April 25, 2007
Four women's rights activists were sentenced to prison last week for their role in organizing the June 12, 2006 peaceful protest demanding equal rights for women. The activists are organizers of the "One Million Signatures" Campaign launched in August 2006 to demand an end to discriminatory laws against women. They were officially charged under article 610 of the penal code with "actions against the state" and threatening "national security."
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Fariba Davoudi Mohajer was sentenced to 4 years in prison, three of which are suspended and one year needs to be served. Parvin Ardalan and Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani were sentenced to 3 years, of which two and a half years are suspended and six months are to be served. Sussan Tahmasebi received 2 years, of which one year and a half years are suspended and six months are to be served.
The women will be required to serve the suspended sentences if "found guilty of another crime"--meaning continue activism--during the next five years. The government is using the suspended sentence as a way to pressure activists into ceasing their activities.
All activists were tried in absentia. In a strange turn of events, when they walked outside the courthouse to stop the police from beating supporters and friends assembled to hear the outcome of their case, they were arrested and prevented from returning to the courthouse to be present at their own trial.
To help these courageous women achieve their goal of reaching one million signatures, please sign the petition: English Petition | Persian Petition.