Repeal House Arrest of Green Movement Leaders in IRAN

Honorable United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon:

With sin­cere gra­ti­tude and hopes for your suc­cess in advan­cing peace, the cause of human rights, and glo­bal secu­rity, we the signa­to­ries of this let­ter are reques­ting your imme­diate atten­tion to an import­ant huma­ni­ta­rian and civil rights mat­ter. As you are aware, the Iranian nation is ent­an­g­led in a struggle with a regime that has no regard for human rights, free­dom of expres­sion, free­dom of assem­bly, non-violent methods of pro­test and while showing their con­tempt for these uni­ver­sal values, has vio­la­ted even its own laws. Consequently, we are directly appealing to your Excellency, the Secretary General of an orga­niza­tion that sym­bo­li­zes the con­sci­ence of the glo­bal com­mu­nity, for help. You are also aware that in the post pre­si­den­tial elec­tions’ peace­ful pro­tests in 2009, in which mil­li­ons par­ti­ci­pa­ted, the Iranian govern­ment resor­ted to harsh means such as clo­sing down press out­lets, arrests, impri­son­ment, tor­ture, and kil­ling of the pro­tes­ters. The scope of these crack­downs has led to the house arrests and impe­dance of the poli­ti­cal activi­ties of the Green Movement’s lea­dership, Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi (for­mer Prime Minister), Mr. Mehdi Karoubi (for­mer Speaker of the Parliament) and Ms. Zahra Rahnavard (University Chancellor, University Professor and a Women’s Right Activist); all in the after­math of the Feb. 14, 2011 pro­tests in which hund­reds of thousands of Iranians par­ti­ci­pa­ted. Currently, the regime has resor­ted to instal­ling phy­si­cal steel bars at the resi­den­ces of these lea­ders and cut off all their con­ta­cts inclu­ding phone and inter­net, which has lead to the outrage of the Iranian people and cau­sed con­cern for the safety of these Movement figu­res. The activi­ties of the Green Movement have always been non-violent and its lea­dership is com­mit­ted to working wit­hin the frame­work of the Iranian con­sti­tu­tion. Yet, the forces per­pe­tra­ting the crack­down through acts of vio­lence, attempt to crush the move­ment and threa­ten the lives of its lea­ders. Hence, we are pro­foundly con­cer­ned for their con­di­tion and hold the Iranian aut­ho­ri­ties responsi­ble for their lives and safety. We also demand an imme­diate end to their house arrest and the res­to­ra­tion of their civil liber­ties for poli­ti­cal and social activi­ties. We, the signa­to­ries, are gra­te­ful for your com­mit­ment to human rights in Iran during your tenure and hope that you will use all the means of your office and inter­na­tio­nal diplo­macy to end the house arrests of these Movement lea­ders as well as res­to­ra­tion of their civil rights to con­duct legal activi­ties and prevent their poten­tial phy­si­cal harm. Respectfully Yours, Signatories:

Sign peti­tion here