Delara Darabi Is Finally Transferred to a New Prison

After over 3 years of being forced to live in absolute filth and prison conditions that are unacceptable by any standard, any person, any where, Delara Darabi was finally transferred yesterday to a newly-constructed prison building. Although Delara is still in the same city, she will at least have better conditions, including air conditioning and sanitary bathroom facilities.

For more info, visit the official site of the campaign to save Delara's life: www.SaveDelara.com



Related information:

Petition to save Delara Darabi from execution: http://www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

Amnesty International: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130472007?open&of=ENG-2MD

Delara Darabi on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/delaradarabi

Paintings of Delara Darabi: http://www.savedelara.com/Delara_Paintings.html

MySpace Sites for Delara Darabi and Reza Alinejad

Delara Darabi's Myspace: www.myspace.com/DelaraDarabi

Reza Alinejad's Myspace: www.myspace.com/SaveReza

If you use Myspace, please add them to your friends.

Delara Darabi Sends New Paintings From Prison

Delara Darabi , 20 year old female artist on Iran's death row, provided her new paintings to human rights lawyer, Lily Mazahery, who is spearheading the international effort to save her life. here is the original post. I got the permission to repost them here, however.

Delara Darabi Has Lost Hope for Justice

Delara Darabi is suffering so much in prison that she is begging to be either executed or released from prison. You can read the article here

It pains me greatly that this beautiful and talented girl must suffer so much ... all for a love that never was. How could they subject her to so much pain and misery is beyond anything that I can ever understand.

Please let's do EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING possible to save Delara. She deserves to live the normal life of a 20 year old instead of the nightmare that she is going through. The least we can do is sign her petition.

Delara's Ex Boyfriend Withdraws his Objection to His Sentence to Escape Being Proven the Murderer

Amir-Hussain, Delara's ex boyfriend who talked her into accepting responsibility for the murder that he had committed, has withdrawan his legal objection to the charges against him, as well as the sentence that he received for having been found guilty of being Delara's "accomplice" in Mahin's murder.

On Sunday, June 10, 2007, Delara's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi, contacted human rights lawyer, Lily Mazahery, who is spearheading the internatonal effort to save Delara from exectuion, to inform her that Amir-Hussain's defense lawyer had withdrawn his objection and had announced that his client has accepted the entirety of his sentence. Accordingly, Amir-Hussain, without objection to the validity of the charges against him, has been condemned to 13 years imprisonment and flogging.

Ms. Mazahery explained that while this has no direct bearing on Delara's case, it does demonstrate that Amir-Hussain did not want to risk an examination of the evidence in the case because such an evaluation would have shown that he was the one who delivered the fatal stabs to Mahin, not Delara. So, in order to prevent such a showing, Amir-Hussain chose to shut up and accept the 13 year prison sentence that he had received, and let Delara be punished for his crime instead.

Mazahery explains: "Amir-Hussain's withdrawal of his objection does not have any impact on Delara's own request for a new trial. Delara's lawyer remains hopeful that Iran's head of judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, will prevent the execution of his client without a trial where evidence is properly examined and evaluated."

Here's the link to the original report.

Here is the transcript of Mr. Khoramshahi's discussion with the SaveDelara campaign about this latest development:

Mino Hemati: Mr. Khoramshahi, hello. With respect to Amir-Hussain's withdrawal of his objection to his sentence, I want to know what impact this has on Delara.

Abdolsamad Khoramshahi: It doesn’t have any impact on Delara. However, it sheds light on my argument that he was the murderer, and to escape the punishment of execution, he is willing to stay in prison without any objections for 10 years. His crime of murder was apparent, but he came and accepted the punishment [that he has been given] in order to avoid the punishment of execution.

MH: I want to know whether this has any impact on your request to re-examine the case. Is that possible?

AK: No, no. This has no impact. They have set that aside. But this is for public opinion. A person who claimed he had committed no wrong, a person whose attorney claimed had no role [in the murder of Mahin], how could he now come and accept his sentence? Do you understand?

MH: Yes. Is this to Delara’s benefit?

AK: Yes. This, in public opinion, in public’s perception, is representative of our contentions and Delara’s claims. His attorney used to say he had no role whatsoever [in Mahin’s murder]. If he didn’t have any role whatsoever, how is it that he now comes and accepts his sentence and is willing to be in prison for 10 years?! Why did he go back and withdraw his objection?

. . . .

MH: Now what does this do?

AK: This has an impact on public opinion. Why would a person who claimed he had done no wrong take back his objection? This shows that he is the murderer. This is for our conscience, for your views, as this issue has truly been clarified. But from the larger perspective, no, [this has no impact on Delara’s case] because Amir-Hussain’s case is no longer before Mr. Shahroudi.
MH: Oh, Amir-Hussain’s case is not before Shahroudi. Is it?

AK: No, because he withdrew his objection and stated that he is willing to endure prison and that sort of thing.

MH: So what happens to Delara?

AK: Nothing. The case is now in Mr. Shahroudi’s office and they must examine it and see what will happen.

MH: So from a public opinion stand point, this is a positive thing for your argument and for your proof.

AK: Yes.

You can find the entire transcript here

Delara Darabi suffering from heat strokes in prison, her paintings to human rights lawyer confiscated

When human rights lawyer, Lily Mazahery, who is spearheading an international campaign to save Delara Darabi’s life, spoke to Delara’s mother and sister, Ghazale yesterday, she found both women to be extremely upset. They had visited Delara in prison earlier in the day and were highly concerned about Delara's emotional state.

Fighting back tears, Ghazal stated that Delara is only allowed to have visitors once a week for no more than 20 minutes. Delara is extremely distraught by the limited amount of time that she is allowed to spend with her family. The limitations on visitations are exacerbated by fact that Delara has been unable to call her loved ones by phone, as the prison phone was broken during a recent fight by the prisoners.

Additonally, Mrs. Darabi informed Ms. Mazahery that Delara had put together a notebook of letters, prose, and poetry and paintings that she had painted for Ms. Mazahery. However, the writings and paintings were confiscated by prison officials. Delara had again asked her mother and sister to inform Ms. Mazahery of this, and was extremely upset by the incident. You can read the full report here.

