The Iranian Government has arrested more than 16 women journalists and human rights activists in its most recent crackdown on protesters, activists and the political opposition. The Nobel Women’s Initiative is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these women, including Mansoureh Shojaee, a founder of the One Million Signatures Campaign, and Dr. Noushin Ebadi, Shirin Ebadi’s sister.

Sentencing of the detainees will soon begin, and it is expected that some of the more than 100 individuals arrested will be tried as enemies of God, and sentenced to death. Others face prolonged imprisonment, torture and further harassment. Security forces have refused to release the charges and detention location of many of the detainees to the media – or even the prisoners’ own families.

This latest wave of arrests and violence followed peaceful protests taking place on the Shiite Muslim holy day of Ashura, a day meant to represent justice, on December 27. It marks an escalation of the harassment and targeting of female activists demanding equality under Iranian law.

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Iran reformist Mehdi Karroubi’s car ‘fired on’, BBC World News, 8 January 2010.

Five charged over Ashura protests as long list of prominent detainees emerges, Los Angeles Times, 7 January 2010.

Detained protesters in Iran could face execution, The Toronto Star, 7 January 2010.

Steady drip of leaks corrodes the core of the Iranian regime, The New York Times, 6 January 2010.

Visit the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.