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Mahboubeh and Bahareh

Women's rights activists Mahboubeh Karami and Bahareh Hedayat

Change for Equality Statement: Over 1000 equal rights and human rights defenders have objected to the continued detention of Mahboubeh Karami and Bahareh Hedayat. The  detention demonstrates that the pressure on women’s rights activists continues unimpeded. It is approximately one and half months since Mahboubeh Karami, an active member of the One Million Signatures Campaign was arrested. The manner in which she was arrested was so unusual and strange, that no one believed that her time in detention would be long. But she remains in detention still. Mahboubeh Karami was arrested on the 13th of June, while on her way home by bus. The plain clothes security officials, whose organizational affiliation remains unclear, attacked her on the bus which was passing by a protest, beat her and without any logic or reason arrested her. She spent 3 weeks in Evin Prison’s Section 240, after which she was transferred along with 9 other women arrested in relation to the same protest to a small cell in the women’s ward of Evin Prison where they remained in isolation. After about 2 weeks in this joint cell, Mahboubeh was transferred to the general Ward of Evin prison. After follow-up by her family members and lawyers and despite the fact that Mahboubeh had not even been charged with committing a crime, court officials told her lawyer that a bail order in the amount of 100 Million Tomans was issued in her case. Her family does not have the capacity to post such a heavy bail amount, as such Mahboubeh Karami remains in prison. It is noteworthy to mention that such a high bail amount, does not correspond with the unusual manner in which she was arrested and the charges against her. It is apparent that this case is a clear example of violation of civil rights and laws intended to protect citizen’s rights >>> Full text

from Jahanshah Javid
05-Aug-2008
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Azadeh Azmoudeh

Tolerance of Intolerance!

by Azadeh Azmoudeh on Wed Aug 06, 2008 09:54 PM PDT

I'm so sorry that you felt insulted. Maybe I came too strong in that. My point is, dear friend, that we know the problem, we all know the reality that what is going on in that country; however, talking is cheap and get us no where. Suppose I said I am suffering, then what? My point is I am here to help, but honestly what can we do except inform others of what's going on, or let them know that instead of sitting down looking for help from outside nothing gonna happen. I have been in that country for 27 years, I have been to jail too. I, as well as my family, have been tortured. But, I made a choice so did so many others. Contrary to most of the talkers here, I have smelled the blood, I have been the witness of rape (being a victim myself at times, both physically and wmotionally) but I stopped being a victim, because I made a choice. Do NOT tell me they don't have, I do know they do ans so do you. I am a woman, and proud to be one. All I can do in that respect is inform our women to stop being oppressed. Dearest, this past winter I was in Iran for 3 weeks and spent most of my time in places that did not believe existed prior to my trip; BUT, this is my personal belief noone can help women but themselves, no one can stand for them unless they themselves believe in their own VOICE.

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Man aa'nam ke Rostam bovad pah'levaan

by 135 (not verified) on Wed Aug 06, 2008 02:09 PM PDT

Dear Azadeh,

Do you even read your own comment?
I really feel insulted. And I am man!! Imagine how my sisters are feeling?

We have billions of people who are capable of giving hours of lectures on pollution for instance, while having three SUV's parked at the front door.
This is neither activism nor sympathism.

You're not suffering from this dictatorship??
What sort of encouragement do you have in mind to offer? and Leadership?? Movement??
What are you talking about!!?? You're a researcher, aren't you?

I'd like to see whose chin will be up after a Reality Therapy in Evin's isolated and insolated dungeons; damp, fetid smell of blood and piss - trying to cover your head with scarf, while your bruised and bloody breasts hanging out, with the rest of your body - smell of bo, not yours, theirs, with your head locked in an arm and your mouth and nose in an armpit - hands are tied and lied on back - one of them read the Sighe, but wait, that's just the beginning, as the rape is the last phase of the daily interogation process, there is a long way to go before the rape finale - shaving head and face(yes you heard it right), punchig nose, deforming face, pulling nails, nose and anus enema, chicken hook, windmill ..., and crying for hours and hours.
Few days of such hospitality and Reality, should be sufficient, in order to even Che Guevara's chin with his toes.

90% of Iranians would leave Iran if they were as fortunate as you are. But they aren't and they won't. We are the cowards and spoiled ones.


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پیام

What about men rights?

by پیام on Wed Aug 06, 2008 01:23 PM PDT

Though I agree that Iranian (judicial) laws discriminates women more often than men, we for certain can agree on the fact that current Iranian dictatorship violates human rights regardless ones gender.


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Azadeh Azmoudeh

Tolerance of Intolerance is Cowardice!

by Azadeh Azmoudeh on Wed Aug 06, 2008 08:35 AM PDT

I stand up with my chin up and all I can do is to encourage Iranian women to do the same as those two did. You might say it's easy for me to stand miles away and ask them to stand up and do something; however, I am not suffering from this dictatorship, they are. I will give them enough encouragement, but leadership and movement is upon them.

