Change for Equality

International campaign to support the rights of Iranian workers

Fadmin — 2013-04-23T16:22:15Z

The elimination of subsidies, the increasing economic sanctions, policies of economic adjustment, privatization, and the increasing growth of parasitic economics have resulted in the closure of many production plants, and the move of the industrial and agricultural production sector toward non-production activities are threating the lives and livelihood of millions of workers and their families in Iran.. The reports of the Economic Commission of the Parliament of the IRI, as reported by Worker's News, in the Fall of 2011 indicate that 50% of production centers in Iran have either been closed or are on the verge of closure and most of the larger production centers are working at less than 30% capacity.

The Campaign calls on those who believe in social justice and who want the freedom of imprisoned workers, to become the voice of Iranian workers between the 21st of April to the 1st of May, and work through whatever means available to them to bring attention to the plight of all Iranian workers, including those who are employed, unemployed, women workers, child workers, Afghan workers and especially imprisoned workers.

The Livelihood of Workers in Iran

Workers live under the poverty line in Iran. On December 21, 2012 in an interview with PANA news agency (a governmental news site), a member of the High Council of Employment, announced the official poverty line in Iran for a household of four at 15 million Rials. According to reports by Iran's Central bank and Iran's Statistics Center, the inflation rate in the last few months of the Iranian year was over 31% and for some consumable products it was reported to be as high as 40%. Calculating for this level of inflation, unofficial estimates put the poverty line for a family of four at 17 Million Rials at the start of the new Iranian year (March 20, 2013). In the same year, the High Council of Employment set the minimum wage for workers at 4,870,000 Rials. Comparing this figure with the estimated poverty line for the same year sheds light on the tragic and critical situation of workers in Iran. Despite the fact that the wages set for workers is extremely low, they still are denied this basic pay. Workers are often compensated for their work with several months delay or they don't get paid at all. For example, 2300 workers at Safa Pipe Factory in Saveh, were not only denied New Year's bonuses, but have not been paid for three months (their pay has been delayed). Further, workers working at the Kahkooliyeh and Booyer Ahmad Roads Construction Company were finally compensated with their pay and benefits in February 2013, after a seven month. Living under such difficult circumstances constitutes a slow death for most Iranian workers and their families.

It should be noted that the process of establishing the minimum wage per month for workers, carried out by the High Council of Employment and the Ministry of Cooperatives, Work and Social Security is not even in line with Article 41 of the Iranian Law on Employment. At the same time, the current situation also violates Article 25 of Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Article 25 of the UDA states: “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. “

Work Related Accidents

Slow death is not the only threat facing Iranian workers. Death resulting from workplace accidents, is a major threat facing workers, which contributes to the death of 1000‘s of workers on a yearly basis. Most workers are employed in small plants without any regulatory oversight. When they die as a result of work related accidents, their families are left without a bread winner or financial recourse, as these workers are not insured. According to reports from the office of the Medical Examiner, 5 workers die as a result of work related accidents per day. This rate has witnessed a yearly increase. In 2010, the number of workers dying as a result of work related accidents was 1290 persons. In 2011 the figure increased to 1507. According to reports and statistics, work related injuries are the second highest factor leading to death in Iran.

Falling from buildings in construction sites while at work, dying as a result of explosion in mines, fires in work places, the collapse of buildings and falling into deep wells comprise the most frequently reported work related accidents resulting in death of workers. In almost all the cases, these accidents occur as a result of the absence of safety measures and unsafe working conditions. ILNA (Iranian Labor News Agency) has repeatedly reported on the oversights and shortcomings on the part of government inspectors from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Work and Social Security.

Examples of work related incidents are plenty including a fire in the fall of 2011 at the Foulad factory in Yazd during which 18 workers lost their lives and a number suffered severe burns, including burns on more than 50% of their bodies. In February of 2012, a mines explosion in Tabas resulted in the loss of lives of 8 workers. Legal measures taken up by the courts in several incidents have not resulted in any redress for workers and their families.

The Dismissal of Workers and the Crisis of Employment Most workers in Iran are employed based on temporary contracts and as daily and hourly laborers. These workers do not have the benefit of unemployment insurance, health insurance and workers compensation insurance. Their contracts make it very easy for their employers to dismiss them individually or as a group. Given the increasing economic sanctions against Iran, and the poor economic policies which are also in contradiction to national interests and the outrageous increases in the prices of foreign currencies, the lives of citizens, but especially workers and laborers has become very difficult.

Many of the employers, because of the relationships they enjoy with the State, have been able to take advantage of lower rates for purchase of currencies, to pay for their imports, their equipment or primary products necessary for production. The sale of the lower priced currency, which is available to those with connections with the government, or investing in sales business, rather than production, generates more profit. As a result of these trends, many employers who are not subject to oversight and controls have closed their factories and workshops and dismiss workers. According to the head of the House of Workers, a government entity, between May 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012, 100,000 workers were dismissed from their places of employment.

Imprisoned Workers

Despite the fact that Iranian law recognizes the rights of workers to set up trade organizations and unions, the government has resisted and seriously opposes and prevents efforts by workers to set up independent organizations in support of their rights and demands. Progressive workers, who have worked to set up Syndicates and unions, have been harassed and pursued legally. For example, members of the Bus Drivers Syndicate of Greater Tehran, Haft Tapeh Sugar Worker's Syndicate of Ahvaz, Painters Syndicate, Free Workers Union, and the Committee for Support of Workers ‘Organizations, have all experienced pressures crackdowns by security officials. Many of the members of these workers organizations have been sentenced to long prison terms, and at present several of them are serving their prison terms. The following workers' rights activists have been sentenced to serve prison terms and are serving their prison terms: Shahrokh Zamani, 11 years; Reza Shahbi, 6 years; Mohammad Jarahi 5 years; Behnam Ibrahimzadeh, 5 years (on furlough at the time this report was prepared); and Pedram Nasrollahi, 18 months. In addition to those named above, a number of other workers' rights activists and teachers rights activists, are currently in prison in Iran or are free on heavy bail amounts.

