Iranian prisoner files suit against Nokia Siemens

Issa Saharkhiz in prison

Iranian political prisoner, Issa Saharkhiz has filed an official complaint with the US Federal Court against Nokia Siemens and its subsidiaries, Saharkhiz’s attorney reported.

Saharkhiz, who was arrested last July in the aftermath of the disputed presidential elections of Iran which led to widespread protests against alleged vote fraud, has filed his complaint in protest to the “sale and provision of surveillance technology and equipment for monitoring of wireless networks and the internet to Iran.”

The complaint was submitted to the US Federal Court yesterday by Saharkhiz’s attorneys.

Saharkhiz, who is the former director of Aftab and Akhbar-e Eghtesad newspapers, contends that in view of general knowledge about Iran’s violation of international law and its failing report card in human rights, surveillance technology should not have been sold to the Islamic Republic government.

Saharkhiz goes on to add that only a country that has a judicial framework that can protect the basic civil rights of its citizens should be given the privilege of acquiring such equipment.

According to this line of argument, Saharkhiz maintains that Nokia Siemens is an accomplice in the violations committed against the basic and civil rights of Iranian people and should shoulder the injuries caused by these violations.

He maintains that his arrest last year in a village in the north of Iran is a direct result of the sale of such technology to the Iranian government.

International human rights groups have expressed concern over the well-being of Issa Saharkhiz in Evin Prison.

He is accused of “insulting the leadership as well as propaganda against the regime and publishing falsehoods through interview with foreign media.”

In the past year in prison, Issa Saharkhiz has spent a long stretch in solitary confinement during which he was beaten and suffered broken bones, and he is currently suffering from severe back problems.

Nokia Siemens has been often reproached in the past year by Iranian reformists for its sale of surveillance technology to the Iranian government.

Recently Nokia Siemens dealings with the Iranian government were also criticized by a number of German politicians.

Last January, Nokia Siemens announced that they have already limited their trade dealings with Iran.

Reuters reported that since last October, Siemens has decided to decline any new orders from Iran but emphasized that previous orders are not included in this decision.