Iran

Iran: Women Online Brave Heavy Web Surveillance

Iranian female journalists are veterans of government closure of their print publications and early Internet ventures. Now they are prevailing against the region's most advanced censoring and monitoring software. Iranian women have pushed the battle for equal rights online even as security forces aggressively monitor the Internet and shut down pro-democracy Web sites that fall out of step with the regime. "Every print magazine for women we had was closed," Parvin Ardalan said in a recent phone interview from Sweden. "So we created a new world for ourselves in cyberspace."

Iran: Aliyeh Eghdamdoost Charged for Reading History of March 8th

A small group of women being held in Evin Prison held an event on the occasion of March 8th, International Women’s Day. In this event, Aliyeh Eghdamdoost read a small history of this international day. After this event, the head prosecutor of Evin Prison summoned Mrs. Eghdamdoost and has accused her of “reading articles; giving a speech for females on International Women’s Day, and inciting women’s activities; malicious propaganda against the regime; insulting the President and Supreme Leader; and promoting socialism”.

Iran: Award to Shadi Sadr for visual project documenting Iranian women’s history

I was informed yesterday that at the Movies that Matter Festival's Award Ceremony in the Hague on Wednesday 31 March, I was awarded the first Golden Butterfly, Amnesty International's A Matter of ACT Award (€5,000), for the most imposing and inspiring human rights defender or organisation. The award was for my work campaigning for women’s equal rights that is documented in the film, ‘Women in Shroud’. I am so pleased and honoured to have been selected amongst such prominent activists as Rebiya Kadeer and Somaly Mam. Unfortunately I was not able to attend the ceremony, so I would like to send a few words to the Movies that Matter Festival organisers, concerning human rights and the situation of women in Iran.

Iran: Executions send a chilling message

Recent developments in Iran have prompted fears that the Iranian authorities are once more using executions as a tool to try and quell political unrest, intimidate the population and send a signal that dissent will not be tolerated. There was a noticeable surge in the rate of executions at the time of mass protests over last year's disputed Presidential elections. Although many of the executions were for criminal offences committed before the unrest, they sent a chilling message to those involved in protests.

Iran: Take action on arrest and detention of human rights defender Ms Mahboubeh Karami

Human rights defender Ms Mahboubeh Karami was arrested on 2 March 2010. Mahboubeh Karami is a member of the One Million Signature Campaign, a movement which aims to end discriminatory laws against women in Iran. Front Line previously issued an appeal in relation to the arrest and detention of Mahboubeh Karami on 2 April 2009.

Iran: Arrestation et détention de la défenseuse des droits humains Mlle Mahboubeh Karami

La défenseuse des droits humains Mlle Mahboubeh Karami a été arrêtée le 2 mars 2010. Mahboubeh Karami est membre de la "Campagne pour un Million de Signatures », un mouvement qui vise à mettre fin aux lois discriminatoires contre les femmes en Iran. Front Line avait déjà lancé un appel concernant l'arrestation et la détention de Mahboubeh Karami le 2 avril 2009.

Iran: Shadi Sadr dedicates Courage Award to imprisoned Women’s Rights Activist Shiva Nazar Ahari

Shadi Sadr, a renowned Iranian human rights lawyer, women’s rights activist and member of Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) – International Solidarity Network Council, has been awarded the International Women of Courage Award 2010. Ms. Sadr was also the recipient of the Lech Walesa and the Dutch "Human Rights Tulip" awards in 2009.

Iran: Shadi Sadr's Speech for the International Women of Courage Award Ceremony

Sadr dedicates her Award to imprisoned women’s rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari

Your Excellency Mrs. Clinton, Respected Members of the Jury, Ladies and Gentlemen, (cont...)

La Journée internationale des femmes: « Combats d’hier et d’aujourd’hui : les enjeux du féminisme au XXIème siècle. »

Les tables rondes internationales, le 9 mars 2010 de 16h à 18h à l’Hôtel de Ville de Paris. La Ville de Paris invite 5 figures du féminisme international qui portent un combat essentiel, parfois au péril de leur vie : Lubna Ahmad Al-Husseini : journaliste, auteur de l’ouvrage « 40 coup de fouet pour un pantalon », paru aux Editions Plon en 2009. Le 3 juillet 2009, Lubna Al-Husseini est arrêtée par la police à Khartoum. Son crime : avoir porté un pantalon. La loi soudanaise la condamne à 40 coups de fouet pour « atteinte à la moralité publique ». Depuis elle n’a de cesse de se défendre et par la même de faire évoluer les lois et les mentalités au Soudan. Elle parcourt aussi le monde pour faire connaître sa lutte et engager des solidarités ici et ailleurs.

Iran: Free ‘Mourning Mothers’ Supporters

The Iranian Judiciary should immediately release six women arrested in January and early February 2010, apparently in connection with their peaceful activities on behalf of the Mourning Mothers, Human Rights Watch said today. Mourning Mothers is a civil society group established in June 2009 by mothers whose children lost their lives in state-sanctioned violence following Iran's disputed June 12 election. In recent months many Iranians have expressed support for the group.