A number of workers and union members currently in prison are severely ill, including Shahrokh Zamani and Mohammad Jarahi, and need urgent medical care and supervision outside of prison.

The names of union members/workers and teachers currently in prison are as follows: Shahrokh Zamani, Mohammad Jarahi, Behrooz Allamehzadeh, Behrooz Nikfard, Alireza Saeedi, Qaleb Hossieni, Ali Azadi, Pedram Nasrollahi, Rasool Bodaghi (member of the teachers trade union), Abdulreza Ghanbari, (member of the teachers trade union), Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Sharif Saed Panah, and Mozafar Saleh Nia.

The Situation of Female Workers

Female workers, in Iran's patriarchal society suffer from multiple historical, cultural, social and legal discriminations. They are also the first victims who suffer from political, social and economic crisis in Iran. Besides being employed in low paying and intensive labor professions, with long hours and often informal and illegal working conditions, female workers receive lower pay, even for equal work. Female workers are also the first to be dismissed when their employers suffer economic woes. The increases in the rate of unemployment of women, has increased from 33% in 2005 to 44% in 2010 according to official stats.

According to official statistics, female workers comprise 5% of the total workers and laborers. Because women are often employed in the informal sector they are often not even counted in official statistics. Even in formal employment sectors the rights of women workers are often not upheld, and the benefits that according to the law they are entitled to is often denied them. These benefits, such as maternity leave, time off to breastfeed infants, the creation of breastfeeding facilities at their workplace and establishment of day care facilities at their workplace, have in fact resulted in employers ‘reluctance to hire women workers. Some employers force women to sign contracts which oblige them to avoid pregnancy during their term of employment.

According to Article 191 of the Law on Employment, small workshops employing less than 10 persons are not obliged to meet the laws and regulations set forth in the Law on employment. According to reports, the workers working in this sector, who tend to be predominantly women, are employed without the right to health insurance, government pensions (which employers contribute to), annual leave, and maternity leave. They often work long hours, are engaged in difficult work and get paid a low wage. There is no oversight of safety and health issues provided at these workshops.

A large number of female workers have turned to production work in their own homes, which they often carry out with the help of their families and children. This type of labor is often difficult, involves long hours and has no government oversight, as it is in the homes of the female workers.

With the adoption of the “Off-site Work Program,“ the government has s encouraged this type of domestic production work, which allows exploitation of workers by employers and contributes to increased physical, emotional and psychological pressures on and violence against women.

Unfortunately to the ranks of these female workers, we have to add those engaged in prostitution, whose numbers are on the rise. This sector of female workers, not only does not benefit from any rights, but are at risk of arrest, prison and even execution.

Child Labor/Workers

Article 79 of the Law on employment has outlawed the employment of children under the age of 15. But according to unofficial statistics and based on reports from Mashregh Website (a government site) and the Parliamentary Research Center in the Fall of 2012, three million and 265 thousand children were left behind from education. Of these children who are out of the school system, 3 million of them were identified as child workers/laborers.

Child workers tend to be employed in small workshops or are engaged in production of products at home (domestic production) or work as street peddlers selling products to consumers on the streets. Given the 40% inflation rate and the poverty rate of vulnerable families, the number of these children is on the rise.

Under current circumstances, especially given the high level of dismissals of workers from industrial factories/workshops, women and children are facing increasing poverty and enjoy no social supports or safety nets. As a result the numbers of women and children entering prostitution is on the rise, the age of those turning to drugs and addiction has decreased, and illiteracy or low literacy is on the rise.

Afghan Workers

The situation of Afghan workers and in general the situation of refugee and migrant workers in Iran is disastrous. Of the two million Afghan workers living in Iran, about two thirds, meaning 1 million and 400 thousand do not have legal working papers. Despite the fact that they have lived in Iran for years, the government, has not addressed their situation. This situation has added to their problems, so much so, that they do not even benefit from the limited rights that other workers enjoy. The pay scale of Afghan workers, as compared to, workers who have been officially hired as full time permanent workers, is much lower, and their working conditions are much more difficult. Afghan workers do not benefit from health insurance, pension benefits, or workers ‘compensation. Their children do not have the right to be educated and they do not have identity cards. These workers and their families live under very difficult circumstances.

See online : All Human Rights for All in Iran

Women Gather Outside the Tehran Public Prosecutor's Office, Enquiring about Nasrin Sotoudeh's Condition

Fadmin — 2012-12-03T12:46:50Z

Change for Equality: Tens of women's rights activists have expressed their concerns about Nasrin Sotoudeh's deteriorating condition in a letter which they delivered in person to the Tehran Public Prosecutor's Office on the morning of Sunday 2nd December. As of today, 3rd December, Nasrin Sotoudeh has been on hunger strike for forty-seven days. In the letter, addressed to the Public Prosecutor General for Tehran, Mr Jafari-Dowlatabadi, while declaring their support for Nasrin Sotoudeh's demands, they demanded that she be transferred immediately to an appropriately equipped hospital.

The women's activists sought to meet with the Public Prosecutor General for Tehran but were told this was impossible, and handed the letter over to his deputy, Mr Khodabakhshi, instead.

The deputy prosecutor opined that only Nasrin's family were allowed to seek information about her case. The activists, however, stated that Nasrin's condition had a special importance for them, not only because of its human dimensions, but in particular because she is one of those lawyers committed to the women's movement. They therefore considered it their duty to make enquiries about her condition.

Nasrin Sotoudeh has been on hunger strike, for the fifth time, since 14th October, and this is the forty-seventh day of her strike. Her only demand is that the pressures on her family cease. She is demanding in particular that the travel ban on her daughter Mehraveh be lifted. The prosecutor has issued an order forbidding her to leave the country.

According to Nasrin Sotoudeh herself, her hunger strike will be of unlimited duration. The ongoing hunger strike has provoked a wave of concern among civil society and women's activists. One of those present at the prosecutor's office indicated that they had resolved to take up Nasrin's condition with other legal authorities.

Twently-Two Women's Groups and 275 Activists from 35 Countries Call on Iranian Authorities to Ensure Health and Rights of Imprisoned Women Activists

Sadmin — 2012-11-11T18:01:20Z

Change for Equality:International women activists and women's organizations have issued a statement expressing grave concern over the health and wellbeing of ten female prisoners of conscience who started hunger strikes to protest illegal and inappropriate treatment in prison. Two-hundred and seventy five individuals and 22 organizations representing 35 countries, have called for the immediate release of these prisoners of conscience. They have also urged the Iranian authorities to ensure the rights of the women while in prison and have called upon the judiciary, security and prison officials to end their harassment of female prisoners of conscience.

Background: On October 30th nine women prisoners of conscience, including journalists, human rights defenders, women's rights and student activists, went on hunger strike after the prison was violently stormed by guards and the women were subjected to an invasive, unnecessary and illegal body search, that some have likened to an assault. The tenth woman, Nasrin Sotoudeh, human rights lawyer, had been on hunger strike since October 17, to protest lack of in-person visitation with her family and a travel ban placed on her 12 year old daughter. She was moved to solitary confinement against her will on November 4th and as of Sunday November 5th, when her husband visited with her, she had not ended her hunger strike. There is no news on her current condition, which has added to worries about her health. On November 6th Bahareh Hedayat, Nazanin Dihimi, Jila Baniyaghoub, Shiva Nazarahari, Mahsa Amrabadi, Hakimeh Shokri, Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi and Nasim Soltan Beygi ended their hunger strike. Rahele Zakaii had ended her strike earlier in the week. The 8 women in Evin prison's general ward, ended their hunger strike, after receiving assurances from prison authorities that the abusive behavior of guards would be investigated. The women also filed a complaint against the guards and have received assurances that authorities will pursue the complaint.

The statement, signed by 275 women's rights defenders and 22 organizations, form almost 35 different countries, appears below:

Call on Iranian Authorities to Ensure Health and Rights of Nasrin Sotoudeh and Nine Female Prisoners of Conscience on Hunger Strike

Ten female prisoners of conscience in Tehran's Evin prison have embarked on a hunger strike to protest the illegal treatment by Iran's security, prison and judiciary officials. Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights lawyer who is serving a six year prison sentence in relation to her human rights activities began her hunger strike on October 21. She is protesting the state's harassment of her family including limitations placed on in-person visitation with her family and a travel ban by the Judiciary issued against her 12 year old daughter, Mehraveh Khandan. Despite pleas to Iranian officials to end their illegal treatment and harassment of Sotoudeh and her family, no steps have been taken to remedy the problem. Instead some hardliners have threatened and defamed her further in the state controlled media. Meanwhile over two weeks into her hunger strike, Nasrin's health has drastically deteriorated her wellbeing is at great risk.

At the same time, officials stepped up their harassment of other female prisoners in Evin. On October 30 2012, the Women's Ward at Evin, which is home to human and women's rights activists, journalists, political prisoners and religious minorities, was violently and illegally raided by 20 special guard forces, who proceeded to insult and humiliate the female prisoners. In response nine of these women have begun a hunger strike to protest the violent and illegal treatment they have received, including Bahareh Hedayat, Jila Baniyagoub, Shiva Nazarahari, Nasim SoltanBeigi, Mahsa Amrabadi, Nazanin Deyhami, Hakimeh Shokri, Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, and Raheleh Zakaee.

We as defenders of women's rights internationally and in our own countries recognize that most of the female prisoners in Evin have been sentenced to serve long prison terms as a result of activities in defense of justice, freedom and rights. We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating situation of human rights in Iran and the illegal treatment of political prisoners, including the women at Evin prison. We the undersigned, express our grave concern over the health of Nasrin Sotoudeh and the other female prisoners on hunger strike.

We urge the Iranian authorities to take immediate steps to release these prisoners of conscience and to take all steps necessary to ensure that their rights are fully adhered to while in prison. We call upon the Iranian Judiciary, security and prison officials to end harassment of female prisoners of conscience and their families, including the lifting of the travel ban imposed on Nasrin Sotoudeh's daughter. We further call on authorities to adhere to national and international laws and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all prisoners, allow them regular in-person visits with their family members, regular furloughs, access to health care, access to legal aid, and regular phone calls.

Signatories:

Afghanistan

Hassina, Afghan Women's Network - Tariq Sapi, ABC - Wazhma Frogh, RIWPS – Zainab ,SW

Australia

R E Russell, Ruth Elizabeth Russell, Anne S Walker, Beth McMon, Karen Nobes

Bangladesh

Kazi Rabeya Ame, The Hunger Project Bangladesh

Bahrain

Mariam Alkhawaja

Belgium

Nuozzi Cynthia

Canada

Diana Sarosi, Narges Kermanshahi, Rachael Dempsey, Saira Zuberi

Costa Rica

Laurencia Saenz

Colombia

Patricia Guerrero, Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas

Dominican Republic

María Cuervo

England

Kamran Hashemi, Soudeh RAD, Helen Gambold, Syma Sayyah-Afshar, Theresa Evans

Egypt

Claudia ruta, UN WOMEN - Rana Korayem, Rana Korayem, Dina Wahba, Noha Roushdy, Sally Zohney, Yara Sallam

