Amnesty International today called for the immediate and unconditional release of over 30 women activists who were arrested on Sunday, 4 March while staging a peaceful demonstration in Tehran. The organization believes the arrests may be intended to deter activists from organizing events to mark International Women's Day on 8 March.
The women were arrested outside Tehran's Revolutionary Court, where they had gathered to protest at the trial of five women charged in connection with a demonstration held on 12 June 2006 to demand that women be given equal rights with men under the law in Iran. The June demonstration was violently dispersed by security forces, who arrested at least 70 people.
"Rather than arresting peaceful demonstrators, the Iranian authorities should be taking seriously women's demands for equality before the law and addressing discrimination against women wherever it exists in the Iranian legal system", said Irene Khan, Amnesty International's Secretary General. "We worry that the women detained yesterday may be kept in detention until after 8 March, a day on which they were planning to campaign for their internationally recognized right to equality." (MORE)
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130222007
Please also see:
Iran women arrested over protest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6416789.stm
Iran: Women on Trial for Peaceful Demonstration
Activists Arrested for Protesting Discriminatory Laws
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/27/iran15416.htm
A GLOBAL DAY OF CELEBRATION
Celebrated on 8 March, International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ... http://www.internationalwomensday.com
The women were arrested outside Tehran's Revolutionary Court, where they had gathered to protest at the trial of five women charged in connection with a demonstration held on 12 June 2006 to demand that women be given equal rights with men under the law in Iran. The June demonstration was violently dispersed by security forces, who arrested at least 70 people.
"Rather than arresting peaceful demonstrators, the Iranian authorities should be taking seriously women's demands for equality before the law and addressing discrimination against women wherever it exists in the Iranian legal system", said Irene Khan, Amnesty International's Secretary General. "We worry that the women detained yesterday may be kept in detention until after 8 March, a day on which they were planning to campaign for their internationally recognized right to equality." (MORE)
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130222007
Please also see:
Iran women arrested over protest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6416789.stm
Iran: Women on Trial for Peaceful Demonstration
Activists Arrested for Protesting Discriminatory Laws
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/27/iran15416.htm
A GLOBAL DAY OF CELEBRATION
Celebrated on 8 March, International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ... http://www.internationalwomensday.com