Mahboubeh Karami (f), aged 40, journalist and women’s rights defender

Mahboubeh Karami (f), aged 40, journalist and women’s rights defender

- Urgent action (follow up) - Human rights defender - Women - Arbitrary arrest - Fear of torture or ill-treatment - Prisoner of conscience - Iran

MDE 13/128/2008 - Further Information on 169/08 (MDE 13/084/2008, 17 June 2008) and follow-up (MDE 13/119/2008, 19 August 2008)

On 25 August, Mahboubeh Karami was released on bail of one billion rials (approximately US$110,000). She was charged in mid-August with “acting against national security” and her next hearing is scheduled for 1 November at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Since her arrest on 13 June she had been held in Evin Prison, Tehran. Amnesty International considers the charge against her to be false and if imprisoned Mahboubeh Karami would be a prisoner of conscience, detained for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression and association.

Whilst Mahboubeh Karami was in detention she was regularly interrogated about her activities with The Campaign for Equality that advocates for an end to laws and policies which discriminate against women.

Shortly after her release on 28 August, Mahboubeh Karami was at a private gathering at a friendsí house when security forces arrived, entered the house by force and demanded that she sign a summons for her to appear on 30 August at the Tehran Polices’ Security and Intelligence branch. The security forces left the house once she had signed the order but then remained outside until 10pm.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Campaign for Equality is a network of individuals working to end legal discrimination against women. The campaign informs women of their rights, and is aiming to collect one million signatures from the Iranian public to a petition against discriminatory laws. On 27 August, the second anniversary of the Campaign for Equality, Amnesty International renewed its demand that the Iranian authorities cease harassing and imprisoning womenís rights defenders and allow them to freely continue their campaigning for the repeal of laws and policies which discriminate against women in Iran. For further information please see Iran: End pressure on womenís rights defenders, published on 27 August 2008; http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-...... [1]

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:

• calling on the authorities to drop the charge against Mahboubeh Karami, if imprisoned she would be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and association and Amnesty International will call for her immediate and unconditional release.

• calling on the authorities to end the harassment of Mahboubeh Karami for her peaceful activities.

APPEALS TO:

Head of the Tehran Judiciary Ali Reza Avaie No. 152, corner of 17th Alley Before Shahid Motahhary Ave., Sanaei Ave., Karimkhan Zand Ave., Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: +98 21 8832 6700 (works intermittently) Email: avaei dadgostary-tehran.ir [2] info dadgostary-tehran.ir [3] Salutation: Dear Mr Avaei

President His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: dr-ahmadinejad president.ir [4] via website: www.president.ir/email [5] Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737 Islamic Republic of Iran Email: info dadgostary-tehran.ir [6] (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary) Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri, Tehran 1316814737, Iran Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying) Email: fsharafi bia-judiciary.ir [7] (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani) int_aff judiciary.ir [8] (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Ambassade de la République islamique d’Iran Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 15, 1050 Bruxelles Fax : 02.762.39.15 Email : secretariat iranembassy.be [9]

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 10 October 2008.