Sign Amnesty's petition to protect a women's human rights defender in Iran
February 28, 2008

        “disturbing public opinion”,
                “propaganda against the system”
                              “publication of lies”

These are the accusations made by the Iranian authorities against Jelveh Javaheri, a respected advocate of women's rights - and this is how she has spent the last year:

     Arrested: April 4, 2007 – four days in prison
     Arrested: September, 2007 – one day in prison
     Arrested: December, 2007 – one month in prison

Sign the petition to protect Jelveh Javaheri

March 8th is International Women’s Day.  It’s a day when women and men around the world celebrate and reflect on the status and progress toward equality for women.

Last year in Iran, 33 prominent advocates for women’s rights ended up in Tehran’s notorious Evan prison for several days because they protested at the trial of five women’s rights activists in the days leading up to March 8th. 

One of the women detained last March was Jelveh Javaheri.

Jelveh is a journalist and a founding member of the Campaign for Equality – an initiative with a goal of collecting 1,000,000 signatures to end legal discrimination against women in Iran. She is also a co-founder of Hastia Andish Centre, a leading women’s organization that promotes women’s rights through education.

Jelveh is once again facing repression, and Amnesty International is urging you to join us in writing a politely worded message to Iran’s Head of the Judiciary. We are asking him to:

• drop all charges against Jelveh Javaheri connected to her peaceful campaigning for equal rights for women, and
• review Iranian legislation to end all legalized discrimination against women.

You can write a letter in your own words, or you can send Amnesty’s pre-written e-action.

TAKE ACTION NOW TO HELP PROTECT JELVEH JAVAHERI

It’s not easy work to campaign for women’s rights in Iran.

Iran continues to harass women’s rights defenders. Yet courageous advocates like Jelveh Javaheri continue to defy repression.

With a week to go before Women’s Day, let’s ensure that leaders in Iran know that we stand behind Jelveh Javaheri by sending an email message now.

Last March more than 2,300 Canadians wrote appeals on behalf of Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Shadi Sadr, two courageous human rights campaigners in Iran who were detained on 4 March along with 31 other women.  They were released on bail on March 19 after being held in solitary confinement.

Both Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Shadi Sadr continue to be harassed by security forces and face possible imprisonment for participating in protests in support of women’s equality in Iran.
“My grandmother wasn’t allowed the life she wanted. I was lucky. I achieved everything but the struggle was still hard. I didn’t want the dearest person in my life [my daughter] to have the same troubles.” Shadi Sadr

Twenty-year-old student Amir Yaghoub- Ali is facing prosecution and possible imprisonment for peacefully collecting signatures to a petition demanding equal treatment for women under the law in Iran.
“[The judge said] ‘Amir is a man, why has he concerned himself with the activities of women? He should go and focus on his studies’.” Behnaz Mokhtari, Amir Yaghoub-Ali’s mother

Noushin Ahmadi Khorassani, a journalist and women’s rights defender, is facing imprisonment for her part in organizing a demonstration in June 2006 calling for an end to legal discrimination against women in Iran.
“I told my jailers that my representatives are in your homes – your wife, your daughter, your son, they all support our campaign.” Noushin Ahmadi Khorassani

In January we featured the case of Shi Tao, a Chinese journalist imprisoned for sending an email

Shi Tao remains imprisoned in Chishan prison in China. He is reportedly being forced to work under harsh conditions and his family has been harassed by the authorities. According to sources, Shi Tao’s wife underwent daily questioning by public security bureau officials and was persistently pressured by her work unit to divorce Shi, which she eventually did. Shi Tao’s uncle and brother have also been under surveillance and harassed both at work and at home. His mother is also reportedly being monitored and harassed as she petitions for his release.
Sign the petition to free Shi Tao