Dr. Shirin Ebadi's Message of Support for the Humanitarian Delegation to Turkey for Iranian Refugees


"The harsh censorship that exists in Iran along with the extreme limitations the government has created for free speech have caused the conditions there to deteriorate.  It has become very difficult for Iranian authors and artists as compared to before.   According to the reports by Reporters Without Boarders, Iran has the highest number of journalist imprisoned.  Many of the journalists who are not currently in prison are the ones who have been freed with a hefty bail.  Many restrictions have also been imposed on human rights activists, some of whom are currently in prison simply for preparing reports that exposed humans right violations. Of those defenders of the human rights currently in prison some are in danger of being executed.  

In addition to the problems that the government has created by imprisonment and high bail for release, restrictions have been imposed for some to leave Iran.  A case and point is Ms. Simeen Behbahani, the famous Iranian poet.  The extent of censorship in Iran is so high that according to a report by the Ministry of Information and the Judicial Branch, Mr. Jafar Panahi, the famous director, is imprisoned for intending to make a film against the Islamic Republic of Iran.  In other words, the film has not been made, so judgment can not be passed on whether it was for the government or against the government.  In such an atmosphere we see Mr. Panahi and his colleague, who is also a director, are imprisoned.  This shows not only that freedom of speech is banned in Iran, but freedom of thought is also banned.  

This combination of conditions of the government's vicious behavior and response to crush the voice of dissent have unfortunately caused some of the best Iranian youth,  students, human rights activists, journalists, and authors to flee the country and escape to Turkey where they are living under very difficult conditions, waiting for decisions from the UN to be resettled in other countries. 
 
I am requesting that all international and human right organizations pay close attention to the human rights problems violations in Iran and focus on and help these refugees who have fled Iran."
 

OMID Advocates Press Releases

                      Coalition of Human Rights Advocates for Iran

July 24 Press Release:

Coalition Delegation meets with High Commissioner for Human Rights Deputy Director Craig Mokhiber

(July 24, 2009) Human rights activists Dr. Mehrangiz Kar and Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo met with Deputy Director Craig Mokhiber of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of a coalition of human rights advocates to request that the UN immediately investigate the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The delegation expressed its concerns regarding intensified state repression and blatant acts of violence directed at persons who exercise the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and torture of detainees.  The delegation emphasized the need for immediate investigation of all human rights violations, including the right of Iranians to freely elect their government and the conditions under which all detainees are being held.

The delegation also informed Mr. Mokhiber that the Head of the Iranian Judiciary had unlawfully implemented sweeping regulations restricting the rights of Iranian defense attorneys to defend dissidents and prohibiting human rights defenders the right to practice as lawyers. Mr. Mokhiber expressed grave concern and indicated a willingness by the UN to examine these developments.

The delegation requested that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner NavanethemPillay take the following urgent measures:

1.   Appointing a Special Envoy to deal with the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran;

2.   Calling upon the Iranian authorities to receive such special envoy to address the

      current situation in Iran;

3.   Recommending the approval of a resolution addressing the situation in Iran to the UN

      General Assembly;

4.  Recommending to the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council the

     appointment of a Special Rapporteur and an emergency Special Session to address the    

     situation in Iran;

5.  Transmitting urgent appeals and communications to the Islamic Republic of Iran,

     especially appeals to release all detainees immediately.



Initial coalition members are: International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); Omid Advocates for Human Rights; Dr. Mehrangiz Kar, human rights attorney; Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, Iranian ex-parlimentarian.