Source: Radio Zamaneh

Prominent Iranian writer and poet, Simin Behbahani was banned from leaving Iran today as she was leaving for Paris to participate in an event on the occasion of International Women's day.

Simin Behbahani

Simin Behbahani was taken into custody after upon passing through customs in Imam Khomeini Airport. After confiscating her passport, officials questioned her for hours and told to report to the Revolutionary Court.

A member of the Iranian Writers Association, Simin Behbahani was scheduled to give a speech concerning women's issues in Paris today.

Behbahani is the winner of several awards for her poetry and her human rights activities including the Carl von Ossietzky Medal (1999) and she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997.

In the post-election protests to the highjacking of the June presidential elections, many prominent women activists have been banned by Iranian authorities from leaving the country.

... Payvand News - 03/08/10 ... --