Til:

Fagforeninger, partier, politiske og menneskerettigheders organisationer

I forbindelse med kidnapning og fængsling af formanden for ”Teherans bus-arbejders forbund”, Mansour Osanlou, samt fortsat fængsling af stiftende medlem af ”Koordinationskomiteen for dannelse af arbejderorganisationer i Iran” Mahmoud Salehi, har de internationale faglige organisationer ITUC (www.ituc-csi.org) og ITF( www.ift.org.uk) erklæret dagen d. 9. august for aktionsdagen for solidaritet med de to kollegaer.

I samme forbindelse vil der her i Danmark blive holdt en demonstration foran den iranske ambassade torsdag den 9. august 2007, kl. 16:00.

I det følgende er der vedlagt en forkortet oversættelse af fællesbrevet fra ITUC og ITF. Brevet kan i original version ses ved at klikke på følgende link:

http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/osanloo2.cfm

Alle faglige, politiske, og menneskerettigheders organisationer, der gerne vil støtte eller anbefale demonstrationen, bedes kontakte os på: farrokh.jafari@mail.dk

På forhånd tak

Styrk den internationale solidaritet

Underskriver organisationer:

1. Komiteen til forsvar for politiske fanger i Iran – Danmark

2. Den internationale solidaritetskomite med arbejderbevægelsen i Iran – Danmark

3. Nej til krigs-kampagnen ”Frihed til Irans folk”

4. Bogklubben Pooyandeh – København

Forkortet oversættelse af fællesbrevet fra ITUC og ITF

24. juli 2007

Kære venner

Vi skriver til jer for at bede om, at jeres organisation deltager i den internationale aktionsdag d. 9. august i forbindelse med, at Mansour Osanlou og Mahmoud Salehi, 2 prominente fagligt aktive, sidder nu i fængsel i Iran.

Vi ved, at sommerperioden, især her nord for ækvator, ikke er nogen god tid for at starte en international solidaritetsaktion. Men vi mener alligevel, at de særlige omstændigheder i disse to sager kræver en hurtig og beslutsom aktion, hvis vores to fængslede kollegaer skal frigives indenfor en overskuelig fremtid.

M. Osanlou, formand for Teherans bus-arbejderes forbund (Vahed Syndicate)

Mange af jer må have set eller hørt om Osanlous meget vigtige besøg i ITF’s og ITUC’s møder i London og Bryssel i juni i år. Især har ITUC´s generalforsamling, efter at have givet Osanlou et stående bifald, besluttet at tilbyde Mansour Osanlou fuld solidaritet, hvis han fik problemer efter sin hjemkost til Iran. Ulykkeligvis er dette, lige præcist hvad der er sket. Det er nu 2 uger siden, at Osanlou blev kidnappet den 10. juli, mens han kørt i en bus. Han er nu tilbage i det notoriske Evin fængsel tiltalt for ”konspiration mod national sikkerhed”.

ITF har iværksat en succesfuld underskriftindsamling. Klik venligst på linket nedenunder for underskrivelse:

http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/osanloo2.cfm

M. Salehi, Koordinationskomiteen for dannelse af arbejderorganisationer

Mahmoud Salehis helbredstilstands forværres dagligt. Som I sandsynligvis ved, er han stiftende medlem af ”Saqez bageriarbejdernes sammenslutning” og medlem af den overfor nævnte koordinationskomite. Hans faglige aktiviteter har afstedkommet konstant forfølgelse fra myndighedernes side og på trods af hans dårlige helbredstilstand er han lige nu i fængsel i Sanandaj i Kurdistan provinsen, langt væk fra sin familie.

Ønskede aktioner den 9. august

Vi håber, at både Osanlou og Salehi vil blive frigivet inden d. 9. august og vi bliver ved med at lægge pres på de iranske myndigheder for at opnå frigivelsen af dem. Men hvis en af dem eller begge stadigvæk er i fængsel den 9. august vil vi indkalde alle medlemsorganisationer i ITUC og ITF samt Globale Union Federations til at støtte op om vores internationale aktionsdag for solidaritet med iranske arbejdere den dag.

9. august markerer præcist årsdagen for Osanlous sidste frigivelse fra fængslet. Frigivelsen den gang var helt uden tvivl resultatet af vedvarende protester og pres fra den internationale arbejderbevægelsens organisationer. Husk den succesfulde aktionsdag 15. februar 2006 i protest mod massearrestationer, som de iranske myndigheder havde iværksat måneden før, da ”Teherans bus-arbejderes forbund” havde igangsat en endagsstrejke med krav om Osanlous frigivelse.

På denne årsdag beder vi medlemsorganisationerne om at besøge iranske ambassader og konsulater i jeres lande med protestbreve eller kopier af ITF´s underskriftsindsamling. Der kan også holdes pressekonferencer eller arbejdspladsmøder eller enhver anden aktion, som I vil finde relevant for denne aktionsdag.

I bedes hurtigst muligt at informere os om jeres organisations planer med hensyn til aktionsdagen 9. august. Skriv venligst til urata_mac@itf.org.uk og turights@ituc-csi.org.

På forhånd tak og med faglige hilsner

Guy Ryder, generalsekretær for ITUC og David Cockroft, generalsekretær for ITF

        Miles For Peace: Iranians embark on peace cycling tour

Source: Miles For Peace

We are pleased to inform you that, considering the current state of world affairs and our particularly sensitive situation in Iran, "Mercy for All" charity organization (www.mercyforall.org) has - in partnership with other NGOs - planned a cycling tour around Europe and North America to convey Iranian people's message of peace, friendship and solidarity to the rest of the world.

During this journey, which will begin on May 10th 2007, fourteen Iranian cyclists will travel city by city across 4 European countries (Italy, France, Germany, U.K) and the United States to communicate the pacifist message of Iranian people, as found in our manifesto, to other nations around the world.

The cyclists will also offer a hand-made emblem of "Miles for Peace", as a symbol of friendship on behalf Iranian people, to the mayors of the host cities as elected representatives of European and American people.

The cyclists in Paris

                 The human rights situation in IRAN

Se Også :

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130592007

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/irn-220607-editorial-eng

og mine egne blog her om

Islamic Republic of Iran

Head of state: Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
Head of government: President: Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Death penalty: retentionist
International Criminal Court: signed

The human rights situation deteriorated, with civil society facing increasing restrictions on fundamental freedoms of expression and association. Scores of political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, continued to serve prison sentences imposed following unfair trials in previous years. Thousands more arrests were made in 2006, mostly during or following demonstrations. Human rights defenders, including journalists, students and lawyers, were among those detained arbitrarily without access to family or legal representation. Torture, especially during periods of pre-trial detention, remained commonplace. At least 177 people were executed, at least four of whom were under 18 at the time of the alleged offence, including one who was under 18 at the time of execution. Two people were reportedly stoned to death. Sentences of flogging, amputation and eye-gouging continued to be passed. The true numbers of those executed or subjected to corporal punishment were probably considerably higher than those reported.

