Iran Law Practitioners Association asks Kenyan gov't to release law professors

Tehran, Dec 5, IRNA – Iranian Law Practitioners Association on Monday protested to the Kenyan government over arrest of Iranian law professors of Tehran University, calling for their immediate release. Director of Association of the Law Practitioners and Attorneys Abdolreza Momeni protested to Kenyan Embassy over arrest of two law professors of Tehran University, calling for their immediate release. Sending a letter to Kenyan Embassy following arrest of two Iranian law professors of Tehran University Nasrollah Ebrahimi and Abdolhossein Safaie in Kenya, Momeni called for their immediate release. Part of the letter reads that based on the information available, Ebrahimi and Safaie had been sent to Kenya to obtain information and get aware of condition of two Iranian prisoners arrested in Kenya and they were arrested on vain charges of taking photos from Israeli Embassy. The official further writes in the letter that the allegations brought against Iranian law professor with international reputation and prestige have no foundation and the Israeli lobby in Kenya has fabricated such an allegation. The two professors are distnguished for record of teaching international law, international trade law and International Private Law at Tehran University. Momeni said that the Kenyan government violated articles three, nine and 11 of the Covenant of Civil and Political Rights by preventing the lawyers from discharging their professional duty to provide the Iranian prisoners in Kenya with counsel service. He said that it is contrary to duties of governments per Havana statement regarding government's respect to rights of the attorneys. He hoped that international union of lawyers will take necessary measures to follow up the issue and secure quick release of the lawyers. 1378/IRNA