PEN International #IWD2016 Campaign
“Our parents are old and cannot take care of him, so we are very worried about Bashir’s future.”
Human Rights Day 2014 – Human Rights 365
In the wake of WWII, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by nine people from around the world. On December 10, 1948, the the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eight nations abstained from the vote but none actively disagreed. Hernán Santa Cruz of Chile, a member of…
Human Rights at the United Nations: Iran
“We did not realise what smiles could do.”
“…We did not know as we tried to conjure calm, and still the cacophony with our silences, we did not know as we tried to reflect the charm of that bright place in our spotted selves, how much we could disturb, how much perturb those extinguished hearts – It’s true.…
To Fariba Kamalabadi
“O my companion in the cage! How many cruelties we saw together, how many favours too and blessings in our isolation… In the end we will forget these pangs of separation for they’ll be …
Illusory Distinctions
“…Blame creates boundaries between us, don’t you see? It’s an old game played by sun and moon and earth – of rivalry; a taut game of power which has chequered all our lives, an endless game repeating repeating revolutions round the skies. But I don’t want to take part in…
Nasrin Sotoudeh and Mahvash Sabet
Sakharov prize winner and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh served three years of a six year prison sentence for defending victims of human rights violations in Iran. She was released in 2013 but has never stopped advocating for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Iran including Mahvash Sabet and…
Stories About Mahvash
“This is not the first time Mahvash has been imprisoned for being a Baha’i. In 2005, on the day of her daughter’s wedding, six unexpected guests arrived early, knocking at their door around 6:30 a.m to arrest Mahvash. They were officers of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, and they came bearing a…
The Case Against Mahvash Sabet
In May 2013, a group of independent United Nations experts reiterated its call on Iranian authorities for the immediate release of seven Baha’i community leaders. “The Iranian Government should demonstrate its commitment to freedom of religion by immediately and unconditionally releasing these prisoners of conscience,” the Special Rapporteur on the situation…
Lonely Prisoner
“…You have barely enough clothes to wear, or a warm dress, leave alone the will to notice me. What can I do, what dare I offer you – a poor captive who can never make you free?” What recourse is there, after all, but to shed tears for you, gathering…
In Prison With Mahvash Sabet
“Fariba and Mahvash were two of the women prisoners I met in Evin who inspired me the most. They showed me what it means to be selfless, to care more about one’s community and beliefs than about oneself.” Roxana Saberi In over six years imprisonment, as well as sharing a…