Documents and Information Families Should Collect and Preserve from the First Day for Future Action
Sometimes families do not know what their loved one has done or what activities they have been involved in, while in other cases they do know. If you are aware of their activities, naturally, you must also take care of yourselves.
Keep in mind that if there is a computer or mobile phone at home containing information, or information is stored somewhere else, the detained person may disclose this information under pressure. Therefore, you should keep this information in a way that makes it inaccessible.
Also, if any of these documents contain information that may help the detained person, and you can identify it as being in their favour, preserve and assess those documents.
You can also pay attention to photographs, their dates, where they were taken, the locations recorded in them and the places where the person has been.
Sometimes a person may be accused of carrying out a terrorist act. However, such an act must have taken place at a specific location. Naturally, if evidence can be found through the person's phone showing that they were not at that location, this is very important and can help in their defence.
In this situation, a phone is available, and you know that tracking it can establish the places where the phone has been.
For example, it may become clear that the person was not at the location in question, and this could help save them. Matters of this kind are very important.
At the same time, pay attention to your loved ones around you so that they do not take actions based on emotion.
Be very careful about public communication as well, and try to discuss the matter with a lawyer whom you trust.
Take control of the process and immediately try to approach the authorities. Do not stop following up with them.
Put pressure on them so that they are compelled to release your detained loved one or place them in better conditions.
If the person is under pressure, try to reduce that pressure. All of these actions are very important.
Preserve any evidence and documents available that may support the detained person, and submit them to the judicial authorities in consultation with a lawyer. If any evidence could be used against them, destroy it.
Do not hand documents over to officers under any circumstances. Instead, submit them to the judicial authorities and the detaining institution, because officers may attempt to tamper with or alter those documents.
Therefore, do not trust the officers. However, a judge or investigating magistrate cannot do such a thing.
Submit every document formally with a letter and make sure that the letter is registered and recorded in the system.
Also, obtain its registration number and use it to follow up on the case.
Actions Families Should Take During the First Hours After an Arrest
Many families do not know whom to contact or what information they should record during the first hours after an arrest.
The best and most important step at this stage is to find out which authority arrested the person and where the arrest took place.
If possible, follow up on the reason for the arrest. But first, you must identify the arresting authority and know who carried out the arrest.
For example, it may have been the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, the Ministry of Intelligence or the police.
Knowing where the person was arrested is the first step.
The second step is to remain completely calm and composed.
If the person has a medical condition, make sure to inform the authorities. If they take medication, send their medicines to them and make sure the medicines reach them.
The next point is to immediately approach the prosecutor or deputy prosecutor and speak with them.
If they say, “We don't know” or “We are not aware of the situation,” know that they are lying. This is because, according to the speaker, a person cannot be arrested without an order from the prosecutor of that city.
Ask them why the person was arrested and what the reason for the detention is.
Say: “I have documents, I can act as their guarantor, and I can provide bail so that my child can be released.”
These are the initial steps that should be taken.