Background

The rift between Iran and the international community over the government's insistence on maintaining its nuclear enrichment programme continued to widen. In March, the International Atomic Energy Agency referred Iran to the UN Security Council. In December the Security Council agreed on a programme of sanctions against Iran following Iran's failure to meet an August deadline to suspend the programme. Iran continued to accuse foreign governments of fomenting unrest in border areas, and in turn was accused of involvement in the worsening security situation in Iraq. In February the US government sought an extra

US$75 million to "support democracy" in Iran. President Ahmadinejad continued to make statements threatening to the State of Israel and questioning the Holocaust. The European Union-Iran human rights dialogue remained suspended.

Local elections and elections to the Assembly of Experts, which oversees the appointment of the Supreme Leader, were held in December. The Council of Guardians, which reviews laws and policies to ensure that they uphold Islamic tenets and the Constitution, excluded all but 164 Assembly of Experts candidates, including at least 12 women who registered, on the basis of discriminatory selection procedures. The results of both elections were generally seen as a setback to the government of President Ahmadinejad.

The authorities faced armed opposition from Kurdish and Baluchi groups.

In December, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the human rights situation in Iran. Iran failed to set a date for visits by any UN Human Rights mechanisms despite having issued a standing invitation in 2002.

Repression of minorities

Ethnic and religious minorities remained subject to discriminatory laws and practices which continued to be a source of social and political unrest.

Arabs

Arabs continued to complain of discrimination, including in access to resources, as well as forced evictions. In October, the Council of Guardians approved a bill allocating 2 per cent of Iran's oil revenues to Khuzestan province, home to many of Iran's Arabs.

Scores of Arabs were detained during the year. At least 36 were sentenced to death or received lengthy prison terms after conviction in unfair trials of involvement in causing bomb explosions in Ahvaz and Tehran in 2005. Five were executed including Mehdi Nawaseri and Mohammad Ali Sawari who were executed in public in February following the broadcast of their televised "confessions".

• At least five women were detained, some along with their children, between February and April, in circumstances which suggested that they may have been held in order to force their husbands to give themselves up or make confessions. Four women and two children were believed to be still held at the end of the year.

• Seven lawyers defending some of those accused in connection with the bombings were summoned to appear before the Ahvaz Revolutionary Prosecutor in October on charges of "acting against state security". The summons was issued in connection with a letter they had sent to the Head of the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz complaining about deficiencies in the trial of their clients.

Azerbaijanis

In May, widespread demonstrations took place in mainly Azerbaijani north-western towns and cities in protest at the publication of a cartoon offensive to Azerbaijanis in the state-run Iran newspaper. Hundreds, if not thousands, were arrested and scores reportedly killed by the security forces, although official sources downplayed the scale of arrests and killings. Further arrests occurred, many around events and dates significant to the Azerbaijani community such as the Babek Castle gathering in Kalayber in June, and a boycott of the start of the new academic year over linguistic rights for the Azerbaijani community.

• Prisoner of conscience Abbas Lisani was detained in June for over three months for his participation in the demonstrations in Ardabil against the cartoon. In September, he was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment and 50 lashes on charges including "disturbing state security". At the end of October, five days after submitting an appeal, he was redetained, and his family was later informed that his sentence had been increased to 18 months' imprisonment with an additional three years of enforced internal exile. He stated his unconditional opposition to the use of violence. By the end of the year he faced two further prison sentences imposed for his attendance at the 2003 and 2005 Babek Castle gatherings.

Kurds

In February, clashes between Kurdish demonstrators and the security forces in Maku and other towns reportedly led to at least nine deaths and scores, if not hundreds, of arrests. In March, Kurdish Majles deputies wrote to the President demanding an investigation into the killings and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. An investigation was reportedly set up, but its findings were not known by the end of the year. Some of those detained later reportedly received prison terms of between three and eight months.

• Mohammad Sadeq Kabudvand, the Head of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan and editor of the banned weekly newspaper Payam-e Mardom, had his 18-month suspended prison sentence for "publishing lies and articles aimed at creating racial and tribal tension and discord" increased on appeal to one year's actual imprisonment. Although summoned to prison in September, he remained at liberty at the end of the year, pending an appeal to the Supreme Court. Other Payam-e Mardom journalists were also brought to trial.

Baluchis

In March a Baluchi armed group, Jondallah, killed 22 Iranian officials and took at least seven hostage, in Sistan-Baluchistan province. Following the incident, scores, possibly hundreds, of people were arrested; many were reportedly taken to unknown locations. In the months following the attacks, the number of executions announced in Baluchi areas increased dramatically. Dozens were reported to have been executed by the end of the year.

Religious minorities

Members of Iran's religious minorities were detained or harassed on account of their faith.

In February over 1,000 Nematollahi Sufis peacefully protesting against an order to evacuate their place of worship in Qom were arrested. Hundreds were injured by members of the security forces and members of organized pro-government groups. In May, 52 Sufis, including two lawyers representing the group, were sentenced to one year's imprisonment, flogging and a fine, and the lawyers were banned from practising law. In August, Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani issued a religious edict designating Sufism as "null and void".

Several evangelical Christians, mostly converts from Islam, were detained, apparently in connection with their religious activities.

• In September, Fereshteh Dibaj and her husband, Reza Montazemi, were detained for nine days before being released on bail. Fereshteh Dibaj is the youngest daughter of convert Mehdi Dibaj who was murdered in 1994 shortly after being released from prison where he had been held for nine years for "apostasy".

Sixty-five Baha'is were detained during 2006 and five remained held at the end of the year. In March Mehran Kawsari was released early from his three-year prison sentence imposed in connection with an open letter sent to the then President in November 2004.

In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief expressed concern about an October 2005 letter instructing various government agencies to identify, and collect information about, Baha'is in Iran.

Human rights defenders

Human rights defenders faced deepening restrictions on their work and remained at risk of reprisals. In January, the Ministry of the Interior was reported to be preparing measures to restrict the activities of non-governmental organizations that allegedly received finance from "problematic internal and external sources aimed at overthrowing the system". Students, who remained a politically active section of society, were frequently targeted for reprisals, including arbitrary arrest and denial of the right to study in the new academic year.

