[WSIS CS-Plenary] Memo on Iran

[Renata Bloem]

CONGO MEMORANDUM

 

 

FROM:            Renata Bloem, President

 

DATE:            18 November 2004

 

RE:                  Situation of Civil Society in Iran

 

 

 

We have received a number of concerned communications from WSIS colleagues
that we have worked with over the past two years on the increasingly
alarming situation in Iran for civil society.  

 

Reportedly the environment for civil society in Iran is becoming more and
more tense and tenuous due to hardliners with the current government.  In
particular, groups and individuals that have used ICTs as part of their
activist and journalist activities have been detained and harassed last
month, according to the BBC[1], Human Rights Watch[2]  and Amnesty
International[3]. 

 

The reports note that Mr. Omid Memarian has recently been arrested at the
offices of the Iran Civil Society Training and Research Centre, an
accredited and active NGO in the WSIS process, in particular for his NGO
activities.  Our other colleagues associated with the ICSTRC report that
they too have been subject to investigation by government authorities, and
they fear that they will not be able to participate in future meetings of
the WSIS.

 

We attach great importance to the participation of all civil society,
including Iranian civil society, in the WSIS, and urge governments to
respect their right to participate in this multi-stakeholder process.

 

 

[1] “Iran cracks down on blog protests,” BBC, 13 November 2004,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3740336.stm

[1] “Iran: Web Writers Purge Underway - Arrests Designed to Silence NGO
Activist,” Human Rights Watch alert, 4 November 2004,
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/08/iran9631.htm

[1] “Iran: Civil society activists and human rights defenders under attack”
Amnesty International alert. 11 October 2004,
http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE130452004

 

Renate Bloem
President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mil: rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website: www.ngocongo.org

 

 

 

The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association
that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the
presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United
Nations agencies on issues of global concern.  For more information see our
website at www.ngocongo.org

 


Reminder: CONGO Postal Address Has Changed


We will soon be unable to receive mail at our old address at the Palais des
Nations in Geneva.  So please make sure to update your records with CONGO's
new Geneva office postal address: CP 50, 1211 Genéve 20, Switzerland.  Our
physical office address is 11, Avenue De La Paix, 1st Floor, 1202 Genéve,
Switzerland.

 


  _____  

[1] “Iran cracks down on blog protests,” BBC, 13 November 2004,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3740336.stm

[2] “Iran: Web Writers Purge Underway - Arrests Designed to Silence NGO
Activist,” Human Rights Watch alert, 4 November 2004,
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/08/iran9631.htm

[3] “Iran: Civil society activists and human rights defenders under attack”
Amnesty International alert. 11 October 2004,
http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE130452004

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