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Human Rights!

by Noghteh (not verified) on Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:04 PM PDT

Bigger issue at hand is that do we ontinue to distinguish one human from another based on gender, belief, etc. or should we emphasize the right for all, for how much longer will 70 million people continue to bow down to this crowd of bigots running the country? obviously the forces that hold the evil in power is persistent. How much more degrading can one nation take when it comes to human rights? or is this going to be the legacy of Iran, the amount of abuse it can take from its own people?


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ebi amirhosseini

Dear Troneg !

by ebi amirhosseini on Tue Aug 05, 2008 09:00 PM PDT

Loved the 1st paragraph of your comment.

I believe you're absolutely right that it is a cultural/religious problem in Iran,but JJ also has a point when he chooses the title" shame on men",since all the religions,laws are man-made, ( at least in Iran & other countries with the same problems, also abused by men).If mothers push the ignorance to their daughters' heads,it is what the Mullah or Priest or... who is a man taught him!.

That's only my thoughts.

best wishes


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These ladies are courageous,

by Fatollah (not verified) on Tue Aug 05, 2008 02:26 PM PDT

These ladies are courageous, they are fighting for a cause which indeed is just and they are absolutely entitled to demand equality, not only that but also entitled to get it! These brave souls have felt the lashes and the mistreatments by their societies to the bones. They demand with exceptional dignity without breaking, plunderage and uncivilized manners. I respect them very much. Someone here asked why they (the mullahs, the regime, the ruling society) are trying to crush half of the population?

The answer is divide and rule!

The judiciary in Iran is built upon Sharia laws, that means a judge (unsually a Mullah, former Pasdar, Hezbollahi, former intelligence officer, someone from a martyred family and if lucky a "Moamen") can interpret the laws anyway they see feat. Basically, the laws are there to serve the ruling clerics and clique! That is it!

By the way, those lawyers, judges and legal practitioners from the Imperial era whom also have someone dear and near migrated to the West are so busy to lie, deceit, fill their pockets and mitigate the hardliners in order to surrvive in that chaos of human tragedy called Islamic Republic!


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IRANdokht

it's frustrating: lets do something

by IRANdokht on Tue Aug 05, 2008 01:01 PM PDT

it's absolutely difficult to feel this helpless and see what's happening to us

JJ jan not all men want these injustices, and there are a lot of them who are supporting these women and their fight for equality and freedom. I think what sets us apart from other countries in the region who are treating women the same or even worse is the fact that our men are proud of the women in their lives.

The majority of our men support their wives, their sisters and their daughters. It's those who are blinded by either ignorance or greed who set these rules and enforce them, and hopefully some day soon, they will be defeated.

Thank you for this post and I wish them all to be safe and set free immediately. We (in iranain.com) should contact these international groups and make some noise too.

IRANdokht


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Abarmard

We all know

by Abarmard on Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:24 PM PDT

That these embarrassing laws are being made for a few Akhunds who want to enjoy their position of power. Hopefully the people will stand up against these Ass holes so they would know this is not their Aunties home, that they do as they feel.

Just don't sit silent, no matter what.


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Mona 19

When women thrive, all of society benefits...

by Mona 19 on Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:16 PM PDT

and the next generations are given a better start and opportunity in life.…gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation.

Bless all the men and women who raise their voices for equality/human rights specially these fearless lionesses.

I am so proud to be an Iranian women because of You, and your likes.

 

Regards,Mona ;)

 


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Troneg

Shame on IRI and Iranian Machiste culture

by Troneg on Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:02 AM PDT

I see M. Faribors M.D is come back with another fack name. Only you think that IRI is a democratie for waiting to vote. We don't need other people to save Iran. Iranian will do it.

I agree with Sima. Why shame in Men ?: It is a cultural problem in Iran. There are even some women who support fanatics and push religion on daughter's heads. Shame on all of us who tolerate these actions.


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sima

One more thing...

by sima on Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:10 AM PDT

Who titled this post "Shame on Men"? First of all, "men" don't necessarily have anything to do with this. Second, it is condescending. Women are not damsels in distress waiting for men to rescue them. Nor do we need to add to the numbers of martyrs of any sex for any cause.

Shame on all, men AND women, who are implicated in and/or benefit from this kind of ignorance and brutality.


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sima

Enough

by sima on Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:00 AM PDT

It boggles the mind that this savagry against women continues. I'm far from convinced that it benefits the Islamic Republic. Crushing political organizations is one thing, trying to crush half the population just doesn't make any sense. I am honestly confused. Who is benefiting from this savagry?

Women are unstoppable. We all know that.


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Women's rights activists Mahboubeh Karami and Bahareh Hedayat

by Faribors maleknasri M.D. (not verified) on Tue Aug 05, 2008 06:53 AM PDT

I would like to recommend all the activists to wait for next voting. Otherwise they may ask by Bushy Bushy and condolenz for help in this apparently most urgentcase. Greeting


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