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11 March 2010

Iran – Arrest and detention of human rights defender Ms Mahboubeh Karami

Human rights defender Ms Mahboubeh Karami was arrested on 2 March 2010. Mahboubeh Karami is a member of the One Million Signature Campaign, a movement which aims to end discriminatory laws against women in Iran. Front Line previously issued an appeal in relation to the arrest and detention of Mahboubeh Karami on 2 April 2009.

On 2 March 2010, at approximately 10pm, Mahboubeh Karami's house in Tehran was searched by security officials and she was subsequently arrested. Some of her personal belongings were confiscated in the search. She is currently being held in solitary confinement in section 209 of Evin Prison. No reason has yet been given for the arrest and she has not yet been charged. However, following her arrest, Mahboubeh Karami telephoned her brother Mr Mohsen Karami and informed him that she was being questioned in relation to events following the elections in 2009.

This is the fifth time that Mahboubeh Karami has been arrested. On 26 March 2009, she was arrested along with eleven other members of the One Million Signatures Campaign and Mothers for Peace who had gathered to visit the families of several prisoners of conscience to mark the Persian New Year. She was detained for 13 days on this occasion. In June 2008, she was arrested and detained for seventy days on charges of committing “acts against national security” for her involvement in a protest and, in July 1999, she was arrested on two separate occasions in relation to her involvement in student protests. She was acquitted of all charges on the four occasions.

Front line believes that Mahboubeh Karami is being targeted as a direct result of her peaceful and legitimate activities in the defence of human rights, especially the rights of women and prisoners of conscience. Front Line fears for the physical and psychological integrity of Mahboubeh Karami.

Front Line urges the authorities in Iran to:

1.    Immediately and unconditionally release Mahboubeh Karami and drop all charges against her, as Front Line believes that she is being held solely as a result of her legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;

2.    Ensure that the treatment of Mahboubeh Karami, while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners', adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990;

3.    Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Iran are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.