Take Action: Iranian Authorities Detain and Jail Women’s Rights Activists

On June 12, 2006, 70 Iranian women’s rights activists were arrested for helping to organize a peaceful protest demanding the revision of discriminatory laws against women in Iran. Those arrested continue to be summoned, charged, arrested and sentenced for peaceful activism.

Alieh Eghdam Doust will begin serving out a three year prison term on Monday. She is the first protestor to serve a jail sentence. Many of the 14 women arrested in 2006 have been sentenced but their cases are under appeal or have been suspended.

Eghdam Doust’s original sentence was three years and four months in prison and 20 lashes. The sentence was reduced to three years by an appeals court.

The lawyer for Nafiseh Azad, noted Iranian women’s rights activist has comfirmed that police detained Azad while she was collecting signatures for the award-winning “One Million Signatures” campaign that seeks equal rights for women in marriage, divorce and inheritance.

According to Women’s Learning Partnership, Iranian women are fighting “gender apartheid:”

“At present, men have the sole right to divorce and except in special cases, the right to custody of children. One man’s testimony equals that of two women. And certain positions, such as that of a judge, are closed to women. The campaign is a continuation of Iranian women’s century-long struggle for gender equality”

For more information about the “One Million Signatures” campaign, visit their website and this excellent NPR piece.

Take Action

Sign on to support the One Million Signature campaign.
Sign the petition to release the women’s rights activists.
Urge Iranian authorities to Women Human Rights Defenders through Human Rights First.

Read more: activisim, iran, jail, peaceful protest, womens rights

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Marlene D.

10:29PM PDT on Apr 10, 2010

Please tell me what I can do to help! I cried through the entire movie of "the stoning of Soraya M", and I am so alarmed. I want to help!

April 10
send a green star

Emilia N.

2:04PM PST on Feb 13, 2009

what the heck is happening with your campaign? Whenever

February 13
send a green star

Faith L.

9:51PM PST on Feb 8, 2009

it's way past time women have equal rights no matter where they live on this planet.

February 8
send a green star

Manocher Q.

6:11PM PST on Feb 6, 2009

I am a iranian person.just want to say tanks for showing problem like this in iran.and i hope one day soon we have our freedom back.and big tanks to people who care about iranian women.please fix the link.didnt work.(manocher)

February 6
send a green star

lucy p.

3:00PM PST on Feb 6, 2009

Hi can you fix this link it just says server cant find feministschool.biz is this something they are doing to stop them please can you fix this is she getting lashes can we go to the U.N. because this is against the human rights constitution could you start a petition to go to the U.N. I would do the petition but i am not good at putting links on it so it will go onto the google search engines if anyone is a computer wizard and can make hundreds of links for google so that many people would sign it thart would be worthwhile please say if you can do this and i will sign it straight away.

2:57PM PST on Feb 6, 2009

Hi, I think its very important to recognize that the link does not work!Is that something they are doing to stop them please can you fix this

Evelyn B.

6:22AM PST on Feb 6, 2009

The link didn't work

Terence N.

3:24AM PST on Feb 6, 2009

It is sad to think that Persia, one of great early civilisations, has descended to such a dark age of obscurantism. Comparing women's rights thousands of years ago to those today, certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouth. These ladies deserve all the support rhey can get - and the men need mental help!

Terence Nelson

Thomas L R.

10:59PM PST on Feb 5, 2009

Thanks so much Terry, the link you provided worked.