SAHRC must investigate MTN for possible human rights violations in Iran 

I will today lodge a request with the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate whether the MTN Group (Ltd) may be directly or indirectly responsible for human rights violations in Iran.

I am concerned that, in possibly facilitating the surveillance of the political opposition, the MTN Group (Ltd) may be directly or indirectly responsible for violation of human rights in Iran.

What follows is an excerpt from my letter to Advocate Lawrence Mushwana, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, requesting the investigation into the MTN Group (Ltd):

"I am sure you are aware that serious allegations against the MTN Group (Ltd) have emerged as a result of a lawsuit brought in the District Court of Columbia in Washington DC in the United States. The MTN Group (Ltd) are alleged to have engaged in bribery and trading in influence to secure a mobile operating licence in Iran.

These are very serious allegations and for that reason they have been referred by me to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) of the South African Police Service.

However, the court papers also suggest that the MTN Group (Ltd) may have undertaken to provide access to its devices by agreeing to facilitate the installation of "eavesdropping technology" on its devices in Iran.

The court papers state the following:

"Additionally, upon information and belief, MTN offered the advantage to Sairan that it could provide access by the Iranian Ministry of Defence to MTN's devices once MTN was partnered with an Iranian company and running a private cellular network in Iran. The access would facilitate installation of eavesdropping technology on MTN devices".

According to the court papers, Sairan is a state-owned defence company, which is also known as Iran Electronic Industries (IEI), and which is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

I am therefore concerned that, in possibly facilitating the surveillance of the political opposition, the MTN Group (Ltd) may be directly or indirectly responsible for violation of human rights in Iran.

My concerns about the role of the MTN Group (Ltd) in possibly facilitating the surveillance of the political opposition in Iran are compounded by:

·         reports that MTN-Irancell purchased a system to monitor local voice calls from a company called Nokia Siemans Networks in 2008;

·         reports that MTN-Irancell purchased a system that could filter, block and store text messages from a company called AdaptiveMobile in 2008;

·         reports that MTN-Irancell purchased systems which could monitor the location of users from a company called Ericsson in 2009;

·         reports that MTN-Irancell purchased systems which could monitor the location of users from a company called Creativity Software in 2009 and 2011; and

·         that reportedly, according to former employees of MTN-Irancell, law enforcement officers and security agencies had access to the information in the possession of MTN-Irancell.

The MTN Group (Ltd), according to the court papers, owns a 49% stake in MTN-Irancell through its subsidiary MTN International (Mauritius) (Ltd).

There is no evidence that MTN-Irancell are involved directly or indirectly in human rights violations in Iran.

However, it is well know that so-called "dissidents", such as the opposition journalist Saeid Pourheydar, were confronted, during their detention in the infamous Evin Prison, by intelligence officers with transcripts of their mobile phone calls, e-mails and text messages.

I am particularly concerned therefore about the role the MTN Group (Ltd) played, through its subsidiary MTN-Irancell, in the crackdown on the political opposition during and after the presidential election on 12 June 2009.

I am sure that it would be a concern to the South African Human Rights Commission if a South African flagship company, such as the MTN Group (Ltd), may have been involved directly or indirectly in the violation of human rights in Iran.

I would therefore be grateful if you would consider launching an investigation into this matter."

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, April 2 2012

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