ABOUT DELARA DARABI

20 year old Delara, who has been imprisoned in Rasht, Iran, for the past 3 years, faces imminent risk of execution for a crime that physical evidence reveals she did not commit. Although Delara claimed responsibility for the murder of her father’s cousin immediately after the incident, she later explained that she only made the claim to save her 19 year old boyfriend, Amir-Hussain, who was the one who committed the crime. Amir-Husssain who had drugged Delara prior to the incident in question, had convinced Delara that because she was a minor at the time of the incident, she could not receive a death sentence.

However, in violation of international legal standards, as well as treaties to which Iran is a party, Delara was sentenced to death by public hanging when she was only 17 years old. Her death sentence was issued after a summary hearing, where her initial claim of responsibility was the only piece of “evidence” used by the court to convict her of murder. Delara was not presented by counsel during the hearing.

Delara’s repeated claims of innocence after her initial claim of responsibility have been rejected, and her death sentence has been approved by Iran’s highest court. Her case is in its last stage, as it awaits the order of Iran’s head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, to carry out the execution. Ayatollah Shahroudi has the discretion, however, to order a stay of execution and/or to commute Delara’s sentence altogether.

Delara is a talented pianist, poet, and artist. She has produced an impressive collection of paintings from prison, and has been nicknamed “prisoner of colors.” You can see Delara’s paintings here.

In prison, Delara has suffered from great emotional and physical abuse and difficulty. She suffers from extreme depression, and in January 2007, she attempted to take her own life. Delara's life was saved, however, because her cell-mate noticed what she had done and called for help.

An international campaign has been organized to save Delara Darabi, including a petition demanding a stay of execution and release.

Please visit the official website of the SaveDelara campaign at www.SaveDelara.com for information, news, and updates, and to sign the petition condemning the pending execution of young Delara.

Yanar Mohammed Meets with Members of SaveDelara Campaign and Joins Forces to Save Delara Darabi

In May 2007, members of the SaveDelara campaign had an opportunity to discuss Delara Darabi’s case with prominent Iraqi feminist, Yanar Mohammed during a meeting in Los Angeles, where Ms. Mohammed was being presented with the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Women’s Rights Award.

Mino Hemati of the SaveDelara campaign discussed the recent stoning of Du’a Khalil Aswad in Iraq with Ms. Mohammad, as they have joined forces with Ms. Mohammad and various other organizations around the world in condemning the 17 year old’s brutal murder and demanding severe penalties for those responsible for her public stoning.

Additionally, members of the SaveDelara campaign informed Ms. Mohammed of Delara Darabi’s case, and the brutal sentence to which Delara has been subjected. Ms. Mohammed expressed her support for the campaign and its efforts to save Delara from execution, and asked that her name be added to the petition to prevent Delara's execution. She also sat for an interview with Mino Hemati’s TV program, Rahai-Zan . Ms. Hemati's interview with Ms. Mohammed was broadcasted in English and Farsi throughout the world.

Yanar Mohammed is the director of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, a group that works to stop atrocities against Iraqi women and defend their rights. She also serves as the Editor in Chief of the newspaper Al-Mousawat which stands for "Equality."

Sign the petition for Delara Darabi's life: www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html


For more information, please visit:
http://www.savedelara.com/

Inquiries may be directed to: info@SaveDelara.com

Prison Officials Confiscate Delara's Letter to Human Rights Lawyer, Lily Mazahery

Delara Darabi's younger sister, Ghazal, contacted Lily Mazahery, the human rights lawyer who is leading the efforts to save the life of Delara Darabi, to let her know that prison authorities had taken away Delara's writings to Ms. Mazahery. Delara had informed her mother of the incident when her mother had visited Delara in prison a few days ago. Delara was quite upset about this occurrence, and had expressed her regrets.

It is clear that prison authorities are going out of their way to ensure that no accounts of the deplorable conditions to which they have subjected Delara gets out to Ms. Mazahery's attention, and subsequently through Ms. Mazahery to the attention of human rights organizations with whom she works. Despite the prison officials' attemtps to hide the truth, the SaveDelara campaign has learned a great deal about the inhumane and sub-standard conditions of the prisons to which Delara has been subjected through other direct sources.

Delara suffers from extreme heat and humidity, as the prison to which she is confined provides no air conditioning or even a simple fan. She is forced to share the same bathroom facilities with over 100 individuals. Her prison-mates are comprised of individuals who subject her to frequent abuse, both emotional and physical. She lacks adequate nutrition, despite the fact that her family pays for her expenses in prison. In fact, her family has made repeated requests to deliver adequate meals to Delara in light of the fact that the family pays her expenses while she is imprisoned. Yet, despite their repeated requests, they have been denied delivery of nutritious meals to Delara, and Delara is forced to consume the meals that are provided to her in prison, even though her medical needs demand otherwise. Consequently, Delara's health suffers significantly and continously. None the less, Delara's broken arm, which was brought about by severe beatings in prison, is reported to be on the mend.

Ms. Mazahery, who is in direct contact with Delara's family, Delara's attorney, and other related entities, will provide more information as needed.

Delara Darabi's father seeks the world's assistance in saving his daughter's life

My daughter, Delara Darabi is accused of a murder she did not commit. Her kind heart led her to accept another’s sin and sully herself in this case. I defend her not because she is my daughter, but because it is defending the truth and the justice that is absent here. I want to see justice prevail, and now, it has been years that my Delara is the victim of those who know nothing about humanity or injustice.

I condemn this treatment of my daughter. I invite everyone who wishes to do so to come and examine this case file and my daughter’s conduct. Let the Islamic human rights organizations come to investigate from Palestine, Lebanon, or any other place that they accept. Let them come to see what they have done with my 17 year old child. Every day, they subject her to a new form of abuse. It has been three years now that she has spent in jail, and now she is 20 years old. Until she was 17, she had not known anything in life other than blessings and kindness. She knows nothing other than pens, books, music, and painting.

Three years ago, when I learned of the incident, I personally turned my daughter in to the authorities and the law; to the very law and judicial system that I now feel, with all of my existence, knows no justice.

Today, my child’s life is in danger not only because she has been sentenced to death, but also because of the treatment that she receives in Rasht’s prison. My child has the right not to be tortured, she has the right to be treated in accordance with civil standards. Yet, here, not even basic rights are observed. She does not receive adequate nutrition. We pay her expenses. Yet, they do not allow us to visit her. Just today that I write this, I and her mother and sisters went to see her, but they found an excuse not to allow us to see her.

I say place my beloved child in a steel cage and keep the key, but do not allow her spirit to be tormented like this. Allow us to protect her ourselves. Allow us to take her notebooks, pens, books, and food, and allow her to paint. She only knows books, notebooks, pens, and art supplies.

