Take AIM For Sakineh & The Green Revolution In Iran

From Avaaz:

Dear Friends, 

Iran could execute Sakineh Ashtiani tomorrow. We saved her from stoning, now we have 24 hours to get key powers to take emergency action to stop this shameful killing.

Tomorrow, Iran could execute Sakineh Ashtiani.

Our global outcry stopped her unjust stoning sentence in July. Now we have 24 hours to save her life.
 

Iran's allies and key UN powers are our best hope -- they could persuade Iran of the serious political cost of this high-profile killing. Click below to send them an urgent call to action and send this to everyone -- it only takes three minutes and we are her last chance:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/24h_to_save_sakineh/?vl
 

Sakineh's adultery case is a tragic sham stacked with human rights violations. First, she was to be stoned to death. But the Iranian government had to revoke the sentence after her children generated a worldwide outcry against the farcical trial -- she could not speak the language used in court, and the alleged incidents of adultery took place after her husband's death.

Then her lawyer was forced into exile, and the prosecution conjured up a new trumped-up charge for which she would be executed -- the murder of her husband. Despite this being double jeopardy, as she is already serving time for alleged complicity in this crime, Sakineh was tortured and paraded on national television to 'confess', and was found guilty. Since then the regime has arrested two German journalists, her lawyer and her son, who has bravely led the international campaign to save his mother. All remain in prison and Sakineh's son and lawyer have been also tortured and have no access to lawyers.

Now Iranian human rights activists state an order has just been issued from Tehran to implement her killing immediately. She is on the list and tomorrow is execution day.

Our persistent campaigning led Iran to drop Sakineh's stoning sentence and captured the attention of leaders in countries with influence on Iran, like Turkey and Brazil. Now let's urgently raise our voices to stop her killing and inhumane treatment and free her, her lawyer, her son and the jailed German journalists.  

Send a message and share this emergency call with friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/24h_to_save_sakineh/?vl
 

A massive public outcry has the moral authority to stop heinous crimes. Let's use these 24 hours to send a clear message -- the world is watching and we all stand together today to save Sakineh's life and against injustice everywhere.

With hope and determination,

Alice, Stephanie, Pascal, Giulia, Benjamin and the whole of the Avaaz team

Sources:

The Islamic regime of Iran plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani immediately

http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4194

Sakineh hanging imminent

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fears-that-alleged-adulterers-execution-by-hanging-is-imminent/story-e6frg6so-1225946610965

Iranian woman could be stoned Wednesday

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hipKgm5UqJOxciOi1f07BwbfRgFg?docId=CNG.6ef6de7af5f33847d19e690e61087c73.811

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani: A life in the Balance (Amnesty International)

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/089/2010/en/589bd56b-49ac-4028-8dc6-abd903ac9bac/mde130892010en.pdf

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  From Maryam Namazie, Iran Solidarity:

ACT NOW

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE GATHERING AT THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN PARIS AT 2PM (4 Avenue d'Iéna 75116 Paris) AND MARCHING TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS. JOIN US. WE MUST SAVE SAKINEH’S LIFE AND SECURE HER FREEDOM AND THAT OF HER SON, LAWYER AND THE TWO GERMAN JOURNALISTS. AND WE MUST END STONING NOW!

According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.

We had previously reported that the casefile regarding the murder case of Ms Ashtiani’s husband had been seized from her lawyer’s office, Houtan Kian, and found missing from the prosecutor’s Oskoo branch office so as to stitch Ms Ashtiani up with trumped up murder charges.  [Another man has already served a prison sentence and is now free for her husband’s murder.]  Ms Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, have warned of the regime’s plan to do so on many occasions. With the arrest of Ms Ashtiani’s son and lawyer on 10 October and her not having had any visitation rights since 11 August and after fabricating a new case against her, the “Human Rights Commission” of the regime has announced that: ‘according to the existing evidence, her guilt has been confirmed.’ In fact, the regime has created a new scenario in order to expedite her execution.

In other news, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian have been severely tortured in order to obtain confessions against Sakineh and themselves since their arrests on 10 October along with two German journalists. The initial interrogations by the Ministry of Intelligence have now been completed and the casefile sent to the National Prosecutor General and Judiciary Spokesperson, Mohsen-Ejehi, in Tehran rather than being handled in Tabriz. Their families are concerned for their wellbeing. When attempting to secure lawyers for the two, authorities have said that the two men did not need legal representation.

