Abdullah al-Mansouri (1945) was a professional soldier in Iran, but he deserted during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. He took refuge in Maastricht in the Netherlands and became a Dutch citizen.

Al-Mansouri is the chairman of the Ahwaz Liberation Organisation (ALO). Ahwazi Arabs are a discriminated ethnic minority in Iran. ALO is a global alliance fighting for the establishment of an independent state for Arabs in the al-Ahwaz region.

Arrested in Syria
Al-Mansouri was arrested during a visit to Syria in May 2006. He was extradited to Iran five days later.
 
It was feared that he would be tortured and might even face execution. A delegation from the Dutch Foreign Minister managed to speak to him briefly. Later, he was sentenced behind closed doors to 30 years in prison. It is still unclear where he is being held.
 
"We want to see al-Mansouri!"
His son Adnan has enlisted the support of the media. His slogan is: “We want to see al-Mansouri!”. He is also trying to raise awareness about his father’s fate to increase political pressure for his release.
 
Adnan is being supported by people in Maastricht, where his father was active in local community life.

More on political prisoners:

 Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch