Women’s
Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
ACTION ALERT
Public Statement
CONTACT:
press@wfafi.org
August 18, 2009
Khamenei's Weapon Against Iranian Women: Rape and Execution
BOSTON, MA-
Recent news from Camp Ashraf indicates that Iraqi Security Force (ISF) have
threatened women of the camp with rape. During the recent
attacks on the camp, ISF assault on women
included verbal threats such as "we will massacre all the men" and "invade the
residence of women." Eyewitness audio and video recording during the attacks on
Camp Ashraf indicates several ISF men shouting in foul language and calling for
the "kidnapping and raping" women of Ashraf.
There is no doubt that the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al- Maliki, is dictating
the orders from Tehran to the Iraqi forces. He has become a full-fledged partner
in crime with Ahmadinejad serving Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In recent
days, Iran's former parliamentarian speaker has
revealed
how Ahmadinejad's security forces use rape as weapon of torture against the
political prisoners, both men and women.
Iran's fundamentalist regime is also planning to execute three women prisoners
in Section 7 of the nefarious Gohardasht prison in Karadj, west of Tehran. Two
have already served prison terms. Akram Mohammadi, 35, served 7 years and Ameneh
Abdollah-Zadeh, 50, served nearly 5 years in prison. According to other reports
from Iran, Ahmadinejad's regime has already executed three other women from the
same prison last week.
To silence the Iranian opposition, Ali Khamenei, known as the
King-Mullah-Dictator, is conducting his crimes against humanity through
Ahmadinejad at home and Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq.
Such shameful and inhumane conduct should not go unanswered by the international
community, particularly women's organizations.
WFAFI calls on civil societies, the UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against
Women as well as women and human rights organizations to speak out in defense of
Iranian women both in Iran and those in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. Both Tehran and
Baghdad regimes must be held accountable for their barbaric and inhumane
conducts.
WFAFI urges the US Government, EU States and the United Nations to
immediately consider the following actions:
1. Call on Tehran to immediately halt all executions and torture.
2. Call on Tehran to immediately release all political prisoners, especially
female prisoners;
3. Call on Baghdad to immediately release the 36 residents of Camp Ashraf who
have been taken hostage by the Iraqi forces and are facing extradition to Iran.
4. Call on Baghdad to immediately withdraw the Iraqi Security forces from Camp
Ashraf;
In order to resolve the alarming humanitarian situation at Camp Ashraf, WFAFI
urges:
1. The United States military to temporarily resume protection of Camp Ashraf as
mandated by Article 45 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
2. United Nations must dispatch and station a monitoring group at Camp Ashraf
until their final disposition is determined.
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