Monday, January 12, 2009
Letter to UN Seretary-General
The Honorable Ban Ki-moonSecretary-General
United Nations
Secretariat Building, Room S-3800
New York, NY 10017
January 12, 2009
Dear Secretary-General
Re: The forcible closure of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders in Tehran
As you are aware, on 21 December 2008, the security and intelligence authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran closed down and sealed the Tehran-based Centre for Human Rights Defenders CHRD), without any court order or any other legal warrant or document. It has not been allowed to be reopened yet.
The CHRD was co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi with the help of other well known human rights and peace activists in Iran.
The right to establish and run organizations such as CHRD is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Article 26), which indicates the formation of political parties, and/or non-governmental organizations, does not depend on acquisition of legal permission. However, in order to obtain so-called governmental support or facilities, organizations are required to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Centre has repeatedly sought legal registration since its inception eight years ago but the requests have been ignored by the government. However the issue of non-legality has never been raised by the authorities in the past 8 years.
The right to establish such a centre and the right to pursue its objectives is not only guaranteed by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but is also enshrined in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 20) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 21). Our country, Iran, is a signatory of both the Declaration and the Convention.
Moreover, the closure of CHRD by Iran’s government is in clear breach of the UN General Assembly’s Resolution of 1998, known as "The Declaration on human rights defenders" which explicitly declares:
“Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.” (Article 1)
Two days after the closure and sealing of the Centre’s office, a group of plain-clothed individuals, unlawfully entered the private law office of Dr. Ebadi and seized confidential client documents and two computers. This unlawful act took place under police surveillance. Police took no steps to prevent it.
On the basis of the facts set out above, we, the signatories of this letter:
· Declare our appreciation and support for Shirin Ebadi - a widely recognized international human rights figure and a great source of pride for Iran - and for the humane efforts of Centre for Human Rights Defenders;
· Condemn the closure of the CHRD office and of the behavior of the Iranian government toward Ms Shirin Ebadi, which not only breaches the Constitution of the Islamic Republic (Article 26) but also contravenes the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