In this country where we breathe, there is no sign of justice and I have experienced no justice. I ask those who respect humanity, those with an informed conscience, to help us free Delara. Delara is only one example of thousands who, like Delara, are imprisoned.

My daughter’s life is in danger in prison. Time and time again, I have written letters requesting adequate conditions and standards. I have received negative answers and I have been insulted. I have requested that my daughter be transferred to another prison. Yet they do not pay any credence to this small request. Delara says "in this prison, the acts of walking, eating, painting, speaking, and sleeping by me incite insults and unspeakable reactions. Here, there is one toilet for 200 people, and our objections to these conditions are answered with punishment." Are these conditions tolerable for a 20 year old girl?

We are not allowed to take her any food, and during our last visit with Delara, she refrained from kissing her mother, saying that the place is full of germs and she could not bring herself to expose us to the diseases that she may have contracted. Seeing these conditions and hearing the news of inhumane treatment of my daughter has left me without sleep at night.
I, Delara Darabi’s father, have wasted three years of my life. I have abandoned my life and livelihood so that I can work on her case in search of justice, rights, and defense of humanity. Please help me, and help us, in our search. For here, there is no sign of justice or humanity.

Please sign the petition to save Delara Darabi's life:

www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

www.SaveDelara.com

Photos from the rally for Delara Darabi in Poland organized by the SaveDelara campaign and Amnesty International

Last sunday, the folks at SaveDelara campaign and Amnesty International held a joint protest in front of the embassy of the Islamic Repbulic of Iran in Warsaw, Poland. The protest rally was an attempt to raise awareness for Delara Darabi, Reza Alinejad, and Malak Ghorbany, and to protest their pending executions.

You can see the rest of the photos here.

Amnesty International/SaveDelara Campaign Human Rights Bus

Here is a photo of the Amnesty International Human Rights Bus that joined forces with SaveDelara campaign this past weekend in Warsaw, Poland to protest human rights violations in Iran. You can see the poster bearing the photo of Delara on the window of the bus.

There should be a "Human Rights Bus" in every major city around the world until these atrocities become nonexistant.

SaveDelara Campaign and Amnesty International Join Forces in Europe

(1) The author of Delara's petition, Mani Azizzadeh, along with Amnesty International and another member of the SaveDelara campaign, Osborn Holmstrand, personally spoke with the ambassador of Iran in Sweden, Hassan Ghashghavi, handed him the signatures from Delara's petition, and secured his promise to personally deliver the signatures to Iran's chief judge, Ayatolllah Shahroudi. Let's see if Ghashghavi is really a man of his word or if he chooses to embarrass his country by going back on his word and not personally delivering the signatures to Shahroudi despite his promise. Hassan Ghashghavi

Mr. Ghashghavi: The world is watching you! (His email is ambassador@iran.se I think it'd be great if he got emails from all of us demanding that he follow through with his promise to deliver the signatures personally.)

(2) Krzysztof Pacyński of the SaveDelara campaign, who has set up a site in polish for her, joined forces with Amnesty International on the Human Rights Bus rally this past weekend in Poland. The bus stopped in front of the embassies of countries known for their violations of human rights, including that of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The windows were decorated with posters bearing Delara's photo and information. The rally was a great success in that it spread a great deal of awareness about Delara's case, as well as the cases of Reza Alinejad and Malak Ghorbany.

Let's keep up the good efforts and to pressure the officials in Iran to uphold the rights of Delara and other victims of human rights violations.

And do not forget to sign the petitions to save the lives of each of these victims individually:

· The direct link to the petition for Delara Darabi, teenage female artist facing imminent risk of execution for a crime she did not commit, is: http://www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

· The direct link to the petition for Reza Alinejad, teenage male facing imminent risk of execution for killing his attacker in self defense, is: http://www.petitiononline.com/RezaA/petition.html

· The direct link to the petition for Malak Ghorbany , 35 year old mother of two facing execution by stoning for allegedly commiting the crime of adultery, is: http://www.petitiononline.com/Malak/petition.html

Prison -- A Poem By Delara Darabi

Click on the image to see a larger (and legible!) version. Hat-tip to the my good pal, Jo at www.SaveDelara.com for sending this. The image behind the poem is one of Delara's paintings.

Delara Darabi's lawyer files a plea to stop her execution

Yesterday, Delara's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi filed a plea with Iran's head of judiciary, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, asking him to grant a stay of execution in Delara's case.

Apparently, these pleas have worked for some others in the past, including Kobra Rahmanpour. So we are hoping that the signatures on the petition, but more importantly the direct letters to the head of the judiciary, will continue to accumulate. We should put as much pressure on Shahroudi as possible so he respondes positively to Khoramshahi's plea.

If you guys have not already seen Delara's paintings, btw, I highly recommond them. Here is the link: http://www.savedelara.com/Delara_Paintings.html . It would be an absolute crime if this talented and gifted girl hangs. She has so much to offer this world. So let's make sure she goes on to live a productive and peaceful life.

Delara's Father Speaks to Human Rights Lawyer, Lily Mazahery

Lily Mazahery, the human rights lawyer who is leading the international effort to save the life of Delara Darabi, spoke to Delara's father today.

It is amazing that not only does the Iranian regime care little about the rights of women and girls, but they don't even care to grant a poor child a fair trial where evidence can actually be presented like a civil society!

Delara's father states that he wants to see justice served, which he believes can be achieved through a fair trial for his daughter. He explained that he himself had turned Delara in when he thougt that she had a role in Mahin’s murder. But he never thought that she would be labeled a murderer. Passionately emphasizing that Delara is not a murderer, Mr. Darabi stated that Delara has the innocence and purity of an 8 year old child. He went on to emphasize that the evidence in this case does not, in any way, support the court’s ruling. He explained that the lawyer who originally handled Delara’s case was entirely ineffective. The lawyer was not present during the hearing where Delara was found to be guilty, Mr. Darabi explained, and the same lawyer had told the Darabi family that he had spoken with the judge and that there was no need for them to go to the court that day because no hearing was to take place. It was not until Delara herself contacted her family to let them know that she was found guilty of murder that the Darabi learned about the summary trial and Delara’s sentence.

You can read all of Ms. Mazahery's conversation with Mr. Darabi here

Delara's Lawyer: confession is only worth anything when the confession matches the evidence!