Sajjad and Houtan Kian’s only ‘crime’ has been to defend Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and proclaim her innocence with facts and evidence. That their contact with Mina Ahadi is considered a crime is absurd given that Ahadi has been contacted by death row prisoners and their families and lawyers for many years now, including directly from prison. This is because of her many years of work against stoning and executions.

The International Committees against Stoning and Execution call on international bodies and the people of the world to come out in full force against the state-sponsored murder of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.  Ms Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian and the two German journalists must be immediately and unconditionally released. 

ACT NOW!

1. Contact government officials, MPs, MEPs, and the UN asking them to intervene urgently. Governments must immediately summon the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassadors and demand that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s execution be stopped and that she along with her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists be immediately released.

2. Send letters of condemnation to the Islamic regime of Iran right away:

Head of the Judiciary

Sadeqh Larijani

Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)

Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri

Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Email: info@dadiran.ir or via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx

First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address

Head of the Judiciary in East Azerbaijan Province

Malek-Ashtar Sharifi

Office of the Head of the Judiciary in Tabriz

East Azerbaijan, Iran

Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street

Tehran, Iran

Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)

http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)

Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights

Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Fax: +98 21 3390 4986

Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com

3. Please urgently donate to the Save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani campaign by making your cheque payable to ‘Count Me In – Iran’ and sending it to BM Box 6754, London WC1N 3XX, UK. You can also pay via Paypal (http://countmein-iran.com/donate.html).

For more information, contact:

Mina Ahadi, International Committee against Execution and International Committee against Stoning: minaahadi@aol.com; Tel: +49 (0) 1775692413, http://stopstonningnow.com, http://notonemoreexecution.org

Maryam Namazie, Iran Solidarity, iransolidaritynow@gmail.com, +44 7719166731, www.iransolidarity.org.uk, iransolidarity.blogspot.com

From Mission Free Iran:

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR SAKINEH ASHTIANI TONIGHT, Nov 2: Washington DC, 10pm, at Islamic Republic Offices In defiance of the Islamic Republic regime’s plan to execute Sakineh Ashtiani tomorrow, Mission Free Iran is holding a candlelight vigil for Sakineh Ashtiani outside the Islamic Republic’s offices tonight, November 2, 2010, at 10pm. Address: 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007

AIM Takes Part In Global '100 Cities Against Stoning' Events

On Saturday 28th August thousands of campaign groups, activists and ordinary people took to the streets of 111 different cities around the world to protest against the act of stoning, and call for the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and over 50 others currently being held awaiting their sentence of death by stoning.

Please read on for details of the actions taken by AIM members and a few of my favourite highlights from some of the other cities involved.

Glasgow, UK

AIM members AK47, Santa Maria, Lilith, Rainbow Castro and Olive Green plus approx 10 AIM supporters gather almost 500 signatures.

 

Niagara Falls, Canada

AIM member Coffy is invited to speak on behalf of The AIM at the rally.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

AIM member Mother Justice and a local activist take to the streets.

100 Cities Events Highlights

Iranian city of Rahsht takes part in event:

Sakineh's son live on phone to Washington DC protest:

Translation:

“Greetings to everyone who participated in my mom’s demonstration and those who have pictures of her in their hands. I want to say that we love you very much and I am thankful for your kindness and attention. The news that sometime ago was put out by the Human Rights Office of the Judiciary is an absolute lie, and we have noticed that my mom’s file has now been lost. The Islamic Republic has altered the file and they have entered Mr. Kian’s home (my mom’s lawyer) and all of the documents have been taken away, even his laptop and other belongings. And then they went to my mom and by beating her, forced her to say certain things. We want from the whole world to help us in this ordeal. All of those people who are supporting us in Iran, such as Mr. Kian, they are in danger. And once again, I thank everybody.” 

In Bradford, England a small protest takes place despite violent EDL protest and heavy police presence:

