Amnesty International has recently learned that Yousef Silavi, a 57-year-old retired technician from Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority, has been missing since late 2009. He was last seen by a family friend in his home in the city of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, around 6 November 2009. His wife, who was out of the country visiting their two daughters who had been studying at Damascus University in Syria, reported him as missing to the police when she returned on 8 November 2009. The police closed the missing person’s report within six months without adequate investigation. The authorities have continued to deny that they have officially arrested Yousef Silavi, though his family believes he is in their custody because of the restrictions and threats they have come under since he went missing - as well as off-the-record statements made by officials. A few days after he went missing, a friend who had notified the family of Yousef Silavi’s disappearance was detained for one night by Ministry of Intelligence officials and questioned about him. The offices apparently beat and threatened him, saying that if he talked about the incident his life would be in danger. Another close contact of the family was threatened and told by an official from the Revolutionary Guards that if she did not stop seeking information about Yousef Silavi, she would be detained alongside him. Yousef Silavi’s wife has been subjected to strict travel restrictions and was told by a Revolutionary Guard official that the only way she will be able to see her husband would be to bring their daughters back to Iran. The official alleged that their daughters had been in contact with Iranian opposition groups in Damascus.
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