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Activist for Women’s Rights Sentenced in Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Amir Yaghoub-Ali, a 22 year old student, to a one year prison term this week. Ali was convicted for petitioning for the One Million Signatures Campaign for women’s rights, according to the Associated Press.

The One Million Signatures Campaign is part of Change for Equality’s program for revising Iranian law to eliminate discrimination against women. Ali’s lawyer, Nasrin Sotoodeh, stated that Ali was found guilty “of actions against national security through the spreading of propaganda against the state,” according a Change for Equality press release. Sotoodeh plans to appeal the ruling.

Reuters reports that Iran has arrested dozens of activists associated with this campaign, which was launched in 2006. A leader of the One Million Signatures Campaign told the Associated Press that “This is a policy of intimidation by the authorities.”

Sources:

Reuters 6/2/08, AP 6/2/08, Al Arabiya 6/2/08. Change for Equality 6/2/08

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