. The nation is grateful to Mr. Leysanli for accepting this national plea after 31 days of his second hunger strike within a year.

I also condemn the harassment and intimidation of his family members and affiliate myself to Amnesty International’s demand that Abbas Lisani immediately and unconditionally shall be released since he is a prisoner of conscience solely held because of his peaceful activities for the cultural rights of the Azerbaijanis in Iran. The United Nations estimates the amounts of Azerbaijanis in Iran to 30 million, yet there is not a single school teaching in the Azerbaijani language in Iran.2

I would also like to ensure the regime that I will continue to carefully follow the situation of Mr. Abbas Lisani and the

Mr. Gustafsson raises his concerns over the conditions in which Mr. Lisani is imprisoned under and points out that the Iranian regime is directly responsible for Mr. Lisani´s life and therefore urges the prison authorities to immediately provide Mr. Lisani with any medical treatment he requires.