Although I have already highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran on several occasions in writing and in person, I deem it necessary to once again draw the attention of Your Honour and the distinguished members of the UNHRC to the following issues as you prepare to review the Islamic Republic of Iran's human rights record, on 15 February 2010:
My compatriots have endured a difficult period. Their peaceful protests were responded with bullets and imprisonment. Many photographs and witnesses corroborate the government’s violence, not to mention instances when sufficient facts and evidence were presented to the authorities and public that revealed the identity of the killers. Sadly, however, the Judiciary and other state officials have not taken any steps to arrest the killers or even reduce the level of violence.
A large number of political, civil, and even cultural, activists have been arrested on unfounded charges. Some of them were sentenced to death after summary trials behind closed doors. So far, based on official figures released by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, four of them have been executed and over 25 more are awaiting their impending fate.
Political prisoners are treated so badly that some have died in jail and under torture. These prisoners are even deprived of the rights afforded by law to ordinary and dangerous inmates. There are some whose conditions are very serious because of old age and illness. They include Dr Ebrahim Yazdi, Dr Mohammad Maleki, and Engineer Behzad Nabavi. The first two are almost 80 years of age and are suffering from cancer, while the third is suffering from heart problems. They receive no medical care and, because of the unsanitary prison conditions, there are fears that they could die at any moment. Tragically, the number of political prisoners who are ill and in need of medical treatment is not limited to the three aforementioned; there are more than 60 political prisoners who need to be hospitalized.
Iran has turned into a big prison for journalists whose only crime is to disseminate information. There are currently 63 reporters and photojournalists in Iran's prisons. Iranian students are imprisoned or barred from education for making the slightest political criticism.
Iranian women who seek equal rights are charged with conspiring to overthrow the Islamic Republic; criminal proceedings have been instituted against more than a hundred of these women.
Workers and teachers have been accused of causing riots and disorder, because they were trade union members and had protested against their low wages. Some of them have been imprisoned, and many have lost their jobs.
Not only non-Muslims are persecuted – such as members of the Baha'i faith who, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have not even been allowed to study at university – but even the followers of Iran's official religion, Shi'ite Islam, have not been immune from government repression; as an example, one could cite the persecution and detention of the Gonabad Dervishes.
Even more appallingly, they have recently embarked on yet another means of exerting pressure on political and social activists, which is to take one or a few of their relatives hostage. In so doing, they aim to attain their illegitimate objectives through putting psychological pressure on the activists. In that regard, one could point to the arrest of two daughters of a human rights activist, Mr Tavassoli. Sadly, so far eight families have been victims of the same phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the plight of human rights defenders is the worst because the authorities do not want any reports whatsoever on the human rights violations in Iran to leave the country. As a result, most of the known activists in Iran are either in prison or barred from travelling abroad; or they have been forced underground and into hiding. More distressingly, indictments have been issued against some of them for Moharebeh (waging war against God), which is punishable by death.
Under such circumstances, the defenceless people of Iran are continuing to resist and insist on the realization of their just demands for democracy and human rights by demonstrating their political maturity through peaceful protests.
My question to you in your capacity as representatives of UNHRC member states is this: For how much longer do you believe that you could urge young people to remain calm? The patience and tolerance of Iranian people, however high, is not infinite. A recurrence of the recent months' events, the continuation of the repressive policies, and the killing of defenceless people, could bring about a catastrophe that may undermine peace and security in Iran, if not in the entire region. So, I urge you, yet again, to use whatever means possible to convince the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to abide by the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, in particular the resolution of December 2009; to allow human rights rapporteurs, especially those who deal with arbitrary arrests, freedom of expression, religion and women's rights, to enter Iran, and to cooperate with them.
I also urge you to appoint a special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, who would be able to continuously monitor the government's conduct and, by offering prompt advice and suggestions, help end the political crisis and mounting repression.
My honourable friends! Please bear in mind that we are all responsible and accountable to history. God forbid, lest we stand ashamed before a defenceless nation because of our political complicities.
Shirin Ebadi
08 February 2010
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Mehdi, please include all
by TheMrs on Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:00 AM PSTMehdi, please include all the links where she said she’s a “loser”. Did she make the sign of a big L on her forehead too?
One of the mandate's of this organization (Iran is a member) is : We have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights.
Start here, I suggest you read the first and the tenth question and then start again from the top.
