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"One Million Signatures" Campaign: Demanding an End to Discriminatory Laws Against Women in Iran
Read more about the history of the campaign
Iranian women’s rights activists are fighting gender apartheid through the “One Million Signatures” campaign, which aims to collect one million signatures to demand an end to discriminatory laws against women. At present, men have the sole right to divorce and except in special cases, the right to custody of children. One man’s testimony equals that of two women. And certain positions, such as that of a judge, are closed to women. The campaign is a continuation of Iranian women’s century-long struggle for gender equality.
Jelveh Javaheri Released
June 8, 2009
| SUPPORT IRANIAN WOMEN |
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Sign the petition and help them reach their goal of one million signatures to end discriminatory laws against women.
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Change for Equality: Jelve Javaheri was released on the 7th of June, on a third party guarantee in the amount of 100million Tomans (roughly $100,000). Mina Jafari, the lawyer representing Jelve Javaheri, explained: "Jelve Javaheri was released today on a third party guarantee in the amount of 100 Million Tomans, which was set by the Security Prosecutor at the Revolutionary Courts. Jevle Javaheri was charged with actions against the state through participation in the One Million Signatures Campaign and gathering and collusion. Jelve was arrested by security police on May 1 at her home, and spent 16 days in solitary confinement. After objections from her legal team, a temporary arrest order was issued in her case as well as a bail order in the amount of 100 million Tomans ($100,000). But her bail amount was reduced to a third party guarantee, and she was released this afternoon." It should be noted that Ms. Ehteram Shadfar one of the members of the Campaign has served as Jelve’s third party guarantor.
Ronak Safazadeh Sentenced to Six Year Prison Term; Appeals Court Issues Reduced Sentence for Parvin Ardalan
April 14, 2009
Women’s rights activist and One Million Signatures Campaign member Ronak Safazadeh was sentenced to a six year mandatory prison term, based on charges of "spreading propaganda against the state" and her membership in the political opposition group Pejak, within which her activities were limited to peaceful support for the women’s movement and the Azar Mehr Women’s NGO. Ms. Safazadeh, who will serve her prison term in the city of Sanandaj, was acquitted on the charge of enmity with god. Her defense attorney, Mr. Mohammad Sharif, plans to appeal the ruling.
An appeals court reduced the sentence of campaign activist Parvin Ardalan, to a one year suspended sentence over a period of three years. Ms. Ardalan was arrested in front of the Revolutionary Court in March 2007 as she peacefully demonstrated in support of women’s rights activists who were then on trial. If she is found guilty of another crime within a three year time period, she will be required to serve a one year prison term.
For more on Ronak Safazadeh, Parvin Ardalan, and other wrongfully detained campaign activists, visit Change for Equality.
Twelve Women’s Rights Activists Arrested for Planned New Years Visit
March 26, 2009
Change for Equality: Twelve women’s rights activists were arrested today on March 26, 2009, on Sohrevardi Avenue in Tehran, while meeting up to go for New Years visits of families of imprisoned social and political activists. Ten of those arrested are members of the One Million Signatures Campaign. The Campaign members arrested are: Delaram Ali, Leila Nazari, Khadijeh Moghaddam, Farkhondeh Ehtesabian, Mahboubeh Karami, Baharah Behravan, Ali Abdi, Amir Rashidi, Mohammad Shourab, and Arash Nasiri Eghbali. Soraya Yousefi and Shahla Forouzanfar were also arrested.
Support Iranian Women on their National Day of Solidarity
June 2, 2008
Iranian women's rights activists are calling for international support in observance of the June 12, 2006 demonstrations. Two years ago on this day, activists organized a peaceful protest demanding the revision of discriminatory laws against women in Iran. Seventy people were arrested during the gathering and continue to this day to be summoned, charged, arrested and sentenced for peaceful activism. June 12th has since been chosen by Iranian women’s rights activists as their national day of solidarity to object harmful actions which attempt to silence Iranian women.
| SUPPORT IRANIAN WOMEN |
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Sign the "One Million Signatures" campaign petition calling for an end to discriminatory laws against women such as men's uncontested right to divorce, polygamy, and child custody.
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Please read the following "Statement in Support of Iranian Women" and send your personal or organizational support for the women’s rights activists who are fighting for their basic human rights against all odds. Please send emails to wlp@learningpartnership.org and hadighaemi@iranhumanrights.org. For more information about the campaign efforts, please read below or visit the One Million Signatures website.
Launch of the "One Million Signatures" Campaign
February 13, 2007
Iranian women’s rights activists are fighting gender apartheid through the “One Million Signatures” campaign, which demands an end to discriminatory laws against women. At present, men have the sole right to divorce and except in special cases, the right to custody of children. One man’s testimony equals that of two women. A man’s worth is twice that of a woman in cases of murder or bodily injury. A daughter receives half a son’s inheritance. And certain positions, such as that of a judge, are closed to women. The campaign aims to collect one million signatures in support of granting women equal legal status with men. It is a continuation of Iranian women’s century-long struggle for gender equality.
Iran: Challenging the mullahs, one signature at a time
By Maura J. Casey, Editorial Observer
The New York Times
February 7, 2007
"Well-behaved women rarely make history," my favorite bumper sticker says. It surely applies to Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian lawyer and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner whose relentless campaign against discrimination has enraged the mullahs for more than 25 years.
In a country where the law values a woman’s life at only half the price of a man’s, Ms. Ebadi will not be quiet, and she is urging other women to find their voices. Her newest effort is to help collect the signatures of one million Iranian women on a petition protesting their lack of legal rights.
