In an interview with Rooz, Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi spoke about the status of the jailed women’s rights activists.

Rooz (R): In light of the arrest of 33 women activists last week, can you please tell us about the arrest of activists – some of whom you represent – earlier this July?
Shirin Ebadi (SE): In that gathering, which was organized in Haft-e Tir Square by some women’s rights activists, about 70 people, including former Parliament member Mousavi Khoeini, were arrested. Except for Mr. Khoeini, all of the arrested activists were released two days later, but charges were laid against them, with follow-up implications. Mr. Khoeini spent about 4 months in prison. The trial of the women who were arrested began at the Revolutionary Courts. I was representing a number of them. So far, the trials of two of them, Delaram Ali and Alieh Eghdam, has taken place, though they were adjourned because the prosecutor failed to attend the hearing.

R: Among the women whose trial was to take place earlier this week, which ones you were representing?
SE: Parvin Ardalan and Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani were my clients, and they were going to have a hearing on March 3. Several others were supposed to have a hearing on that very same day, but they were being represented by Mrs. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah and Mohammad Sharif, and Shadi Sadr was representing Shahla Entesari. Because of a prior commitment, on that day I was in Italy to participate in a series of talks on the legal status of Iranian women. So my colleagues, Nasrin Sotouden and Leila Ali Karami, attended the hearing on that day. Three days before the trial, some women had decided to protest peacefully in front of the Revolutionary Court in opposition to the treatment of these women. On that day, about 40 people, who were peacefully and quietly sitting in front of the Revolutionary Court, suddenly faced a violent police force and all of them, plus the women who had left the courtroom after their hearing (33 in all) were arrested.

R: What were they being tried for in particular?
SE: The charges against my client and other activists were that they were undermining national security by participating in the July gathering.

R: What is the legal basis for this charge?
SE: I do not accept the charges. According to the Constitution, participation in peaceful and unarmed gatherings is lawful. The July gathering was very peaceful. Let me say it more clearly: before all the participants showed up, meaning as soon as some had gathered there, the police began assaulting the activists. A legal complaint has been flied against the police by my clients and has been submitted to the Tehran court, but unfortunately nothing has happened until this day. On the other hand, the Revolutionary Court says that women were protesting against Islamic laws, and such as they have protesting against Islam. But this charge is not correct either.

R: Why do you say that?
SE: The July gathering was in protest to discriminatory laws against women in Iran, many of which are not accepted even by Islamic scholars. According to the Fatwa’s [religious decrees] of many grand ayatollahs, particularly Grand Ayatollah Sanei, these laws are not essential to Islam and can be modified.

from: www.roozonline.com
Sepideh Abdi - 2007.03.18