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Amnesty International: More then 30
Iranian Women detained in Iran
6.3.2007
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March 6, 2007
More than 30 women are reportedly being held
incommunicado without charge in Evin Prison in the
capital, Tehran. Amnesty International believes them
to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for
participating in a peaceful protest.
The women were reportedly arrested by officials of
Iran's National Security Police on 4 March in the
course of a peaceful demonstration outside Branch 6
of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. According to
unconfirmed reports, at least one woman, Nahid
Ja'fari, was reportedly injured during her arrest,
when police allegedly hit her head against a police
van, breaking one or more of her teeth. She was
apparently denied access to medical treatment
afterwards.
Those arrested were taken immediately to the Vozara
Department for Social Corruption, a detention centre
usually used for people accused of minor crimes such
as violations of state regulations on women's dress,
which can be punished by a reprimand, fine or
imprisonment. Family members of those detained went
to the detention centre in an attempt to secure the
release of their relatives, but were not permitted
to see the women. Later on 4 March, it was reported
that all those detained had been transferred to
Section 209 of Evin Prison, run by the Ministry of
Intelligence and outside the control of Iran’s
prison service.
There are fears among Iranian human rights defenders
that those arrested will be kept in detention until
after 8 March, International Women's Day. This may
be an attempt to prevent planned events from taking
place, including a demonstration in protest at
discriminatory laws due to be held in front of the
Majles (Iran's parliament).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The women were protesting about the trial of five
women's rights activists (Fariba Davoodi Mohajer,
Shahla Entesari, Noushin Ahmadi Khorassani, Parvin
Ardalan and Sussan Tahmasebi) in Branch 6 of the
Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of
"propaganda against the system", "acting against
national security" and "participating in an illegal
demonstration," in connection with a peaceful
demonstration on 12 June 2006 demanding equal rights
in law for women in Iran. The demonstration was
forcibly broken up by security forces, who arrested
at least 70 people. Others have also been charged in
connection with the 12 June demonstration, but have
not yet been summoned to court. Journalist Zhila
Bani Ya'qoub, who is among those detained at Evin
Prison, was tried in January 2007 and acquitted of
the charge of "participating in an illegal
demonstration" in relation to the 12 June
demonstration.
In August 2006, Iranian women’s rights activists
launched a “Campaign for Equality”, aimed at
collecting one million signatures from Iranians in
support of changes to the law to end legalised
discrimination against women. The campaign’s website
has been filtered by the Iranian authorities on
several occasions in recent weeks, making it
difficult for people in Iran to access information
about the campaign.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic,
English, French or your own language:
- expressing concern at the arrest of over 30 women
on 4 March 2007 during a peaceful demonstration
outside Branch 6 of the Revolutionary Court in
Tehran;
- calling for the immediate and unconditional
release of all of them as they appear to be held
solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to
freedom of expression and association;
- expressing concern at the reports that at least
one, Nahid Ja’fari, may have been injured during her
arrest and if so, may not have been granted access
to medical treatment;
-calling for all of those detained to be granted
immediate and regular access to their families;
lawyers and to any necessary medical treatment;
- calling for all charges to be dropped against
anyone in connection with the peaceful demonstration
on 12 June 2006 which called for an end to legal
discrimination against women in Iran.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
Leader of the Islamic Republic
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shahid Keshvar
Doost St., Tehran. Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 251 7774 2228 (mark “For the Office of His
Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei")
Email: Via website, in English:
http://www.leader.ir/langs/EN/index.php?p=sendletter
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street,
Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: iranprobe@ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan
Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: Via foreign affairs: +98 21 6 674 790 and ask
to be forwarded to H.E Ahmadinejad
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website:
www.president.ir/email
Salutation: His Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building
Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of
Iran
Fax: + 98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying; send
appeals by post or email if you cannot get through)
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject
line please write: For the attention of Ayatollah
Shahroudi)
Salutation: His Excellency
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami
Baharestan Square
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir
Salutation: Dear Sir
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited
to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with
the International Secretariat, or your section
office, if sending appeals after 16 April 2007.
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