Fiji

Merewairita Naisua-Moci, Fijian Teachers Association - Paulini Turagabeci, YWCA Fiji - Vanessa Griffen, Individual, Matelita Ana Rakacikaci, Noelene Nabulivou, Sian Rolls, Sima Chand

France

Ilène , Ilène Grange - Mathilde Roué, OLF, Amélie SAINTEMARIE, Aurore Valverde, Boillet, Camo, Catherine Charrier, Cathy Lavigne, Cathy Lavigne, Chahla Chafiq, Christele Rebillon, Darmon Léa, Eleonore Hasle, Florianne Garonne, François Léonard, Jean-François DEVANNEAUX, Jean-michel Selle, Justine BOUHEY BERNARD, Laurine Bricard, Léna Olivier, Lydia Narciso, Marie Estrade, Marie-laure Plantadit, Marion Castellanos, Mathilde Bertrand, Quesne Greg, Sarah Werner, Stéphane Thuault, Moussier Marion

Germany

Kadriye Baksi, sehrazat, Anna Dremel, Christiane Alisch, Ismail H. Polat, Rezvan Moghaddam, Rupert Rosenberger, Shokoofeh Montazeri, Stephanie Zorn, Stephanie Zorn

Ghana

Euphemia Akos Dzathor, African Women's Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh)

Iraq

Batool Al- Daghir, Woman Rights Center in Samawa - Ilham Makki, Al-Amal association - Janet Salim Benjamin, Etana Women Organization - Lamia Talebani, VOICE OF INDEPENDENT WOMEN ORGANIZATION – mjareh , muafaq hassan jareh - Noaman Muna, Iraqi Al-Amal Association - Peshawa Lateef, Private - Saadia F.Hassoon , Together to protect Human & the environment Association - Souad Aljazairy, IWMC – SALAR, Al Amal Association - Ala Ali, Iraqi Al-Amal Association - حقي كريم هادي, جمية حماية وتطوير الاسرة العراقية - Hanaa Edwar, Hikmat Hussein, Ta'meem Al.Azawi

Organizations

ALmahaba we ALsalam fourm for student and youth, Iraqi Women Network, Salam AL-Rafidain.org, Women Empowerment

Ireland

Michelle Foley, Front Line Defenders, Conor Scott, Grainne Kilcullen, John Rogers, John Rogers, N. Nakhshab

Italy

Sabri Njafi, Assoiazione Studi e Riceche sulle Donne iraniane, Eleonora Cordovani, Amir Rashidi

India

Aniket Alam, Sonali Roy

Indonesia

Hayu Dyah

Iran

Dorsa Sobhani, Maryam Hosseinkhah, Marziyeh Bakhshizadeh, Naghmeh Gh., Nahid Mirhaj, Saghar Qyasi, Somaye Rashidi, Maryam Ahari, Navid Mohebbi, Parisa Kakaee, Roja Bandari, Sepideh Yousefzadeh, Shadi Sadr, Shahnaz Irani, Sima Hosseinzadeh

Japan

Kaoru Ueda

Netherlands

Krisztina Kovacs, mahshad, Rahman Javanmardi, Cheng Ong

Norway

Asieh Amini

Lebanon

Faysal El Kak, Lebanese Society of ObGyn - Toufic Sarieddine, Toufic Sarieddine, Bassem Chit, Bernadette Daou, Cynthia Aoun, Farah Kobaissy, Hiba Abbani, Lynn Darwich, sarah chreif

Organization

Nasawiya, a feminist collective

Libya

Razan Naeem ALmoghrabi

Oman

Usama, Usama Mohamed

Papua New Guinea

Rachael Tommbe

Philippines

Mary Jane Real

Portugal

Almerinda Bento

Papua New Guinea

Rachael Tommbe

Portugal

Almerinda Bento

Pakistan

Y. Zaidi

Serbia

Gordana Subotic, Women in black

Spain

CEIPAZ

Sewden

Sara Mohammad, Never Forget Pela and Fadime Organisation- Sweden- www.gapf.se – acb, ann-charlotte bjorklund - Anna-Klara Bratt, FEMINISTISKT PERSPEKTIV - Hilde Selander, International Female Film Festival Malmö - Jenny Rönngren, Feministiskt Perspektiv - Nima Korhasani, SKF - Nina Karlsson, HOMA Kommitén - Sabbir Khan, International Forum for Secular Bangladesh - Samuel E Rajeus, Samuel Rajeus - Tahmoures Yassami, Iranian and Swedish Association – Malmö - Tom Toiviainen, from a democracy - Nina Nazanin Karlsson, Iransk-svenska förening; A. Noroozi, Azar Mahloujian, Bengt Backlund, Birgitta Englin, Elisabeth Hellman, Emilie Mikkelson, Eva Nyblom, Eva Svegborn, farahroz Rangbar, Fredrik Elg, Gertrud Wincrantz-Wernstedt, Gursimer Singh, Hanna Jörgensen, Hans Ollaiver, Jamshid Moshkani, Jila Mossaed, Jonas Alwall, Kristina Hultman, KvR, Lady Michelle Einarsson, Layla Khairallah, Lena Olsson , Maj-Britt Pamp, Margareta Johansson, Martin Ullander, Nazi Raha, Peter Nordevang, Ragnhild Blomdahl, Richard Rosengren, sholeh irani, Ulrika Winbäck, Viola Ollaiver, Ylva Rehnberg, Zayera Khan

Organization

Feminist dialog

Saudi Arabia

Wajeha Al-Huwaider

Sri Lanka

Kumudini Samuel

Syria

Fadi Saleh

Tunisia Ahlem Belhadj, Association tunisienne des femmes démocrates - Arabya KOUSRI, Chehida Rakia, khadija Arfaoui, khadija Arfaoui

