Iran’s presidential election amid unrest and ongoing human rights violations
Amnesty International
08-Jun-2009 (2 comments)

Iran’s presidential election on 12 June, will take place against a backdrop of discrimination, worsening repression of dissent and violent unrest.  In the run-up to its tenth presidential election from which women candidates have been barred, the country has witnessed the arbitrary arrest and harassment of activists and members of minority communities, censorship, armed attacks and suicide bombings.  Amnesty International has welcomed the commitments made by some electoral candidates during their campaigns to address the issue of women's rights and the problems of ethnic minorities and the poor. "The ongoing efforts of women’s rights activists have forced the issue of women's rights into the debate, sometimes at the cost of their freedom," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Programme Director at Amnesty International. "All candidates should heed their calls for equality and make ending discrimination a priority."

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Paymaneh Amiri

Let's not forget about human rights in Iran

by Paymaneh Amiri on

The news focus on Iranian elections seems to have dimmed the spotlight on Iran's current cases of human rights violation.  Furthermore, the elections fever and demonstrations have rendered brand new cases of arrests and mistreatment of ordinary individuals.  Whoever is elected in the upcoming elections will not be too directly involved with the Iranian Judiciary's gross and systematic violation of prisoners' rights.  A new president, however, can ease the pressure on censorship and "case building" against students, activists, and people of conscience.

There is no doubt that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's tenure has been one in which a very bad human rights record has been set.  Let's hope he gets ousted and a message is sent to the Supreme Leader that Iranians are fed up with the lack of justice and constant abuses on their rights, among other economic and foreign policy concerns.



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Parham

Thank you...

by Parham on

... so very much for posting this.