Saturday, July 08, 2006

Iran's Ebadi Calls for Release of Political Prisoners

Yahoo News:
The Iranian human rights group headed by Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi demanded the "unconditional" release of all political prisoners, despite official denials that such a category of detainee exists.

"The Defenders of Human Rights Center, like before, demands the unconditional release of all political prisoners including students, political and human rights activists, writers, reporters, laborers," the group said in a statement.

The group also called for the release of people detained in recent ethnic unrest in Iran's ethnic Azeri, Kurdish, Arab and Baluch areas. The statement was issued to mark the anniversary of student unrest in Tehran in 1999.

But Iran's judiciary denies anyone is being held on political charges. Dissidents and opposition figures are usually convicted of disturbing public opinion, engaging in anti-regime activities or espionage.
Better late than never, Shirin.