Turkey

Pinar Ilkkaracan, Çiğdem Şahin, Emre Daşar, WOMEN FOR WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS, Arzu Küçük, Derya çiçek, Free İranian, Hulya, Hak Savunucuları, Nihal Boztekin, Asuman, Ayse Coskun, Ayse Ulku Ozakin, Burcu Arıkan, C. Oral Ozdemir, Efsa Kuraner, Enta, Eylül Dizdaroğlu, Ezgitatlıoğlu, Gizem Haspolat, Gökçen Durutaş, Gülüm Albut, Hülya Türker, Işık Ergüden, Mine Sak, Namık Tolunay, Oktay Cicek, Pınar Yıldız, Ronida Heval, Şehlem Sebik, Serap Kalkan, Suzan Bayhan, Elif Can, Raduza, Öğretmen, ayşe uysal,Dilsah Saylan, Amargi - Elif Berk, Rainbow Women Association/Gökkuşağı Kadın Derneği – Yasemin Öz, Kaos GL – ağbulak, hayal – kaan, burak - Seyit Bilgin, Seyit Bilgin - iranda kadın hak. ihl., hak savunucuları,

United States

Samuel reshi , haku social organization - Nancy K, CODEPINK Women for Peace - Negar Chevre , Negar Chevre - Elahé Hicks , Partners for Rights – L.A. Hyder, Niki Akhavan, Ahmad Arbaboun, Nayereh Tohidi, Arman Rezakhani, Evelyne Accad, Holakou Rahmanian, James Fine, Jennifer Wiens, Negar Sammaknejad, NuNu Win, Soheil Parhizi, Soraya Fallah, Aida Saadat, Esha Momeni

Organization

WNN - Women News Network, International Campaign In support of Nasrin Sotoudeh, Neda For Free Iran, PersianIcons.org

Others

Rolf Vaardal

Source: http://www.irangenderequality.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104

Update on the Situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh

Sadmin — 2012-11-10T17:51:19Z

Change for Equality:: "As expected, Nasrin is very weak and has lost a significant amount of weight" says Reza Khandan

From the Facebook of Reza Khandan, the husband of incarcerated human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in solitary confinement and on the 20th day of a hunger strike at Evin prison

We are extremely concerned for Nasrin's well begin ever since we heard the news yesterday that she had been transferred from the general ward at Evin to solitary confinement at ward 209 [under the supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence].

We went to Evin today with the goal to request to see her and find out more about her physical and psychological condition. I am please to announced that I was allowed to see her, although our visit was informal and did not take place in the visitation area.

Nasrin is still on hunger strike and as expected she has become significantly weaker and has lost a lot of weight.

She was worried about the other female political prisoners on hunger strike at Evin. She said that she had tried very hard to convince them against such an act but was unfortunately not successful. She was worried because she believes that most of them don't have the physical stamina to withstand a long term hunger strike.

I had not brought the children with me because I had no hope that the authorities would grant the children visitation rights. It was such a pity and I wish I had known otherwise. Hopefully it will become possible for the children to visit with her soon.

Reza Khandan November 5th, 2012

**Change for Equality Editor's note: It should be noted that Nasrin Sotoudeh was transferred to solitary confinement on the 4th of November and on the 19th day of her hunger strike.

Translation courtesy of Banooye Sabz

Eight Female Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike at Evin Prison End their Hunger Strike

Sadmin — 2012-11-10T17:46:47Z

Change for Equality: Translation courtesy of Banooye Sabz: From the Facebook of Amin Ahmadian the husband of imprisoned student activist Bahare Hedayat

November 6th, 2012

Following the settlement of the complaint regarding the trespassing agents in question and guarantees by the authorities responsible for the protection and inspection of prisoners at Evin prison to investigate the incident, deal with the offenders and ensure that such an incident is not repeated in the future, the 8 female political prisoners on hunger strike at Evin prison's female ward have put an end to their hunger strike. [The ninth one, Raheleh Zakaee, had ended her strike earlier in the week].

The Disciplinary Committee at Evin prison sentenced the political prisoners who participated in a hunger strike to a 3 week ban from visitations and transfer to solitary confinement. This latest sentence was however, postponed for six months after complaints by the political prisoners in question.

I would like to address two points: Firstly, there have been reports in a number of online media outlets referring to female political prisoners being undressed. These reports are not true. Yesterday, a number of biased media outlets also reported that the female political prisoners in question had ended their hunger strike after they were threatened to loose their right to furlough. This claim is also false and void of truth.

I see it my duty to sincerely thank all our friends and companions and the sympathetic media outlets who supported us by informing everyone throughout this civic movement embarked upon by the female political prisoners at Evin. I truly appreciate all your efforts and thank you for your support.

Amin Ahmadian November 6th, 2012

Iran: Female detainees begin hunger strike after degrading treatment

Fadmin — 2012-11-04T19:13:39Z

The Iranian authorities must protect all detainees and prisoners from harassment and degrading treatment, Amnesty International said today, after nine female political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, started a hunger strike in response to alleged abuse by prison guards.

The women, who are all held in Tehran's Evin Prison include activists and journalists. They say they were subjected to humiliating and degrading body searches by female guards from the Prison Security Section who subsequently confiscated some of their personal belongings on Tuesday

The women plan to continue their hunger strike until they receive a formal apology from the prison authorities and guarantees that such incidents will not happen in future. They have also demanded that their personal belongings be returned.

"The prison authorities must investigate the women's allegations that they were subjected to degrading treatment and hold anyone found responsible to account. International human rights standards require that all prisoners are protected from torture or other ill-treatment,” said Ann Harrison, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.

In a separate incident, human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh – who is also detained at Evin Prison – has been on hunger strike since 17 October 2012. She is protesting at the authorities' harassment of her family and restrictions on her visitation rights. The Evin Prison Disciplinary Council has apparently placed a three-week ban on her receiving family visits.

