The reality of hardcore Muslim regimes as exist in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and now the Sultanate of Brunei. Mainstream Media in NZ mentioned the last because celebrities like George Clooney and Elton John did, but they won’t mention the first two.
She’ll get 148 lashes on her body, and spend nearly 4 decades in prison. This is the awful punishment Nasrin Sotoudeh will face for peacefully advocating for women’s rights in Iran.
It’s hard to even imagine the pain and suffering this brave woman will face, but our voices can help shine a light on this horror and help free Nasrin and others like her.
Nasrin was invited to advise the G7 on legislation to protect women, but was locked up when the meeting took place. If we ramp up pressure now, we can get those rich countries to call for the release of Nasrin — and others like her — using their diplomatic and economic leverage to end the global crackdown on women.
This could be big — women’s rights abusing governments like Iran and Saudi Arabia are desperate for trade with G7 countries like France and Germany, so their pressure will go a long way. Add your name now ahead of a key meeting — Avaaz will work with Nasrin’s G7 colleagues to deliver our call directly inside the room!
Nasrin has done what other lawyers would never dare. She’s represented several women who were arrested after protesting the forced hijab law in Iran, journalists, high-profile rights activists, and even juveniles facing the death penalty.
Now her body will be whipped for it. And she’ll be silenced for decades to come, just for standing up for what she believes in.
It’s not just Iran. In Saudi Arabia, Loujain al-Hathloul, another brave women’s rights activist, is in jail and has faced torture just for wanting to drive! But both Iran and Saudi rely on their relationships with the richest countries on Earth — which is why pressure from G7 nations is so key to ending this crackdown.
If we can build enough pressure, we can get the G7 to call for Nasrin’s release when they meet, and push them to commit to raising this in every meeting they have with countries that are cracking down on women. This could be an end to impunity for women’s rights abusers — so let’s make it happen! Add your name and share this widely!
Iran could easily get away with this horrific sentencing of Nasrin. But this is what our community was built for! We helped save Sakineh Ashtiani 6 years ago when Iran was gearing up to stone her to death for adultery. We can do it again. And this time not just help save Nasrin but set precedent for stronger respect for human rights around the world for years to come.
With hope and determination,
Rewan, Bert, Mélanie, Ricken, Muriel, Rosa, and the entire Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:-
Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh jailed ‘for 38 years’ in Iran (The Guardian)
Amnesty: Sentencing of Iran lawyer Sotoudeh ‘outrageous’ (Al Jazeera)
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Iran human rights lawyer jailed for 38 years, say family (BBC)
EU Foreign and Defence Ministry Condemns Conviction of Nasrin Sotoudeh (Center for Human Rights in Iran)
Feminist foreign policy op ed by Jean Yves le Drian and Marlene Schiappa 08-03 – 8 March 2019 (France diplomatie)
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