• In August, the Ministry of the Interior banned activities by the Centre for Defenders of Human Rights (CDHR), run by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi and other leading lawyers, stating that it did not have a permit. In September, the Ministry of the Interior said a permit would be issued "if changes were made to the [centre's] mission statement".

• Abdolfattah Soltani, a lawyer and co-founder of the CDHR, was released on bail in March. He was later sentenced to five years' imprisonment for "disclosing confidential documents" and "propaganda against the system". The sentence was under appeal at the end of the year.

• Prisoner of conscience Akbar Ganji, a journalist who implicated government officials in the murder of intellectuals and journalists in the 1990s, was released in March after completing his six-year prison sentence.

Torture and cruel, inhuman and

degrading punishments

Torture remained common in many prisons and detention centres, particularly in the investigative stage of pre-trial detention when detainees are denied access to a lawyer for indefinite periods. At least seven people reportedly died in custody, some in circumstances where torture, ill-treatment or denial of medical care may have been contributory factors.

• Political prisoners Akbar Mohammadi and Valiollah Feyz Mahdavi died in July and September respectively after going on hunger strike to protest at their continued detention.

• Fourteen-year-old Mohammad Reza Evezpoor, an Iranian Azerbaijani, was arrested in April after writing "I am a Turk" on a wall. He was reportedly tortured during his three days in detention, including by being suspended by his feet for 24 hours and denied food and water. He was beaten again when rearrested in September.

At least two amputations were carried out and one person was sentenced to eye-gouging. Flogging remained a common punishment.

• Leyla Mafi received a flogging of 99 lashes in February before being released from prison into a women's rehabilitation centre. Forced into prostitution as an eight-year-old and raped repeatedly, she was arrested in early 2004 and charged with "acts contrary to chastity" for which she was sentenced to flogging followed by death. Following international pressure, her death sentence was overturned.

Impunity

Victims of human rights violations and their families continued to lack redress.

• A re-examination, ordered in 2001, of the cases of Ministry of Intelligence officials accused of the 1998 "serial murders", remained incomplete. Nasser Zarafshan, lawyer for the families of some of the victims, continued to serve a five-year prison sentence following his conviction on politically motivated charges.

Death penalty

At least 177 people were executed in 2006, including one minor and at least three others who were under 18 at the time of the alleged offence. Death sentences were imposed for a variety of crimes including drug smuggling, armed robbery, murder, political violence and sexual offences. Following domestic and international protests, the death sentences of some women and of some prisoners aged under 18 at the time of the alleged offence were suspended or lifted; some were sentenced to death again after a retrial. Two people were reportedly stoned to death despite a moratorium on stoning announced by the judiciary in 2002. Others remained under sentence of stoning to death. In September, Iranian human rights defenders launched a campaign to save nine women and two men sentenced to death by stoning and to abolish stoning in law. By the end of the year the stoning sentences of at least three of the 11 had been quashed.

Freedom of expression and association

Freedom of expression and association was increasingly curtailed. Internet access was increasingly restricted and monitored. Journalists and webloggers were detained and sentenced to prison or flogging and at least 11 newspapers were closed down. Relatives of detainees or of those sought by the authorities remained at risk of harassment or intimidation. Independent trade unionists faced reprisals and some academics, such as Ramin Jahanbegloo, were detained or dismissed from their posts.

• Up to 1,000 members of the independent, but banned, Sherkat-e Vahed Bus Company Union were arrested in January after striking to demand recognition of their union and to protest at the detention of the union's head Mansour Ossanlu. All were later released, but dozens were still forbidden from returning to their jobs at the end of the year. Mansour Ossanlu was released on bail in August after being held for over seven months in connection with his trade union activities, but was redetained for one month in November, reportedly after attending meetings organized by the International Labour Organization.

Women's rights

Demonstrations in Tehran in March and June demanding an end to discrimination in law against women were broken up harshly by the security forces. Some protesters were injured.

• Former Majles deputy Sayed Ali Akbar Mousavi-Kho'ini was arrested at the June demonstration and held for over four months before his release on bail in October. He reported that he had been tortured in detention.

In August, women's rights activists launched a campaign to gather a million signatures to a petition demanding equal rights for women.

AI country reports/visits

Reports

• Iran: Human rights defender at risk ? appeal case: Abdolfattah Soltani (AI Index: MDE 13/009/2006)

• Iran: New government fails to address dire human rights situation (AI Index: MDE 13/010/2006)

• Iran: Defending minority rights ? the Ahwazi Arabs (AI Index: MDE 13/056/2006

http://report2007.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Iran

Iran continues to pass death sentences on child offenders

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/irn-220607-editorial-eng

Real Player version

Amnesty International (AI) is calling on the Iranian authorities to take immediate steps to end the shameful practice of executing child offenders (those convicted of crimes committed before the age of 18).

According to the report Iran: The last executioner of children, Iran has executed more child offenders than any other country in the world since 1990.

As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran has committed not to execute anyone for an offence committed when they were under the age of 18.

Officials from the Iranian Government and the judiciary have repeatedly stated that Iran does not execute children. However, the facts tell a different story.

The report states that 24 child offenders have been executed in Iran since 1990, 11 of whom were under 18 at the time of their execution. In most cases, the authorities waited until child offenders turned 18 before executing them. It is not clear whether the authorities understand that such executions still violate Iran's international obligation not to execute child offenders under the ICCPR.

Iranian NGOs express opposition to sanctions, military intervention and foreign interference in Iran

(source: CASMII )

Friday, June 29, 2007

 

CASMII Press Release

28 June 2007

Leading Iranian NGOs express opposition to sanctions, military intervention and foreign interference in Iran.

On the 20th anniversary of the chemical bombing of the Kurdish city of Sardasht in western Iran, a crime committed by the puppet Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussain and with full provision, support and acquiescence of Western governments, the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII), commemorates the forgotten victims of this crime who are still suffering the consequences of the effects of mustard gas, by launching a joint statement with Iranian NGOs: "The Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support" (SCWVS) and "The Organisation for Defence of Victims of Violence" (ODVV), to express their opposition to sanctions, military intervention and foreign interference in Iran.

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  [19]   ►

نمونه اي از بمب شيميايي

◄ 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  [19]   ►

The joint petition highlights the catastrophic consequences of the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in the 1980s, the tragic impact of over a decade long Security Council sanctions on the Iraqi population, as a prelude to the invasion of 2003, and finally the US/UK illegal invasion and ongoing brutal occupation of Iraq.

