Iran: Prisoner of Conscience: Jelveh Javaheri (f)
AI Index: MDE 13/140/2007
UA 321/07 Prisoner of Conscience
Jelveh Javaheri (f), journalist and women's rights defender
Jelveh Javaheri, journalist and women’s rights defender, was arrested on 1 December 2007 at a branch of the Revolutionary Court in the capital, Tehran. She had been summoned to report to the Court for questioning. According to other women's rights defenders, she is accused of “disturbing public opinion”, “propaganda against the system” and “publication of lies” in connection with articles posted on the Internet. She is believed to be held in Ward 3 of Evin Prison in Tehran.
Amnesty International believes she is a prisoner of conscience, held solely on account of her peaceful activities in support of equal rights for women in Iran, and is calling for her immediate and unconditional release.
Jelveh Javaheri is an active member of the Campaign for Equality, which aims to collect one million signatures of Iranians for a petition demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iran. As well as serving on the Campaign's education committee, Jelveh Javaheri has written several articles for its website (http://www.we4change.info/). She has alsowritten extensively on women’s issues for other websites.
She was among 33 women arrested on 4 March 2007 while protesting at the trial of five women's rights activists. She was released four days later (see UA 52/07, MDE 13/021/2007, 5 March 2007, and follow-ups), and summoned to attend court on 18 December 2007 in connection with her attendance at the protest.
She was also among 25 people arrested in Khorramabad, Lorestan province, in September 2007 during an educational workshop held by the Campaign for Equality. On that occasion, she was released the same day after being questioned about the Campaign's activities. Three other activists, Reza Dolatshah, Bahman Azadi, and Khosrow Nasimpour, were released the following day, having been beaten in custody.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Repression of activists associated with the Campaign for Equality, and of other members of Iranian civil society, has intensified in recent weeks. Two women, Ronak Safarzadeh and Hana Abdi, are detained in the city of Sanandaj, Kordestan province, and have not been permitted access to families or lawyers (see UA 297/07, MDE 13/130/2007, 7 November 2007). Another Campaign for Equality activist who also edits the website, Maryam Hosseinkhah, has been detained in Evin Prison since 18 November (see UA 312/07, MDE 13/137/2007, 19 November 2007). Dr Sohrab Razzaghi, the Director of the Iranian Civil Society Organizations Training and Research Center (ICTRC), was detained between 24 October and 23 November 2007, apparently for interrogation about the activities of his organization, including the financial assistance it receives from international donors, like the Dutch non-governmental organization Hivos.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
- expressing concern at the arrest of Jelveh Javaheri in connection with her peaceful activities in support of equal rights for women in Iran;
- urging the authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally since she is a prisoner of conscience;
- asking the authorities to ensure that while in detention she is granted immediate and regular access to her family and lawyer of her choice and that she is protected from any form of torture or ill-treatment.
APPEALS TO:
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Panzdah Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying, if the called is answered, say "fax please")
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 6 649 5880
Email: [email protected]
E-mail: via website: http://www.president.ir/email/
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
C/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
Ministry of Justice,
Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 14 January 2007 [sic].