The day after the idiots of Iran's so-called Supreme Court approved Delara Darabi's execution order, Mino Hemati of the SaveDelara campaign talked to Delara's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi.

Also, there have been some reports that the head of the Communist Party in Europe, Mina Ahadi, has talked to the family of the victim, Mahin Darabi, and that her daughter has said that she does not want to see Delara executed! What a bunch of bull! I have personally read several letters and interviews, where the daugher has said that she wants to see Delara hanged. Give me a break! As if this Ahadi person, a known communist with a political agenda that could jeapordize this poor girl's life, can be trusted about anything. Remember when she had posted that Delara was to be executed in a month back in Feb/March sometime? She is a nut-job.

In any event, here is the rest of Mino Hemati's interview with Mr. Khoramshahi. I trust Ms. Hemati. I have absolutely NO trust in communists, including Mina Ahadi and her opportunist clan.

The Mullahs Approve Delara Darabi's Death Sentence

Approval of Delara's Death Sentence in Distinction Branch of the Supreme Court

Sources familiar with Delara's case report that Delara's death sentence has been approved and the order will be soon issued to her lawyer.

Delara Darabi, accused of murder, has spent the past 3 years in prison. Recent beatings in prison have left her with a broken arm and she is not feeling well.

Yesterday, Delara's father filed a letter with the head of the judiciary, seeking a transfer of prison for his daughter. In this letter, Delara's father states: "Delara is in dire condition and is suffering greatly. She is only accused. We have reasons to show that she is not a murderer. However, even if she were guilty, she has a basic right to be treated fairly in prison, not to have her arm broken. If Delara is a murderer, she should be executed once, not a thousand times. Yet, in Rasht prison, she is executed a thousand times a day. I need your help to save my daughter."

In an discussion with Mino Hemati of Rahai-Zan TV, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi, Delara's defense counsel stated today that his objection to Distinction Branch's decision was rejected today. Accordingly, the only person who can commute this sentence is the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi. By finding fault in the case, he can issue a new trial or commute Delara's death sentence.

Click HERE to view report in Farsi.

Please take immediate action to prevent the execution of Delara Darabi. The following are a few things that you can do:

1. Sign the petition objecting to the impending execution of Delara Darabi and encourage your friends, colleagues, associates, and family members to do the same.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

2. Contact the office of Ayatollah Shahroudi by fax or mail to voice your objection:
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice,
Panzdah-Khordad Circle,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

(From United States, dial 0 first)
Phone: 98 (21) 391-1109
Fax: 98 (21) 390-4986

You can also send your appeals electronically via the judiciary website:
http://iranjudiciary.org

Note: The fields are written in Persian. 1st line is for your Name; 2nd your Email; 3rd the Subject (which should read "URGENT LETTER TO AYATOLLAH HASHEMI SHAHROUDI REGARDING DELARA DARABI"); 4th is for your Comments.

Inquiries: info@SaveDelara.com. For more information, visit: http://www.savedelara.com/

Related Information:

Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal for Delara Darabi: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130012006?open&of=ENG-392

Mino Hemati interview with Delara's lawyer: http://www.savedelara.com/subpage.html

Petition objecting to Delara's execution: http://www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

Delara's father writes letter to Iran's chief of judiciary

Delara Darabi's father writes a desperate letter to Iran's head of judiciary, Ayatolla Shahroodi, about the status of his daughter. According to this letter, Delara faces horrid conditions in prison, including abuse, and mus take anxiety pills to deal with those conditions. Delara's lawyer and father have asked that Delara be transferred from her current prison in Rasht to one in Tehran. Here are some parts of the letter:

“For the past 3 years, Delara has lived with pain and abuse. For the past three years, she has been haunted by images of the noose around her neck; yet, she has sealed her lips and has refused to talk about the pain and abuse to me and her mother. I am certain that she is innocent and that her innocence will be proven. However, I request that she be transferred to Tehran until a final decision is issued in her case."

"On a daily basis, Delara takes 15 anxiety pills, and, as stated earlier, she is extremely upset and has become very thin."

"Delara’s bad emotional state has even taken her close to death and my daughter attempted suicide in jail but she was rescued. So please do not allow her to disappear little by little for a crime that she never committed. I want you to help her."

"When Delara should be attending college, striving for a better future, she is in jail instead and is being punished for someone else’s crime. I ask you to rescue her from these hellish conditions."

You can read the rest of the letter and the report in Farsi at www.SaveDelara.com/news.html

Mino Hemati's interview with Delara's Lawyer

I found the interview with Delara's lawyer enlightening. The interview was conducted a couple of months ago by Mino Hemati, who seems to have played a significant role in obtaining amnesty in the case of Nazanin Fatehi. Here's an excerpt:


From Rahai-Zan, as I had explained before, on June 28th of last year, an organization headed by Nahid Riazi went to the European Parliament in Brussels and met with members of parliament to discuss four specific cases: Delara Darabi, Nazanin Fatehi, Kobra Rahmanpour, and Fatemeh Haghigat-Pejou. They took these specific cases to the parliament and after meeting with members of parliament, on [July] 12, meaning less than one month, in 3 weeks, the parliament issued a response to Rahai Zan, stating that Angelika Beer, president of Iran’s representation in the European Parliament, and [an official] of European Union’s Human Rights Commission announced that they have requested more information from us about those cases and they informed us that they were looking into those specific cases.

On August 7, Mr. Elmar Brok, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Relations’s Committee, via direct contact with Rahai Zan stated that they have submitted a letter to Akbar Ahani, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to Belgium, noting Iran’s membership in the Convention on Civil Rights and seeking amnesty for these women. They highlighted the fact that two of these women, Delara Darabi and Nazanin Fatehi, were under the age of 18 when the alleged crimes occurred and they placed great emphasis on this issue and demanded the release of these four individuals.

On January 16, Amnesty International requested amnesty in the case of 18 year old Nazanin and 19 year old Delara Darabi. Amnesty International demanded the release of all four women, but as I mentioned, it placed special emphasis on the release of Nazanin Fatehi and Delara Darabi. And since then, there has been a campaign to save these women, and this campaign, by Amnesty International, continues, and, as I speak to you, there is a vast signature drive underway, and we have added the links to .tv and .org websites. I ask that you sign these petitions, and whether inside or outside Iran, I request that international entities, supporters of human rights and women’s rights, and others send in your objections by mail or fax to judicial authorities in Iran and embassies against all executions, but particularly with respect to Delara Darabi.

