Confirmation in appeal of sentencing to prison of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari

IRN 007 / 0910 / OBS 111.1

Confirmation in appeal ofsentencing to prison

Iran

January 11, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights(FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received newinformation and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation inIran.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed of the confirmationin appeal of the sentencing of Ms. ShivaNazarahari, a “One Million Signatures” Campaign member and currentspokesperson the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran.

According to the information received, on January, 8,2011, the Branch 36 of Tehran AppealsCourts confirmed thecondemnation of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari on charges of "attempts to deface theIslamic government", "disturbing the public peace of mind" and"waging war against God", and sentenced her to four years in prisonand 74 whiplashes. As to date, she remained free on bail.

Background information:

On June 14, 2009, after the elections results had beenmade public, Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was arrested by agents from the Ministry ofIntelligence, while massive demonstrations were underway. During her detention,Ms. Nazarahari spent more than three months in solitary confinement in section209 of Evin Prison, during which time she was subjected to intensive and longinterrogations, and she was not allowed to receive visitors or make any contactby telephone for a certain period of time.On September 23, 2009, she was released on a 200,000 USD bail. Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was re-arrested onDecember 21, 2009 by security forces and transferred to Evin prison, togetherwith other “One Million Signatures” Campaign members, including Ms. Bahareh Hedayat, Ms. Mansoureh Shojaie (founding member ofthe Campaign and of the Women's Cultural Centre), Ms. Haleh Sahabi

She was released on September 12, 2010 on a bail offive billion Iranian rials (approximately 500,000 USD), following international pressure.

On September 4, 2010, her trial opened before the 26thbranch of the Tehran Province Islamic Revolutionary Court with chargesincluding "attempts to deface the Islamic government", "assemblywith intention of conspiring against the Islamic government","disturbing the public peace of mind" and "waging war againstGod".

On September 18, 2010, Ms. Shiva Nazarahari was sentenced to six years of imprisonment,banishment in Izeh in south west Iran and also 76 whiplashes.

Actions requested:

Please write to the Iranian authorities and ask themto:

i. Guarantee in all circumstancesthe physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Shiva Nazarahari as well as all other union human rightsdefenders in Iran;

ii. Putan end to acts of harassment - including at the judicial level - against themas well as against all human rights defenders in Iran;

iii. Refrainfrom placing Ms. Shiva Nazarahari in detention as her condemnation isarbitrary;

iii. Conform in anycircumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, inparticular its:

- Article1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in associationwith others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights andfundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”,

- itsArticle 5(c), which reads that “everyone has the right, individually and inassociation with others, at the national and international levels, [...] tocommunicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations”,

- andits Article 12.2 which provides that “the State shall take all necessarymeasures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone,individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats,retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any otherarbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of therights referred to in the present Declaration”;

iv. Ensure in allcircumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordancewith international human rights standards and international instrumentsratified by Iran.

Addresses:

- Leader of theIslamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office ofthe Supreme Leader, Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 9821 649, + 98 21 649 / 21 774 2228, Email: info@leader.ir / istiftaa@wilayah.org/ webmaster@wilayah.org /info_leader@leader.ir

- President Mr.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880. Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

- Head of theJudiciary, His Excellency Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, Park-eShahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 3116567, Email: Irjpr@iranjudiciary.com / bia.judi@yahoo.com

- Acting Ministerof Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ali Akbar Salehi, Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran,Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, Email: matbuat@mfa.gov

- Permanent Mission of the IslamicRepublic of Iran, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax:+41 22 7330203, Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int

- Embassy of Iran in Brussels, 15 a avenueFranklin Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 39 15. Email:iran-embassy@yahoo.com

Please also write to the diplomatic representations ofIran in your respective countries.

***

Paris-Geneva, January 11, 2011

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting thecode of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicatedto the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concretesupport in their time of need.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

• Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
• Tel and fax FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / 01 43 55 18 80
• Tel and fax OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29