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Iran: Iranian authorities must free Shadi Sadr
July 24, 2009 | Melanie Teff | Tagged as: Iran
Shadi Sadr, a remarkable Iranian women’s rights activist, was beaten and arrested on Friday July 17 and is being held in detention. I met Shadi at a conference last year and was struck by her courage and quiet determination that over time her work as a human rights lawyer and peaceful campaigner would bring more respect for women’s rights in Iran.
Despite many setbacks, she had never given up her legal representation work, particularly of women at risk of execution, her journalistic work covering issues of women’s rights, and her work on the “Stop Stoning Forever” campaign. She has a strong belief that if people were given information about the realities of stoning they would change their views and that the laws would be changed. Shadi has received an award for bravery in journalism.
On Friday Shadi was walking to Tehran University to hear the Friday prayer sermon with a group of friends when several men dragged her off into a car. Witnesses to this event say that Shadi was hit badly and pulled so roughly that her scarf and manteau were removed from her. The men did not show identity cards or a warrant or give any reason for her arrest. That same day security officers turned up to Shadi’s house and conducted a search for several hours, going through all of her possessions, in front of her husband and 10 year-old daughter.
No-one has been told officially where Shadi is now. Her family assumes that she is being held in Evin prison. Her husband has provided bail for her, but a judge has stated that she is not going to be released. Shadi suffers from a serious glandular and bone disease which leaves her in intense pain. She was supposed to have surgery next week. She requires regular medication to which she probably does not have access in prison.
When I said goodbye to Shadi last year, she was heading back to Iran. She was happy to go back to her country and keen to carry on her work. The violent arrest of Shadi, which was carried out with no respect for due process of law, is very shocking to all who know her. She must be immediately and unconditionally released.
Despite many setbacks, she had never given up her legal representation work, particularly of women at risk of execution, her journalistic work covering issues of women’s rights, and her work on the “Stop Stoning Forever” campaign. She has a strong belief that if people were given information about the realities of stoning they would change their views and that the laws would be changed. Shadi has received an award for bravery in journalism.
On Friday Shadi was walking to Tehran University to hear the Friday prayer sermon with a group of friends when several men dragged her off into a car. Witnesses to this event say that Shadi was hit badly and pulled so roughly that her scarf and manteau were removed from her. The men did not show identity cards or a warrant or give any reason for her arrest. That same day security officers turned up to Shadi’s house and conducted a search for several hours, going through all of her possessions, in front of her husband and 10 year-old daughter.
No-one has been told officially where Shadi is now. Her family assumes that she is being held in Evin prison. Her husband has provided bail for her, but a judge has stated that she is not going to be released. Shadi suffers from a serious glandular and bone disease which leaves her in intense pain. She was supposed to have surgery next week. She requires regular medication to which she probably does not have access in prison.
When I said goodbye to Shadi last year, she was heading back to Iran. She was happy to go back to her country and keen to carry on her work. The violent arrest of Shadi, which was carried out with no respect for due process of law, is very shocking to all who know her. She must be immediately and unconditionally released.
