Maryam Namazie

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Mina Ahadi's interview on recent arrests in Persian

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Urgent Action: Sakineh's son and lawyer have been arrested

Open Letter demanding the release of Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, were arrested along with a German journalist and photographer in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since the arrests. It is known they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. The four have not returned home or to their hotels since; the Islamic regime has confirmed the arrest of the two journalists.

We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. We also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution.

Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson, International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution, Germany
Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson, Iran Solidarity and One Law for All, UK
A C Grayling, Writer and Philosopher, UK
Alfred Breitman, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Angela Payne, HQ Coordinator, Anti-Injustice Movement, UK
Anne Zelensky, Présidente, La Ligue du Droit des Femmes, France
Anne-marie Lizin, Senate Honorary Speaker, Association of the Wallonia Women Council, and Coordinator of HOCRINT, International Association against Honour Crimes, Belgium
Annie Sugier, President, Ligue du Droit International des Femmes, France
Åsa Dahlström Heuser, Campaigner, Belgium
Bernice Dubois, Coordination Française pour le Lobby Européen des Femmes, France
Catherine Auberger, Human Rights Campaigner, France
Catherine Deudon, Photographer, France
Chantal Crabère, Campaigner, France
Christiane Labarre, Women’s Rights Campaigner, Belgium
Christiane Mauchauffée, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Daniel Lardy, Primary School Teacher, France
Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, Philosopher, Writer, Promoter of the "Open Letter to the Iranian Authorities" to support Sakineh, Belgium
Daphné Pavia, Regards de Femmes, France
Dario Picciau, Director, EveryOne Group, Italy
David Pollock, President, European Humanist Federation, UK
Dennis Penaluna, President, Nottingham Secular Society, UK
Dominique Peignoux, Regards de Femmes Ile de France, Vice President, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneurm, France
Ed Buckner, Board Member, American Atheists, USA
Eli Vieira, President, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Elizabeth Sidney, OBE, Chair, Women Worldwide Advancing Freedom and Equality, UK
Eloise Power, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
Fabio Patronelli, Artist, EveryOne Group, Italy
Francis FitzGibbon QC, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
G. R. Joly, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Georges Delpech, Campaigner, France
Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Advocate High Court of Sindh, Pakistan
Giti Thadani, Writer and Filmmaker, India
Glenys Robinson, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Gudrun Schyman, Spokesperson, Swedish political party Feminist Initiative and elected member of the local parliament in Simrishamn, Sweden
Harold Kroto, FRS, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, USA
Hope Knutsson, President, Sidmennt the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, Iceland
Huguette Chomski Magnis, President, Mouvement Pour la Paix et Contre le Terrorisme, France
Ibn Warraq, Author, USA
Iza Desperak, Campaigner, Poland
Jaya Gopal, Coordinator, International Committee to Protect Freethinkers, India
Joëlle Wiels, Research Director, CNRS, France
Josette Vial , Lyon Association Regards de Femmes , France
Katarzyna Kopystyńska, Democratic Union of Women and Federation Polish Women's Lobby, Poland
Katarzyna Zwolak, Women Space Foundation, Poland
Laura Dubinsky, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
Laura Guidetti, President, Marea Association, Italy
Leo Igwe, Executive Director, Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
Liisa Rantalaiho, University of Tampere, Finland
Manouchehr Ganji, Human Rights Campaigner, USA
Maria Calderar, EveryOne Group, Italy
Maria Rohaly, Mission Free Iran, USA
Marie-Christine Exsteyl, Vice-Présidente, Groupement Belge de la Porte Ouverte pour la défense économique de la travailleuse, Belgium
Marie-Hélène Clochard, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Matteo Pegoraro, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Michael Schmidt-Salomon, Philosopher and Spokesperson, Giordano Bruno Foundation, Germany
Michèle Vianès, Présidente, Regards de Femmes, France
Mireille Popelin, Feminist and Secularist, France
Monica Lanfranco, Director, Marea Feminist Review, Italy
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, President, Stop Child Executions, Canada
Nina Sankari, President, European Feminist Initiative, Poland
Olga Rémy, Member, HOCRINT, Belgium
P. Mazelpeux, Campaigner, France
Pascaline Segard, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Pedro Almeida, General Director, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner, UK
Pragna Patel, Chair, Southall Black Sisters, UK
Richard Dawkins, Scientist and Author, UK
Roberto Malini, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director, American Humanist Association, USA
Russell Blackford, Philosopher, Australia
Shahla Abghari, Women’s Rights Campaigner, USA
Siba Shakib, Author and Filmmaker, USA
Sonja Eggerickx, President, International Humanist Ethical Union, UK and President, Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen, Belgium
Steed Gamero, Photographer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Tasneem Khalil, Editor, Independent World Report, Sweden
Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society, UK
Udo Schuklenk, Professor of Philosophy and Ontario Research Chair in Bioethic, Canada
Valérie Surville, Campaigner, France
Venita Popovic and Nermin Sarajlic, Zenicke Sveske journal, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Viviane Teitelbaum, MP and President of the Council of Women, Belgium

Monday, October 11, 2010

Update on Jamal Saberi's case

Dear All!

