Iran: arrestations de Maryam Hosseinkhah et de Jelveh Javaheri, militantes pour la campagne « Un million de signatures »

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following the arrest, on 18 November 2007 and 1 December respectively, of the journalists and women human rights defenders (WHRDs), Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelveh Javaheri, campaigners with the Campaign for Equality - One Million Signatures Campaign.

On 1 December 2007, Jelveh Javaheri was summoned to appear at a branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran and subsequently arrested. She is believed to be currently detained in Ward 3 of Evin Prison. Jelveh Javaheri was scheduled to appear in court on 18 December at the trial of five women human rights defenders, in relation to her participation in a demonstration on 4 March 2007.

On 17 November 2007, Maryam Hosseinkhah also reported to a branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran after being called in for questioning. She was told to return the following day, and was arrested and brought to Ward 3 of Evin Prison in Tehran, where she is still detained. As well as writing for the Campaign for Equality website, Maryam Hosseinkhah is a member of the Women's Cultural Centre (WCC), an organisation founded in 2001 to promote women's human and political rights. The authorities shut down the WCC some days before Maryam Hosseinkhah's arrest. According to information received, both WHRDs have been accused of “disturbing public opinion”,“propaganda against the system” and “publication of lies” in connection with articles posted on websites. Neither of the women have had access to lawyers and their lawyers were not allowed to be present during their interrogation in the Revolutionary Courts.

These latest arrests come as two other WHRDs, Ronak Safazadeh and Hana Abdi, are still detained in the city of Sanandaj, in the province of Kordestan, with no permission to receive visits from their lawyers or family. Both WHRDs are being held in the security prison operated by security forces in Kurdistan Province. Ronak Safazadeh is no longer being interrogated, and has been allowed a number of phone calls.

The arrest and detention of these four WHRDs is directly related to their legitimate and non-violent work in defence of human rights, and in particular to their activities with the Campaign for Equality One Million Signatures Campaign. Over 40 WHRDs have been arrested as a result of their peaceful activities within the Campaign, such as collecting signatures intended for the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran and for writing articles on the website of the Campaign. Some WHRDs have been targeted and arrested on charges not directly related to the Campaign, but their interrogation is largely focused on their activities in relation to the Campaign.

I urge the Iranian authorities to:

1.Immediately and unconditionally release Maryam Hosseinkhah, Jelveh Javaheri, Ronak Safazadeh and Hana Abdi, as it is believed they have been detained solely on account of their peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights, particularly within the Campaign for Equality - One Million Signatures Campaign;

2.Ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Maryam Hosseinkhah, Jelveh Javaheri, Ronak Safazadeh and Hana Abdi, while they are detained, providing adequate medical attention where necessary and respecting all conditions set out in the 'Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners';

3.Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Iran, carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate without fear of intimation and reprisals and free of all restrictions and harassment.

Yours sincerely,