You can read the actual interview with Delara Darabi's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi, here.

URGENT: OFFICIALS IN RASHT PREPARING TO EXECUTE DELARA DARABI

Officials in Rasht Preparing to Hang Delara Darabi Despite Khoramshahi's
Request for Review of Delara's Case

Before the new year holiday in Iran, Abdolsammad Khoramshahi, attorney
for Delara Darabi , filed his objection to the Supreme Court's affirmation of Delara's death sentence, as well as a request for a review of Delara's case by a five-judge panel.

However, according to sources close to Delara's case, during the new year
holiday, officials in Rasht, where Delara is has been imprisoned for the
past 3 years, have been in communication with the office of Iran's head of
judiciary in preparation to hang the young artist.

Ayatollah Shahroudi, head of Iran's judiciary, has the discretion to commute
Delara's death sentence and to order a new trial for the young artist, where
exculpatory evidence can be presented. As such, it is extremely important
to voice your objection to the upcoming execution of Delara Darabi. To do
so, please take the following steps:

1. Sign the petition objecting to the impending execution of Delara Darabi.

2. Contact the office of Ayatollah Shahroudi by fax or mail to voice your
objection:

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi*
appeal via the judiciary website: http://iranjudiciary.org/

*Please note that this matter is extremely urgent and requires your
immediate attention. Should you have any questions, please contact
info@SaveDelara.com . For more information, visit:
www.SaveDelara.com

Reza Alinejad's Family and Friends Launch New Website

(1) Reza Alinejad's family and friends have launched a website to provide information, news, and commentary about Reza's case. The website is published in both Farsi and English. Please visit and link to: www.HelpReza.com

Please do not forget to sign the petition demanding a stay of execution for the young boy: http://www.petitiononline.com/RezaA/petition.html

(2)
An Iranian attorney working closely with the cases of Delara Darabi , Reza Alinejad and others, visited Delara Darabi in Rasht prison last week and personally delivered gifts and letters that were sent to Delara from outside of Iran.

According to this source, Delara was quite happy to have received the gifts and about knowing that people around the world care enough to take the time to write to her, send her their well-wishes, and support her struggle for freedom. This individual, who was meeting Delara for the first time in person, was quite taken with Delara's talent as an artist and described her as a truly sensitive girl with a kind disposition.

This source was happy to report that Delara seemed to be feeling much better, physically, than she had been reported to feel a few months ago, after a failed suicide attempt in prison. She is reported to be spending her time more on her studies recently than painting.

In February 2007, human rights lawyer, Lily Mazahery, launched an international letter-writing campaign for Delara Darabi after learning that her gifts and letters to Delara had a visibly positive impact on the fragile artist.

The lawyers working on Delara's case are still awaiting a response from Iran's Supreme Court with respect to their request for a review of Delara's case by a five-judge panel.

For more information on the cases of Delara Darabi, Reza Alinejad, Malak Ghorbany, and other Iranians facing human rights violations, please visit: http://www.savedelara.com/

Please sign the petition objecting to the execution of Delara Darabi , as well as that of Reza Alinejad, and encourage others to do the same. Failure to do so serves as a reaffirmation of their human rights violations.

Delara Darabi and Reza Alinejad

(1) The official website of the SaveDelara!™ campaign is: www.SaveDelara.com

(2) The campaign organizers are also trying to save Reza Alinejad, also on Iran's death row, for killing a man in self defense when he was only 17. Please sign the petition to save Reza from execution as well as the petition for Delara.

Letter from Delara Darabi

This morning, I contacted Ms. Lily Mazahery, the human rights lawyer who is spearheading the Save Delara! campaign, about permission to post the translation of a letter from Delara Darabi, and she was gracious, as always, to grant such permission. The following is the translation of Delara's letter:


For three years, I have searched for answers within the confines of darkness. I need magnanimity without pity or forgiveness other than that which is granted to me by my God. I know that my story must end with forgiveness, yet let us leave aside for the moment that, for three years, I have struggled for my rights to no avail and I have screamed my innocence to ears that are deaf at best.

I believe that creation is born of strained circumstances: strained humanity, strained finances, strained emotions. After all, one learns to paddle for survival only when fear of drowning has set in. I am no exception to this rule.

I do not know which path you have taken to arrive at my paintings. Frankly, it is not important. For I know that it is LOVE that has led you here: love of life, love of humanity, love of belief. These paintings are proof that, even in the darkest confines of human life, there is at least the sensation of safety. After all, one can not remain a prisoner of hopes and dreams.

You, whose friendship I treasure without reason: Do pray for Delaras of far away.

Delara Darabi – Rasht Prison

(Translated from Farsi to English by Lily Mazahery. Posted with the express permission of Ms. Lily Mazahery and the Legal Rights Institute, 2007. ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED).

You can see a flash slide show of Delara's paintings here.

Lead Counsel for Delara Darabi Files Official Objection to Sentence of Death

From the Legal Rights Institute:

Delara's lead counsel, Mr. Khormshahi has filed the official petition objecting to the issuance of death sentence to Delara Darabi.

According to Mr. Khormshai, in the last days of Supreme Court's current session, the proper legal filings were made. Khormshahi explained: "In the next few days, we should know which branch of the Court will be reviewing our motion and will rule on the motion to vacate Delara's death sentence."

Khormshai went on to explain that he is hopeful that this time 5 experienced judges will preside over the case and, based on clear and convincing evidence, they will vacate Delara's death sentence.

Address for Letters to Delara Darabi

On Tuesday, February 20, 2007, Lily Mazahery, the human rights lawyer who is spearheading the international campaign to save the life of Delara Darabi, spoke with Abdolsamad Khormshahi, Delara's lead counsel. The following is a letter that Ms. Mazahery sent to those who had signed the petition objecting to Delara's execution, including myself.

Those interested in sending letters to Delara Darabi should forward them to the following address:

Lily Mazahery (For Delara)
14 Bond St.
Suite 800
Great Nech, NY 11021

Delara knows a little bit of English, but letters will be translated to Farsi and the translation will be sent along with the original.

Also, there have been some reports that Delara is scheduled to be executed in a month. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE as are reports that Delara has been so shocked by the news that Iran's supreme court has upheld her death sentence that she has stopped speaking!