Based on the experiences of all the above, the joint petition voices urgent concern about the "dire and irreparable human consequences" on Iranian people of military intervention and sanctions.  It states that "Sanctions or military intervention in Iran will serve to strike a massive blow to the nascent civil society in Iran" and "will put to waste all attempts at building an indigenous internal democracy and the promotion of human rights. This will reverse for years, or even decades, the domestic process of reforms".

The joint petition demands an end to foreign intervention, sanctions and threats of military intervention against Iran and urges the United States and its allies to end their policy of threats and confrontation with Iran and instead enter "direct dialogue without precondition". It further calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to create the grounds for a stronger and greater unity of the people of Iran in the face of foreign pressures and threats by paying more attention to the observation of human rights.

The Society for chemical Weapons victims Support (SCWVS) provides medical, social, legal and cultural support to more than 50,000 Iranian survivors of chemical weapons, who are still suffering from the long term effects of exposure.  SCWVS aims to improve the victims' quality of life as well as that of their family members. 

The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODDV) works in the area of human rights and humanitarian activities.  As well as educational courses and seminars to promote a culture of non-violence, it has established the Rehabilitation Institute for Victims of Social Violence and the Disabled which provides psychological, legal, physical rehabilitation and financial support for victims of violence. 

In circumstances where Iran's survival and sovereignty is at stake, CASMII calls upon other Iranian NGOs to lend their voice to this cry of opposition to sanctions and military intervention against Iran by signing this or similar petitions.

To view the petition please visit http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2513 or contact CASMII for more details.

[END] 

Guantánamo Bay - a Human Rights scandal

Detainees in Guantánamo Bay © US Department of Defense

	The US Government should close the Guantánamo Bay detention facilities without further delay.
UN report on Guantánamo Bay, February 2006

Soldier watching over detainees in Guantánamo Bay © US Department of Defense

	Remember, these are – the ones in Guantánamo Bay are killers. They don’t share the same values we share
President Bush, 20 March 2002

Detainees in Guantánamo Bay © US Department of Defense

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION CALL FOR SA'ID QANBAR ZAHI (17)

Worldwide Appeal

IRAN: Child offender at risk of execution

Delara Darabi © www.myspace.com/helpdelara

Appeal status: Active
Appeal started: March 2007

Delara Darabi, aged 20, is at risk of imminent execution for a murder which took place when she was 17 years old. She has reportedly been sentenced to death for a second time after her case was retried. She reportedly attempted to commit suicide in prison in January 2007.

Delara Darabi was initially sentenced to death by Branch 10 of the General Court in the northern city of Rasht. The Supreme Court later found “deficiencies” in her case and ordered a retrial. However, following two trial sessions in January and June 2006, Delara Darabi was sentenced to death for a second time by Branch 107 of the General Court in Rasht. Her death sentence was reportedly confirmed by the Supreme Court in February 2007 and so she could be executed at any time.

According to reports, Delara Darabi and a 19-year-old man named Amir Hossein broke into the house of Delara Darabi’s elderly female relative to commit a burglary. Amir Hossein allegedly killed the woman during the burglary. Delara Darabi initially confessed to the murder, but subsequently retracted her confession. She claims that Amir Hossein asked her to admit responsibility for the murder to protect him from execution, believing that as she was under the age of 18, she could not be sentenced to death.

To find out more about the death penalty in Iran see article in the Wire March 2007- Child offender’s death sentence quashed in Iran.

http://web.amnesty.org/wire/March2007/DP

Please write, urging the authorities to commute the death sentence imposed on Delara Darabi immediately. Remind the authorities of their commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that “sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age.”

Send appeals to:
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street
Qom
Iran
Email: info@leader.ir and istiftaa@wilayah.org
Salutation: Your Excellency

http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/irn-010307-wwa-eng

Hermed en opfordring til at deltage i demonstrationerne på lørdag ved 4-året
for starten på Irak-krigen.
+ Vi vil gerne gøre opmærksom på, at en af forfatterne bag Lancet-rapporten,
Les Roberts, kommer til København (se nederst)
Videresend gerne til venner og bekendte!


Fogh blev presset til at trække de fleste danske tropper hjem fra Irak - til
august.
Det er en vigtig del-sejr for den folkelige krigsmodstand og det skal
fejres.

Men Bush's krige fortsætter - og Fogh-regeringen bakker stadig op om dem.
Og den danske regering har stadig tropper i såvel Afghanistan som Irak.
Derfor er der stadig nye opgaver for fredsbevægelsen.

Der er demonstrationer på lørdag i København, Århus, Odense, Aalborg og
Rønne.

Tid og sted følger herunder - se detaljerne på:
<url: http://www.nejtilkrig.dk/20070317/>


København
---------
Demonstrationen starter ved USA's ambassade, Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24,
Østerbro, kl. 12.
Herfra går den til Axeltorv
Arr.: Kirkmand-initiativet og Nej til krig

For-demonstration fra Blågårds Plads kl. 11.00
Herfra til USAs ambassade.
Arr.: Unge mod krig

For-demonstration fra Christiania kl. 11.00
Afgang fra Carl Madsens Plads, Christiania, kl.11.00
Herfra til USAs ambassade.
Arr.: Christiania for fred
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Århus
-----
Demonstrationen starter på Rådhuspladsen kl. 13.
Arr.: Århus mod Krig og Terror, LO, SF, Enhedslisten, KP, KPiD og DKP

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Odense
------
Demonstrationen starter på Flakhaven kl. 12.
Arr.: SF, Enhedslisten, LO Odense, Nej til krig

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----

Aalborg
-------
Demonstrationen starter på Gammeltorv kl. 12.
Arr.: Aalborg Fredsaktion

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Rønne
-----
Demonstrationen starter på Store Torv kl. 12.


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Les Roberts til København 22. marts
-----------------------------------

Debatmøde: En krig og dens ofre
Mød dr. Les Roberts, Columbia University, forskeren bag Lancet-rapporten om
Irak-krigens ofre
Torsdag den 22. mar kl. 19.30
Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24

De danske soldater skal hjem fra Irak, men krigen fortsætter og uskyldige
dør stadig hver dag.
Dr. Les Roberts, chef for Health Policy i International Rescue Comittee og
epidemiolog ved Columbia University, er chefforsker bag det hidtil
grundigste studie af Irak-krigens menneskelige omkostninger, offentliggjort
i det ansete tidsskrift The Lancet.