Just two months ago Jamal was released from prison. His fight for asylum and being safe from deportation however continue.

In this article in the Japan Times by Simon Scott we find out more about the toll his ordeal has taken on Jamal's mental and physical health. After 20 years of living in Japan, Jamal Saberi is still in complete limbo about his rights to remain in Japan and still under threat of being deported to Iran.

Watch the video the Japan Times did on Jamal in English (also appears at the end of the article at above link).

We will keep you updated on Jamal's situation.

Regards

Patty Debonitas
Free Jamal! campaign
Tel: +44 750 797 8745
freejamal.blogspot.com

Press Release 79: Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian have been arrested

Press Release 79: Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian have been arrested
11 October 2010

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son and lawyer, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian respectively, were arrested along with two German journalists in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since their arrests. All that is known is that they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. He had to abruptly end the call when the security forces brutally pushed their way in.

Since the arrests, Mina Ahadi has tried to contact them for several hours but to no avail. She also immediately contacted the relevant press agency and the German authorities. The arrests have now been confirmed.

We will make every effort to to secure the release of the four and call for increased pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran. The four and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani must be immediately released.

International Committee against Stoning
International Committee against Execution

For more information, contact:
International Committee Against Stoning (http://stopstonningnow.com)
International Committee Against Execution (http://notonemoreexecution.org)
Spokesperson: Mina Ahadi minaahadi@aol.com 0049-177-569-2413

Friday, October 08, 2010

Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie meet with European Parliament Vice President on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

Press Release 78, 8 October 2010

Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie meet with European Parliament Vice President on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Other events and actions to support World Day against the Death Penalty

On 7 October 2010, Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committees against Stoning and Execution, and Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson of Iran Solidarity, met with European Parliament Vice President, Roberta Angelilli to discuss the urgent case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (see photo). In addition to providing evidence and documentation on the case, a new letter by Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Ashtiani’s 22 year old son, was hand delivered to the Vice President. The letter stated:

Given that:
- Our mother’s lawyer and we have been denied visitation since her first coerced ‘confession’ on Iranian state television on 11 August
- The home and office of her lawyer Houtan Kian has been raided and ransacked by security forces and all documents pertaining to our mother’s case confiscated
- The authorities have been busy establishing new trumped up murder charges against our mother and denying the stoning sentence for adultery, which has yet to be officially rescinded, and
- We have been receiving threats because of our interventions on our mother’s behalf
We ask you to urgently come to our aid by:
1. Sending a delegation to Iran to look into our mother’s wellbeing and case
2. Intervening to obtain our mother’s immediate release, and
3. Providing us with refuge in Italy.
Given the Islamic Republic of Iran’s misinformation and contradictory statements regarding her case, as well our mother’s torture and mistreatment, we are concerned she will face death by stoning or execution.
Our mother, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, is innocent and must be immediately released.

At the meeting, Ms. Angelilli pledged to raise Sajjad’s requests with an upcoming delegation to Iran and the Italian Foreign Minister.

Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie also met with Laima Andrikiene, Rapporteur for the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Vice Chair of the European Parliament’s Human Rights sub-committee.

In addition to the meetings at the European Parliament, 16 events are taking place in several cities worldwide for 10 October, World Day against the Death Penalty.

Moreover, nearly 300 individuals and organisations have signed up to a resolution against the death penalty, including: Philosopher and Writer A C Grayling; Annie Sugier, President, Ligue du Droit International des Femmes; Arlene McCarthy, Member of the European Parliament; Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, Philosopher and Writer, Promotor of the "Open Letter to the Iranian Authorities" to support Sakineh; Eli Vieira, President, Secular Humanist League of Brazil; Esmail Khoi, Poet; Gudrun Schyman, Spokesperson for Sweidsh Feminist Initiativ; Kelly Epstein, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; Lalia Ducos, Women's Initiative for Citizenship and Universal Rights; Leo Igwe, President, Nigerian Humanist Movement; Marieme Helie Lucas, President, Secularism is a Woman’s Issue; Michael Schmidt-Salomon, Philosopher, Spokesperson of the Giordano Bruno Foundation; Michèle Vianès, Présidente, Regards de Femmes; Monica Lanfranco, Journalist and Director of Italian Feminist Review; Nazanin Afshin-Jam, President and Co-Founder, Stop Child Executions; Nina Sankari, European Feminist Initiative and Polish Rationalist Association; Ophelia Benson, Editor, Butterflies and Wheels; Pierre Pradervand, Trainer and Writer; Siba Shakib, best-selling Author and Filmmaker; Harold Kroto FRS, Nobel Laureate Chemistry 1996; Sonja Eggerickx, President, International Humanist and Ethical Union; Terry Sanderson, National Secular Society; and Author and Critic Wafa Sultan.

