NGO to sue US over illegal detention of Iranians

An Iranian NGO is in the process of logging a legal complaint against the US over its violation of the rights of Iranian detainees, who illegally being held in custody.

According to the rights group, some of these Iranian nationals have been incarcerated on false charges or have been abducted and subjected to 'extraordinary rendition', while the US is seeking extradite some others.

The measures have caused immense psychological trauma for the families of these individuals.

The members of the RahPouyan-e-DadGostar NGO, some of whom are family members of such detainees, have gone to the Consulates and Iranian Affairs division of the Foreign Ministry to demand stepped up efforts to secure the release of these individuals.

Among the detainees, whose immediate release is sought by the NGO are:

1- Shahram Amiri, a Malek Ashtar University researcher, who went missing in Saudi Arabia nearly five months ago while attending the Hajj. Saudi officials have failed to provide Iran with a convincing explanation about Amiri's disappearance.

2- Alireza Asgari, a former defense ministry deputy, who mysteriously disappeared in Turkey several months ago. He is believed to have been abducted and transferred to Israel.

3- Nasrollah Tajik, the former Iranian ambassador to Jordan, was arrested in the UK three years ago. He was accused of involvement in nuclear deals in violation of US sanctions on Iran. The US pressuring British officials for Tajik's extradition.

4- Majid Kakavand was arrested in France for selling Iran electronic equipment via the Internet, in violation of in-place US sanctions on Iran. The US has requested French officials to hand over Kakavand.

The remaining detainees include: Amir-Hossein Ardebili, arrested in Georgia and illegally transferred to the US; Mahmoud Yadegari, arrested in Canada and awaiting transfer to the US; Mohsen Afrasiabi, arrested in Germany and awaiting transfer to the US; Baktash Fatahi, Shahrzad Amir-Qolikhani, Ali Amir-Nazmi, and Hassan Saeed-Keshari, all four arrested in the US.