Source: Amnesty International

Khadijeh Moghaddam (f), member of One Million Signatures Campaign and Mothers for Peace
Mahboubeh Karami  (f), member of One Million Signatures Campaign

Khadijeh Moghaddam and Mahboubeh Karami have both been released on bail.  They and 10 others had been arrested on 26 March 2009 as they prepared to make Iranian New Year visits to the families of detained activists, including students and trade unionists. All 12 are now free on bail: no date is known to have been set for their trial, but they are at risk of being imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Khadijeh Moghaddam was released on 8 April 2009.  Her bail was set at 500 million rials (almost US$50,000)  for the charge of "disrupting public order" in connection with her arrest on 26 March, and a further 20 million toumans (almost US$20,000) in relation to further charges of "propaganda against the system" and "disobeying police orders in front of the Palestinian Embassy" which have been brought against her in connection with a demonstration held by Mothers for Peace on 11 January 2009, protesting against the Israeli attack on Gaza.

Mahboubeh Karami was released on 7 April 2009 on bail of 500 million rials (almost US$50,000)  According to her lawyer, she has been charged with "disrupting public order."  The day after her release, her mother, who had cancer, died in hospital.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Campaign for Equality, also known as the One Million Signatures Campaign, launched in 2006, is a grassroots initiative composed of a network of people committed to ending discrimination against women in Iranian law. The Campaign gives basic legal training to volunteers, who travel around the country promoting the Campaign. They talk with women in their homes, as well as in public places, telling them about their rights and the need for legal reform. The volunteers are also aiming at collecting one million signatures of Iranian nationals for a petition demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iran. Dozens of the Campaign's activists have been arrested or harassed for their activities for the Campaign for Equality, some while collecting signatures for the petition.

Mothers for Peace was launched in 2007 by a group of Iranian women to campaign against possible military intervention in Iran over its nuclear programme, and to seek "viable solutions" to the region's Instability.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:

- welcoming the release of Khadijeh Moghaddam and Mahboubeh Karami;

- urging the authorities to drop all charges against them, and the other 10 people arrested with them, as if they were imprisoned, Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience solely detained for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, reunion and assembly ;

- reminding the authorities that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a state party guarantees the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

APPEALS TO:

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi

c/o Director, Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office

Ardeshir Sadiq

Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office

No. 57, Pasteur St., corner of Khosh Zaban Avenue

Tehran, Iran

Email:              info@dadiran.ir  (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Salutation:       Your Excellency

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street

Islamic Republic Street

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Email:              via website:  English, Persian

Salutation:      Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

President

His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The Presidency

Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax:                  + 98 21 6 649 5880

Email:             via website: http://www.president.ir/email/

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran

Mohammad Javad Larijani

Office of the Head of the Judiciary

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Fax:                  +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)

Email:              info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Javad Larijani)

Salutation:       Dear Mr Larijani

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 June 2009.

... Payvand News - 04/27/09 ... --