Here's is the text of letter from Lily Mazahery:

I spoke to Delara's lawyer, Mr. Khormshahi. He informed me that Delara's blood test results are still not in, but that he and Delara's father had requested a complete physical for Delara, because she has grown so thin and anemic. The news of the arrival of Iran's Supreme Court's decree of approval of Delara's death sentence has served as yet another blow to the naturally sensitive artist.

Mr. Khormshahi explained that in all the years that he has practiced law, he has never come across any one like Delara. He emphasized that unlike other individuals who had been in the news for committing crimes as minors, such as Nazanin Fatehi, Delara did not kill anyone. Delara's father describes Delara as a truly gentle soul who can not bear the suffering or unhappiness of anyone around her. When Delara's sisters would find themselves facing punishment for something they should not have done, Delara would routinely attempt to take responsibility for their actions, and would ask her parents to punish her instead. When Delara claimed responsibility for the murder of Mahin, she was, once again, trying to save a loved one – this time her boyfriend Amir – from facing the punishment that he was certain to receive. Amir had convinced Delara that because she was only 17 at the time of the murder, she could not be punished if she claimed responsibility. When Delara realized that Amir had lied to her, it was too late: She was already in jail for murder and faced execution.

Delara feels broken and betrayed. Despite her repeated claims of innocence and despite forensic evidence showing that the petite artist, poet, and pianist could not have been the murderer, the trial court sentenced her to death by hanging. Iran's Supreme Court has upheld that ruling.

In addition to facing execution for a crime that she never committed, Delara has had a difficult time dealing with the fact that the boy she loved and for whom she sacrificed so much has refused to admit to his role in the crime. Amir's silence about the events of the night of Mahin's murder has secured him a 10 year prison sentence instead of capital punishment. Delara, on the other hand, is haunted by images of death on a nightly basis and suffers from extreme depression. In January 2007, she attempted to take her own life in prison.

Delara's lawyer informed me that the one thing that has brought some joy and a smile to Delara's face recently is the news that someone in a land far away was thinking about her and had sent her presents. He asked me to continue sending her letters, books, and painting supplies, since -- true to her sensitive nature as an artist -- Delara loves beautiful things and words and finds comfort in knowing that she is loved by someone, somewhere.

Delara misses music. She misses playing the piano. She spends her days writing poetry, reading books, and, if she feels well enough, she paints.

In prison, Delara is loved by her prison mates. Her kindness and soft heart has touched all who have come into contact with her. Her lawyer tells me that not a week can go by without a call from Delara asking him to please help her prison mates, often offering to trade her own representation for them. It was not difficult to notice that, like everyone else who comes into contact with the young artist, Mr. Khormshahi is also affected by the gentle soul that is Delara Darabi.

Mr. Khormshahi asked me to continue spreading the word about Delara's case and to ask all those who care to keep the innocent girl-child in their prayers. He asked me to emphasize that Delara is truly innocent, that all the evidence shows that the left-handed, petite girl who was drugged by Amir before entering Mahin's home, could not have possibly been the murderer. And he vowed to do all that is possible under the law to, at the very least, obtain a new trial for the teenage prisoner, where he can present the evidence in her case file and introduce the expert and forensic testimony that was absent during Delara's initial "trial."

Please continue to speak out about the injustice to which young Delara has been subjected. Please sign the petition objecting to her execution and ask your family, friends, co-workers, members of your church, school, and community to do the same. Please keep young Delara Darabi in your thoughts and prayers. Please keep Delara in your hearts.

Warm regards,

Lily Mazahery, Esq.
President
Legal Rights Institute
--

INFORMATION ON DELARA DARABI AND HER CASE:

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN (IRI)

Delara Darabi, aged 19, child offenderDelara Darabi, aged 19, is at risk of execution for a murder which took place when she was 17 years old. She denies committing the crime.

Iran is a state party to international treaties that expressly prohibit the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by those under the age of 18.

According to reports in the Persian language news service Aftab, Delara Darabi and a 19-year-old man named Amir Hossein broke into a woman's house to commit a burglary. Amir Hossein allegedly killed the woman during the burglary. Delara Darabi initially confessed to the murder, but has since retracted her confession. She claims that Amir Hossein asked her to admit responsibility for the murder to protect him from execution, believing that as she was under the age of 18, she could not be sentenced to death. Delara Darabi was sentenced to death by a lower court in the northern city of Rasht. The ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court and the official decree was received yesterday (Februrary 16, 2007). As such, Delara moves closer to execution.

She maintains her innocence, and has claimed that she took responsiblity for the crime to save the life of her boyfriend.

At this stage, the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, has the power to order a stay of execution and issue a new trial for Delara, where substantial forensic evidence and expert testimony can prove that Delara could not have possibly been the murderer. Amir Hossein has reportedly received a prison sentence of 10 years for his involvement in the crime.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

As a state party to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Islamic Republic has undertaken not to execute anyone for an offence committed when they were under the age of 18. Nevertheless, since 1990, the IRI has executed at least 18 people for crimes committed when they were children.

In 2005 alone, despite being urged in January by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to suspend the practice immediately, at least eight child offenders were executed, including two who were still under 18 at the time of their execution. The last recorded execution of a child offender, Rostam Tajik, was on December 10, 2005 - ironically, the day which the UN has marked annually as Human Rights Day. On December 9, 2005, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, called on the Iranian authorities not to proceed with the execution of Rostam Tajik, stating: "At a time when virtually every other country in the world has firmly and clearly renounced the execution of people for crimes they committed as children, the Iranian approach is particularly unacceptable … It is all the more surprising because the obligation to refrain from such executions is not only clear and incontrovertible, but the Government of Iran has itself stated that it will cease this practice."

For the last five years, the IRI has been considering legislation to prohibit this practice, but despite this, over the past two and half years the number of child offenders executed has increased. Recent comments by a judiciary spokesperson suggest that the new law would in any case only prohibit the death penalty for certain crimes when committed by children.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

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

• urging the authorities to commute the death sentence imposed on Delara Darabi immediately;


• reminding the authorities of their commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that "sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age";


• asking for details of her trial and any appeals;


• expressing concern at reports that Delara Darabi confessed to the murder in order to protect her co-accused;


• calling on the authorities of the IRI to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which, in January 2005 called on the Islamic regime to "immediately suspend the execution of all death penalties imposed on persons for having committed a crime before the age of 18, and to abolish the death penalty as a sentence imposed on persons for having committed crimes before the age of 18, as required by article 37 of the Convention";


• acknowledging that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences such as murder, but stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life.

