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News
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: MDE 13/066/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 153
15 June 2006
Iran: Women’s rights demonstrators beaten and arrested
Amnesty International
condemns the Iranian security forces' violent disruption of a peaceful
demonstration on 12 June by women and men advocating an end to legal
discrimination against women in Iran. The demonstrators had gathered in
the Seventh of Tir Square in Tehran to call, among other things, for
changes in the law to give a woman's testimony in court equal value to
that of a man and for married women to be allowed to choose their
employment and to travel freely without obtaining the prior permission of
their husband.
Police, including a large unit of policewomen, reportedly moved in as soon
as the demonstration began and immediately started beating the protestors
with batons in order to force them to disperse. They detained scores of
demonstrators; on 13 June 2006, Minister of Justice and Spokesman for the
Judiciary Jamal Karimi-Rad stated that 70 people had been arrested, 42
were women and 28 men, for participating in what he alleged was an illegal
demonstration. When questioned about the beatings by police, he said, "if
there was any beating, it will be reviewed". Some of those detained are
reported to have been released.
Amnesty International has received the names of over 40 women and men
reported to be among those arrested. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some
are now being held at the Eshrat Abad detention centre in Tehran. Pictures
of the demonstration, including some of police wielding batons, can be
seen on a number of websites such as: www.kosoof.com,
www.advarnews.org?Gallery/1965.aspx and
www.nasiriphotos.com/blog/?id=1003639.
Amnesty International believes that those detained may be prisoners of
conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their
internationally recognized right to freedom of expression and association.
If so, they should be released immediately and unconditionally. Amnesty
International is also calling for a prompt, thorough and impartial
investigation into the excessive force used against the demonstrators.
Anyone found responsible for abuse should be brought to justice promptly
and fairly.
The organization once again reminds the Iranian authorities of Article 12
of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. This states
that "Everyone has the right to participate in peaceful activities against
violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms." The Declaration
requires states to "take all necessary measures to ensure the protection…
against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure
adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in
the present Declaration."
On 9 June 2006 Amnesty International issued a statement calling for an end
to discrimination against women in Iran and urging the Iranian authorities
to ensure that the policing of the peaceful demonstration planned to be
held on 12 June was consistent with international human rights standards
(see Iran: Amnesty International calls for action to end discrimination
against women, AI Index MDE 13/064/2006). Earlier this year, the
organization condemned the use of violence by Iranian security forces
against women who had gathered to celebrate International Women's Day on 8
March 2006 (see Iran: Amnesty International condemns violence against
women demonstrators in Iran, AI Index MDE 13/024/2006).
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE130662006
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