Iran : Severe Crackdown On Human Rights Defenders

11/02/2009
Press release

Iran, February 2009

Who could have imagined that the human rights situation in Iran could
further worsen? Last December, the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC),
founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and internationally
recognised for its expertise on human rights issues, was arbitrarily closed
down by the authorities. Iranian authorities went even further by arresting
Jinus Sobhani, a DHRC staff member, who remains in incommunicado detention
since January 14.

jinus_blog.jpg

The harsh and unabated repression by the Iranian authorities, which, over
the past years, has already struck the women’s rights movement with the
prosecution and detention of dozens of activists involved in the One Million
Signatures Campaign, but also minority rights defenders and trade-unionists, is
now hitting one of the last independent NGOs operating in the country.

In the face of this severe crackdown, a worldwide mobilisation is more
necessary than ever.. You will find below a compilation of the latest urgent
interventions issued by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights
Defenders (a joint FIDH – OMCT programme), as well as the direct contacts of
high level Iranian representatives.

We count on your support to convey your concerns to the relevant
authorities and express your solidarity with those who defend the human rights
cause in Iran.

· Leader of the Islamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali
Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic
Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98.21.649.5880 / 21.774.2228, Email: info@leader.ir
/ istiftaa@wilayah.org / webmaster@wilayah.org;

· President, His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, Palestine
Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +
98.21.649.5880, E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir;

· Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi,
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax:
+98.21.879.6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com;

· Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Manuchehr Motaki, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic
Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98.21.390.1999, Email: matbuat@mfa.gov;

· Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chemin du
Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7330203, Email:
mission.iran@ties.itu.int;

We the undersigned, representing international women’s groups and activists,
human rights organizations and activists, university and academic centers, and
social justice initiatives, would like to express our support for Iranian women
in their effort to reform laws and achieve equal status within the Iranian
legal system.

Sign the petition

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