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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Women and Theocracy

Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Time: 18:00 – 19:30
Location: ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41, Stockholm, Sweden

Maryam Namazie and Kajsa Klein will be speaking on “Women under theocracy: A discussion,” focusing on the oppression of women living under religious regimes. The event is sponsored by Independent World Report in collaboration with Swedish PEN Centre and ABF Stockholm.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Maryam on BBC The World on Sharia law in Britian

To hear my interview on Sharia arbitration in Britain on BBC The World on 15 March 2010, click here.

Of course the BBC has made me a Muslim and also cut out the bit where I said sharia courts are on the rise like the burqa is on the rise because of the political Islamic movement ... but what else can we expect from the BBC.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010

Iranian activist detained and in danger of imminent deportation to Iran

Hambastegi - International Federation of Iranian Refugees(IFIR)
Press Release

12 March 2010

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) has set up the Free Jamal! 2010 campaign to save the Iranian activist Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) from deportation to Iran.

IFIR today urged the Japanese government to release Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) immediately and to revoke his deportation order.

Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) is a 42-year-old, Iranian born, activist who is a public and outspoken opponent of the theocratic regime in Iran. In 1990 he moved to Japan and since 1992 he has been active in opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran publicly. His political activities and promotion of human rights had brought him to the attention of the Islamic Republic’s authorities. Thus Mr Saberi applied for political asylum in Japan in May 2001 which was refused in May 2002. IFIR was informed by Mr Saberi’s lawyer that he was arrested and detained by the Japanese Immigration Authorities on 4th March 2010 with the intention of deporting him to Iran.

Abdolah Assadi, Executive Director of IFIR said in a statement: ‘We are trying our best to rally the public opinion against the Japanese government and its blatant violation of Jamal’s human rights. We, therefore, hereby declare that as far as we are concerned the Japanese government will be responsible for any harm that, we have no doubt, will jeopardize Jamal Saberi’s life and/or safety.’

The Free Jamal! campaign has organised a day of lobbying Japanese embassies and consulates around the world for Monday, March 15. Its automated online service has already been used by over 400 people to send a letter of protest to the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the UNHCR representation in Japan. In addition several hundred people have sent protest letters to Japanese embassies and consulates across the world.

Free Jamal! campaign organiser Patty Debonitas said today: ‘It’s unbelievable that after having seen what happens to opponents inside Iran anyone would even consider returning someone like Mr Saberi, with his very public profile of opposition, to Iran. People across the world were able to witness the human rights abuses by the Islamic Republic, particularly over the last ten months. I wonder how the Japanese authorities can think it in any way safe or justifiable to return Mr Saberi to Iran. This would no doubt mean certain threat to his life and safety.’

The Free Jamal! campaign has set three goals for its campaign. It wants to get Mr Saberi out of detention immediately and get his deportation order revoked. Patty Debonitas: ‘The next step will be helping him obtaining and leading a normal life. Mr Saberi has been in Japan for twenty years and has applied for asylum 9 years ago. It is time he can feel safe and protected by granting him refugee status.’
------------------------------------------------
Note to Editors:
1) IFIR is an international non-governmental organization with over 42-branches in 16 countries worldwide which advocates promoting and protecting the rights of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers; provides evidentiary support through its Documentation Center; and provides referrals for services.

Contact Free Jamal! Campaign:
Patty Debonitas, London UK
Mobile: +44 (0) 7507978745
Email: freejamalcampaign@gmail.com
Blog: freejamal.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Warning to the Japanese Government - Do not deport Jamal

By: Farshad Hoseini

Mr. Jamal Saberi was arrested by Japanese immigration authorities in 2010, 03, 04 and now in risks to be deported to Iran. He is a tireless activist against the IRI for the last 18 years and has been intensively active for the last two decades by being interviews and posting tens of and anti-IRI articles in the union workers and progressive media in Japan. The refusal of Jamal’s application for political asylum is not really limited to his personal case but rather, as reflected by Japanese media, as a political scandal devolving the fishy ties behind coulisses between Japanese authorities and the IRI.

