Nahid Kheirabi is the mother of imprisoned journalist Soheil Asefi who talked with Rooz Online regarding her son’s detention and condition. Soheil was imprisoned following a long interrogation on August 4th 2007, after which there has been no news about his condition. Soheil is a long-standing journalist who has worked with many publications, including Rooz Online. Here are the excerpts of the interview Rooz had with his mother.

Rooz (R ): You were planning to speak with sixth Majlis Speaker Karubi. Did this lead to any results?
Nahid Kheirabi (NK): Yes, I spoke with him and requested that he follow up to find out why my son has been arrested. We cannot reach any of the authorities ourselves. Since his arrest, neither we nor the attorneys have heard any news of Soheil. Mr. Karubi promised to pursue the matter.

R: What exactly have you requested from officials?
NK: To free my son. At least let us know where he is being held and what is crime that he has apparently committed leading to his arrest, and let me talk with him and learn of his health.

R: Do you have any idea why he has been arrested?
NK: Absolutely not. He has been active in defined journalistic work. Journalists in general display their work to the public, and have no secret work.

R: They have not told the attorneys either why he is being held?
NK: They have not told anyone. In fact we have absolutely no information about this attest.

R: When Soheil was going to the prosecutor’s office, did he suspect that there was the possibility of an arrest?
NK: No. He was under the impression that there has been a misunderstanding which would be resolved through a few questions. This was because he believes he has not done anything wrong to be arrested for. Soheil is a judicious person in his work and respects the law, which is why officials must treat him according to the law.

R: What is your request from those who are holding your son?
NK: I request that they respect the laws that the Islamic Republic of Iran has passed and those that exist at the international level regarding arrested individuals, and also to respect the civil rights which Mr. Shahrudi (the head of Iran’s judiciary) has been repeatedly talking about during past few months. Respect for civil rights is my legitimate request and that of my son as a citizen of this society. These laws stipulate that he must be immediately released because there is no reason for his arrest. If there had been a reason they should have officially indicted him right then and issued a warrant. What they are doing is even contrary to the laws of the Islamic Republic. I expect them to release him immediately and explain to us the reason for his detention. Soheil’s attorneys are pursing the issue and they too have not been given any information about the case. I expect them not to continue this unlawful detention of my son. It is now six days that we have not heard from our son and are therefore very concerned about him. I have also been to article 90 (of the constitution) committee at the Majlis and explained the situation to them and have requested that they investigate the matter leading up to my son’s arrest. I await their response.