• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Young Human Rights Defenders at Risk of Torture (Iran: UA 45.18)

February 27, 2018

Young Iranian human rights defenders Shima Babaee, who is campaigning against compulsory veiling, and her husband Dariush Zand are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Both have been detained in Tehran’s Evin prison, without access to family and lawyer following their arrest by the Ministry of Intelligence on 1 February in connection with their peaceful human rights work. They are prisoners of conscience.

Young Iranian human rights defenders Shima Babaee, who is campaigning against compulsory veiling, and her husband Dariush Zand are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Both have been detained in Tehran’s Evin prison, without access to family and lawyer following their arrest by the Ministry of Intelligence on 1 February in connection with their peaceful human rights work. They are prisoners of conscience. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:
  • Release Shima Babaee and Dariush Zand immediately and unconditionally as they are prisoners of conscience held solely for their peaceful human rights activism;
  • Ensure they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment and are allowed regular access to their family and an independent lawyer of their own choosing, pending their release;
  • End the persecution of women who peacefully protest against compulsory veiling, release those so detained and abolish compulsory veiling laws, which are discriminatory and abusive, including Article 638 of the Penal Code.

Contact these two officials by 6 April, 2018:

High Council for Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani Esfaniar Boulevard, Niayesh Intersection Vali Asr Avenue, Tehran, Iran

H.E. Gholamali Khoshroo Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations 622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10017 Phone: (212) 687-2020 I Fax: (212) 867-7086 Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Excellency

2) LET US KNOW YOU TOOK ACTION Click here to let us know if you took action on this case! This is Urgent Action 45.18 Here’s why it is so important to report your actions: we record the actions taken on each case—letters, emails, calls and tweets—and use that information in our advocacy. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES