[WSIS CS-Plenary] Closure of ICTRC Office in Tehran - Letter for support open for signature

[Parminder]

Hi Philippe

 

 

IT for Change supports the letter.

 

However, though this does not affect our support, a bit of editing may add
great value to the document. Especially please consider replacing

 

 

We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to maintain the respect of
their peers throughout the international community by honoring the
commitments they have frequently and freely made in this regard, by
abandoning further actions against ICTRC and allowing the activities to
proceed.

 

with

 

We therefore call upon the Iranian authorities to honor their commitments
made in various international forums, including at WSIS, with regard to
freedom of expression and the rights and roles of civil society, by allowing
ICTRC to carry on its lawful activities, and  abandoning any further actions
against them, while rescinding all earlier actions that  prevent it from
carry on its lawful activities. 

 

I must repeat that if it is difficult to make these changes because of any
reason, our supports stand even for the present version of the letter. 

 

Parminder 

 

 

________________________________________________

Parminder Jeet Singh

IT for Change, Bangalore

Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities 

Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890

Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055

 <http://www.itforchange.net/> www.ITforChange.net 

  _____  

From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf
Of CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:23 PM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org; bureau at wsis-cs.org; governance at lists.cpsr.org
Cc: rbloem at ngocongo.org; 'CONGO - Philippe Dam'
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Closure of ICTRC Office in Tehran - Letter for
support open for signature
Importance: High

 

Dear all, 

 

A couple of months ago, I forwarded an e-mail received from our WSIS
colleague Mr. Sohrab Razzaghi, announcing that the office of the NGO he is
the Executive Director of was closed and sealed by the Revolutionary Court
without any legal justification or accusations. Apparently the situation has
not evolved and that the staff was prevented to work. 

 

This is of particular concern for all of us because the focal points for
West Asia and the Middle East within the Civil Society Bureau during the
WSIS preparatory phase were member of the ICTRC. 

 

A group of NGOs have drafted a support letter regretting the closure of the
ICTRC office and asking for clarification to the Iranian Authorities. 

You are invited to consider signing this support letter. I particularly
encourage all formerly CSB members to look into it, in support for our
partners during the WSIS process.

 

I'll be happy to forward your signatures to the coordinators of this
initiative.

All the best, 

 

Philippe

Philippe Dam
CONGO - WSIS CS Secretariat 
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mail:  <mailto:wsis at ngocongo.org> wsis at ngocongo.org
Website:  <blocked::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 www.ngocongo.org <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org/> 

 

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