Iran: Khadijeh Moghaddam Member of Campaign and Mother’s Committee Arrested

international | gender and sexuality | other press

Friday April 11, 2008 18:53

by pat c

Another Womens rights activist has been detained in Iran. Her only crimes was to demand equality of treatment for Women. Full text at the link.

On April 8th, security police forcibly entered the home of Khadijeh Moghaddam, women’s rights activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign and arrested her. Khadijeh Moghaddam who is a member of the Mother’s Committee of the Campaign was transferred to Eshrat Abad Security Police, where she was interrogated for several hours She was them brought to court and interrogated by Sobhani an Investigative Judge and charged. Bail was set at 100 Million Tomans (roughly $110,000). Moghaddam was then transferred to Vozara Detention Center.

Khadijeh Moghaddam

Khadijeh Moghaddam explained that:

“they were objecting to the fact that I had hosted meetings in my home, to which I replied that I have the right to hold meetings and parties and weddings and memorial services in my home, my private residence. The investigative judge at the Revolutionary Courts asked that I identify members of the Campaign who had participated in the gatherings in my home. I refused to do so, and explained that I do not believe providing such information to be ethical. I also explained that we are not engaged in any sort of covert activity and that the security officials know the identities of Campaign members.”

Moghaddam explained further that the charges against her were: “spreading of propaganda against the state; disruption of public opinion; and actions against national security , the names of Campaign members. When asked to provide my last defense, I explained that my way of life is my defense and also told the investigative judge that it is in fact the security authorities with their actions who are endangering national security.”

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Khadijeh Moghaddam Released After Nine Days in Detention

Mon Apr 21, 2008 18:19

Here is a report regarding the release of Khadijeh Moghaddam on bail. Full text at link.

Khadijeh Moghaddam was released on the afternoon of Wednesday April 16, after spending nine days in detention. She was greeted by her family and friends, as well as her colleagues in the One Million Signatures Campaign.

In repeated interrogations sessions, the special investigator of the Revolutionary Courts, accused Moghaddam of actions against national security, disruption of public opinion, and propaganda against the state, through the convening of gatherings related to the Campaign in her private home. While it is customary to transfer individuals for whom a temporary arrest order has been issued to Evin’s public ward, Khadijeh Moghaddam spent seven days in temporary custody, under very difficult circumstances in Vozara Detention Center. During this time, she was deprived of access to her lawyers or visits with her family members.

Khadijeh greeted by friends on her release.

Interview with Husband of Imprisoned Activist, Khadijeh Moghaddam:

Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:52

This is an extract from an interview with the husband of Khadijeh Moghaddam. Full text at the link.

Q: Dr. Khosrowshahi why do you think Khadijeh Moghaddam was arrested?

A: This is not the first time that my wife has been arrested. They had summoned her from the security police on several occasions. She is a women’s rights activist, a member of the mothers committee of the Campaign, a member of Mothers for Peace, an environmental activist, and founder of several of women’s cooperatives for female heads of households. Just a few days ago, on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, along with Ms. Ebadi, she visited the families of imprisoned students and workers as well as the family of Zahra Baniyaghoub [killed while in detention in Hamedan]. She has dedicated her entire life to the quest for equality, and peace.

Q: What has your wife been interrogated about?

Khadijeh explained that she was interrogated about the visits and gatherings in our home with members of the Campaign and the Mothers for Peace. They asked her to name the persons who regularly visited with her in her home. My wife found this line of questioning to be unethical and refused to answer. They also asked her why she had visited the family of Mr. Osanloo. She said that Mr. Osanloo’s mother is a friend of hers, and that it is natural for her to visit their home on the Iranian New Year. Additionally, she responded that she views defending civil society activists to be her duty.

Nearly 600 Civil Society Activists Object to the Arrest of Khadijeh Moghaddam

Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:34

Here is a report regarding activities in support of Khadijeh Moghaddam. Full text at link.

Nearly 600 Civil Society Activists have objected to the arrest of Khadijeh Moghaddam and have called for her immediate release. The statement points to the peaceful activism of 56 year Khadijeh Moghaddam, as an environmental and a women’s rights activist and founding member of the One Million Signatures Campaign and of the Mothers for Peace, her role in reconstructing Bam after the earthquake, as well as her tireless activism designed to empower and generate employment for female heads of households in deprived areas of the country, especially Tehran.

The signatories to this statement, decried the pressures placed on civil society activists, objected to the forceful manner in which Khadijeh Moghaddam was arrested in her home, and have called for her immediate and unconditional release.

The Facts

Mon Apr 14, 2008 15:56

"The Iranian unit of currency is Rial - Internationally abbreviated to RI or Ris, which is divided into 100 Dinars. Every 10 Rials is also know as 1 Toman (Toe'man). The Bank Markazi (Central Bank), established in 1960 and operated by the government, is the bank of issue. Commercial banking, nationalized and reorganized in 1979, includes some seven major banks. "

http://www.farsinet.com/toman/

The only crime that Khadijeh Moghaddam is guilty of is campaigning for equal rights for women in Iran.

Go to the site http://www.we4change.info/english/ and read the truth.

This campaign is suported by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Frontiers and many other organisations.

Tomans and US Dollars?

by Bazooka Joe

Sun Apr 13, 2008 23:27

"Bail was set at 100 Million Tomans (roughly $110,000)"

The Toman was the currency of Iran until 1932 when it was replaced by the Rial. Those who hark back to the old times of the US backed Shah and the previous Shahzade use the term Toman instead or Rial. The fact that it is translated into '$', presumably US$, shows a lot about the mindset of the writer and the Imperial arrogance in which they are steeped.

This woman, who is facing criminal charges for, "acting against national security", has had her bail set at one billion rials (roughly €68,371). Perhaps we should wait and see the evidence against her before jumping in with our, "she must be innocent because she is a 'womens rights' worker and isn't the Islamic Regime evil anyway". That is, if we don't want to be fooled again.

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Iran: Khadijeh Moghaddam Member of Campaign and Mother’s Committee Arrested

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