“For women human rights defenders, standing up for human rights and the victims of human rights abuses - be they migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers or political activists, or simply people unwillingly relegated to the margins of society, such as ex-offenders and members of sexual minorities - can result in intimidation, harassment, unfair dismissal, death threats, torture and ill-treatment, and even death”
- Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders

WLP uses Human Rights Alerts to focus urgent attention on the arrests of women’s human rights defenders and rally timely support for landmark campaigns on women’s rights.

In particular, we highlight challenges faced by our partner organizations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, many of whom are subject to surveillance, harassment, arrest, and organizational closure because of their work to advance women’s rights.

Alert History

Nasim Sarabandi, Campaign and Student Activist Summoned to Revolutionary Courts

July 27, 2010

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Change for Equality: Nasim Sarabandi, women’s and student rights activist has been summoned to investigative branch 4 of the Revolutionary Courts. According to StudentNews website, in October 2009 Nasim Sarabandi had been arrested and transferred to one of the offices of the Ministry of Intelligence along with 17 other members of the Tehran Council of the student organization the Office to Foster Unity. In the past months, including in February 2010 and June 2010, officers of the Ministry of Intelligence had contacted this student and women’s rights activist, threatening her and demanding that she resign her position within the Office to Foster Unity and to discontinue her student activism.

Other student rights activists have faced even greater pressure. Bahareh Hedayat and Milad Asadi have been in detention for several months and the courts have issued heavy sentences in their cases, 9.5 and 7 years respectively. Despite the fact that they have been in prison, the courts have banned both from travel abroad. It should also be noted that during 2009, the members of the Central Council of the Office to Foster Unity, including Bahareh Hedayat, Mehdi Arabshahi, Abbas Hakimzadeh, Milad Asadi, Morteza Semyari, and Amin Nazari had been arrested by security forces on several occasions. Additionally, security officials have not allowed this student organization to convene meetings or to hold elections.

It is worth mentioning that as a result of pressures endured in prison, student activist Mehdi Arabshahi endured a heart attack and was released as a result. He was admitted again to hospital on the 21st of July as a result of related complications.

Student and Women’s Rights Activist Bahareh Hedayat to Serve 9 and Half Years in Prison

July 27, 2010

Change for Equality: Student and women’s rights activist Bahareh Hedayat’s nine and half year prison sentence has been upheld in appeal. The sentence was submitted to her lawyer on Saturday July 24.

July 08, 2010

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Thank you for your support and interest in my temporary departure from Kyrgyzstan.

July 8, 2010 Update: Tolekan Ismailova's Statement to Supporters

July 1, 2010

Following news earlier this week that WLP Partner Tolekan Ismailova and human rights defender Aziza Abdirasulova were called for questioning by authorities in Osh, WLP learned today that Ismailova is receiving additional threats from criminal factions in the south of the country.

We join our colleagues at Human Rights Center, “Citizens Against Corruption” in voicing renewed concern for Ismailova’s safety.

We will post additional information as soon as it becomes available.

June 29, 2010
http://www.learningpartnership.org//en/advocacy/alerts/kyrgyzstan-security-0629

Local news sources are reporting that Tolekan Ismailova of WLP Kyrgyzstan, Human Rights Center "Citizens Against Corruption" has been called in for questioning by prosecutors in Osh. This is an alarming development given the June 15 arrest of human rights defender Azimzhan Askarov on false charges for conducting similar research and documentation on the human rights crisis in Jalal-Abad.

Tolekan Ismailova of WLP’s partner in Kyrgyzstan, Human Rights Center "Citizens against Corruption" (CAC) is currently in the conflict zone in southern Kyrgyzstan with a group of human rights defenders, journalists, and Ombudsman representatives visiting local communities, providing humanitarian aid, and working to mediate ethnic tensions.

Arbitrary arrests of human rights activists continue following post-electoral protests nationwide

July 30, 2009

Tolekan Ismailova has been arrested in Kyrgyzstan during peaceful demonstrations in Bishkek on July 30th. Ms. Ismailova was among four human rights activists arrested while calling on the government to release 87 individuals protesting the contested July 23rd presidential elections.

The arbitrary arrests, part of a government crackdown on civil gatherings in the Kyrgyz Republic, are largely at odds with the Kyrgyz Constitution—which guarantees freedom of assembly and peaceful meetings. Many of those detained have been subjected to physical abuse while imprisoned, and allegations of torture have been lodged against authorities.

Tolekan Ismailova is the Director of the Human Rights Center “Citizens Against Corruption” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. WLP joins her call for the immediate release of those detained following the elections of July 23rd and calls on the Kyrgyz Government to uphold its citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

"Citizens Against Corruption" activists arrested during July 25 Global Day of Action for Iran
July 27, 2009

Several of our colleagues from WLP Kyrgyzstan/Human Rights Center "Citizens Against Corruption" (CAC) were arrested on Saturday as they peacefully assembled for the July 25 Global Day of Action for Iran. Tolekan Ismailova, Aida Baijumanova, and Diana Makembaeva were among eight activists who were detained by authorities and subsequently issued fines for their actions. WLP condemns this unconstitutional action, which follows threats of prosecution against CAC last week for the organization's position in support of a free and transparent presidential election, and we remain concerned about the ongoing clampdowns and harassment of all civil society activists in Kyrgyzstan.

October 22, 2008

WLP colleagues from the Autonomous Women’s Movement (MAM) in Nicaragua have called our attention to the government’s raid and seizure of documents and computers from their offices on October 10th. The raid of MAM’s offices as well as the Centre for Investigation and Communication (CINCO) offices are another step of President Daniel Ortega’s government's campaign against civil society organizations, particularly feminists, who have been outspoken critics of his government.

September 1, 2008

A new proposed Family Protection Bill has been returned to the judiciary commission of the Iranian parliament as a result of backlash against the bill’s most discriminatory provisions. The bill was on the verge of consideration by the full parliament, and if ratified would further erode women’s rights in Iran.

August 7, 2008

WLP Partner in Mauritania, L'Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille (AFCF) strongly condemns the coup d’état that took place in Mauritania on Wednesday August 6, 2008 in contempt of the democratic choices expressed by the people of Mauritania after a long period of dictatorship and instability.

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Human Rights Alerts

Alert History

Nasim Sarabandi, Campaign and Student Activist Summoned to Revolutionary Courts

Student and Women’s Rights Activist Bahareh Hedayat to Serve 9 and Half Years in Prison

Tolekan Ismailova's Statement to Supporters

Kyrgyzstan: Government Must Ensure Security of Human Rights Activists

Urgent Alert: Zeynab Jalalian in Danger of Execution

Violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan: Updates from the Field

Urgent Alert: Iranian Activist Shiva Nazar Ahari Faces Trial Amidst Recent Unjust Sentences, Executions

WLP Partner and Human Rights Activist Tolekan Ismailova Arrested in Kyrgyzstan

Civil Society Crackdown in Nicaragua

Facing strong opposition, Iranian government backs down on discriminatory "Family Protection Bill"

WLP Partner in Mauritania, AFCF, Condemns the Coup d’état and Calls for Restoration of Constitutional Government in Mauritania