Many of you have seen the news about the arrest of over 30 women activists in Tehran on Sunday.These ladies should not have been arrested at all. Whether we agree with their strategy, whether they are close personal friends, whether they were wise, whether they have children, whether they have been to court before. The fact remains that they were arrested and have been put in prison for no reason apart from exercising their constitutional rights for peaceful gatherings (Section 27).

Iranian women hold protest gathering in Tehran - June 2005
Photo by Syma Sayyah

These women were showing solidarity, empathy and unity for those who have the courage to take up their pens, and speak out on behalf of the silent majority, requesting nothing more than any good citizen anywhere in modern times would want and expect.