Dr. Les Roberts fortæller om undersøgelsen, debatten og om sit syn på
Irak-krigen.
Deltagelse kr. 50 betales ved indgangen. Tilmelding på tlf. 33696153 eller
mail

Arr.: Luftskibet - Dagbladet Information
<url: http://luftskibet.information.dk>
Kirkmand-initiativet
<url: http://www.kirkmand-initiativet.dk>

Se mere om Lancet-rapporten på:
<url: http://www.nejtilkrig.dk/200610_lancet/>


Mvh. Jørn


--
Nej til Krig
www.nejtilkrig.dk
kontor@nejtilkrig.dk
-

The Iranian New Year is the manifestation of love for human-beings and respect for

peace and human rights

The right to preserve a nation's historical and cultural   heritage  

is a part of universal human rights

Læs også:

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/January/Following%20the%20footsteps%20of%20taliban.htm

ICSASPP names the coming Iranian New Year as the

"Year of Pasargad"

For farsi se:

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/March/saal%20now%20saal%20Pasargad.htm

In a few weeks, and on the advent of spring, Nowruz, the New Year of Iranians, will arrive. This is an ancient Iranian festivity which is still observed by all Iranians, as well as many other nations that once belonged to the Persian Empire. Numerous natural, social and political incidents have not been able to wipe this profound occasion from the Iranian culture. The reason for this persistence lies in the fact that Nowruz is based on the central ideas of Love, Light, Development, Humanism and Peace.

One of the ancient locations that housed such great ideas was the Pasargad Plain, the very place that gave birth to the idea of Human Rights and initiated the history of Iran on such a proud foundation.

This great place is now in danger of being wiped from the face of the earth due to the imminent flooding of a dam that has been built right in the heart of Bolaghi Gorge and Pasargad Plain, threatening to harm the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great as well – The very human being who realized the idea of Human Rights in his famous declaration 2500 years ago.

ICSASPP, that was set up to prevent such a disaster, named the previous Iranian year as the "Year of Pasargad" in the hope of attracting the attention of people all over the globe who believe in the importance of cultural heritages of nations, as well as the responsible world organizations, to this cause.

Now, getting closer to yet another Iranian new year, the danger still exists and the project of the destruction of the Iranian cultural heritage is still on the table. It is based on this real threat that ICSASPP has decided to name the new Iranian year as the "Year of Pasargad" again, asking all Iranians and non-Iranians who oppose such uncivilized action to elevate their endeavors in this direction by helping our Committee in whatever way they can think of.

We wish everyone a very happy "New Year of Pasargad" - a year that could see the eradication of such unwanted threat to the Iranian ancient heritage.

March 10, 2007

ICSASPP

www.savepasargad.com

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/March/Year%20of%20Pasargad.htm

Se filmen her:

  http://www.spentaproductions.com/Cyrus-the-Great-English/cyruspreview_english.htm

The World's First Charter of the Human Rights

The First Declaration of Human Rights

Author: Dr. Darius Jahanian

of the significant events in ancient history is the conquest of Babylon by the Persian king, Cyrus the Great.

On October 4th, 539 BC, the Persian Army entered the city of Babylon, which was then the capital of the Babylonian state (in central Iraq). This was a bloodless campaign and no prisoners were One taken. Later, on November 9th, King Cyrus of Persia visited the city. Babylonian history tells us that Cyrus was greeted by the people, who spread a pathway of green twigs before him as a sign of honor and peace (sulmu). Cyrus greeted all Babylonians in peace and brought peace to their city.

On this great event, Cyrus issued a declaration, inscribed on a clay barrel known as Cyrus's inscription cylinder. It was discovered in 1879 by Hormoz Rassam in Babylon and today is kept in the British Museum. Many historians have reviewed it as the first declaration of human rights.

The Babylonian annals, as well as the first section of the Cyrus' inscription, shed light on the religiopolitical plight that had angered the people of Babylon and why they invited Cyrus's military campaign. Evidently, the Babyloninan king, Nabonidus, eliminated the festival of the new year and Nebo (one of the gods) was not brought into the city, and Bel (another god) was not taken in the procession of the festival. Also, the worship of Marduk, the king of the gods, was changed to an abomination and Nabonidus tormented the inhabitants with unbelievable oppression and forced labor. The sanctuaries of all their settlements were in ruins and the inhabitants of Sumer and Akkad had become like the living dead. Marduk, the king of the gods, scanned and searched for a righteous ruler, finally coming upon Cyrus's good deeds and his upright mind and ordered him to march against the City of Babylon. The angry inhabitants of Akkad had revolted but were massacred by Nabonidus, who, upon his return to Babylon, was arrested, but nevertheless was treated with respect. When Nabonidus died in the year following, Cyrus participated in the national mourning time that was proclaimed for him. The gods of Akkad were then returned to their sacred cities. All the inhabitants of Sumer and Akkad, including princes and governors, greeted Cyrus as a master who brought them back from a living death. All who had been spared damage and disaster revered his very name.

Cyrus's Declaration:

"I am Cyrus, the king of the world, great king, legitimate king (son of Cambyses) whose rule Bel and Nebo loved and whom they wanted as king to please their hearts.

"When I entered Babylon as a friend and established the seat of government in the place of the ruler under jubilation and rejoicing, Marduk, the great lord (induced) the magnanimous inhabitants of Babylon (Din Tir) (to love me) and I daily endeavored to praise him. My numerous troops walked around in Babylon in peace, I did not allow anybody to terrorize (any of the people) of the country of Sumer and Akkad. I strove for peace in Babylon (Ka Dingir ra) and in all his (other) sacred cities. As to the inhabitants of Babylon (who) against the will of the gods (had/were I abolished) the corvee (yoke) which was against their (social standing). I brought relief to their dilapidated housing, putting an end to their main complaints. Marduk, the great lord, was well pleased with my deeds and sent friendly blessing to myself, Cyrus, the King, who reveres him, to Cambyses, my son, as well as to all my troops, and we all (praised) his great (name) joyously, standing before him in peace I returned to (these) sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been ruins for a long time, the images which (used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I (also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them) their habitations. Furthermore, I resettled upon the command of Marduk, the great lord, all the gods of Sumer and Akkad who Nabonidus has brought to Babylon (su sa na) to the anger of the lord of the gods unharmed in their chapels, the places which make them happy.

May all the gods whom I have resettled in their sacred cities ask Bel and Nebo daily for a long life (six lines destroyed) and always with good words remember my good deeds that Babylonians incessantly cherished me because I resettled them in comfortable habitations I endeavored to strengthen the fortification of Imgur-Enlil and the great fortification of the City of Babylon the side brick wall by the city's trench which the former king (had built and had not finished). This was finished around (the city), that none of the former kings, despite the labor of their yoked people, had not accomplished. I rebuilt and completed with tar and brick and installed large gates entrances were built by cedar wood covered with brass and copper pivot I strengthened all the gates I saw inscribed the name of my predecessor, King Ashurbanipal."

