[WSIS CS-Plenary] Memo on Iran

[Robert Guerra]

I share Renate's concern for our colleagues in Iran.

I hope contact can be re-established and that we try to stay in touch 
with them. I will forward this unfortunate news to other networks 
that i know.

regards

Robert


At 5:36 PM +0100 11/21/04, Renata Bloem wrote:
>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: <mailto:rbloem at ngocongo.org>rbloem at ngocongo.org
>Website: <http://www.ngocongo.org>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 
><http://www.ngocongo.org>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
><#_ftnref2>[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
><#_ftnref3>[3] "Iran: Civil society activists and human rights 
>defenders under attack" Amnesty International alert. 11 October 
>2004, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE130452004


-- 
###
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Privaterra - <http://www.privaterra.org>
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