While the IRI insists in his deportation to Iran, the Japanese government has shown green light by suspending Jamal’s refugee demand. Jamal’s case shows the hypocrisy, double character, and violation of human dignity in democracy systems. In this light, the Human Rights value seems rather marketing - trick in an attempt to better sell Japanese goods around the world. This implicitly shows that this is the market which determines the so-called Human rights engagement of such systems in case of accepting or refusing political refugees -- or even detaining or, worst, deporting another asylum seeker. A secret and invisible economic hand seems being active beyond the rule of offer-demand while plotting how to handle with opponents of the totalitarian IRI.

The refusal of jamal’s political asylum, who is a well known Iranian political activist in Japan, seems a complaisance from Japan toward a corrupt and illegitimate regime which on the verge of collapse, a regime hated by an increasing majority of people in Iran. Regarding Jamal’s well known activities his deportation will highly risk a persecution by IRI authorities because of his both political opinion and activities. For millions of the oppressed people of Iran, this complaisance would mean a shameful shake- hand and even dirty security collaboration between Japan and the criminal IRI whose hands are bloodied with torturing, raping, and killing of our people.

We are concerned and thus will lead the popular indignation of our oppressed people against the Japanese collaborators. The Japanese government, like any other one in the world, must know that any violation to IRI opposition activists will face worldwide protests. We do not allow Japanese or any government bargain for their own life of Iranian opponents around the world. We remind Japanese government that if someone is illegal in Japan, this will be the IRI representatives, the ones who do not represent Iranian people, and the ones who must be detained and brought before an international court for their crimes against Iranian people. No Iranian asylum seeker, who opposes such a regime, should be arrested, mistreated, and deported to Iran. Jamals, who during his detainee has been helping other asylum seekers, and his likes, are harmless and human-loving activists. They defend democracy, social justice, human rights values, and a humanitarian system of government in Iran.

Jamal must be immediately released. The Japanese government is expected to apologies Iranian people for arrest and mistreating of jamal. Jamal’s demand of political refugee, also other asylum seekers, must be accepted.

Please sign this petition to support Jamal and other Iranians whose demands of political refugees have been irrelevantly refused.

http://hambastegi.ruzeroshan.com/jamalS

10 March 2010

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Save activist Jamal Saberi from deportation to Iran

Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) was arrested on Thursday 4 March 2010 by the Japanese Immigration Bureau in Tokyo with the intention of deporting him to Iran.

Mr. Jamal Saberi is a well known political opponent of the Islamic Republic of Iran and has been politically active for the last 18 years in Japan. His lengthy political activities with the Worker-communist Party of Iran, and against the Islamic regime of Iran have come to the notice of Iranian authorities and he applied for refugee status to the Japanese Minister of Justice on May 10, 2001.

The fate of opponents of the regime has been well documented over the last 30 years and has gained international focus in the last 10 months: Imprisonment, widespread use of torture, rape, show trials, executions. The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be a major abuser of human rights with no evidence of improvement.

Mr. Saberi has a well-founded fear of persecution based on his political opinion and political activities. His life and freedom would be in imminent danger if he were to be deported to Iran.

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees calls for the immediate release of Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) and he must be granted refugee status.

We have set up an online appeal that will send your letter of protest straight to the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the UNHCR representation in Japan.

You can sign it here: http://hambastegi.ruzeroshan.com/jamalS


We must act quickly to save Jamal from deportation!

We call on all individuals and organisations to help save Jamal Saberi from deportation to Iran where his life and liberty are in danger.

You can also write to the Japanese embassy in the country where you live, a list with contact details is here:

http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html


We have included a sample letter at the end of this email. Please send your appeal immediately.


For further information, contact Farshad Hoseini Tel:0031 613940534 or E-mail farshadhoseini@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network IFIR
Postbus 1312
5602BH Eindhoven,
Netherlands
http://www.hambastegi.org

IFIR is an international non-governmental organization with over 42-branches in 16 countries worldwide which advocates promoting and protecting the rights of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers;provides evidentiary support through its Documentation Center;and provides referrals for services.

We have also included the Japanese Ministry of Justice and UNHCR contact details here:

Ministry of Justice
Address: 1-1-1 Kasumigaseki,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8977
Phone: +81-3-3580-4111
e-mail: webmaster@moj.go.jp

UNHCR Representation in Japan
UN House 6th Floor
5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Tel +81-3-3499-2011/2310
FAX+81-3-3499-2272
UNHCR Representation in Japan
Protection Unit
Tel 03-3499-2075
Mail jpntopu@unhcr.org




SAMPLE LETTER

RE: Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei)

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my strongest concern over the fate of Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) who is currently detained by the Japanese Immigration Bureau and is going to be deported to Iran from Japan. Jamal Saberi is a political opponent which will face serious persecution if deported to Iran.

