Imprisoned Women’s Rights Activists in Iran Received the Global Women’s Rights Award

By Kiana Karimi

May 4, 2010 - Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) gave its 2010 Annual Global Women’s Right Award to five notable individuals or groups who have “distinguished themselves in service of global women’s rights.” Esha Momeni, Iranian-American women’s rights activist who has spent time in Iran’s Evin prison back in 2008, received the award on behalf of the imprisoned women’s rights activists in Iran who risk their lives and freedom in their fight for equality.

Women's Activists in Iran are under prosecution and persecution

Women’s rights activists in Iran are Under Prosecution and Persecutionhas been an immense concern for the international women’s rights and human rights community. Since the presidential election in June 2005, over 150 women’s rights activists have been arrested and imprisoned on baseless charges. Few cases to mention are Laleh Hassanpour, who was arrested and is under pressure to appear on national TV for false confession, Mahboobeh Karami, who is currently in prison for the fifth times, and Bahareh Hedayat who has been sentenced to 9 ½ years in prison, and there are many other activists behind bars for their work toward gender equality. Most of the imprisoned activists are held in unjust conditions; they are not being informed of the reason behind their detention, and have no access to lawyer, doctor, or contact with their families.

Global Women's Rights award: A message of solidarity

FMF is one of the recognized non-governmental feminist organizations in the United States which has been working toward women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence since 1987. For the last six years, FMF has awarded individuals who “against great odds and at great personal risk” have significantly contributed to advance the rights of women and girls around the world. Awarding the imprisoned women’s rights activists in Iran is a symbol of the International solidarity with the women’s activists in Iran and acknowledgement of their bravery and continual work toward gender equality despite the oppression and injustice of the government against them.

Momeni talked about her prison time in Evin

In her talk at the award ceremony, Momeni discussed the “invisible costs” of prison for activists. “The imprisonment is a visible cost…there are also many invisible costs that deeply affect the lives of activists,” Momeni said. “14 year old daughter of Sama Bahmani, human rights activist who was arrested 3 months ago, has been expelled from school because of her mother activities and is not accepted by any other schools,” she said.

Momeni also denounced the United Nation’s decision to give the Iranian government a seat in the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. “This is an insult to the women of the world… and it is despite the international awareness about violation of women’s rights in Iran,” Momeni stated.

Other Honorees of the Global Women’s Rights Award

Dolores Huerta, the highly recognized activist for her legal achievements in farm workers rights, women’s rights, and situation of U.S.-Mexican exploited women and immigrants was another honoree of this year’s award. In recent years, Huerta has raised awareness to the violent killings of young Mexican women in Mexico.

The other honoree of the award was Khaled Hosseini, author of acclaimed best-seller novels, “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” Both novels depict the tragic lives of Afghan women under Taliban rule. Hosseini also serves as a U.N. goodwill envoy for refugees.