[state] repression of dissent

Oman: End the Detention of Women Human Rights Defenders

On 19 June 2012, due to their deteriorating health, women human rights defenders Basma Al-Keumy, lawyer, and Basma Al-Rajehy, writer and TV broadcaster, ended their hunger strike aimed at their administrative detention which continued until 24 June 2012 and the lack of access to their families and lawyers.

Both women were arrested on 11 June 2012 along with approximately 20 other protestors when security forces and anti-riot police broke up a three-day protest held in front of the

Sudan: Activists face rape, one fights back

In many regards, Safiya Ishaq is an unremarkable 25-year-old. She is excellent at braiding hair but terrible at being on time. She studied fine arts at Khartoum University in Sudan. Not unusual for a student, Ishaq became involved with politics. She joined Girifna, a pro-democracy movement formed in 2009 on the eve of Sudan’s first multiparty elections in more than two decades aimed at mobilizing citizens to vote. Conducting mass voter registration drives, it quickly evolved into a socio-political movement demanding change in Sudan.

Iran: WHRD Coalition Calls for the Immediate Release of Maryam Bahreman

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition is deeply concerned by the ongoing detention of an Iranian women's rights activist, despite a legal order for her release. Maryam Bahreman, a member of Iran's One Million Signatures Campaign, was arrested on 11 May and held in solitary confinement. After questioning at the Prosecutor's Office on July 5, an order was issued for Ms Bahreman's release on bail. However, the order was not implemented and she remains in Shiraz prison.

Iran: Women’s Rights Activist Maryam Bidgoli held in Langaroud Prison in Qom

She has informed her family of her transfer to the Langaroud Prison in Qom on the day of her arrest. Fatemeh Masjedi and Maryam Bidgoli had been arrested earlier and later released on bail. The court sentenced them to one year in prison and a monetray fine for ant-regime propaganda by membership in the feminist and “anti-regime” group of One Million Signature Campaign. The sentence was later reduced to 6 months in prison by the appeals court. Fatemeh Masjedi had been detained earlier and has been released after serving her sentence.

Iran : Action Urgente : Une Militante Détenue Alors Que Sa Libération A Été Ordonnée

Maryam Bahreman, militante des droits des femmes, est toujours en détention alors que le parquet de Chiraz a ordonné sa libération sous caution au début du mois de juillet. Amnesty International la considère comme une prisonnière d'opinion, détenue uniquement pour avoir exercé pacifiquement son droit à la liberté d'expression et d'association.

UPDATE: Iran: Maryam Bahreman Still Held Despite Order for Release

Women’s rights activist Maryam Bahreman remains in detention despite an order from the Prosecutor’s office in Shiraz to release her on bail at the start of July. Amnesty International considers her to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and association. See WLUML's action alert here and/or follow the instructions in the Amnesty letter campaign.

Iran: Mondial de foot féminin : deux journalistes arrêtées

Alors même que vient de prendre fin le Mondial de football féminin, l'hebdomadaire allemand Der Spiegel annonce qu'une deuxième journaliste iranienne censée couvrir l'évènement a été arrêtée, information confirmée par le parquet de Téhéran. Les autorités Iraniennes n'ont communiqué aucun motif officiel concernant ces deux arrestations.

Iran: Refugees branded by their past association with MEK

As a human rights lawyer who defended scores of women unjustly condemned to death by stoning or other methods of execution in Iran, I am accustomed to hearing unpleasant news. However some stories still shake me. Ashraf Adelzadeh's ordeal is one of them. I came to know about Ashraf's case during my research in the "Justice For Iran" project that investigates rampant rapes and tortures of the women prisoners in Iran.

Iran: Maryam Bahreman Still Held Despite Order for Release

Women’s rights activist Maryam Bahreman remains in detention despite an order from the Prosecutor’s office in Shiraz to release her on bail at the start of July. Amnesty International considers her to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and association. Update on: Iran: Call for release of women's rights activist Maryam Bahreman

UPDATE: Iran: Women’s sports photographer, Maryam Majd, released on bail

Maryam Majd, a women’s sports photographer, arrested on her way to film the Women’s Soccer World Cup in Germany, has been released on bail, of 100,000 US Dollars, because of poor health. Maryam Majd disappeared on her way from Tehran, Iran, to Dusseldorf in Germany on the 17th of June 2011. She was held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, in ward 2A, controlled by the Revolutionary Guards. Ms Majd was expected in Germany for two months during the Women's Soccer World Cup 2011, in order to produce a photographic record of the different soccer teams.