iran

Women in Iran are often portrayed as victims – helplessly unable to stand up and claim their own rights. The truth, however, is that many Iranian women are at the heart of the human rights movement. Four woman that are featured in our Keeping Iran’s Heart Beating exhibition are currently in prison for their work as Human Rights Defenders. Take action now.

Letter Writing Actions

  1.  Bahareh Hedayat, 30, is a student and women’s rights activist and a member of the Campaign for Equality. She is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after her arrest on 31 December 2009, in the midst of the unrest following the disputed presidential elections. She spent 81 days in solitary confinement and endured a gruelling interrogation process before being transferred to Evin Prison. On 16 July 2011, she was given temporary leave to observe a religious holiday on US$700,000 bail.

  2. Bahman Ahmadi Amou'i, 43, an editor at the business daily paper Sarmayeh, which was closed by the authorities on 2 November 2009, was sentenced to seven years and four months’ imprisonment and 32 lashes on 4 January 2010 by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran.

  3. Over 2 years have been passed since the arrest of Ahmad Zeidabadi, a journalist and spokesperson for the Graduates’ Association, which has promoted reform and greater respect for human rights. He is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association.

Freedom of expression