HRW Call On Iran To Guarantee Fair Trial for Two Kurdish Women

international | gender and sexuality | other press Wednesday June 25, 2008 15:57 by pat c

Harsh Sentences May Await Two Rights Activists

HRW have called on the Iranian government to ensure that these two activists get a fair trial. Full story at link.

Iranian judicial authorities should guarantee two Kurdish women’s rights activists transparent court proceedings when their cases come up for a hearing, Human Rights Watch said today.

Activist Hana Abdi is appealing a five-year prison sentence, while Ronak Safarzadeh is on trial on charges that could lead to a death sentence. Human Rights Watch urges Iranian authorities to ensure fair and open court proceedings for both women.

The government’s previously documented patterns of restricting freedom of association and expression using broad security laws raise concern that the officials are prosecuting both women only on the basis of their involvement in Kurdish rights and women’s rights activism.

"It’s become routine for the Iranian government to use vague security charges to detain and intimidate peaceful activists, now, they’re going further by handing down outrageous sentences. "

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch