Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi led a demonstration outside the UN headquarters in Geneva on Monday on behalf of an imprisoned colleague.
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Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, called for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been hospitalised after going on hunger strike.
Sotoudeh was arrested on September 4 and was held in isolation in Tehran’s Evin prison. She started her hunger strike on December 4, and was taken to hospital five days ago.
“The reason for her imprisonment is her defence of human rights,” Ebadi told journalists, explaining that she had defended political leaders and activists arrested after the presidential elections of June 2009, which sparked huge demonstrations against alleged irregularities.
“We are worried for her life. We are here so that the world may know that a person is dying because she defends human rights in Iran,” Ebadi said.
Officially the charges against her are for propaganda against the state and for damaging national security.
Supporters of Sotoudeh want the United Nations and the High Commission for Human Rights to intervene with the Iranian authorities on her behalf.
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Swiss express concern over situation in Iran
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She reiterated that freedom of expression must be maintained and urged Tehran to investigate complaints about alleged irregularities in the June 12 presidential elections. Calmy-Rey said Switzerland had notified the Iranian authorities of its position through diplomatic channels, but given the situation the foreign ministry had to tread carefully. “We don’t want to endanger the…
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The lawyer and human rights campaigner was in Geneva on Monday taking part in a panel discussion on human rights abuses in Iran. Shirin Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work on human rights and democracy, said she disagreed with Calmy-Rey’s conduct during her visit. She has spoken out on…
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According to the official results of the Iranian presidential elections, incumbant president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected on Friday June 12 with 63 per cent of the vote, well ahead of moderate candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi. Discontented Moussavi supporters took to the streets when the results were announced.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.