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There is a very important matter I would like to discuss with you. I conduct
my human rights activities through the Defender of Human Rights Center (DHRC). I
am the president of this center and we have three important responsibilities:
a. We report the violations of human rights that take place in Iran.
b. We defend political prisoners pro bono -- about 70% of the political
prisoners in Iran are clients of our center and we do not charge them for our
services.
c. We support the families of these prisoners both financially -- if they
require financial aid -- and spiritually.
This center is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
and has been registered there. It has also been awarded a human rights prize by
the Human Rights National Commission in France. This center is very well known
and credible in Iran.
Two days ago the government of Iran announced that this center is illegal and
provided
we continue our activities, they shall arrest us. Of course me and the other
members of the center do not intend to shut down the center and we shall
continue our activities. However, there is a high possibility that that they
will arrest us. The government's action in this regard is illegal.
Therefore, I kindly request that you broadcast this message by all mean and
gather spiritual support for our center. This center has been established and
working for more than four years now. I believe this decision of the government
has been triggered by my memoir being
published. In any case, I am happy that my memoir has been published, for the
truth must be told.
Many thanks,
Shirin Ebadi
August 5, 2006
Note: Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is an Iranian human rights
activist deeply committed to women’s rights and to battling religious
fundamentalism. See
Iranian feminist wins Nobel Peace Prize
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