Glasgow resident Omar Ibrahim was so concerned that the racist and often violent
 EDL would be a poor reflection on what we wished to achieve on this day of action that he had a banner made for Sakineh and travelled to Bradford to demonstrate against stoning and against fascism. His event report is here.
Report from Omar Ibrahim, Bradford, UK
I was part of a small demonstration in Bradford today for the Free Sakineh campaign and against stoning as part of the 100 cities against stoning campaign. The problem was that policing measures on the day, due to an English Defence League (EDL) protest in the city that day.
800 members of the far-right EDL held a demonstration against militant Islam. The problem is their policy on human rights abuses in Islamic countries is that its fine. They believe the problem is the growing muslim population in the UK and they were proven wrong today.
 The EDL had their demonstration and fought police, local people and their own muslims but were ultimately ignorant of one thing that much of Bradford understood. That the stoning and torture of citizens by any state is wrong.
I was going to Bradford to protest the EDL but am a supporter of the campaign and felt it relevant to bring this up in Bradford at the anti-racist demonstrations. I talked to locals, especially muslim youth about the demonstrations and the case. Some knew of the case already and were supporters.
However, most were not willing to have a photo taken with the banner due to the tension in the city on the day. One man volunteered to have a picture taken holding the Free Sakineh banner that I had made in front of the police cordon that impeded our protest.
 We unfurled the banner to cheers and applause from the anti-racist demonstrators. Anti-racists and muslim youth in Bradford know about Sakineh's case.
The campaign against stoning has our support.

One man in Tres Pontas, Minas Gerais, Brazil organises events in 5 towns in his area:

In total 111 cities and towns completed over 114 actions in support of Sakineh and against stoning.

Thank you to ALL who were involved in organising, attending and acting on the protests.

AIM Takes Part in International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtaini Day

Friday night, well more Saturday early morning actually, saw me sitting on my living room floor cutting up cardboard packing boxes, applying tape, staples and poly pockets and doing lots and lots of printing. The end results were some homemade protest placards and signs of different sizes and alot of letters and petitions. I was pretty pleased with myself.

Saturday morning saw me carry these on the train to Edinburgh. 2pm saw Lilith and I standing at the bottom of the mound speaking to people about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and her pending sentence of death by stoning, and collecting signatures to have Iran removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The response we had was almost all positive and it made us both feel good that so many people passing by recognised the picture of Sakineh and were aware of her case. Worryingly a large number of people were under the impression she had been pardoned and was out of danger but we did everything we could to give out the most accurate and up to date information. We were approached by several different Iranian people who were visiting Edinburgh from their new home countries such as France and Canada. One female Iranian was almost in tears as she thanked us for what we were doing and told us that the help of international campaigns and governments did make a difference and was definitely needed. During the two and a half hours that we were there we spoke to the old, the young, men, women, even some children, blacks, whites, asians, orientals, locals, tourists, lawyers, students, the unemployed, gays, straights... almost all of whom cared.

We ran out of letters and petitions to be signed, and gave out a good number of AIM business cards to the many people who wanted to follow the case further. Of nearly 100 pieces of paper taken with us, be they letters to the PM, petitions to the UN or facts and information about Sakineh and the campaigns working to help her, they were all either signed or handed out. Some passersby even agreed to have their pictures taken holding a photograph of Sakineh to show their support of her and all those many others in her position.

So that was The AIM in Edinburgh, but we were not alone in the actions we took. All over the world people came out and showed their support of Sakineh on what the campaign to save her has named International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day. The AIM was represented at a protest in Toronto, Canada by member Coffy and his daughter Dee. Our One Law For All comrades took part in protests in London and we also heard that an AIM supporter and GRep member held a small protest with her friends in California. Most countries in Europe had rallies and protests as well as a number of cities in Canada, the US and Australia.

There is still a lot of work to be done if Sakineh is to be saved. At the moment her case is being reviewed and the decision has been put off for a further 20 days. Many, including myself, believe that this is in the hope that the eyes of the world will turn elsewhere and Iran can then stone her behind the closed doors they have until recently enjoyed. We cannot allow this to happen. The life of Sakineh and the safety of those in Iran supporting her are in danger until this is over. Her son and her lawyer have both been summoned to the ministry of justice for questioning and have been threatened with arrest. Sakineh herself has been interrogated inside the prison about who she has had contact with outside of Iran and in the media and about how her photo has been circulated around the world.

If you have not already done so please sign one or all of the many petitions online and write a letter to as many people as you can think of. Ask your local government representative to apply pressure in the right places, find and get involved with a campaign in your local area. Tell your friends and family about it and ask them to sign the petition. Consider printing a picture of Sakineh or a sign and take a photo or record a video message of support and post it online, or send it to me and I will add it to those I already have to be posted. Make a video, write a blog, draw a picture. Until it is over one way or another then I will not stop fighting for this woman's life, and for the lives of the many others that are, or in future may be, in her position. Please fight with me.

The campaign to save Sakineh and the protests held yesterday were covered by a number of online blogs and news sources including Iran Solidarity, BBC, CNN, StopStoningNow and many users via YouTube.