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 Urge Iranian Authorities to Release Women Human Rights Defenders (02/02/09)   In English) ( In Farsi) (11/04/08) For more information, please contact Elizabeth Jordan, Tel: 212 845 5298 |
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On Monday, June 12, hundreds of Iranian activists gathered in Tehran to demand an end to discriminatory laws against women. They were attacked by police who used pepper spray and batons to beat the peaceful demonstrators, injuring one woman and detaining dozens more. Reports indicate that 70 protestors were detained and interrogated; although most have apparently been released, Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini, head of the Alumni Association of Iran, a former student leader and Member of Parliament who has been a leading critic of the government’s human rights practices for several years, remains in detention. In the days leading up the demonstration, authorities harassed and arrested many prominent women activists, and threatened organizations supportive of the rally with closure. At a press conference on June 13 the Minister of Justice announced the protestors had been jailed for organizing an “illegal” gathering. These activists, however, were exercising their basic right to freedom of expression and assembly. Send a message to the Iranian authorities in support of the demonstrators demanding equality of men and women before the law, and call on the Iranian government to release Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini immediately and unconditionally.
Sample Letter His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Your Excellency: I am writing to express my deep concern about the violence used to suppress the peaceful demonstration of women in Tehran on June 12, 2006, and the continued detention of activist and human rights defender Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini. The hundreds of protestors exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression and assembly, as enshrined in international treaties to which Iran is a state party, were attacked and beaten by police. I understand that, despite the release of most of the detainees, Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini, leader of the Alumni Association of Iran, a former member of parliament, and a prominent human rights and student rights activist, remains in detention. Reports suggest that he may have suffered beatings and injuries while in prison. Preventing demonstrators from peacefully gathering to express their views is a violation of international law. The 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders states that “for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and its fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to meet and assemble peacefully.” The detention of activists for gathering to demand legislative reforms is a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a state party – which upholds the right to freedom of assembly. I call on the government of Iran to respect its obligation to protect the right of citizens to freedom of assembly and expression under international law, and to release Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini immediately and unconditionally. While he remain in detention, I urge that Iran respect international standards for the treatment of prisoners by preventing any cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and by allowing regular visits by his family and lawyers. I also ask that an impartial and timely investigation into the violation of the protestors’ rights be conducted, and that those responsible for the unlawful beatings be prosecuted in accordance with Iranian and international law. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I will continue to closely monitor this situation. cc. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Iranian Activist Detained for Demanding Women’s Rights