Iran: Further threats against Shirin Ebadi
Source:
Human Rights First The Iranian regime has stepped up its campaign against human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
On October 1, 2008, while Ebadi was in Germany receiving the "tolerance prize" (toleranzpreis), the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) warned that Ebadi was exploiting the "patience and tolerance" of government authorities. Such statements reflect government policy and expose Ebadi to broader risk.
In addition, after pressure from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Malaysian authorities canceled a series of university lectures by Ebadi in that country. The Iranian foreign ministry warned that permitting Ebadi to lecture in Malaysia will "damage the good relations" between the two countries.
For months Ebadi has been the target of campaigns in government media, leading her to state that if something were to happen to her, IRNA and Kayhan (a government-sponsored daily newspaper) should be held responsible.
These attacks put Ebadi and other human rights defenders at risk of violence and repression. Join us in demanding an end to the Iranian regime's attempts to intimidate and silence Ebadi.
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To find out more and learn what you can do to help, please see the Human Rights First website here: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Ebadi2?rk=OpSVtBs1jNlxW
Submitted on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 23:00