By zohra moosa | 6 January 2009, 21:32

Following, Roja’s two posts on the raid and closure of Shirin Ebadi’s organization - Defenders of Human Rights Center - in late December on Feministing’s community site (here and here), just a quick note to update via the Women’s Learning Partnership:

The situation of Nobel peace laureate and human rights defender Shirin Ebadi grows increasingly critical. Over the last two weeks the organization she heads, Defenders of Human Rights Center, was shut down, false accusations of tax evasion were made against her in the media, her private law offices were raided and confidential case files seized, and on January 1st a mob of 150 demonstrated in front of her house in an orchestrated attempt to connect her to the Israeli actions in Gaza. Protestors began kicking the door to her home and vandalized the exterior of her property in an attempt to further intimidate her.

A coalition of over 80 organizations and activists are calling on the Iranian government to cease its actions against Ebadi, and guarantee her safety and access to civil and political rights. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also issued a statement of concern.

Find out more, see who’s part of the coalition already, and add your voice to the campaign via this page.

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Cross-posted on Feministing community site