URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

IRN 007 / 0910 / OBS 111.1

Confirmation in appeal of sentencing to prison

Iran

January 11, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Iran.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed of the confirmation in appeal of the sentencing of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari, a “One Million Signatures” Campaign member and current spokesperson the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran.

According to the information received, on January, 8, 2011, the Branch 36 of Tehran Appeals Courts confirmed the condemnation of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari on charges of "attempts to deface the Islamic government", "disturbing the public peace of mind" and "waging war against God", and sentenced her to four years in prison and 74 whiplashes. As to date, she remained free on bail.

Background information:

On June 14, 2009, after the elections results had been made public, Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was arrested by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence, while massive demonstrations were underway. During her detention, Ms. Nazarahari spent more than three months in solitary confinement in section 209 of Evin Prison, during which time she was subjected to intensive and long interrogations, and she was not allowed to receive visitors or make any contact by telephone for a certain period of time. On September 23, 2009, she was released on a 200,000 USD bail. Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was re-arrested on December 21, 2009 by security forces and transferred to Evin prison, together with other “One Million Signatures” Campaign members, including Ms. Bahareh Hedayat, Ms. Mansoureh Shojaie (founding member of the Campaign and of the Women's Cultural Centre), Ms. Haleh Sahabi

She was released on September 12, 2010 on a bail of five billion Iranian rials (approximately 500,000 USD), following international pressure.

On September 4, 2010, her trial opened before the 26^th branch of the Tehran Province Islamic Revolutionary Court with charges including "attempts to deface the Islamic government", "assembly with intention of conspiring against the Islamic government", "disturbing the public peace of mind" and "waging war against God".

On September 18, 2010, Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was sentenced to six years of imprisonment, banishment in Izeh in south west Iran and also 76 whiplashes.

Actions requested:

Please write to the Iranian authorities and ask them to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari as well as all other union human rights defenders in Iran;

ii. Put an end to acts of harassment - including at the judicial level - against them as well as against all human rights defenders in Iran;

iii. Refrain from placing Ms. Shiva Nazarahari in detention as her condemnation is arbitrary;

iii. Conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular its:

- Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”,

- its Article 5(c), which reads that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels, [...] to communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations”,

- and its Article 12.2 which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

iv. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Iran.

Addresses:

- Leader of the Islamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98 21 649, + 98 21 649 / 21 774 2228, Email: info@leader.ir / istiftaa@wilayah.org / webmaster@wilayah.org / info_leader@leader.ir

- President Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880. Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

- Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com / bia.judi@yahoo.com

- Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ali Akbar Salehi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, Email: matbuat@mfa.gov

- Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7330203, Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

- Embassy of Iran in Brussels, 15 a avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 39 15. Email: iran-embassy@yahoo.com

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Iran in your respective countries.

***

Paris-Geneva, January 11, 2011

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

· Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / 01 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29