· Demand the prosecution of those who issued the unlawful order to close down the CHRD office and those responsible for raiding Ms. Ebadi's law office and the seizure of her client documents.
· Strongly urge the immediate unsealing and reopening of the CHRD office in Tehran, as well as the payment of legal damages and the issuing of an apology by the Islamic Republic government to Dr. Ebadi, for the failure to protect her office from the unlawful raid and seizures.
· Sincerely hope that the Secretary General exercises his good offices to approach the President, the Head of the Judiciary and the Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and asks that the Iranian government allows the Centre to resume its normal activities.
We hope that through your good offices, a positive response can be obtained from the authorities in Iran. However, should they decide not to comply with national and international law and to continue their blatant violation of the basic rights of the Iranian people, we will pursue all legal means at our disposal to compel the government to reopen the Centre.
Signatories:
1
Surname
Name
Country
Town
2
Aalipor
Maysam
Iran
Isfahan
3
Abbassi
Bahram
Holland
4
Abbassi
Keykavoos
Sweden
5
Abbaszadeh
Mashalah
Turkey
6
Abdolrahimpou
Majid
Germany
Hanover
7
Abedpour
Zia
Sweden
Malmo
8
Afshari
Ali
USA
9
Agah
Hoomira
Belgium
Bruxelles
10
Ahangari
Kaveh
11
Ahmadi
Daryoush
Germany
Berlin
12
Ahmadi
Khosro
UK
London
13
Ahmadian
Parisa
Germany
Frankfurt
14
Akbari
Asghar
15
Alamdari
Kazem
California
Los Angeles
16
Alavai
Masoud
San francisco
USA
17
Alavi
Hossein
Germany
Berlin
18
Alavi
Masoud
USA
San Francisco
19
Alavi
Masood
USA
San Fransisco
20
Alikhani
Reza
Taiwan
21
Alipoor
Meysam
Iran
Esfahan
22
Amin Ave
Kamran
Germany
23
Amini
Mehdi
USA
Washington
24
Amiri
Kamran
Austria
Vienna
25
Amirkhosravi
Arvand
Norway
26
Amir-Khosravi
Babak
France
Paris
27
Ammari
Manaf
Norway
Oslo
28
Ansari
Wahab
Germany
Cologne
29
Ansari
Mansour
France
Paris
30
Anzali
Shahin
Austria
Vienna
31
Arabsolghar
Fatemeh
32
Asadi Savad Kohi
Hoshang
Sweden
Stockholm
33
Aski
Keyvan
Germany
34
Assari
Manouchehr
35
Atabak
Seid Ghodratollah
France
Grenoble
36
Atari
Abdolvahab
37
Atri
Akbar
USA
38
Azad
Ayande
Austria
Vienna
39
Azadeh
Bahram
UK
Liverpool
40
Azadeh
Bahram
United Kingdom
Liverpool
41
Azari
Masoud
Sweden
Stockholm
42
Azimi
Farzaneh
Austria
Vienna
43
Baghai
Fariborz
Germany
Frankfurt
44
Bagherpoor
Danesh
45
Bahmani
Mohamad
California
Los Angeles
46
Bajoghli
Rahim
USA
Virginia
47
Bakhshi Zadeh
Marziyeh
Iran
Tehran
48
Baktash
Cyrus
USA
49
Barati
Mehran
Germany
Berlin
50
Barzanjah
Mohammad
Canada
Montreal
51
Bashar Doost
Laleh
Germany
Cologne
52
Basiri
Nasrin
Germany
Berlin
53
Bayat
Behrouz
Austria
vienna
54
Bayat
Behruz
Austria
Vienna
55
Behrooz
hamid
Germany
56
Behzadifar
Farshid
UAE
Sharjeh
57
Beigi
Hooman
USA
Maryland
58
Beridnazif
Motahareh
Iran
Mashhad
59
Beygi
Hooman
USA
Maryland
60
Beyzaie
Niloofar
Germany
61
Biary
Hadi
Germany
Frankfurt
62
Biniaz