//www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
Here's another one you may want to read:
//www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/InternationalLaw.aspx
Ebadi is asking UN 2 show evidence of crimes 2 Iran &seek answer
by Anonymouse on Tue Feb 09, 2010 09:30 AM PSTEverything is sacred.
Mah feshand noor o sag oo oo knad
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Tue Feb 09, 2010 08:45 AM PSTLet the IRR apologists bark all they want. Ms. Ebadi shines while they bark. To IRR apologists:
Our qualities are many but infinite patience is not among them
You be the Judge
by Bahram G on Tue Feb 09, 2010 08:40 AM PSTThere are those who come into the world through the loving care and much sacrifice of a woman, who have sisters, who perhaps will have daughters, who have first hand experienced the preciousness of women and their contributions to all facets of life.
And there are those who arrive into the world by crawling out of some rock who forever remain contemptuous of much of what makes us human, including women.
It is this latter group that slanders a magnificent woman like Shirin Ebadi and adulates those vicious police-women in Iran who viciously beat the peacefully demonstrating women who wanted nothing more than equal family rights with men.
And we know where those human-looking beasts baton-wielding police-women came from. From the same place as their counterparts who torture, rape, and kill defenseless humans.
And the akhoonds do not have the monopoly on being the lowest of the low. They also have their foot-soldiers, their apologists, and their paid thugs of all stripes who do their bidding.
You be the judge. Is Dr. Ebadi the human you want to support and admire or the vicious females who attack innocent defenseless women. If Dr. Ebadi is a traitor, then she is a traitor to all that constitutes evil. She is a champion of human rights and the rights of women.
Bahram G
Bahram Jan and others who share our wishes
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Tue Feb 09, 2010 08:39 AM PSTWomen of Iran are the best hope of the nation.
We are all in this together. Woman; man; young; old; people in Iran and people outside. We all must do whatever is in our power. No more sitting around.
What can you do? If you have not already then join IIC:
//www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=263222071382&ref=ts
This is the time for action. No matter how small it will help. There are millions of us outside the US. We have 91 members on IIC. That is not enough. We need to have 1 million members! What are people waiting for? Ms. Ebadi is doing a great job. But she needs our help and our support.
I hail Ms. Ebadi
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Tue Feb 09, 2010 08:15 AM PSTI am normally opposed to foriegn intervention in Iran. But in this case I will defer to Ms. Ebadi. She is there; I am not. She is in a better position than I to determine the right course. Whatever she requests I will support.
For starters we need to obtain international arrest warrants for the IRR murderers. Next will be trials. If they don't show up trials should be held in absentia. These guys are going to the Hague if they are lucky. If not they will meet the fate of Chauchesku.
Mehdi: Are you an Iranian? If so why do you support people who murder your own kind? If not then please pack your boom box and move on. We do not need outsiders to defend the IRR Mullahs and its jallad hayeh khoon asham.
Mehdi
by Cost-of-Progress on Tue Feb 09, 2010 07:52 AM PSTThe IR and their deaf and dumb supportes (look in the mirror) are the true traitors. MKO is the same. In fact, anything with a hint and stench of Islam is posion for Iran, has been and will be.
You beat your chest about foriegn powers' intervention, but I'm sure it is OK with you people that your murderer Imam was installed by the foriegn powers - Double standards, ay?
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IRAN FIRST
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Ebadi asking for foreign intervention - disgusting
by Mehdi on Tue Feb 09, 2010 07:43 AM PSTI get really disgusted with Iranians who resort to foreign powers and beg for force. Ebadi lost all credibility by joining the likes of MKO and Mosad spy agency to ask for sanctions and forceful intervention in Iran's affairs. She also admitted that she is a loser. She did not win the heart and minds of Iranians. She became frustrated and gave up. May she rest in peace, among her MKO friends.
A magnificent Iranian woman
by Bahram G on Tue Feb 09, 2010 07:14 AM PSTWomen of Iran are the best hope of the nation. Dr. Ebadi is a true daughter of proud Iran. I am sure that there are millions of Iranian women who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, to free Iran and lead the way in restoring their own right to equality with men and the right of all people to be treated fairly.
My utmost respect to this lioness Ebadi and her legion of magnificent Iranian women who refuse to be doormats to a bunch of savage akhoonds.
Bahram G