Tehran: Jail Time And The Lash For Delaram Ali

A Tehran appeals court has confirmed a sentence of two and half years in prison and 10 lashes in the case of Iranian women's rights activist Delaram Ali for participating in the June 12, 2006 womens' rights demonstration in Hafte Tir Square.

The demonstration was an inspiration to people around the world. The Tehran regime garnered worldwide condemnation when police attacked participants and beat Delaram severely at the scene, dragging her on the ground, causing her to suffer a broken arm. Several complaints were filed against police by Delaram and several other beating victims. The complaints were dismissed, and instead, the authorities prosecuted Delaram.

A student and a member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, Delaram is one of dozens of Iranian women who have recently found themselves facing jail terms for having the impudence to assert their democratic rights of non-violent protest in Iran. Yesterday, the mother of Ronak Safarzadeh, a One-Million-Signatures campaigner in Iranian Kurdistan, was beaten by police when when she went to ask about Ronak's condition. Ronak was arrested at her home three weeks ago.

Iranian women’s rights activists are specifically appealing to the international community to take swift action condemning the unjust ruling in the case of Delaram Ali. Please stay tuned to Kamangir.

UPDATE: An open letter from Delaram: What have you done to us? What have you done that has transformed the ring of the telephone into an alarm of danger? What have you done to transform the sound of the door bell into a fear of the repetition of nightmares of the past?