On this historical turning point, by order of Cyrus, all the captive nationalities held as slaves for generations in Babylon were freed and the return to their homeland was financed. Among the liberated captives were 50,000 Jews held in Babylon for three generations whose return toward the rebuilding of their temple in Palestine, a policy that was followed by Darius and his successors. Some of the liberated Jews were invited to and did settle in Persia. Because of such a generous act, Cyrus has been anointed in the Bible. He is the only gentile in the Bible, who has been titled Messiah, an is mentioned explicitly as the Lord's shepherd and his anointed (Messiah). Other references to Cyrus are attested in Isaiah 45:4 where Cyrus is called by name and given a title of honor; he is also called to rebuild the God's city and free His people (Is. 45:13) and is chosen, called and brought successful by God (Is. 48:14-15).

What took place after the victory in Babylon was contrary to the standard of the time. Based on the inscriptions of the neighboring countries (Assyrians, Babylonians), it was customary to destroy the vanquished cities, level houses and temples, massacre the people or enslave the population, replace them with snakes, wolves and even carry away the soil to make the land barren. But here, peace and liberty replaced the massacre and slavery, and construction substituted for destruction. After Cyrus, his son Cambyses ruled for eight years (530BC to 522 BC) and captured Egypt, and as a sign of respect toward their culture and religion, he prostrated himself before the goddess, Meith and paid homage to Apis, the Egyptian totem (Bull).

After Cambyses, Darius took over the throne and ruled form 522BC to 486BC. From 518BC to 515BC he established peace and tranquility in Egypt and also paid homage to their totem, Apis. Darius, in his inscriptions, expresses faith in the commands of Ahuramazda. He declares "Whoever worships Ahuramazda, shall receive happiness in life and after death." He calls Elamites faithless, and because they did not worship Ahuramazda, yet he does not pressure them to change faith. Darius exhorts his successors "thou shalt be king thereafter, protect yourself from the lies and punish the liar and deceitful."

He entreats God's grace for the protection of Persia against rancor, enemy, famine and the lie. At times he alludes to other gods that may either indicate the old Aryan gods who still had strong followings or the gods of other nations under his rule, for the display of reverence toward their religions.

REFERENCES:

A. Arfaee, The command of Cyrus the Great (in Persian), quoted the opinion of Sydney Smith.

Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles, p110, dates the fall of Babylon on Oct. 12th and Cyrus's entry on Oct 29th.

J. B. Pritchard, The ancient Near East, Vol. 1, 1958, p203.

A fragment in the Yale's Babylon collection was identified in 1970 by P.R.Berger, the professor of Munster, Germany, as part of Cyrus's cylinder that was transferred to the British Museum and added to the cylinder, who wrote in the journal of Assyrology (Zeiserrift fir Assiriologie), July 25, Vol. 64. The remainder of the text is quoted from A.

Arafaee, which was the missing portion kept in Yale University. Bible, 2 Chronicles 36:15-23
Bible, Ezra 1:1-11, Ezra 2:12-70
Bible, Ezra 7:8
Bible, Ezra 6:3-4-5
Bible, Ezra 7:15-25
Bible, Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1

Darius Jahanian, M.D. is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the Kansas City area, with degree from University of Tehran and Washington University, St. Louis. He is a co-founder and president of the Fravahar Zoroastrian Youth organization of Tehran. Darius served as trustee of the Rostam Guiv Trust of California 1981-89, is a trustee and VP of the Rostam Guiv Foundation of New York since 1990, and its president since 1992. He is a founder and two-term president of the Zoroastrian Association of Kansas. A noted author and lecturer on the Zoroastrian religion, Darius also teaches religion classes for children.

Source: Zoroastrianism and Biblical Connections

http://www.savepasargad.com/aa.from%20091806/destruction/cyrus-jahanian.htm 

  Se også  mine blog om emnet:

http://shahrezad.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!72073E5B4E136E3B!3798.entry

Campaign to Free Women's Rights Defenders in Iran: Three Women's Rights Defenders Remain in Detention

3/8/07

This year, the International Women's Day is marked by the attack, arrest and detention of women's rights defenders in front of Tehran's Revolutionary Court. On Sunday March 4^th, thirty three women were arrested following a peaceful demonstration. As of now thirty of these women have been released. Those released confirm that the remaining women— Shadi Sadr, Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh, and Jila Baniyaghoub,— are still in ward 209 of Evin Prison (run by the Ministry of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran, designated primarily for the political prisoners). The reason for their detention is drafting a statement that called for the gathering.

On Sunday March 4, 2007, women's right defenders gathered in front of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to protest the court proceedings of Nooshin Amhadi Khorasani, Parvin Ardalan, Shahla Entesari and Susan Tahmasebi, Fariba Davoodi Mohajer—five prominent members of Iranian women's organizations who were arrested in pervious peaceful gatherings. As indicated by the women's right activists and their legal teams the charges are in violation of the article 27 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran, which guarantees the citizens' right to assemble peacefully. In violation of such right, the security police forces attacked women's legal and peaceful gathering and arrested thirty-three protestors.

On March 5, fifty family members and friends of detainees gathered in front of the main entrance of Evin prison to protest the illegal arrests of their loved ones and to demand their immediate release. Consequently, prison authorities declared that Evin prison does not have the authority to release the detainees, as they are kept in ward 209, which is monitored and supervised by the Ministry of Intelligence.

In the following days, two groups of women were released from prison. This morning, at around 2:00 am, another group of fifteen women were released. It seems the reason for keeping the three women in detention is that they have accepted full responsibility for drafting the call for the gathering that took place on March 4.

Many international human rights and women organizations and prominent figures including Iranian political and social activists, lawyers, writers, journalists, and academics have denounced the arrest of women's rights advocates demanding their immediate and unconditional release, including Louise Arbor, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Irene Khan, Amnesty International General Secretary, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, Women Living Under Muslim Laws, Women's Initiative for Gender Justice and the Observatory. Yet, more women's rights advocates are being summoned to the court and threatened by arrest. This is while the authorities are promising release of more detainees.

The campaign has been launched immediately after the arrest of women activists by a group of transnational activists. For more information about the campaign and the complete list of supporters, please visit the site:

http://www.meydaan.org/English/campaign.aspx?cid=52

http://www.meydaan.org/English/petition.aspx?cid=52&pid=11

Contacts For Updated and Detailed Information:

The Free Women's Rights Defenders in Iran Campaign coordinators are ready to provide detailed information about the status of women detainees.

