Iran

UN: Saudi Arabia "bought" a seat on the UN Women board

Iran failed Wednesday to secure a seat on the board running the new UN super agency for women in the face of a fierce diplomatic onslaught against its rights record. Saudi Arabia, criticised for refusing even to let women drive, got an automatic seat and rights groups said they will now seek to put the spotlight on the Islamic kingdom's record. Four UN agencies were merged this year to set up UN Women, with a 500-million-dollar budget per year, under the leadership of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.

Iran: Call not to ignore human rights violations in Iran during 5+1 talks

Iranian human rights activists are calling on the international community not to ignore human rights violations in Iran during their planned talkslater this week. Iran has agreed to 5+1 talks (UN permanent members and Germany) as proposed by the European Union's high representative on foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton. Of "utmost urgency" is the case of the Iranian human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotudeh, who has been on hunger strike in the notorious Evin prison since 28 September. Her husband says her condition is deteriorating and she has lost a lot of weight. Although Sotudeh briefly broke her hunger strike in October she has been refusing food again. For over a week she has also refused water.

Iran: Urgent call for release of Nasrin Sotoodeh

With the increasing pressures the maneuvering room for human rights defenders and human rights lawyers is becoming greatly constrained. Vivid examples of these pressures include some of the following: the closure and prevention of the activities of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, the repeal of accreditation of lawyers to practice law, the arrest of human rights defenders and lawyers.

Iran: Op-Ed: “Iran steps up assault on female activists”

As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month, the spotlight was once again on Iran. And true to form, the Iranian president made his fair share of provocative statements for the Western media. But while Ahmadinejad's mercurial rants captured our media's attention, back in Iran a coordinated strategy against the women's movement continued. On the eve of Ahmadinejad's arrival to New York, Shiva Nazar Ahari, a prominent young female defender of human rights, received a heavy sentence of six years in prison on charges including the vague crime of "waging war against God" -- a convenient catch-all offense for anyone who criticizes the regime and its human rights record.

Iran: Shirin Ebadi’s International Appeal to Help Imprisoned Colleague

Following publication of news about Nasrin Sotoudeh’s hunger strike in prison and her interrogations under duress, Shirin Ebadi, head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she is appealing to the world to object to the Sotoudeh’s arrest in order to help her. Ebadi also said she is deeply concerned about Sotoudeh’s health conditions.

Iran: A Letter to Christiane Amanpour about the Media, "Freedom", and Ahmadinejad

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist, writes Christiane Amanpour, the broadcast journalist of America's ABC News who interviewed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week. Originally in Rah-e-Sabz and translated by Hasty Pezhman:

Iran: Mohammad Mostafaei's letter to world leaders

In the Name of Almighty. Your Excellency, With Salutations and Greetings, Peace, international and national security, social, economic, judicial and political stability and the privileges of a peaceful life, and even more importantly equality, fraternity and avoidance of violence, tyranny and oppression and other unjust discriminations can only become possible in the third millennium and come to a desirable conclusion worthy of proper human dignity, only if all the world leaders show determination and take steps in preserving human rights and human dignity and convince the countries which abuse human rights to safeguard the inherent human dignity and grace.

Mise à jour: Iran: Shiva Nazar-Ahari a été condamnée à six ans de prison

La journaliste et militante des droits de l'Homme Shiva Nazar-Ahari a été condamnée à six ans de prison, notamment pour "conspiration" et "propagande contre le régime", selon son avocat cité dimanche par plusieurs journaux. Mme Nazar-Ahari, libérée sous caution la semaine dernière après neuf mois de détention, risquait la peine de mort pour avoir été accusée d'être "ennemie de Dieu" lors de son procès.

UPDATE: Iran: Shiva Nazar Ahari convicted of 'moharebeh', usually punishable by death

An Iranian court has jailed a prominent human rights activist and journalist for six years after convicting her of "waging war against God" and other charges. In another indication of the regime's determination to punish those who took part in protests after last year's disputed presidential election, Shiva Nazar Ahari was convicted of the crime known as "moharebeh" - usually punishable by death.

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.