Since her arrest in 2010, Sotoudeh was held for a lengthy period in solitary confinement and has been regularly prevented from face-to-face meetings with her family, including her two children or making phone calls to other family members.

"The authorities must refrain from barring prison visits and taking any other punitive measures against those on hunger strike," said Harrison.

"The women hunger strikers should have adequate access to qualified health professionals providing health care in compliance with medical ethics, including the principles of confidentiality, autonomy, and informed consent. A person's hunger strike must not prejudice any other aspect of their health care."

Among the nine women on hunger strike are Bahareh Hedayat, Zhila Bani Ya'ghoub, Shiva Nazar Ahari, Mahsa Amrabadi, and Zhila Karamzadeh-Makvandi.

"These women are being held solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. They should not be in prison at all and on no account should they be subjected to degrading treatment. They must be released immediately and unconditionally," said Harrison.

Bahareh Hedayat is a student activist and a member of the One Million Signature Campaign which is committed to ending discrimination against women in Iranian law. She is serving a 10-year prison sentence for “insulting the president”, “insulting the Leader” and “gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security”.

Zhila Bani Ya'ghoub, an award-winning journalist and women's rights activist, was summoned to Evin Prison on 2 September 2012 to serve a one-year prison sentence. In addition to her imprisonment, she has been banned from media and journalistic activities for 30 years after conviction of "spreading propaganda against the system” and “insulting the president”.

Shiva Nazar Ahari is a journalist, human rights activist and a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters. She is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for her peaceful human rights activities.

Journalist Mahsa Amrabadi, detained for two months after the disputed 2009 presidential election, is currently serving a one-year prison sentence for “spreading propaganda against the system through interviews and reports”.

Zhila Karamzadeh-Makvandi is a member of the Mothers of Laleh Park (formerly known as the "Mourning Mothers"), which campaigns against human rights violations such as unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and enforced disappearance. Many of its members are women whose children were killed, detained or who disappeared in the unrest which followed the June 2009 election.

She was arrested at the Passport Department in Tehran on 27 December 2011 and taken to Evin Prison to serve a two-year sentence imposed after conviction of “founding an illegal organization whose object is to harm state security” in relation to her peaceful activities in the group.

See online : Amnesty International

Sakharov Prize-winner Sotoudeh's Detention Highlights Denial of Basic Rights

Fadmin — 2012-11-04T19:08:05Z

Iran's judiciary and prison authorities should end mistreatment of the prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and six human rights organizations said today. Ebadi and the rights groups also called on Iran's authorities to allow all prisoners access to necessary medical care and family visits to which they are entitled under international human rights law.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI), joined by Ebadi, renewed their call on authorities to quash the peaceful activists' convictions and release them unconditionally.

“Journalists, human rights lawyers and rights defenders held solely on account of their peaceful activities – none of these people should be in prison in the first place,” said Ebadi. “Bullying a prisoner's child or denying the person family visits and medical care only makes Iran look even worse in the eyes of the world.”

Since the arrest in 2010 of Sotoudeh, a 47-year-old human rights lawyer and mother of two children, authorities have frequently held her in solitary confinement and prevented her from regularly meeting or speaking with her family. Iranian prison authorities have, in the past few months, routinely denied other political prisoners regular visits by their loved ones and access to adequate medical treatment.

Sotoudeh is being treated in the infirmary of Evin prison after she initiated a hunger strike on October 17, 2012, her husband, Reza Khandan, told the rights groups. He said the hunger strike was in response to harassment of her family by the authorities and restrictions on her visitation rights. The six human rights organizations and Ebadi said: “We are seriously concerned about Nasrin Sotoudeh and point out the Iranian authorities' responsibilities.”

On October 26, 2012, the European Parliament announced that it had awarded this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Sotoudeh and the Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Khandan said that Sotoudeh initiated her hunger strike after hearing that judiciary officials had summoned her 12-year-old daughter to inform her that she would not be allowed to travel abroad. Khandan said that Sotoudeh felt “she had no choice” but to go on hunger strike to express her objection to the authorities' harassment of her family and denial of her visitation rights. For the past three months, Evin prison authorities have prevented Sotoudeh's children from visiting their mother face to face and severely restricted Sotoudeh's ability to make telephone calls from prison. They have prohibited her from seeing her mother and brother for almost a year.

In January 2011 a Revolutionary Court sentenced Sotoudeh to 11 years in prison and barred her from practicing law or leaving the country for 20 years after her conviction on charges of “acting against the national security” and “propaganda against the system.” An appeals court reduced her sentence to six years and a 10-year ban on travel and practicing law. Criminal and Revolutionary Courts do not have the authority under Iranian law to ban lawyers from practicing, however, as this comes under the Disciplinary Court for Judges.

Evin prison officials have denied imprisoned journalists Jila Baniyaghoob and Mahsa Amrabadi regular personal visits with their husbands, who are in different prisons. Rights groups have received reports from informed sources that Baniyaghoob, who is serving a one-year sentence in Ward 350 of Evin prison, has not been permitted a visit from her husband, Bahman Ahmadi-Amoui (Ahmadi Amou'i), also a journalist, since her prison term began in September 2012. Amoui is serving a five-year sentence in Rajai Shahr prison, 47 kilometers west of Tehran, on charges that include “propaganda against the system” and “insulting the president.”

Amrabadi is serving a one-year sentence and her husband, Masoud Bastani, also a journalist, is serving a six-year sentence, both on security-related charges including “propaganda against the state” for articles they wrote regarding the disputed 2009 presidential election. The Iranian authorities are holding Amrabadi in Evin, while her husband is in Rajai Shahr prison.

Officials have denied needed medical care to two female political detainees, Bahareh Hedayat and Mahboubeh Karami. Sources told the rights groups that officials have denied Karami access to adequate psychological care for her severe and debilitating depression. A Revolutionary Court sentenced Karami to three years on national security-related charges. Hedayat was allowed to leave prison to seek medical treatment for kidney and digestive tract problems but was forced to return before she had fully recovered. She is serving a 10-year prison term on national security charges.

