Middle East

Iran: Call for release of women's rights activist Maryam Bahreman

On Wednesday 11 May 2011, Iranian security forces arrested Maryam Bahreman, an Iranian women’s rights and civil society activist in Shiraz. Bahreman is a founding member, and was the general secretary, of the Association of Women of Pars (Anjome Zanan Pars), which was established in 2003. As a member of this association, she was active in many women's movement activities including the One Million Signature Campaign. Bahreman was also a participant at the 55th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference in New York in March of this year, where she was on a panel about women and ICT.

Al-Jazeera interviews on Arab feminism

Riz Khan is joined by Rabab al-Mahdi, a professor of political science at the American University in Cairo; Frances Hasso, a professor of Women's Studies at Duke University; and Nadje al-Ali, a social anthropologist at the University of London. What role have Arab women played in the popular uprisings around the Middle East and what stake do they really have in their countries' political future?

UPDATE: Iran: Shiva Nazar Ahari’s Four Year Sentence Is Final, Says Lawyer

While various media have published news of an appeals court’s ruling of four years in prison and 74 lashes for human rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari, her lawyer, Mohammad Sharif has not yet been served with the ruling. ”I have not yet been officially served with the verdict, and unfortunately, the news was publicized in the media without my knowledge. I learned about the ruling through the press, too,” he said.

UPDATE: Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani case: another test of Iran's flawed justice system

The Violence is Not our Culture Campaign (VNC) and Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) are deeply concerned over the continued denial of human rights in Iran in light of the Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani case. Lack of due process and the right to a fair trial, arbitrary detention, torture, and restrictions of freedom of information, of the press, and of association sadly constitute the status quo in the Islamic Republic.

Iran : Communiqué : Libération de Shiva Nazar Ahari

Le Réseau international de solidarité Femmes sous lois musulmanes (WLUML) et la Campagne mondiale « Arrêtons de tuer et de lapider les femmes! » salue l’annonce récente de la libération de Shiva Nazar Ahari, survenue le dimanche 12 septembre 2010.

Update: Iran: Release of Shiva Nazar Ahari

UPDATED 20/09/2010: An Iranian court has now jailed Shiva Nazar Ahari for six years after convicting her of "moharebeh" or "emnity with God" - usually punishable by death.

The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network and the Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women (SKSW campaign) welcome the news that Shiva Nazar Ahari was released from prison on Sunday 12 September 2010. Shiva Nazar Ahari is a 26-year-old human rights activist specializing in women’s rights, children’s rights, and the defense of political prisoners. She is a journalist and blogger, as well as actively involved with the Committee of Human Rights Reporters and the One Million Signatures Campaign. Formerly a civil engineering graduate student, Ahari was expelled from university as a result of her student activism. She had endured 266 consecutive days in Evin Prison, 100 of which were spent in solitary confinement, for participating in non-violent actions.

Iraq: Women's movement demonstration

In a demonstration on 9 August, women activists in Iraq bravely take a stand against the injustices, absence of basic human rights and broken promises suffered by the women of Iraq. In this empowering video clip, the women of Iraq – many of whom live without electricity or housing – take a stand and demand a government which caters, understands and feels the miseries of all its people – regardless of gender, race of religion.

العراق: نشاطات نسائية

شعارات التجمع:

1. برلمان لا يستطيع انتخاب الرئاسات السيادية الثلاثة لا يستحق تمثيل الشعب

2. خمسة أشهر أثبتم فشلكم في قيادة البلد ، من حقنا ان نطالب بإعادة الانتخابات مجدداً

3. نحملكم مسؤولية خرق الدستور وتقويض الأمن والعملية السياسية

4. خيبة أمل: استبدلتم مصلحة الناس والوطن ، بصراعكم من أجل الكراسي!

5. رواتب مالية ضخمة للنواب مقابل تأخير صرف مستحقات المشمولين بشبكة الحماية الاجتماعية

6. نطالب بإشراك النساء في المفاوضات السياسية بشكل جاد وحقيقي

Iran: A Statement of Concern Regarding the Televised ‘Confession’ by Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women and the Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) International Solidarity Network deplore the staging of a ‘public confession’ on Iranian television by Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who is awaiting execution in Iran by stoning for adultery.

The ‘confession’, done in an interview format, was broadcast on Wednesday 11th August on the '20:30' television program by Seda va Sima, the government broadcasting station. The ‘confession’, showed Sakineh implicating herself in the murder of her husband.

UPDATE: Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's still faces death sentence while Brazil makes formal offer of asylum

SKSW and WLUML are still gravely concerned about the fate of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. On 4 August, Branch 9 of the Supreme Court in Iran began a review of Mohammadi Ashtiani's sentence and agreed to consider a judicial review of the case, submitted by her lawyer. The Supreme Court is expected to either accept or reject the judicial review on or around 15 August. The review appears aimed solely at reducing international pressure on the authorities, by deferring a decision on the method of execution and the stoning sentence remains in place.

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