Iran: IGLHRC Joins WLUML in Calling for the Release of Iranian Human Rights Defender
11/15/2004
Summary from Women Living Under Muslim Laws:
WLUML is deeply concerned about the arrest of Ms. Mahboobeh Abbasgholizadeh on November 1, 2004 on the orders of Tehran's General Prosecutor, Saeid Mortazavi (who ordered the arrest of the Canadian woman journalist who died in prison). This seems to be part of an escalating campaign to repress civil society groups and human rights activists in Iran. Even after 10 days of being arrested and held incommunicado, no formal charges have been brought against Mahboobeh, nor has permission been granted to any lawyer or family member to see her.
It seems that Mahboobeh has been arrested and is being interrogated about her presentations at international meetings, including her address to the Asia Pacific Women's Watch Beijing+10 NGO Forum in July 2004 and her linkages with international women's rights activists. Mahboobeh, a leading activist in Iran's growing civil society organizations, is the Editor of Farzaneh (the first women's studies journal in Iran). She is also the Director of the NGO Training Centre that facilitates Iranian NGOs to get registered, builds their capacity to function effectively, and promotes a human rights perspective. Mahboobeh's arrest follows a wave of other arrests of web-log writers and closure of on-line journals. Amongst those arrested is another woman journalist, Fereshteh Ghazi, writing on women's issues for the daily newspaper Etemad. It is very important that Mahboobeh and Iranian groups receive our support.
Mahboobeh is personally known to many of us engaged in the women's rights movement. We request you to take action urging the Iranian authorities to ensure her safety and immediate and unconditional release.
For WLUML Farida Shaheed
ACTION:
Please sign the on-line petition http://www.petitiononline.com/mahbobeh/
And forward the sample letter attached to the Iranian Embassy in your country and to the authorities in Iran at the addresses given below.
MODEL LETTER:
- His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency - Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Faxes: 011 98 21 649 5880
E-mail: khatami@president.ir
(Salutation: Your Excellency) - Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran:
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei - c/o The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Faxes: 98 21 650203 (this is via the Interior Ministry, ask for fax to be forwarded)
(Salutation: Your Excellency) - Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi - Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Faxes: 011 98 21 537 8827 (Please send before it gives you the tone to leave a voice message)
Email: irjpr@iranjudiciary.org (mark 'Please forward to HE Ayatollah Shahroudi')
(Salutation: Your Excellency) - Nasser Qavami, Head Judicial & Legal Affairs Committee:
- Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami
Imam Khomeini Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Majles, Tehran, Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 646 1746 (occasionally difficult to reach, please be patient)
(Salutation: Dear Sir)
Your Excellency,
We write to express our deep concern at the arrest of Khanum Mahboobeh Abbasgholizadeh on November 1st 2004 from Tehran, apparently on the orders of the Prosecutor of Tehran. We are distressed by the fact that Ms. Abbasgholizadeh has been detained for a week now without any formal charges being framed, and that Ms. Abbasgholizadeh has not been allowed to exercise her right to legal counsel. We are equally dismayed that not even her family, including her two daughters, has been allowed to meet Ms. Abbasgholizadeh and that no information has been given to the family about where she is being detained.
Ms. Abbasgholizadeh, who has worked for many years as a journalist, is currently the editor of Farzaneh Journal, and the Director of the NGO Training Centre. As the first journal of women's studies in Iran, Farzaneh has helped make visible the progress made by Iranian women and the vibrancy of intellectual debate within Iran. As Director of the NGO Training Centre, Ms. Abbasgholizdeh is contributing to the development of civil society in Iran, an essential component of all modern societies.
We are indeed astonished that a woman such as Ms. Abbasgholizadeh, who has served her country, has devoted her life to the improvement of women's lives and has come to be known as one of the most respected representatives of Iranian women in the international community, should be treated in this way.
Ms. Abbasgholizadeh's arrest follows a wave of other arrests of web-log writers and closure of on-line journals. We are extremely worried that her arrest marks the start of a campaign against women's NGOs and civil society organizations in Iran.
Given the current international environment, it is important that the Iranian government ensures that those who have been contributing positively by providing a more rational perspective on Iran to the international community, such as journalists, academics and civil society groups, are encouraged to continue to play their positive and constructive role for the further development of their country.
We call upon you to ensure the safety and security of Ms. Abbasgholizadeh and her immediate and unconditional release.
Yours sincerely,
For more information, please see www.wluml.org
Printer-friendly version