International Committee against Execution
International Committee against Stoning

For more information, contact:
minaahadi@aol.com
0049-177 569 2413

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Act against the death penalty on 10 October

See list of actions for 10 October - Day against the Death Penalty. If you can rally or do an act of solidarity on the day, please email us at actionforsakineh@gmail.com.

Also see updated list of signatories of resolution against the death penalty here.

Monday, October 04, 2010

Urgent Call to endorse resolution on capital punishment

Hello

We are writing to ask if you would endorse our resolution on capital punishment to mark World Day against the Death Penalty. If so, please email your name, organisation if any, city and country to actionforsakineh@gmail.com. The resolution can be found here.

Please see our latest press releases and news on the Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani case below:

- Press Release 76: Sajad asks municipalities around the world to save his mother's life
- Press Release 75: Sakineh is still in danger of execution
- Sajad's letter to the UN
- Maryam Namazie's letter to OFCOM about BBC Sunday Morning Live's bias against Sakineh
- An open letter by Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie to Larry King

Also see an article on Teresa Lewis and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

If you plan on holding a rally or act of solidarity against the death penalty on 10 October, please also email your event to actionforsakineh@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Warm wishes
Maryam Namazie

Resolution on Capital Punishment on the occasion of 10 October, World Day Against the Death Penalty

The death penalty is premeditated murder by the state. It must be unconditionally abolished worldwide. Abolition of the death penalty and valuing human life are the first steps toward fighting a ‘culture’ of killing in society. The death penalty is the most heinous form of premeditated murder in which a state, on behalf of society, in accordance with a preconceived plan, brutally and legally kills an individual, and announces the date and time of the event beforehand. Committing murder by citizens of a society can never be stopped when the state commits the same crime legally. The death penalty is a large contributor to the overall homicide and crime statistics.

In countries such as Iran political dissenters, gays, apostates, blasphemers, and even children are executed. The punishment for sex outside of marriage is stoning, which is the most monstrous form of execution. In such countries one must, indeed, add to this list the equally criminal, legal punishments such as gouging of eyes, pushing the convicted off heights, amputation, flogging and torture.

Many countries have put an end to the death penalty during the past 50 years. The growing movement against capital punishment has been a significant factor in the abolition of this inhuman punishment, or state crime. One important stronghold of the movement is in Iran, which is confronting an Islamic regime that has executed over hundred thousand people in the past 31 years - an annual average of over 3000 people and largely political prisoners. The abolition of the death penalty is an important demand of the Iranian people.

This year, 10 October, World Day against the Death Penalty, is yet another occasion for the world to stand up against the 21st century’s barbarism of capital punishment and demand the following:

1- The death penalty must be immediately abolished, in law as well as in practice, and existing execution sentences rescinded, in all countries.

2- Stoning is the most barbaric form of the death penalty carried out by Islamic states for sex outside of marriage. It must be officially declared a crime against humanity. Any state, political organisation, group or individual that commits this crime must be prosecuted and tried by international tribunals. All individuals sentenced to stoning must be freed immediately and unconditionally.

We consider ourselves part of the global anti-death penalty movement, and strongly support the struggles of people across the world to end capital punishment. Moreover, we hereby declare our solidarity with the people in Iran, and resolutely support their struggle to abolish stoning and execution which will be an important step in ultimately putting an end to an Islamic regime in Iran.

International Committee Against Execution www.notonemoreexecution.org
International Committee Against Stoning www.stopstonningnow.com
Iran Solidarity www.iransolidarity.org.uk
Mission Free Iran www.missionfreeiran.org

Please endorse this statement by sending your name, organisation (if any) or position (such as student, writer, campaigner, blogger), city and country to actionforsakineh@gmail.com before 10 October.

