Two Women's Rights Activists Released even as Crackdown on Iranian Civil Society Escalates

March 20, 2007

Two prominent Iranian women’s rights activists, arrested at a peaceful protest on March 4, were released on March 19. Shadi Sadr and Mahboubeh Abasgholizadeh were charged with acting against national security and holding an illegal assembly for their role in organizing the March 4 protest against the increasing government pressure on civil society activists and, in particular, the trial of five women activists who organized a peaceful protest for women’s rights on June 12, 2006.

Sadr and Abasgholizadeh were released from Evin Prison on 200 million toumans (about $215,000) bail each. The two women spent 16 days in detention, 10 of which were in solitary confinement.

The crackdown on civil society continues to escalate throughout the country. At least eight women were arrested at a peaceful protest to celebrate International Women’s Day in Sanandaj, the capital of Kordestan province. Most were released shortly afterwards except for a journalist, Aso Saleh, who is still being detained.

In August 2006, Iranian women’s rights activists launched the “One Million Signatures” campaign to demand an end to discriminatory laws against women. Please support the campaign.

The escalating government harassment of civil society has expanded to include the closure of NGOs and the detention of teachers. Dozens of teachers remain in prison following a peaceful demonstration on March 14 to demand pay raises. At least three civil society organizations have been closed down. The Iranian NGOs Training Center, founded by Abasgholizadeh, and RAAHI: Women’s Center for Legal Counselling, directed by Sadr, were closed and sealed shut on March 15. Another organization, the Iranian CSOs Training and Research Center (also known as Koneshgaran Davtalab), which played a critical role in defending those arrested after the March 4 protest, was also shut down.

To express your solidarity with the activists and to demand an end to the harassment of civil society activists and organizations, please write to:

Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Fax: +98 21 649-5880/21 774-2228
Salutation: Your Excellency

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran
Iran
Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com
Fax : +98 21 879-6671
Salutation: Your Excellency

Dr. M. Javad Zarif
Ambassador to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
United States
Email: jzarif@un.int
Fax: +1-212-867-7086
Salutation: Your Excellency