Iranian judicial and security officials have regularly made it harder for political prisoners to exercise their right to legal counsel. Many prominent rights lawyers are serving prison sentences themselves on charges directly related to their defense of their clients, which has a chilling effect on lawyers providing services.

Javid Houtan Kiyan (Houtan Kian) is serving an 11-year sentence, charged with “acting against national security.” Iranian authorities arrested Houtan Kian in October 2010 after he publicized the case of his client, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. In 2006 she was sentenced to death by stoning, though the resulting international attention led to suspension of her sentence. Since his arrest in September 2010, Houtan Kian has had minimal visitation rights but has not received adequate medical care despite suffering from a serious digestive illness.

On March 4, 2012, the prominent rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani learned that a Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to 18 years in prison, barred him from practicing law for 20 years, and ordered him to serve his sentence in Barazjan, about 1200 kilometers south of Tehran.

Prosecutors charged Soltani with “propaganda against the system,” “assembly and collusion against the state,” and “establishing an illegal group” – namely, the Center for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), which Soltani co-founded with Ebadi. An appeals court later reduced Soltani's sentence to 13 years but upheld the 20-year ban on practicing law.

In April 2012, an appeals court upheld a nine-year sentence for another lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, on charges related to interviews with foreign media and membership in CHRD. The court also sentenced Dadkhah to fines and flogging and banned him practicing law and teaching for 10 years. Mohammad Seifzadeh, another rights lawyer and member of CHRD, is serving a two-year sentence on similar charges, with other cases pending against him.

International and Iranian law require prison authorities to provide all those held with adequate medical care. Iran's State Prison Organization regulations state that, if necessary, detainees must be transferred to a hospital outside the prison facility. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners require that authorities transfer all those held needing specialist treatment to specialized institutions, including civilian hospitals.

Both Iranian law and international law require prison authorities to provide basic necessities to all prisoners, to allow them regular visits – including personal visits by family members, and to treat them with dignity and respect. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party, prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

See online : International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Thirty-Three Female Prisoners Demand Apology From Evin Prison Chief in A Letter

Sadmin — 2012-11-02T03:54:40Z

Change for Equality: According to the website Kalameh, 33 women currently serving their prison terms in Evin prison have written an open letter to the Chief of Evin Prison in Tehran, demanding an apology and acknowledgment of wrong doing in relation to a violent physical search, harassment of prisoners and search of the premises on October 31, 2012. Nine women have gone on hunger strike to protest his treatment, bringing the number of women prisoners on hunger strike at Evin to 10, including Nasrin Sotoudeh who had started a hunger strike on the 17th of October to protest irregular visits with family and a travel ban placed on her 12 year old daughter. The translated text of the letter written signed by all 33 political prisoners at Evin prison, appears below, courtesy of Banooye Sabz.

33 Female Political Prisoners Demand an Apology from the Head of Evin Prison Following an Aggressive Raid on Female Ward

November 1st 2012 - [Kaleme] 33 female political prisoners behind bars at Evin prison have written an open letter to the head of Evin prison. The letter comes on the heals of a hunger strike launched by 9 female political prisoners protesting the highly unusual search and desecration and harassment of female political prisoners at the hands of prison guards during a recent raid of the women's ward.

The complete content of the letter as provided to Kaleme is as follows:

To Mr. Rashidi, the head of Evin Prison,

Greetings. We would like to inform you that on Tuesday morning of October 30th, 2012, a large number of female agents arrived at Evin's female ward with the intent to conduct an inspection. Let us assume [for the sake of argument] that we would be able overlook the fact that the apparent contention was over a number of MP3 CDs found in the female ward; CDs that contained music and language courses and were hidden as the result of the unfortunate banning of such items, leaving us with no other recourse but to hide them. Let us assume for a moment that we could also overlook the fact that we were deprived of our one hour a week access to fresh air when we were unnecessarily detained while the inspection of the ward was taken place. It goes without saying, however, that the brutal behavior by some agents during the bodily searches of the female prisoners cannot and will not be forgiven, for this violent and obvious act of aggression and desecration is so reprehensible that putting pen to paper to describe it renders one ashamed and disgraced.

Given the existence of a myriad of security cameras watching our every move and the restrictions imposed upon prisoners regarding what is allowed to be entered into the ward, not to mention the modern, electronic tools available for conducting bodily searches at minimum in a respectable manner, we are at a loss for words regarding why prison authorities have resorted to such insulting behavior.

Clearly moving forward, the female political prisoners will not allow such unusual and degrading inspections to take place. To this end, we the signatories urgently demand an apology from the authorities responsible for such an act. We further demand that the authorities in question ensure that such an act is not repeated and request that the items confiscated be returned either to the female political prisoners or to their respective family members.

Signatories:

Faezeh Hashemi, Mahboubeh Karami, Nasim Soltan Beygi, Mahsa Amrabadi, Raheleh Zakaiii, Manijeh Najam Araghi, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Leva Khanjani, Shiva Nazarahari, Ladan Mostoufi Maab, Jila Baniyaghoub, Mitra Zahmati, Mahvash Shahriyari, Hakimeh Shokri, Jila Karamzadeh, Shabnam Madadzadeh, Kefayat Malek Mohammadi, Maryam Akbari Monfared, Kobra Banazadeh, Nazanin Deyhami, Faran Hesami, Fariba Kamal Abadi, Behnaz Zakeri, Motehareh Bahrami, Negareh Haeri, Sedigheh Moradi, Soghra Gholamnejad, Reyhaneh Haj Ebrahim Dabagh, Noushin Khadem, Maryam Jalili, Bahareh Hedayat, Mahboubeh Mansouri, Basma Aljabouri