Soheila Vahdati, soheilavahdati@gmail.com +1.510.813.7786

Sanam Dolatshahi, sanamdi@gmail.com   +1.352.359.3789

Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh is the editor of the Zanan quarterly journal and is a key member of the Campaign Against Stoning. She has also served as the director of the NGO Training Center. In November 2004, Mahboobeh Abbasgholozadeh was arrested as a result of her activism on women's rights and was detained for over a month.

Shadi Sadr is a prominent lawyer, journalist, and activist. She founded Zanan-e Iran, the first website dedicated to the work of Iranian women's rights activists, and she has written numerous articles and several books on the subject of Iranian women and their legal rights. Shadi Sadr has represented a number of persecuted activists and journalists and has donated her time in successfully overturning the convictions of several women sentenced to execution. 

jila-baniyaghoob.jpg

Jila Baniyaghoub is a well-known journalist. She is the editor of the website of the Iranian Women's Society and the editor of the society and women's sections of Sarmaye newspaper . She is best-known for her book on Iranian women's journalism and for her reports from Iraq and Afghanistan.

 http://www.payvand.com/news/07/mar/1113.html

  Brief Interview with Parastoo Dokouhakie after Release

Date: 03/07/2007 23:26:25 

           Nazanin was freed from prison

Læs om denne sag i mine blog:

http://shahrezad.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!72073E5B4E136E3B!3147.entry

http://shahrezad.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!72073E5B4E136E3B!3160.entry

January 31:

Nazaninwasfreed from prison today and reunited with her family. She could not believe that this day had arrived. She cried in her mothers arms and took turns embracing her siblings and father.

Nazanin's lawyer said that she had told him she wanted to go to school and study hard to get her life back (Nazanin only has 2. grade education). Soon afterwards, some of the prisoners Nazanin had served with called and said they already missed her.

Nazanin said that she was extremely happy, and felt like she had been born again. She thanked and gave her love to everyone who made her release possible.

February 2:

These pictures show Nazanin and her family celebrating after she was released from prison on Wednesday.
(Click on the pictures to see bigger versions):

February 6:

Radio interview with Nazanin

Se:

http://save.nazanin.googlepages.com/news

Here are Nazanin's replies to the questions, translated by David Etebari:


"I was very happy to be free and my freedom is like a new birthday.

When taken in to custody I did not think that I would end up being imprisoned for almost three years. I was innocent but the judge did not believe me and it wasn't until the re-trial that the witnesses told the truth and judges believed me.

When I heard the news of my death sentence I was devastated. I wished to die than being executed.

While in prison I received some news of the activities for my freedom. If it wasn't for all the efforts on my behalf, I would not have been released. I thank Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Mina Ahadi for their efforts as well as everyone who worked so hard to gain my freedom. I also thank everyone who made donations to make the payment of the bail possible. I wish I could do something in return but there is not much that I am capable of doing at this time.

There are so many innocent inmates in prison but there is nothing that they can do. Many innocent people have been in prison for few years and still unsure of their cases outcome. Shahla Jaahed, Zahra and many others there were sentenced to death.

I am hopeful that they all be freed with the efforts from outside. They also are hopeful that their innocence be also proven so they too can be free.

I want me and my sisters to study and finish school.

Thank you so much."

  http://save.nazanin.googlepages.com/news                                     

Press release, 22-02-2007

                                        Egyptian blogger sentenced to four years in prisen    

Amnesty International condemns the four-year sentence handed down by an Egyptian court today against blogger Karim Amer, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

"This sentence is yet another slap in the face of freedom of expression in Egypt," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Programme Director. "The Egyptian authorities must protect the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, even if the views expressed might be perceived by some as offensive. Amnesty International considers Karim Amer to be a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted on account of the peaceful expression of his views."

"The Egyptian authorities must repeal legislation that, in violation of international standards, stipulates prison sentences for acts which constitute nothing more than the peaceful exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion."

Karim Amer is the first Egyptian blogger to be tried for writing blogs criticizing Egypt's al-Azhar religious authorities, President Husni Mubarak and Islam. Charges against him included "spreading information disruptive of public order and damaging to the country’s reputation", "incitement to hate Islam" and "defaming the President of the Republic".

http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE120062007

Læs også:

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/egy-200207-news-eng

http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE120052007

                 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL


Embargo Date: 27 October 2006 00:01 GMT

The Internet is one of the most powerful inventions of the digital age. It has the potential to empower and educate, to cross cultural boundaries and create global communities. It offers the means for any individual with access to a computer and a gateway to the internet to communicate with others across the world in a free flow of information and ideas – a powerful force for human rights.

But, while the internet has brought freedom of information to millions, for some, it has led to imprisonment by governments that have sought to curtail this freedom. Websites and blogs have been shut down; firewalls built to prevent access to information. Governments have restricted and filtered search engines to keep information from people in their territory.

Amnesty International has documented the failures of governments to respect and protect the rights to freedom of information, expression, association and privacy, and has highlighted the collaboration of businesses in some of these violations.

Yahoo! via its Chinese partner company, Alibaba, has provided the authorities with private and confidential information about its users that has been used to convict and imprison journalists. It has also agreed to censor and deny access to information. Microsoft shut down the blog of New York Times researcher Zhao Jing on the basis of a government request. The company has also admitted that it responds to directions from the Chinese government in restricting users of MSN Spaces from using certain terms. Google has launched a censored version of its international search engine in China.

Recent abuses reported have included imprisoning people for transmitting news and opinions in emails, chat-rooms and on websites, and denying access to information and opinions on the Internet through content removal and filtering of search engines. At particular risk are those who defend the human rights of others.

Chinese journalist Shi Tao used his Yahoo account to email a US-based website about an internal government directive instructing journalists how to handle media coverage of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." Yahoo! provided information to the government that was used in his prosecution.

Tunisian lawyer and human rights defender Mohammed Abbou is serving a three and a half year prison sentence largely for publishing articles critical of the Tunisian authorities on the Internet.

Vietnamese political dissident Truong Quoc Huy was first arrested in October 2005 with two other young people after chatting on a democracy and human rights website. He was held incommunicado for nine months then released, but, on 18 August 2006, he was rearrested in an Internet cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, where he had logged on to a chatroom. His whereabouts remain unknown and no charges have been publicised.

Amnesty International considers Shi Tao, Mohammed Abbou, Truong Quoc Huy and many others to be prisoners of conscience. We are deeply concerned about the participation of both governments and businesses in the repression of fundamental human rights through their control of the Internet.