Beytolah
Germany
Cologne
63
Borghei
Mohammad
USA
Virginia
64
Borhan
Arjang
65
Borhan Azad
Arzhang
Germany
Koln
66
Borzoie
Ali
Germany
67
Borzu
Ali
Veenendaal
Holland
68
bulent kilic
m.
69
Charandabi
Reza
Germany
Frankfurt
70
Cheraghi
Mohammad
Germany
Cologne
71
Dadbae
Hassan
Canada
72
Daghighian
Shirindokht
USA
Los Angeles
73
Darabi
Nasser
USA
Oregan
74
Darvishpour
Mehrdad
Sweden
Stockholm
75
Darvishpour
Hassan
Germany
76
Davoudi Mohajer
Faribi
USA
77
Dehnavi
Mehdi
Sweden
Stockholm
78
Doostdar
Akbar
Germany
Dortmond
79
Eftekhari
Bijan
Austria
Vienna
80
Ehsani pour
mehrdad
Germany
Cologne
81
Entesari
Parastoo
England
82
esfandarmaz
sherin
Belgium
Bruxelles
83
esfandarmaz
Kati
Belgium
Bruxelles
84
Eshtehard
Parwin
85
Eskandar Assari
Abollah
86
Eski
Keyvan
Germany
87
Fadai
Behrooz
Holland
88
Fahimifar
Hadi
Sweden
Stockholm
89
Fallah
Shokr
Australia
Brisbane
90
Fani Yazdi
Reza
USA
California
91
Farahani
Fereshte
Holland
92
Farahani
Fereshteh
93
Farhangi
Elizabeth
USA
94
Farhoudi
Vida
France
Poete
95
Farid
Siamak
Belgium
Bruxelles
96
farkhondeh
hamid
Sweden
Stockholm
97
Farmanesh
Hossein
98
Farmanesh
Hamila
99
Farmanesh
Hossein
USA
Los Angeles
100
Farmanesh
Hamila
USA
Los Angeles
101
Fatahpoor
Mehdi
102
Fathi
Masoud
Austria
Vienna
103
Feghih
Hossein
USA
104
Firoozi
Alireza
Iran
Tehran
105
Forooghi
Mehrdad
Netherlands
Amesterdam
106
Forouhar
Parstou
Germany
107
Fouladi
Firooze
USA
108
Ganjbakhsh
Amir Hossein
USA
Washington
109
Ghaemmaghami
Ali
USA
110
Ghanad
Babak
Iran
Tehran
111
Ghanbari
Ali Akbar
Germany
112
Gharabaqi
Ali Reza
113
Ghasemi
Farhang
114
Ghayoumi
Rahim
Germany
Dusseldorf
115
Ghazi
Fereshte
116
Ghemi
Mojgan
USA
117
Ghorbani
Mehrdad
Iran
Tehran
118
Haghighi
Fereshteh
Austria
Vienna
119
Hamid
Hamid
120
Hamidi
Nasrin
Holland
121
Hamidi
hamid
Holland
122
Hamidi
Hamid
123
Hamidi
Nasrin
124
Hashemi
Gita
Belgium
Bruxelles
125
Hashemi
Nader
USA
Denver
126
Havarinasab
Khalil
Germany
Cologne
127
Heidarveis
Parivash
Belgium
128
Hekmat
Bijan
France
Paris
129
Hekmati
Nahid
USA
130
Hemmati
Masoud
Belgium
131
Hemmati
Nasrin
Belgium
Bruxelles
132
Heydarian
Mohsen
Sweden
Goteborg
133
Homamina
Mohammad
Belgium
Bruxelles
134
hoseinzadeh
jafar
Belgium
Bruxelles
135
Hosseini
Seyed Mehdi
England
136
Hosseinpoor Khaledian
Houshang
137
Hurts
Dina
Belgium
Bruxelles
138
Iman Zadeh
Simin
Germany
Koln
139
Imanzadeh
Simin
Germany
Cologne
140
Impertro-Ghasemi
Akhtar
Germany
Cologne
141
Irani
Niki
USA
142
Irani
Masoud
143
Izad
Sima
Germany
Frankfurt
144
Jadehdoostan
Mohsen
Germany
145
Jafari
Atefeh
Germany
Cologne
146
Jafari
Hassan
Germany
Berlin
147
Jafari
Sadigheh
Germany
148
Jafarian
Mehrnaz
Iran
Tehran
149
Jahangiri
Navid
Canada
Calgary
150
Jahangiri
Mahshid
Belgium
Bruxelles
151
Jamalzahie
Abbas
Germany
152
Javad
Mohamad
USA
Dallas, Texas
153
Javaheri
Farzad
154
Jazini
Kaveh
Germany
Cologne
155
Joshani
Reza
Germany
Berlin
156
Kalaei
Ali
157
Kanzali
behrooz
USA
158
Kargar
Sadegh
Norway
Oslo
159
Karimi
Behzad
Holland
160
Karimi
Mohammad
Germany
161
Karimi
Nasrin
Germany
162
Karimi
Reza
Sweden
Stockholm
163
Karimi Hakkak
Ahmad
USA
Maryland
164
kashfi
Samsam
USA
Maryland
165
Kaviani
Reza
Germany
Berlin
166
Keshavarz
Sohil
167
Keshavarz
Ali
Belgium
168
Keshavarz
Mehran
Norway
169
Khaligh
Behrooz
Germany
Cologne
170
Khanbaba Tehrani
Mehdi
Germany
Frankfurt
171
Khorami
Hossein
Ger
172
Khorsand
Asghar
Austria
Vienna
173
Khun-Jush
Jamshid
Germany
Nuernberg
174
Kiani
Tahmoures
175
Kor
Youfef
Germany
Berlin
176
Lahbi
Omid
France
Strasburg
177
Larimi
Ali
Germany
Bonn
178
Liaghat
Esmaeil
179
Limakesh
Mazdak
180
Madani
Mehrdad
Canada
181
Maghsoodi
Mehrdad
Sweden
182
Mahbaz
Effat
UK
London
183
Mahbaz
Mehdi
Uk
London
184
Mahdi
Akbar
USA
185
Mahjoobi
Ali
Germany
Berlin
186
Mahmoodian
Behrooz
Australia
Sydney
187
Mahmoudi
Nima
Italy
188
Mahmoudi
Azar
Germany
189
Mahshid
Bita
Belgium
Bruxelles
190
Majd Zadeh
Bahar
191
Majlesi
Reza
192
Malak Mohamadi
Morteza
Germany
Frankfurt
193
Malakuti
Sirus
UK
London
194
Malakuti
Sirus
England
London
195
Maleki
Raheleh
Iran
Tehran
196
Malekzadeh
Ali
197
mandegar
hamid
Belgium
Bruxelles
198
Maneli
Nili
Indonisia
199
mansour safaeian
kazem
Belgium
Bruxelles
200
mansour safaeian
parham
Belgium
Bruxelles
201
Mara'ashi
Manijeh
202
Mashayekhi
Mehrdad
USA
Washington
203
Mashoof
Ahmad
Canada
204
Massoumi,
Mehdi
Iran
Tehran
205
Mehrban
Khosro
Belgium
Bruxelles
206
Mehrnoush
Mehdi
207
Memarhosseini
Mehri
Germany
Aachen
208
Memarzadeh
Hossein
209
Merati
Kambiz
210
Mir Ebrahimi
Roozbeh
USA
New York
211
Mir Fakhraii
Mehran
Italy
Bologna
212
Mir Hosseini
Arash
Belgium
Bruxelles
213
Mir Sattari
Anvar
214
Mirhaj
Nahid
215
Mirhaj
Nahid
216
Mirmoayadi
Miralireza
Germany
Aachen
217
Mirzavand
Mahmoud
218
Mobarhan
Ali
USA
Virginia
219
Modarres
Farkhondeh
220
Mohammadi
Maliheh
Germany
Berlin
221
Mohammadi
Sara
222
Mohammadi
Ahmad
France
Poitiers
223
Mohammadi
Monireh
Canada
224
Mohseni
Parvin
225
Moin
Hesam
Belgium
Bruxelles
226
Mokhlesi
Vargha
Iran
Tehran
227
Mokhtari
Sohrab
Germany
Berlin
228
Moloudizadeh
Mahmoud
Germany
229
Mombini
Amir
Sweden
Stockholm
230
Momeni
Khalil
231
Mootab
Ramin
Iran
Tabriz
232
Moradi
Daryoush
Germany
Cologne
233
Moradi
Ebrahim
Cypress
234
Motlagh
Hesam
Turkey
235
Moussawi
Farah
236
Munesi
Davood
237
Naderi
Hassan
France
Paris
238
Naderi
Mike
USA
239
Nafeei
Reza
Germany
Huerth
240
Nagchin
Taher
France
Paris
241
Nahidpour
Nushin
UK
London
242
Najafi
Samad
USA
243
Nasiri
Babak
Australia
Melborn
244
Navaian
Davoud
Sweden
Gothenburg
245
Navidi
Amador
246
Nayeb Hashem
Hassan
Austria
Vienna
247
Naz
Sahar
Belgium
Bruxelles
248
Nazem
Ahmed
Germany
249
Negahdar
Farrokh
UK
London
250
Nejati
Ahmad
251
Nikravesh
Ali
Belgium
252
Niroomand
Bahman
Germany
253
Noori
Ahmad
Germany
Berlin
254
Olad Azami
Nikrooz
Sweden
Stockholm
255
Omid Mehr
Ali Akbar
Denmark
Copenhagen
256
Omidvar
Majid
257
Ordoukhani
Abolfazll
Belgium
Bruxelles
258
Paki
Morteza
Canada
259
Parsi
Koushyar
Holland
260
Parviz
Alireza
Iran
Tehran
261
Parzin
Habib
Germany
Cologne
262
Peeroozi
Ardalan
263
Piroozram
Mahoumood
Sweden
Stockholm
264
Pirzadeh
Bijan
USA
Los Angeles
265
Poormoradi
Farzad
266
Pourmandi
Ahmad
Germany
Munich
267
Pour-naghavi
Ali
Holland
Utricht
268
Rabia'i
Farah
Sweden
Gothenberge
269
Radboy
Ali
270
Rahimi
Mehrangiz
Germany
Cologne
271
Rahimi
Ali
France
Paris
272
Rahmani
Bahram
Sweden
Stockholm
273
Rahmanian
Bijan
Austria
Vienna
274
Raian
John
275
Ramazani
Rahim
Turkey
Wan
276
Ramezani
Rahim
Turkey
Van
277
Ramezani Rad
Massoud
Germany
Dusseldorf
278
Rashidi
Adeleh
Iran
Tabriz
279
Rashvandi Sardai
Yoosef
Italy
Bologna
280
Rasta
Manouchehr
281
Razavi
Rasoul
Germany
Bonn
282
Rezaei
Mina
Germany
283
Rezaei
Hassan
Germany
Freiburg
284
Rezazadeh
Saloomeh
Iran
Tehran
285
Rezvan
Azita
286
Rokhsani
Khashayar
Germany
Manheim
287
Rostampour
Mahmoud
Sweden
Stockholm
288
Saberi
Banoo
USA
Atlanta
289
Sabzikari
Hamid
England
London
290
Sadeghi
Morteza
Holland
Amsterdam
291
Safi zadeh
Ramin
USA
San Francisco
292
Sahar Khiz
Mansour
Germany
Wiesbaden
293
Sahebi
Sima
Germany
294
Salek
Maryam
295
Salimi
Koros
296
samadpouri
ali
Belgium
Bruxelles
297
Samimi
Siavash
Iran
Dashtestan
298
Sanjari
Kianoosh
299
Sarvari
Houshang
Germany
300
Satvat
Maryam
301
Satwat
Maryam
Germany
Cologne
302
Sazgara
Mohsen
USA
303
Seifi
Arman
Iran
Tehran
304
Servati
Mojgan
305
Setayesh
Shahanz
Spain
Tenarife
306
Shab Afrooz
Masoud
307
Shademan
Seyed Morteza
USA
308
Shafiei
Roohi
England
London
309
Shahrokhi
S.
Canada
310
Shambayati
Karim
Germany
Cologne
311
Shams
Tara
Germany
Aachen
312
Shams
Siavash
Germany
Aachen
313
Shams
Mahnaz
Germany
Aachen
314
Shams
Mohamad
Germany
Aachen
315
Shams Haeri
Hadi
316
Shamshiri
Fariborz
317
Shariatmadari
Hassan
Germany
Hamburg
318
Shervini
Saeed
Germany
319
Shghafi
Soheila
320
Shirazi
Abbas
Germany
Hamburg
321
Shokraei
Elahe
Canada
322
Shokri
Mina
323
Siyavashi
Reza
USA
324
Sobhani
Mohammad Hossein
Germany
Cologne
325
Soleimani
Reza
Belgium
Bruxelles
326
Soleimani
Parvaneh
327
Soltani
Siamak
Germany
328
Soltani
Amir
329
Soltani
Kianoosh
Iran
Tehran
330
Tabari
Amir
Germany
Tubingen
331
Tabari
esfandiar
Germany
Tubingen
332
Tabatabai
Fatemeh
Germany
Cologne
333
Tabrizian
Habib
334
Taghavi
Jamshid
335
Taheripoor
Jamshid
Germany
336
Talebi
Ashkbous
USA
Washington
337
Tamimi
Ghader
France
Paris
338
Tavakoli
Mandana
USA
339
Tavana
Daya Dell
Iran
340
Tayefeh
Najaf
Germany
Berlin
341
Tehrani
Shahram
California
Los Angeles
342
Tohidi
Nayereh
California
Los Angeles
343
Torabi
Mohamad
USA
Orange County
344
Vahid
Saman
Iran
Tabriz
345
Wesali
Javad
346
Yaghoobian
Katia
Belgium
Bruxelles
347
Yousef Zadeh
Mehrdad
USA
virginia
348
Yusefi
Iraj
Germany
349
Yusefi
Minoo
Germany
350
Zabardasti
Morad
Canada
Vancouver
351
Zanganeh
Gholamreza
Germany
352
zarrasvand
Majid
Sweden
Stockholm
353
ZEHTAB
Hassan
Sweden
Shovde
354
Zeinali
Ahmad
Iran
Mashhad
355
Ziaei
Hani
Belgium
Bruxelles
356
Ziaei
Samedin
USA
Los Angeles
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