Nine Female Political Prisoners Launch Hunger Strike

Sadmin — 2012-11-02T03:32:01Z

Change for Equality: According to reports published on the site of the reformist website Kalame, 9 more female prisoners in Evin Prison in Tehran, have launched a hunger strike to protest mistreatment by prison guards, including storming of the prison, inappropriate search of the premises and physical search of the women. Prior to this human rights lawyer and women's rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh had launched a hunger strike on 17 October, to protest the fact that she had been denied in-person visits with her family and a travel ban placed on her 12 year old daughter. Authorities have not taken any steps to meet the demands of Nasrin Sotoudeh, which are within her rights as a prisoner. To the contrary they have stepped up pressure on her, including banning her from visits with family all together for 3 weeks and attacking her in the state controlled media. Further it seems that the campaign of harassment has been stepped up to include all female prisoners in Evin's Women's Ward. The nine women going on hunger strike represent women activists, student activists, human rights defenders, journalists and political activists. They are objecting to demeaning and inappropriate behavior by guards during the search. The translation of the report published in Kalameh, courtesy of Banooyeh Sabz, appears below.

Pictured from left to right: Shiva Nazarahari, Bahareh Hedayat, Mahsa Amrabadi, Jila Baniyaghoub, Nazanin Deyhami, Hakimeh Shokri, Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi and Nasrin Sotoudeh. Not pictured: Rahele Zakaee.

Nine Female Political Prisoners Launch Hunger Strike

October 31st, 2012 - [Kaleme] A number of female political prisoners have launched a hunger strike protesting a recent attack of the female ward by Evin prison guards, leading to to the harassment and defamation of female political prisoners.

The following 9 female political prisoners are amongst those protesting the inhumane action by Evin prison guards: Bahareh Hedayat, Nazanin Dihimi, Jila Baniyaghoub, Shiva Nazarahari, Mahsa Amrabadi, Hakimeh Shokri, Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, Nasim Soltan Beygi and Raheleh Zakaii.

According to Kalame 20 female prison guards participated in the attack on Evin's female ward, harassing the prisoners, violating their privacy and personal space while aggressively searching the premise and their personal belongings.

Faezeh Hashemi [the incarcerated daughter of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani], currently nominated as the lawyer and representative of the female prisoners (both political prisoners and other inmates) strongly protested the attack on the female ward. It has been reported that following the storming of the ward, the female political prisoners were evacuated into the small yard at the ward while their personal belongings were inspected - an act that the female prisoners vehemently protested.

The Slogan Ya Hossein ... Mir Hossein... Once Again Echos through the Walls of Evin

In an act of defiance towards the prison guards, the female political prisoners reported began chanting "Ya Hossein... Mir Hossein" and "Death to the Dictator" ... "Long Live Mousavi ... Long Live Karroubi".... They also sang the national anthem "Ey Iran" and other songs associated with the aftermath of the rigged presidential elections such as "Yare Dabestani" [ My childhood friend] and "Na Kharam na Khashak" [We are not riff raff]

The female political prisoners on hunger strike are demanding an official apology from the prison officials and a guarantee that such an act is never repeated.

The prison guards participating on the attack on the female prisoners

According to a number of the prisoners present during the attack, Dardizadeh and Salami are two of the prison guards who behaved appallingly. insulting and harassing the female political prisoners while conducting bodily searches.

It has been reported that the pressure on female political prisoners behind bars at Evin has increased significantly since Ali Ashraf Rashidi took over the ward. This pressure include the recent refusal of prison officials to provide prisoners with adequate medical care, bodily searches when entering and exiting and a higher level of interference with the day to day activities of the female prisoners has led to complaints by the prisoners behind bars.

Iranian Rights Advocates Nasrin Sotoudeh and Jafar Panahi Receive Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Sadmin — 2012-10-28T01:30:57Z

Change for Equality: European Parliament News:, reported on Friday October 26, 2012 that the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2012 goes to Iranians Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned human rights defender and lawyer, and Jafar Panahi, a film director who with his work called attention to the hardships suffered by Iran's poor. EP president Martin Schulz made the announcement in plenary on Friday 26 October.

Besides being a human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh is a women's rights activists who has for years fought for gender equality in Iran.

Jafar Panahi, has worked through his art to bring attention to issues of gender equality and has been a long time advocate of women's rights, including as a vocal supporter of the One Million Signatures Campaign. Iranian women's rights activists welcome the awarding of this prize to two staunch supporters of equality, and hope that the award works to bring attention to the plight of political prisoners, especially female prisoners, who have been persecuted for their human rights and women's rights advocacy and who face serious hardships while in prison, including lack of visitation with their children.

The award comes at a time, when Nasrin Sotoudeh has embarked on her second hunger strike in prison to protest pressures by security and prison officials against her and her family, including limitations placed on her visitation with her family and children and a travel ban imposed on her 12 year old daughter, Mehraveh. Political prisoners are often denied due process in the court system only to face other pressures while in detention, that go against minimal rights guarantees provided by Iranian law.

The European Parliament News reported further that "nominations come from a political group or at least 40 MEPs. The foreign affairs and development committees decided on the three finalists on 9 October and from these three political group leaders chose this year's laureate on 26 October."

The prize will be awarded 12 December during a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The winners will receive €50,000.

Former winners

In 2011, the prize went to five representatives of the Arab Spring, in recognition and support of their drive for freedom and human rights.

Former winners include Nobel Prize laureates Nelson Mandela (1988), Aung Sang Suu Kyi (1990) and the UN, represented by Secretary General Kofi Annan (2003).

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought honors exceptional individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression to defend human rights and freedom of expression. It is named in honor of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov and has been awarded annually by the European Parliament since 1988 to individuals or organisations that have made an important contribution to the fight for human rights or democracy.