Human rights protest demonstration in Canada

From Mehran Sam sam@mshri.on.ca

To protest the savage practice of stoning, to demand the abolition of death penalty and the cancellation of all laws in Iran that contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , we will gather in front of the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa on Wednesday, January 21, 1998 from 8 AM to 6 PM.

This demonstration is not political in nature but all individuals and groups, whether political, social or cultural are invited to attend and add their voice and solidarity to all the neglected areas of human rights abuses in Iran.

We are asking for your support and participation. You can support Human Rights in Iran through this initiative in several ways:

1. Add your signature to the attached letter to be sent to the Iranian authorities and media.

2. Ask any social, cultural or political group that you are involved in to support the signature derive and the protest against stoning in Ottawa.

3. Distribute this notice, inform your friends, members and individuals in your community about this signature derive and the protest in Ottawa.

4. Participate in the protest on Wednesday January 21st in Ottawa.

We ask all media to announce this initiative in their newspaper, radio and TV programs. Our fellow Iranians need our support in the defence of their basic human rights. If one day we are in need of help from our fellow human beings, you can rest assured that similar initiatives will take place around the globe. Let the chain of caring and mutual support blossom and flourish among us.

Anti-Stoning/Pro Human Rights Protest

Wednesday, January 21, 1998, 8AM - 6PM

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 2K2 Canada

This is an activity supported, organized and participated by individuals, groups and organizations mentioned at the end of the following letter to President Khatami.

January 1, 1998

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr. Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Iran

Mr. President,

We the undersigned are writing to you to request an end to the cruel punishment of death by stoning, the abolition of death penalty in general, and the cancellation of all laws in Iran that contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We urge you to use the powers vested in you to bring about respect for the fundamental human rights. The practice of stoning is especially inhuman and unacceptable under any pretext or circumstances. This practice alongside many other legally accepted practices in Iran are indeed against the human dignity and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Iran is a signatory.

Each time we are informed of another stoning in Iran we feel the pain and suffering that our fellow human beings must have faced before their final demise. We hope this letter will bring to you a similar consciousness about the savagery of these executions.

In October 1997, three women and three men, Fataneh Danesh, Masomeh Aynee, Marziyeh Falah, Kheyrolah Javanmard, Ali Mokhtarpoor and Parviz Hasanzadeh charged with prostitution and engagement in sexual relations outside marriage were executed by stoning near the city of Sari in Northern Iran. Two months earlier, Zoleykhah Kadkhoda, of Kanirash village in Bukan, Western Iran, was charged with adultery and sentenced to immediate death by stoning. Due to mass protests by enraged local residents, the officials were forced to stop the stoning. The Iranian government has not clarified the fate of Kadkhoda who survived the ordeal and may still be at risk of a second stoning.

Mr. President, we will gather in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa on Wednesday Jan. 21 to voice our concern and raise public awareness about the Human Rights abuses in Iran. In this initiative, we as fellow human beings demand an end to the savage practice of stoning, and ask for the abolition of death penalty and the cancellation of all laws in Iran that contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We keep our watch and continue our struggle until the day in which the rule of civilized law and respect for human rights is in full effect in Iran.

Please uphold and strengthen respect for human beings and their rights in Iran.

Signatures

You may send your signatures of support and notice of participation by telephone, fax, regular mail or email to:

Ottawa Human Rights Protest
c/o: Mehran Sam
Iranian Community, Canadian Raelian Movement
P.O. Box 56, Station D
Toronto, ON M6P 3J5 Canada

Tel/Fax: 416-923-8546
Email: sam@mshri.on.ca

Groups

Iranian Human Rights Working Group
P.O. Box 5095
North Branch, NJ 08876 USA

Association des Femmes Iraniennes de Montreal (AFIM)
C.P. 354, Succ. H
Montreal, Quebec Canada, H3G 2L1

Iranian Community, Canadian Raelian Movement
P.O. Box 56, Station D
Toronto, ON M6P 3J5 Canada

Individuals

Mehran Sam, Biomedical Researcher, Toronto
Aresh Izadi, Business Owner, Toronto
Azita Sam, Student, Toronto
Darya Sam, Bank Teller, Toronto
Dr. Shodja Ziaian, University of Toronto

CC

The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamanei
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Iran

The Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr,
Tehran, Iran

The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Avenue
Tehran, Iran

Mr. Sa'id Raja'i Khorasani
Chairman of the Islamic Consultative Assembly's
Human Rights Committee
Imam Khomeini Avenue,
Tehran, Iran

Mr. Hussain Farahi
Secretary Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 13165-137
Tehran, Iran

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada K2P 2K2

Related links

* THE IRANIAN By The Way section
* Iran News
* Complete list of Iranian online media