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NEWS & LETTERS, April-May 2006Iranian women beatenTehran--The peaceful gathering of 1,000 women's rights activists and human rights defenders who gathered in Park Daneshjoo (Student Park) on International Women's Day, ended in violence when they were attacked by plainclothes militia, special anti-riot forces of the Revolutionary Guards, soldiers and police, who beat the protesters relentlessly. Women gathered to emphasize their support of women's human rights and peace and were charged by security forces shortly after. The sit-in was silent, with protesters holding signs reading: "Discrimination against women is an abuse of human rights," "Women oppose forced aggression or war," "Injustice means discrimination against women." After security forces filmed the protesters for interrogations, the women were asked to disperse. The protesters started singing the anthem of the women's movement, which calls for changes in their human rights status. When the final statement was read, the security forces dumped cans of garbage on the women's heads, then charged the group, beating the protesters. Even after they dispersed, protesters were followed and beaten with batons. The security forces administered the beatings in teams. Women and men passing by were also beaten. Journalists and foreign correspondents were held in custody and released only after their film had been confiscated. We hope the international community--especially women's groups and human rights organizations--will stand in solidarity with Iranian women to condemn this violent attack on women's rights defenders in Iran. We urge women's groups in the region and from Islamic countries to protest the violent actions of the security forces against women's rights activists and defenders. * * * Editor's note: On the same day in Montreal, Canada; Chicago; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento, and Fresno, Cal.; demonstrators marched in support of their sisters in Iran. |
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