We strongly condemn the closure of the Centre of the Defenders of Human Rights in Iran!

This year, People around the world are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the publication of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as the highest achievement of man.

The Centre of the Defenders of Human Rights in Iran also decided to commemorate this day alongside the international institutions.

However, , to talk about the Human Rights in Iran is a crime and to defend human rights entails punishment. The activists and supporters of Human Rights are arrested, tortured and disappeared in certain cases.

In the press release of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) is written:

“On the 21st of December 2008, the secret police entered the headquarters of the centre of the Defenders of Human Rights, the only non-governmental organisation for human rights and a member of the FIDH in Iran, by force and without legal warrant and, sealed the centre.

What is written in the universal Charter to justify such actions?

Don't we have the right to talk about and defend the freedom of speech, religion, personal opinion, press, political parties, art & literature, learning & research, gender equality, the right to form trade unions and the right to speak in your mother tongue in the 21st century?

The centre for the defenders of Human Rights is set up by Shirin Ebadi- the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and a few human rights lawyers in Tehran. The building of the centre is purchased by the money Mrs. Ebadi received as her Nobel Prize in 2003.

The Iranian government attacks the centre regardless the fact that the activities of the centre are lawful. The centre follows three humane and grand objectives in its constitution that are also mentioned in their letter protesting the closure of the centre.

“The centre of the defenders of Human Rights has three main duties according to its constitution,
1.free legal representation for prisoners of conscience and political prisoners
2.supporting families of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners
3.regular and continuous report on abuse of Human rights in Iran “

Many International organisations are referring to the above centre reports following the fact that no visa is issued for any of the Human Rights reporters of the United Nation during the last two years. Ban-gi-Moon, the general secretary of the UN, refers to the report of the centre in his presentation to the general assembly in December 2008 that voted new sanctions against Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Iranian Government is responsible for the closure of the centre for the defenders of Human Rights and the abuse of the activists and supporters of Human rights in Iran. We demand the reopening of the centre and immunity for all the members against any further abuse.

We, the signatories of this letter including individuals, groups, organisations and political parties fully support the activists of the centre of the defenders of Human Rights and strongly condemn any abuse against them especially Mrs. Shirin Ebadi. We also regard the actions of the Iranian government who is a signatory of the UN conventions inhumane and unacceptable.

We are asking the Iranian authorities who issued the order for sealing the centre, to allow the reopening of the centre and breaking the seal as soon as possible.

This letter is written in Persian, English, French, Dutch, Turkish, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Arabic, Russian and Azeri.

The collected signatures will be sent to the following organisations every week until the reopening of the centre:

1.The United Nations
2.Amnesty International
3.The President of the European Parliament
4.Human rights department in the European Parliament
5.The Members of the European Parliament
6.All recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize
7.All democratic parties and Iranian oppositions
8.Association of Iranian writers
9.International medias

Note: If you wish to sign this petition, please use your real name and surname and, write them fully. Pseudo-names will be deleted from the list.

Written By:
A – The Organisations:
Amnesty International (Francophone) - Belgium,
Federation Europerse - Belgium,
Foundation Abdolrahman Broumand,
International Federation of Leagues of Human Rights (FIDH),
League of Human Rights in Iran (exiled in France).

B- The Personality:

1.Abghari Shahla, Professor, Life University, USA,
2.Abghari Siavash, Professorof Business Administration, Morehouse College, USA,
3.Aghelizadeh Abbas, Republicain, Human Rights activist – Germany,
4.Allamehzadeh Reza, Film-director, Writer -Netherlands,
5.Amjadi Nastaran, Women’s Movement and Human Rights activist - Germany,
6.Araz M. Fanni, Coordinator for Forum Human Rights and democracy & Coordinator for Federation of Iranian Associations in Sweden,
7.Aryanpour Amir-Houshang, writer and researcher, Member of Iranian National Planning Group (INPG) - USA,
8.Ashouri Dariush, writer, political, social, literary and linguistic critic – France,
9.Bekaert Philipp, philosophe and activist Republican and laïc in Belgium,
10.Beizaie Niloufar, Director, actress and political activist- Germany,
11.Choubineh Bahram, Writer - Germany,
12.Coeurnelle Didier, Belgian Green Party (ECOLO) representative in central council of European Green Parties – Belgium,
13.Darvishpour Mehrdad, Professor of sociology, University of Stockholm - Sweden,
14.Degati Reza, Photojournalist, "President & Founder Ainaworld.org"- France,
15.Feyzi Shahab, Human Rights activist – Sweden,
16.Fincan Tural, member of the Belgian Green Party ( ECOLO) - Belgium,
17.Frank Emile, Amnesty International – Belgium,
18.Geerts Nadia, One of the founders of the Europress, philosophe and activist Republican and laïc in Belgium,
19.Ghasemi Akhgtar, journalist and photographer – Germany,
20.GilAvaei,Responsible for the section of DDH EUROPERSE and Poet & writer in exile - Netherlands,
21.Gubin Eliane, Professor Emeritus, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Belgium,
22.IDJADI Jalal, University professor and member of the Green Party – France,
23.Lahidji Abdel-Karim, Director of the Human Rights League in Iran – France,
24.Mamedova
 Tarana, Co - Chairman 
of the Greens' Party of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
25.Mir Sattari Anwar, member of the European Green Party and president of the Federation Europerse,
26.Mohseny Parvine, Gender equality activist and the vice-chair of EUROPERSE, Belgium,
27.Nadjie Nima, Human Rights activist - Sweden,
28.Nayeb Hashem Hassan, Human Rights activist – Austrian,
29.Ohadi Saeid, Human Rights activist – Sweden,
30.Ordoukhani Abolfazl, Writer, Belgium,
31.Parsipur Shahrnush, writer and ex-political prisoner – USA,
32.Pour-Naghavi Ali, Editor of « Kar-online » publication – Netherlands,
33.Puissant Jean, Professor Emeritus, “Université Libre de Bruxelles” - Belgium,
34.Shams Haeri Hadi, Human Rights activist,
35.Taghipoor Masoomeh, Director, actress, poet & researcher – Sweden.