Protests in Iran Continue – Global Activism Increasing United4Iran, July 20, 2009 – “We deplore the violence and crackdown on peaceful protesters, the increasing restrictions on civil liberties, and the imprisonment of a growing number of civil leaders in Iran.” Archbishop Destmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1984 “If one country sincerely wants to support democracy in another country that is under dictatorial rule, the only thing to do is to support the freedom fighters who stand for the democratic institutions of that country. Done this way, the sapling of democracy will bear the flower of freedom.” Shirin Ebadi, Iranian human rights activist, Nobel Peace Laureate, 2003 “The Iranian leadership is violating the country’s own commitments to international human rights treaties, as well as contravening Iran’s own laws.” Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1976 “We call for the release of all political prisoners, the secession of violence against protesters, and respect for human rights and civil liberties in Iran.” Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1997 The two most prominent living Iranian poets, Ismael Khoie, and Simin Behbahani, who lives in Tehran, have joined the Global Day of Action. Dariush, socially conscious singer and Iranian cultural icon, will perform at the Washington D.C. United4Iran rally. Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Mairead Maguire and Jody Williams are available for interviews. In over 55 cities around the world solidarity rallies are planned in support of civil and human rights for the Iranian people and for an end to the violence. Check www.united4Iran.org for a full list of participating cities and supporting organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, FIDH, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Nobel Women’s Initiative and Peacejam
