Public Statement by Women’s Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: press@wfafi.org
BOSTON, MA- -Since April 23, 2007, Tehran’s regime has launched an extensive and brutal crackdown on women for “promoting virtues and combating vice.” Thousands of women have been beaten, arrested and warned to follow the strict dress code of the Islamic Republic. Comments by Iranian Officials:
Saeed Mortazavi, Tehran’s Chief Prosecutor: “Majority of these mannequins (referring to women) appearing in public belong to criminal gangs and will be put away.” April 24, 2007 (Mortazavi is known for his role in rape and killing of Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist in summer of 2003.)
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While being very appreciative of Amnesty for bringing this to the public spotlight, I’m not sure “appalled is quite the right adjective here…:
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AI Index:MDE 14/027/2007
Public News Service No: 084
27 April 2007
Iraq: Amnesty International appalled by stoning to death of Yezidi girl and subsequent killings
Amnesty International is appalled by the killing of Du’a Khalil Aswad, aged about 17 who was stoned to death on or around 7 April 2007 for a so-called honour crime. A member of Iraq’s Yezidi religious minority from the village of Bahzan in northern Iraq, she was killed by a group of eight or nine men and in the presence of a large crowd in the town of Bashika, near the city of Mosul. Some of her relatives are said to have participated in the killing.
Click here for the complete report.
The Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp has a wonderful website, treat yourself to an inspiring visit!
Arianna Huffington vivisects Hillary Cintonn’s denial for her own complicity in the Iraq debacle.
So the U.S. gave tacit approval to the continued sexual enslavement of women after the Japanese surrendered. What is astounding is how long it took for this story to surface. Don’t look for apologies or reparations anytime soon…
Visit Barbara Ehrenreich’s wonderful blog.
Read Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire’s account of being attacked by Israeli soldiers during a peace vigil sponsored by Bil’in Peoples Committee, a Palestinian peace group. As we must ask all too often, in what way does such violence ever make us stronger, safer or free?
Throughout the last several years, many of us have been deeply touched by a blog written by a young Iraqi woman who uses the name Riverbend. Her missives about what life is really like in Baghdad and throughout Iraq have offered a much needed lens of reality to our perceptions. Her bravery in writing this blog, and her willingness to share her perceptions are inspiring beyond words.
This week Riverbend writes that her family is preparing to leave Iraq. She talks about the difficulties in doing that, both the logistics and the emotional trauma that it entails. Please keep this amazing woman and her family in your thoughts as they make their journey to safety.
