The Islamic Republic continues to deny women the right to protest by Shirin B Sadeghi
The Islamic Republic continues to deny women the right to protest by Shirin B Sadeghi
The Islamic Republic continues to deny women the right to protest by Shirin B Sadeghi
Three women remain in prison since the arrests in Iran last Sunday of 33 demonstrators. On International Women’s Day, Shirin B Sadeghi reports on the latest attempt to silence dissent
Sunday’s demonstration was a sequel to the mass protest which took place last June, when 70 people were arrested for demanding equal rights for men and women. Of those 70 – and they are mostly women - 5 still remain in the notorious section 209 in Evin prison, the political prisoners' wing.
Both protests were organised by women's groups seeking to bring national and international attention to severe inequalities under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The charges fall under the umbrella of breaching national security, since criticism of the government and organising protests are considered subversive acts.
Thirty-three women were imprisoned on 4 March. Seven of the youngest were allowed to post bail or otherwise financially secure their release. On 6 March the remaining 26 women began a hunger strike demanding the release of at least the other young women and the several women who have serious medical conditions. Additional concerns for the women's mental and physical health were raised following reports that an increasing number had been placed in solitary confinement. Nasrin Sotudeh, the women’s lawyer, claimed that they were beaten during their arrest and had not received adequate medical care during their incarceration.
While the Iranian state media has remained quiet during this unfolding event, alternative journalists and bloggers have, as they did during last year's arrests, taken to the internet to make their voices heard and to update Iranians and the world about the women's' situation. Prominent blogger Khorshid Khanom has been frequently updating her website with the latest information on the arrests and the women's treatment, though, as she explains in her blog, she is determined to keep a strong front in the face of this latest bad news for the Iranian women's movement. ‘Apparently, if we write of our concerns, we are portrayed as weak,’ she wrote on 7 March. ‘But that's not true at all…it is proof that we are not helpless…that regression cannot stop the advance of human progress.’
Iran consistently tops the list for abusing human rights. Violations include imprisoning individuals without trial or due process, and torture. Despite these known dangers, women's groups have become increasingly active in organising demonstrations and making their voices heard. The rapid release of most of the protestors this week suggests that the government may be taking international attention into account.
The issue of human rights in Iran received international recognition in 2003 when lawyer Shirin Ebadi was given the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts toward prosecuting human rights violations in Iran. Ebadi has kept a relatively low profile since the award and is not affiliated with any of the women's organisations that have recently been demonstrating for equal rights.
08.03.2007
Iran, International Women's Day, protest
source: Index of Censorship