APPEALS TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader,
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 251 7 774 2228
(mark "FAO the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei")
Email: info@leader.irhttp://blog.myspace.com/istiftaa@wilayah.org

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Please note that Ayatollah Shahroudi DOES NOT USE EMAIL. Please send your appeal via the judiciary website: http://iranjudiciary.org/

COPIES TO:

Speaker of Parliament
Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye EslamiImam
Khomeini Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 6 646 1746

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

*** PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY ***

Additionally, if you have not done so already, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION to save Delara from execution.

--
RELEVANT LINKS:

Amnesty International:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130012006?open&of=ENG-392

Dead Woman Painting (Guardian, U.K): http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1931227,00.html

Flash presentation of paintings by Delara Darabi: http://www.womeniniran.net/EG/delara/delarasiteEn.html

Delara Darabi, teenager on death row faces abuse in prison, International Campaign Against Honor Killings:
http://www.stophonourkillings.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=985

Delara's Death Sentence Upheld by Iran's Supreme Court (Text of Lily Mazahery's speech), Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organization:
http://www.ikwro.org.uk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=89

Delara Darabi -- Teenage Artist on Death Row Needs Our Help!

I received the following powerful and beautifully-written letter by prominent human rights lawyer, Lily Mazahery about a young Iranian girl on death row. Delara Darabi was only 17 year old when she was sentenced to death by hanging for a crime that all evidence shows she could not have committed. She is a victim of a brutal regime's disregard for the basic rights of its own children, as well as its obligations under international law. Please take a moment to read this moving letter and lend your voice to Delara's cause by signing the petition that has been set up to save her life.


```````````````````````````
Dear friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I write these words: Yet another innocent Iranian girl faces imminent risk of execution by the Islamic regime for a crime that she never committed.

On Saturday, January 27, 2007, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Delara Darabi for a second time. Delara, who is now 20 years old, faces death by public hanging for a murder that took place when she was 17 years old. According to newspaper and court reports, after murdering a woman related to Delara, Delara’s 19 year old boyfriend, Amir Hossein, convinced Delara to admit responsibility for the murder to protect him from execution. Apparently, both teenagers believed that because Delara was under the age of 18, she could not be sentenced to death. This belief proved to be devastatingly false.

With complete disregard for its obligations under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and despite overwhelming evidence of Delara’s innocence, as well as the teenager’s repeated denials about having had any role in the commission of the crime, a court in the city of Rasht found the girl-child guilty of murder based solely on her initial claim of responsibility and sentenced her to death by hanging. Since that ruling, the Islamic regime has repeatedly demonstrated patent disregard for its promises to the international community and to the rights of Iranian children by upholding Delara’s death sentence.

Until recently, Delara had proven to be a remarkably poised young prisoner with an amazing talent for painting and drawing. She had used her gift to compile a diary of her pain as a child prisoner on death row. From the dark confines of her prison cell, Delara produced an impressive collection of paintings that speak of the horrors of prison, of torture, of beatings, of hopelessness, loneliness, and the loss of a child’s innocence. They are haunting images of injustice and brutality. They are the stories of the innocent women and children of Iran, shackled by the injustices of a brutal regime. They are a teenager’s diary of crimes against humanity committed by the very government that should serve as her protector, but is, instead, her jailer and her executioner.

And in retaliation to exposing their horrifying crimes, the officials of the Islamic regime took away the only remaining outlet of Delara’s pain: They confiscated her painting materials. When Delara used coal and whatever else she could find to paint her pain on the walls of her prison, they subjected the young artist -- nicknamed “prisoner of colors” -- to brutal forms of emotional and physical abuse: They banned her from painting altogether, and they prevented her from having any visitors or contacting her lawyer except for twice a month briefly by phone. Their abuse proved too much for young Delara, who, true to her sensitive disposition as an artist, wears her pain woefully close to the surface of her skin.

On January 20, 2007, Delara attempted suicide by cutting her wrists.

Fortunately, her cell-mate noticed the incident and called for help. Delara’s emaciated body was rushed to the hospital, where, by what can only be deemed a miracle, doctors were able to revive her and bring her back to life. As of the date of this letter, Delara remains in critical condition and weighs only 35 kilos. Her family and those close to her case are extremely worried about her health, both physically and emotionally.

The silent screams of innocent girls like Delara must be acknowledged by each and every one of us. We MUST express our outrage, voice our anger, and show our support to those who can not speak for themselves. Anything less would be less than human, less than American, and most certainly, less than Persian. As humans with a conscious and a heart, we owe this to young Delara and to every innocent life that is subjected to the brutalities of an evil regime. We owe this to the daughters of Cyrus the Great. We owe this to humanity.

Please express your outrage and stand up for the rights of a girl-child who can not stand up for herself by signing this petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

YOUR SILENCE ONLY SERVES AS A REINFORCEMENT OF DELARA’S DEATH SENTENCE.

Regards,

Lily Mazahery, Esq.

President

Legal Rights Institute

Hindu Girl Forcibly Converted to Islam After Abduction

PAKISTAN: Another Hindu girl forcibly converted to Islam after being abducted

PAKISTAN: Forced conversion of religion; illegal minor marriage; no protection for religious minorities; abduction; particularity of the judiciary and local administration on the violation of the religious minority's rights; impunity; un-rule of law
-------------------------------------

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) received the information that a 17-year-old Hindu girl, Deepa has been missing since she was abducted by her Muslim tuition teacher on 31 December 2006. It is alleged that she was forcibly converted to Muslim and married to the said teacher. It is also reported that the local police and politicians are preventing the girl's family from lodging a complaint with the police station regarding the incident, as influential local figures are behind this incident. The AHRC notes with great concern that abducting young girls from religious minorities and forcibly converting them to Islam are a common feature in Pakistan. These crimes are being committed without hindrance due to the indifference of the local authorities.

CASE DETAILS:

Seventeen-year-old Deepa is the daughter of Mr. Besham Das and a resident of Madhwani Mohala, Rail road, Islam Kot, Tharparkar district, Sindh province, Pakistan. After her matriculation, Deepa was having tuition with a teacher namely Mr. Ashraf Khaskheli, a young Muslim man who is also a seminary teacher at Madrasa Khanqah Gulzar-e-Khalil, Samaro town, Tharparkar district.

