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NEWS & LETTERS, October-November 2006Women World Wideby Mary Jo Grey Because of protests from thousands of women’s rights and human rights organizations and activists around the world, the Iranian government stopped the stoning execution of Ashraf Kolhari—at least for now. The mother of four faced this brutal death after being convicted of adultery. Kolhari’s lawyer, Shadi Sadr, urged activists to remain vigilant—both because Kolhari’s future is not completely clear and because stoning is still legal in Iran. During the same week, the Iranian government declared the Defender of Human Rights Center illegal and threatened to shut it down and arrest its workers. Headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, the center reports human rights violations in Iran, defends political prisoners at no charge, and supports their families. * * * A sit-in in September by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, and other anti-war activists resulted in a pledge from Oregon Democratic Congressman Peter DiFazio to initiate a Congressional investigation into the treatment of Army Specialist Suzanne Swift. She was arrested and faces court martial and imprisonment for refusing to report for a second tour of duty in Iraq, after the military ignored her reports of sexual harassment and rape there by three of her commanding officers (see August-September N&L). * * * An Amnesty International (AI) report charges Guatemalan authorities with a "wholly insufficient" response to the brutal murders of more than 2,200 women and girls since 2001. Up to 70% of the killings were not even investigated, and no arrests were made in 97% of the cases. The number of killings has risen for the fourth consecutive year. According to Larry Cox, AI-USA executive director, "The Guatemalan government bears the ultimate responsibility for the safety of Guatemalan women." |
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