Iranian Women's Rights Defenders Arrested

Democracy Alert

[November 16, 2004]

Iranian Women's Rights Defenders Arrested

Middle East & North Africa
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The World Movement for Democracy would like to express its concern for the safety of two Iranian women leaders, Fereshteh Ghazi, an online journalist, and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, editor of a women's rights journal "Farzaneh." According to the Women's Learning Partnership, Abbasgholizadeh has contributed to the strengthening of Iranian civil society by conducting capacity building programs as Director of the NGO Training Center in Tehran, and was arrested at her home on November 2, 2004. Ghazi has used her skills to create an increased awareness of the status of women in Iran using the Internet, and was arrested in her office on October 28, 2004. Both women have been denied the right to legal counsel. Over the past two months, a string of Internet writers and civil society activists have been arrested for "propaganda against the regime, endangering national security, inciting public unrest, and insulting sacred belief," according to Jamal Karimi Rad, the judiciary's spokesman.

Amnesty International reports that Ghazi and Abbasgholizadeh are among 25 internet journalists and civil society activists that have been arbitrarily arrested in recent weeks. The Women's Learning Partnership, a World Movement participating organization, has been contacted by colleagues in Iran asking them to help bring attention to the plight of civil society activists in Iran.

Suggested Action:

To demand the immediate release of Fereshteh Ghazi and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and express your concern for the rise in human rights violations in Iran, please write to President Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatemi, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the European Parliament, and the Iranian embassy in your country:

The following is a sample letter from a World Movement participant to President Mohammad Khatemi:

His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Syed Mohammad Khatemi
The President's Office
Pasteur Avenue, Tehran
Ialamic Republic of Iran

Subject : Appeal for immediate release of Iranian Women's Rights Defenders

Your Excellency,

We have been informed by the World Movement for Democracy that Fereshteh Ghazi, an online journalist, and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh, editor of a women's rights journal "Farzaneh" have been arrested and detained by the Iranian authorities. Our organization is deeply concerned at their arrest and detention.

We understand that Abbasgholizadeh has contributed to the strengthening of Iranian civil society by conducting capacity building programs as Director of the NGO Training Center in Tehran, and was arrested at her home on November 2, 2004. Ghazi has used her skills to create an increased awareness of the status of women in Iran using the Internet, and was arrested in her office on October 28, 2004. Both women have been denied the right to legal counsel. This we understand is a serious violation of universally recognized human rights principles, norms and standards.

We are also concerned that over the past two months, a string of Internet writers and civil society activists have been arrested for "propaganda against the regime, endangering national security, inciting public unrest, and insulting sacred belief," according to Jamal Karimi Rad, the judiciary's spokesman. Arbitrary arrest and detention in the name of national security is a gross violation of human rights. We, therefore, would like to appeal to Your Excellency to immediately release Fereshteh Ghazi and Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and respect fundamental human rights of the Iranian people.

I thank Your Excellency,

Yours sincerely,

S.K.Pradhan
Secretary General
Peoples Forum for Human Rights and Development (PFHRD Bhutan)
GPO-8975 EPC-5028, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel : +977 1 4301154, Fax: +977 1 4220161
skpfhrd@mos.com.np

Copy to:
His Excellency Louise Arbour
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Geneva, Switzerland

Additional Information