We bring with us to the Internet Governance Forum the signatures of over 43,000 people who share our concerns and who have signed our pledge for internet freedom:

I believe the Internet should be a force for political freedom, not repression. People have the right to seek and receive information and to express their peaceful beliefs online without fear or interference. I call on governments to stop the unwarranted restriction of freedom of expression on the Internet - and on companies to stop helping them do it.

In the United States, Amnesty International has been supporting domestic legislative efforts to protect freedom of expression and privacy on the Internet, including the recently proposed Global Online Freedom Act, but these efforts will be insufficient to address all states and non-U.S. companies.

All states and all companies must be held to the same standards for upholding and promoting international human rights and humanitarian law, norms and standards.
Every organ of society is responsible for ensuring that human rights are respected and promoted, including business. Any individual or organization defending human rights peacefully and legitimately should be protected.

Amnesty International calls on governments:
- to release immediately and unconditionally all those imprisoned because of the expression online of news and peaceful opinions;

- to cease harassment and threats against people seeking to express, impart or receive information on the Internet;

- to neither restrict nor arbitrarily interfere with the operation and usage of the Internet in ways that violate the fundamental rights to information, freedom of expression and privacy. This includes prior censorship, monitoring and surveillance that does not conform with countries’ human rights obligations;

- to align domestic and local law and regulation with international human rights laws, norms and standards.

Amnesty International calls on IT and telecommunications companies:
- to publicly commit to honoring human rights, and develop human rights policies that state a clear commitment to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and comply with the requirements of the UN Global Compact;

- to be transparent about any words, phrases or concepts they are filtering or censoring, and the laws under which they are doing this;

- to exhaust all judicial and administrative remedies when faced with requests that would deny a person’s right to privacy or free expression;

- to exercise leadership in promoting human rights with governments and to participate with civil society in efforts to promote people’s fundamental rights.

Amnesty International looks forward to being a part of the process that will protect human rights on the Internet and ensure that all organs of society live up to their responsibility in promoting and upholding these rights. We are eager to participate in and support any process that stems from this conference that aims to ensure that the Internet is a place where human rights of all people are respected and protected.

Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org

 http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engpol300542006

Embargo Date: 27 October 2006 00:01 GMT

Amnesty International today issued a ‘Call to Bloggers’, asking them to get online and stand up for freedom of expression on the internet. The organisation says this is a critical time when fundamental rights – particularly freedom of expression and privacy – are under threat from governments that want to control what their citizens say, and what information they can access.

The call comes as the online world prepares to meet at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF, Athens 30/10 – 2/11) to discuss the future of the internet. Amnesty released a statement to the IGF today and is sending a delegation to ensure that human rights are not sidelined and remain at the heart of the forum’s discussions.

Amnesty’s International's statement also coincides with an urgent appeal on behalf of a blogger in Iran who was detained this month. Kianoosh Sanjari was arrested earlier this month while reporting on clashes between security forces and supporters of Shi'a cleric Ayatollah Boroujerdi. He is being held incommunicado and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Sanjari had allegedly gone to the home of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in the capital, Tehran, to prepare a report on the clashes that were taking place there.

Steve Ballinger, part of Amnesty International’s delegation to the IGF, said:

“Freedom of expression online is a right, not a privilege – but it’s a right that needs defending. We’re asking bloggers worldwide to show their solidarity with web users in countries where they can face jail just for criticising the government.

“The Internet Governance Forum needs to know that the online community is bothered about free expression online and willing to stand up for it.”

Amnesty International is calling on governments and companies to ensure that human rights – particularly the rights to freedom of expression, association and the right to privacy – are respected and protected.

Steve Ballinger added:

“The internet is a powerful force for human rights, enabling the free flow of ideas and information around the world.

“But some governments have sought to curtail this freedom. People have been locked up just for expressing their views in an email or a website. Sites and blogs have been shut down and firewalls built to prevent access to information. Companies have restricted internet searches to stop people accessing information that repressive governments don’t want them to see.

“Countries and businesses have failed to respect, protect and promote the rights to freedom of expression, association and privacy, and the rights of human rights defenders.”

Yahoo! via its Chinese partner company, Alibaba, has provided the Chinese authorities with private and confidential information about its users that has been used to convict and imprison journalists. It has also agreed to censor and deny access to information. Microsoft shut down the blog of New York Times researcher Zhao Jing on the basis of a Chinese government request. The company has also admitted that it responds to directions from the Chinese government in restricting users of MSN Spaces from using certain terms. Google has launched a censored version of its international search engine in China.

Amnesty International is also highlighting the cases of prisoners of conscience, imprisoned for the expression of their peaceful views online.

Chinese journalist Shi Tao used his Yahoo! account to email a US-based website about an internal government directive instructing journalists how to handle media coverage of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." Yahoo! provided information to the government that was used in his prosecution.

Tunisian lawyer and human rights defender Mohammed Abbou is serving a three and a half year prison sentence largely for publishing articles critical of the Tunisian authorities on the internet.

Vietnamese political dissident Truong Quoc Huy was first arrested in October 2005 with two other young people after chatting on a democracy and human rights website. He was held incommunicado for nine months then released, but on 18 August 2006 he was rearrested in an internet cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, where he had logged on to a chatroom. His whereabouts remain unknown and no charges have been publicised.

Steve Ballinger said:

“We bring with us to the Internet Governance Forum the voices of thousands of people who share our concerns and who have supported Amnesty’s irrepressible.info campaign.

“We are calling on governments to release prisoners who are held just for expressing their peaceful views online, and to stop unwarranted censorship of internet sites and searches.”

The organisation welcomed the opportunity presented by the IGF to raise concerns with human rights and the internet.

Steve Ballinger added:

“We are looking forward to participating in the IGF, and being part of a process that will protect human rights on the internet. Amnesty’s job in Athens will be to ensure that human rights are not sidelined – they must be at the heart of all the forum’s discussions.”

Note to Editors
For more media information, including advanced copies of Amnesty International’s statement to the IGF, its appeal to bloggers and its Urgent Action appeal for Iranian blogger Kianoosh Sanjari, please contact:
Steve Ballinger, Amnesty International press office, +44 (0)20 7033 1548 or +44 (0)7891 565592

For a copy of AI's Urgent Action for Kianoosh Sanjari, please see: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE131212006
From 27 October, Amnesty International’s statement to the IGF will be available at this link: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engpol300542006

For more information on Amnesty’s campaign for internet freedom see: http://irrepressible.info

Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engpol300542006