Human Rights Activists Prevented from Leaving Iran, Tunisia

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

LONDON, United Kingdom – On December 11, Amnesty International released a report that discussed the arrests of human rights activists trying to travel abroad on December 10.

In Tehran, Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was prevented from boarding a flight to Italy, where she was going to receive an award.  Sotoudeh has worked on several women’s rights cases, and she defended a 16-year-old boy who was sentenced to death.   Sotoudeh said that she was preparing to board the flight when her named was announced over the public announcement system and three plain clothes men approached her.    She said that her passport was taken with no explanation, and she was informed that she had 72 hours to present herself at an address in Tehran. According to Sotoudeh, “There was no legal written order. What they did was illegal.”  Sotoudeh’s husband and children were allowed to board the flight and her husband will be receiving the award on her behalf. 

According to Amnesty International, Iran’s actions are part of a continuing policy.  In March, women’s rights activist and journalist, Parvin Ardalan was stopped an the airport in Tehran while boarding a flight to Sweden where she was to receive an award.  In October, women’s rights activist Sussan Tahmasebi was stopped trying to board a plane to South Africa, where she was to attend a conference.

In Tunis, journalist, Lotfi Hidouri was detained by Tunisian authorities when he tried to board a flight to Beirut.  Hidouri writes for the independent online news magazine Kalima. His wife told media sources that she received a call informing her that Hidouri had been taken to the Bouchacha detention center outside Tunis.  He was taken before the prosecutor on December 11. Moments before Hidouri was detained, authorities arrested Mohammad Abbou, a human rights lawyer and writer, who was also boarding the plane to Beirut. 

Both Hidouri and Abbou were going to Beirut for the Third Arab Free Press Forum.  They were to take part in a special forum about the increasing censorship and harassment that Tunisian journalists face.  According to Abbou, Hidouri was detained for failure to pay a fine dating back to 2002.  As for Abbou, he was conditionally released from prison in July 2007 and was prevented from boarding the plane on grounds that he lacked sufficient documentation stating that he was not subject to parole restrictions.  Abbou has been stopped five times in the last year, while attempting to travel. 

In its report, Amnesty International (AI) calls on Iran and Tunisia to lift the travel bans.  AI urged the governments of these states to remember their obligations and dedication to Human Rights, especially in light of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10.

For more information, please see:

ANSA – Teheran, Impedito Viaggio in Italia Avvocatessa Iraniana [Tehran, Prevents Iranian Lawyer from Traveling to Italy – 12 December 2008 [In Italian]

Menassat – Tunisia: Two Participants to Beirut Free Press Forum Stopped at Airport – 12 December 2008

The Post (Pakistan) – Iran Bars Woman Rights Activist from Leaving – 12 December 2008

Reporters Without Borders – Journalist and Human Rights Lawyer Prevented from Attending Arab Media Forum in Beirut – 12 December 2008

Amnesty International – Human Rights Defenders Barred from Leaving Iran, Tunisia – 11 December 2008

Reuters – Rights Activists Says Barred from Leaving Iran – 11 December 2008

Author: Impunity Watch Archive