Friday, October 01, 2010

Update on the One Law for All campaign

Hello

Thank you for your continued support of the One Law for All campaign against Sharia Law in Britain. Due to your support, our campaign is gaining in recognition and strength. As the new co-spokesperson of the campaign, I hope to help make us stronger still. Earlier in the year, the new head of the Muslim Council of Britain praised the spread of Sharia law in Britain. More recently the courts were lauded by the King of Abu Dhabi. With a rise in Sharia courts and tribunals handing down discriminatory and unfair decisions against women and children in particular, our work is more urgent than ever.

Below is an outline of the work we have done over the summer, as well as our future plans. We will continue this work until we bring about an end to Sharia and religious law. In order to do so though we need your support. If you can, please donate to the crucial work of our organisation by sending a cheque or paying via Paypal. We urgently need regular support that we can rely on and are asking for 100 donors to commit to at least £5-10 a month via direct debit. Details on the 100 Club can be found here.

RALLY IN CENTRAL LONDON AND REPORT ON SHARIA LAW

Several hundred people joined One Law for All on 20 June at Downing Street to show their opposition to Sharia and religious-based laws in Britain and elsewhere, and to demand universal rights and secularism.

A new report, “Sharia Law in Britain: A Threat to One Law for All and Equal Rights”, was published on the same day. Co-Spokesperson Maryam Namazie discussed it on BBC Breakfast. It was also mentioned in the Law Society Gazette and in an article by Maryam in the Guardian amongst others.

The report describes the nature of Sharia law and how it is being practiced widely in Britain – some Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are operating under powers provided by the Arbitration Act 1996 and as such, are legally enforceable. The report exposes the sham nature of the ‘consent’ and the religious freedom arguments. It gives recommendations as to how we can bring about an end to Sharia tribunals and other such courts in Britain such as the Sharia Councils. Recommendations include an amendment to the Arbitration Act as well as the formulation of a legal argument under the Human Rights Act, and a widespread campaign to highlight these courts and inform victims of their rights under British law.

SAVE SAKINEH MOHAMMADI ASHTIANI AND STOP STONING CAMPAIGN

During the summer, One Law for All focused heavily on the Iran stoning case and helped organise several events including 24 July International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day and 28 August 100 cities against Stoning. In July, co-spokesperson Maryam Namazie was joined by Mina Ahadi, Peter Tatchell, and AC Grayling at a press conference in London, aimed at highlighting her case. In September, Maryam wrote a letter of complaint to OFCOM regarding the inaccurate reporting on the case and stoning in Iran on a BBC Sunday Morning Live programme. During the debate, only two people were invited to join via webcam – one from Tehran and the other from the Islamic Sharia Council in Britain - both of whom were in support of Sakineh’s stoning and or execution. Maryam who had been invited to participate was never brought on. Outrageously, the head of the Islamic Sharia Council defended stoning to death as a way of keeping society pure...

PROTEST THE POPE

Maryam gave a speech on Sharia and the need for secularism at the Protest the Pope rally in central London on 18 September. Other speakers included Johann Hari, Pragna Patel, Richard Dawkins and Peter Tatchell. Her speech can be found here.

In the upcoming months we plan to do the following:

ARBITRATION ACT AMENDMENT

A suggested amendment to the Arbitration Act is being formulated and sent to women’s, children’s, and human rights groups across the UK requesting their endorsement. The amendment will then be sent to all MPs in the House of Commons asking for it to be presented to the House for consideration. A meeting will be arranged with supportive MPs to highlight the amendment. A campaign will be initiated inviting people to contact their MP and request their support for the amendment.

‘ENEMIES NOT ALLIES’ REPORT AND SEMINAR

One Law for All is preparing a report and organising a seminar on ‘left wing’ organisations which have taken the side of or failed to condemn Islamists in political discourse, including Unite Against Fascism and The Respect Party. The report will also look at racist far Right groups such as the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe which are using concern over Sharia law to promote their racist and anti-immigrant agenda.

ART EXHIBITION AND COMPETITION

The deadline for entries to the second One Law for All art competition has passed. In November, One Law for All will hold a week long exhibition viewing at the Unit 24 Gallery in central London.

CONFERENCE ON SHARIA LAW, APOSTASY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

To coincide with International Human Rights Day on December 11, One Law for All will host a conference in conjunction with the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and South Place Ethical Society, to discuss apostasy, human rights, and Sharia law. One Law for All will also publish a report on asylum law in the United Kingdom. It will argue that apostasy must be accepted as grounds for asylum and that this argument is grounded in both international and domestic law.

We also aim to organise an international conference on women’s rights in March 2011 and another conference on religion in December 2011.

Details of our events are to follow. Please visit our website for updates on events as well as speaking engagements taking place.

I look forward to working with you to end Sharia and religious laws here in Britain and everywhere.

Regards

Anne Marie Waters
Spokesperson