On 31 December 2006, Deepa left her house to have tuition and failed to return. At 7:00pm in the evening her parents went to Mr. Ashraf's house to inquire about their daughter. They were told that Mr. Ashraf had taken her to the Khanqah Gulzar-e-Khalil Madressa seminary in Samaro town and married her after converting her to Islam. Deepa remains missing since then.

It is alleged that the owner of the seminary Mr. Ayube Jan Sarhandi has provided shelter to Mr. Ashraf and Deepa. When he was contacted by the AHRC staff, Mr. Ayube Jan Sarhandi said that Mr. Ashraf came to him with Deepa in the late evening of December 31 and he converted Deepa to Islam because she had agreed. He then issued a certificate of his seminary that Deepa has become Muslim and provided a car for their safe journey to place of their own choice.

Tharparker district is the electoral constituency of the sitting chief minister of Sindh province and Mr. Ayube Jan Sarhandi is an influential man in the province as he has good political connections with government officials.

However, Deepa's parents and the local Hindu community worry that Deepa might have been forced to converted to Islam and married Mr. Ashraf after being abducted because this is a common situation in the area. The girl's parents and neighbors also say that they did not see any sign that there had been a love affair between Deepa and Mr. Ashraf. They further argue that if Deepa had married Mr. Ashraf voluntarily he could have brought Deepa to his house quite openly. However, instead her whereabouts are unknown to date. They also argue that marriage of a minor is still illegal according to law.

According to Hindu religious community in Tharparkar district where a good population of the Hindu religious community resides some Muslim seminaries in the district are provoking young Muslims to convert Hindu girls to Islam as it is equal to Haj-e-Akbari, the highest Islamic religious duty. Mr. Amar Nath, the president of Hindu Panchayat, Karachi, also reported that more than 15 families are forcibly converted to Muslims in Sindh province every year through kidnapping Hindu young girls. By converting them to Islam the abductors are rewarded with marriage to the kidnapped girls.

Meanwhile, the Banay police have refused to register the complaint regarding this case allegedly because powerful persons are involved. Instead of taking action against Mr. Ashraf according to law, Mr. Arbab Zakaullah, the uncle of the chief minister of the Sindh province and Mr. Kishan Chand, the advisor to the chief minister on minority affairs also requested Deepa's family not to lodge the case of abduction and forced conversion of the religion against Mr. Ashraf with the police. They promised that they would try their best to obtain Deepa's release. As a result, the case has not been registered with the police.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

It has become a common practice in Pakistan that some Muslim seminaries are encouraging the young men to convert non Muslim minorities to Islam. The young people generally kidnap the young girls of non Muslims and rape them. In cases where they are later arrested by the police, they produce a certificate issued by any Muslim seminary that the kidnapped girls have adopted Islam and that they married the girls. Many of these girls are minor. However, the courts generally do not consider this fact and simply accept the certificate as legitimate.

For example, a 15-year-old Pooja living in Chaki Wara, Lyari town, Karachi was abducted by two Muslim men namely Mr. Iqbal and Arshad with the help of Mr. Iqbal's sister on 23 July 2006. A First Investigation Report (FIR) number 232/2006 was lodged at the Chakiwara police station on July 25 and she was found on the same day. The medical examination, which was conducted on July 27, revealed that Pooja was raped. But on July 27 a certificate issued by a seminary called Darul Amjadia was produced before the court of the 10th Judicial Magistrate, Karachi declaring that the girl has converted to Islam. On December 19, the court accepted the certificate and released Pooja from jail and did not allow her family to take her. As soon as she was released, Pooja was kidnapped again by the same persons and her whereabouts remain unknown. The court also did not consider that Pooja is a minor. According to Pakistani laws, marriage of a girl below 18 years is prohibited and particularly Section 2 of Juvenile ordinance 2002 states that a person below 18 years is considered a child.

In another case, a 16-year-old Hindu Komal living in Hawks bay, Karachi was abducted 2 August 2006 and forcibly converted to Islam. She remains missing since then. The victim's lawyer Mr. Amar Nath, who is the president of Hindu Panchayat Karachi, says that the Hawks Bay police have been refusing to register the complaint regarding this case allegedly because the powerful seminary is behind the abductors.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please immediately write to the relevant authorities listed below and urge them to launch an immediate and full inquiry into this serious case. Please also urge them to locate the victim and ensure that she is released without further delay and take action against the alleged abductors. Please also the Government of Pakistan to take genuine action to prohibit such brutal practice against the religious minorities and protect the rights of children.

To support this appeal, please click HERE.

Save A Life -- Malak Ghorbany, woman sentenced to death by stoning

I thought it would be highly appropriate to start this blog with the following plea to save an innocent life. Read on...

Dear friends,

Once again, another Iranian woman has been sentenced to death by the barbaric practice of public stoning. On June 28, 2006, a court in the northwestern Iranian city of Urmia sentenced Malak Ghorbany to death for committing "adultery." Under Iran's Penal Code, the term "adultery" is used to describe any intimate or sexual act between a man and a girl/woman who are not married. The crime of adultery is also used in cases where a girl is deemed to have committed "acts incompatible with chastity," which includes instances of rape. The punishment for "adultery" is death.

On the day of her punishment, the woman's hands are tied behind her back as she becomes covered from head to toe in winding sheets and is placed seated in a pit. The pit is then filled up to her chest with dirt and the dirt is tamped down. At that point, members of the community are invited to murder her by hurling rocks at her. However, to ensure that the condemned woman/girl receives the absolute maximum amount of pain and torture, the Iranian government has even mandated the size of the stones that are to be used in this barbaric act of public execution. By law, the stones must not be too small as to prevent ultimate death, nor must they be too large that they could cause the girl's death "too soon."

The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights of Iranian Kurdistan has issued a statement to save the life of Malak Ghorbany, and I have initiated a petition, directed to members of the United Nations, Amnesty International, the ruling clerics in Iran, and various other organizations and entities around the world to oppose Malak's barbaric sentence. I need you to help me save Malak's life, as we did with the 17 year old Nazanin, by signing the petition and raising as much awareness as possible to her case. Without significant international pressure and expressions of outrage at the atrocities committed by the Isalmic regime, Iranians will continue to be subjected to medieval practices that violate the most basic rights of humans.

I thank you for your support, friendship, and kindness, and I look forward to a day when no woman is abused, tortured, or murdered simply because of her gender.

Fondly,

Lily Mazahery
President
Legal Rights Institute

The direct link to Saving Malak's Life is: http://www.petitiononline.com/Malak/petition.html