I urge the Japanese Immigration Authorities to immediately release him and cancel his deportation order. I also urge the UNHCR and the Japanese Immigration Ministry to grant him refugee recognition.

I am awaiting your immediate intervention in this life-threatening situation. Needless to say, the UNHCR and the Japanese government will be held accountable for Jamal Saberi's life and freedom.

Signed
Name
Organization

CC: farshadhoseini@yahoo.com

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Maryam quoted in today's Sunday Herald Scotland

To see the article entitled Scots Lawyers lead way with Sharia advice, Sunday Herald Scotland, 7 March 2010, click here.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

IWD Events Reminder: 8 March Seminar on Sharia Law and 6 March solidarity action with women’s rights movement in Iran

One Law for All is holding a seminar on Sharia Law in Britain for International Women’s Day. The seminar will be held on Monday 8 March 2010 at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL from 1830-2030hours.

The seminar aims to bring together campaigners, lawyers, and experts to discuss ways in which Sharia courts can be prohibited in Britain. It will make recommendations and lay out the legislative and legal avenues available to help bring about equal rights for all. Speakers at the event are: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (British Muslims for Secular Democracy); Yassi Atasheen (One Law for All); Clara Connolly (Women Against Fundamentalism); David Green (Civitas); Denis MacShane (MP); Rony Miah (Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Lawyers’ Secular Society); Maryam Namazie (One Law for All); Pragna Patel (Southall Black Sisters); Yasmin Rahman (Women Against Fundamentalism); and Joan Smith (Writer and Activist).

Tickets for the seminar are £10; £3 students/low income.

To register for the seminar, please send in a completed booking form by email before March 7. You can download the booking form here:
http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/8-march-2010-london/. You can also register from 1800pm onwards at the event. Please arrive by 1800 for registration and refreshments.

One Law for All would also like to invite you to join an event organised by Iran Solidarity, Equal Rights Now and others on Saturday 6 March 2010 at the Northern Terrace of London’s Trafalgar Square from 1200-1400hours to show solidarity with the women’s rights movement in Iran. You can find out more about the event here: http://iransolidarity.blogspot.com/.

For more information on any of the above events, please contact:
Maryam Namazie
One Law for All
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
onelawforall@gmail.com
www.onelawforall.org.uk

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Maryam Namazie's interview on 8 March on New Jersey's FM Progressive Radio Show

New Jersey's Only FM Progressive Radio Show returns. This week Bob analyzes last Thursday's Health Care Summit...

30 minutes into the show, In our main interview, journalist, activist and correspondant, Eddie Goldman speaks with one of the most noted rights activists in the world, Maryam Namazie.

Originally from Iran but now based in London, Maryam Namazie is a rights activist, and commentator and broadcaster on Iran, rights, cultural relativism, secularism, religion, political Islam, and other related topics. She is spokesperson for Iran Solidarity, Equal Rights Now, the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain, and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, along with being active in numerous other organizations.

We discuss the upcoming activities that One Law for All will be having to celebrate International Women's Day. There will be a solidarity action in London on Saturday, March 6, organized by Equal Rights Now and Iran Solidarity, to show solidarity with the women's rights movement in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran has imposed a system on women in that country that has been called sexual apartheid, similar to the racial apartheid which existed in South Africa for many decades. There will also be a seminar organized by One Law for All, and involving numerous other organizations, on Sharia Law in Britain, held March 8, which is International Women's Day.

The historic mass struggle to overthrow the brutal Islamic Republic regime in Iran is continuing to grow, and we discuss its prospects for victory. We also explain what those in the U.S. who support it can do to assist it.

Click here to listen to this great show.

Please make sure to support grassroots progressive radio. Follow Bob on Twitter. Visit the website, pass this show along, post this show, send it to radio stations, or do whatever you can to help.
http://twitter.com/Bobcarsonmma
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Email: carsonscorner@gmail.com