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Dear Feminist Activist,
In an ominous action, Iran has outlawed the
Center for the Defense of Human Rights – an organization co-founded by
Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Laureate and a hero for her work on
rights for women and children. Iran has declared the
organization illegal, claiming it did not have a proper permit, and is
threatening to arrest Dr. Ebadi and the center staff for continuing
their work on behalf of women and children.
Please
join feminists and human rights activists worldwide to support Shirin
Ebadi and her work. Urge the
United Nations to support Shirin Ebadi and the Iranian government to
declare legal the Center for the Defense of Human Rights.
I had the privilege to
meet with Dr. Ebadi in April when the Feminist Majority Foundation
honored her for her work. She is dedicated to women’s
rights – I have never seen her kind of courage and determination in the
face of such a strong opposition to women’s rights. She
has risked her life for women and children. We cannot let
her down.
Not having a proper
permit appears to be an excuse. Civil society
organizations are not required by law in Iran to obtain a permit to
operate. Even so, the Center did apply for the permit
when the group was founded; despite repeated attempts, the government
never responded to their application.
The global community
needs the work of Dr. Shirin Ebadi. She has defended
women and children, many of them on a pro bono basis. She
is one of only seven living women Nobel Peace Laureates, and her
contributions to human rights in Iran have been considerable.
Dr. Ebadi’s work and
human rights advocacy are critically needed in a country where
independent thinkers and women’s rights activists are silenced and a
woman is accorded only half the legal worth of a man. Write to urge the reversal of the Iranian government’s
decision. Join feminists and human rights activists
across the world to support Dr. Shirin Ebadi. She must
not be silenced.
For Equality,
Eleanor
Smeal
President
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