Amir Abbas FakhravarIran 
According to CASCFEN (Central Asian and Southern Caucasian Freedom of Expression Network): Fakhravar, a writer, a journalist for the now-banned pro-reform dailies "Mosharekat" and "Khordad", and a medical student, has been detained for over a year, during which time he has suffered persistent and severe ill-treatment. He was first arrested on 10 November 2002 and sentenced to eight years in prison for criticizing the supreme leadership of Iran in his book "Inja Chah Nist" ("This Place is Not a Ditch"), which was short-listed for the 2001/2002 Paulo Coelho Literary Prize. Following a period of leave from Evin prison, he was ordered to appear in court on 18 March 2003 for an appeal hearing, during which he was denied representation by the two lawyers who had represented him on previous occasions. After an argument with the judge, he was beaten in front of Revolutionary Court's Bench 26 before being transferred to Qasr prison. It is thought that he may have been targeted for writing an open letter to the authorities on 4 February 2003 criticizing the Iranian government and demanding a referendum on the future government of Iran. In Qasr prison he was reportedly held among common law prisoners and denied medical treatment for the reportedly severe injuries sustained in court and a previously existing foot injury. He is also said to have been repeatedly attacked in staged assaults by fellow inmates. In January 2004, he was taken from Qasr prison to a military detention center, run by the Revolutionary Guards, for interrogation about alleged links with an opposition political organization called Jonbesh-e Azadi-ye Iraniyan. Amnesty International wrote: "His cell in the 125 detention center reportedly had no windows, and was entirely coloured creamy white, as were his clothes. At meal times, he was reportedly given white rice on white, disposable paper plates and if he needed to use the toilet, he had to put a white slip of paper under the door of the cell to alert guards, who reportedly had footwear designed to muffle any sound. He was forbidden to speak to anyone. Amnesty International has been told that the 'silence is deafening' in the facility and that this technique of sensory deprivation is called "white torture" (shekanjeh-e sefid)... "On or around 8 February, Fakhravar was reportedly allowed to leave the detention centre. However, two days later he was taken into custody again. This is a form of psychological torture, which keeps a prisoner in a permanent state of uncertainty and anxiety. While he was free he was able to tell others about what was being done to him. It is not clear whether he is now held at 125, Qasr or elsewhere." | 
