Open Letter to Mr. Kofi Anan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Execution orders of Kobra Rahmanpoor, Fatemeh Haghighat-pajooh, Nazanin Fatehi and Shahla Jahed
Dear Mr. Anan,
The Organization for Women's Liberation is a well known organization in Iran and internationally. We defend
unconditional freedom and equality of men and women and have launched a massive campaign to save the lives of Kobra,
Fatemeh, Nazanin and Shahla. These women have been in jail for many years and are to be executed by the Islamic Republic
of Iran.
According to their lawyers, the women are in dire situation. They have been tortured and treated in the most horrible
way. Their trials have had no resemblance to any international norms of judiciary systems. Organization for Women's
Liberation has tried to ban capital punishment in Iran and save these women.
It is a well known fact that women under the rule of Islamic Republic of Iran suffer suppression and discrimination. The
above mentioned Women are victims of anti women policies, poverty, state violence and discrimination in Iran. We demand
a ban on capital punishment, and struggle for their release. Every one of them has been in prison for many years under
most horrible conditions. Their plight has attracted national and international attention. The majority of people in
Iran demand their release. Thousands have signed the petition to free them. On 24th September, a picket was organized by
the relatives of these 4 women outside United Nations office in Tehran. Human rights activists, women's rights
activists, and families of the political prisoners joined this picket.
The picket was attacked by armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result 30 protestors were arrested. So
far, we do not have any news of what happened to those arrested. Despite this brutal attack, father of Kobra Rahmanpoor
managed to hand over his letter to the UN officials.
Mr. Secretary-General,
We question your silence about these atrocities in Iran. How can you be silent about execution of people by the Islamic
Republic? The first expectation from you is to act to save these women. People of the world are against capital
punishment. The Organization for Women's Liberation urges you to immediately take action to stop execution of these
women in Iran. Time is precious. Less than 2 weeks is left to execution of our dear ones.
Mr. Secretary-General,
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a regime of torture and suppression. During the last two months, the Iranian regime
executed 17 people in different cities in Iran. We urge you to act to save the lives of these women.
Kind regards
Azar Majedi
Chairperson of Organization for Women's Liberation
ENDS