Press Release on the occasion of the anniversary of Iran's disputed elections

LONDON NGOS UNITE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAN

Unite for Iran is a week of events bringing together ARTICLE 19, Amnesty International UK, Exiled Writers Ink, Human Rights Watch, Prisoners of Conscience, One Million Signatures Campaign, the International Campaign Against Violence in Iran (ICAVI), and United4Iran to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Iran. The programme runs from June 10 – 18 in London.

[07/06/2010] – The current government of Iran has a horrific record of denying fundamental human and civil rights to its people. We believe that building a global mass movement will not only give strength to the people of Iran, but will also place pressure on the Iranian government to conform to international human rights and civil rights standards to which Iran is a signatory. The Events, which aim to highlight the plight of prisoners of conscience and human rights abuses in Iran, include:

- Thursday 10th and Saturday 12th June – A mobile billboard traveling around London to draw attention to Iranian prisoners of conscience (route to be announced).

- Monday 14th June – Screening of Jafar Panahi’s Film "Offside" at the Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA.

- Wednesday 16th June – "Iranian women: heroines or victims of transgression?" an evening of music, poetry, short films, analysis and debate hosted by Exiled Writers Ink, International Coalition Against Violence in Iran (ICAVI) and One Million Signature Campaign at the Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road London EC1R 3GA. View the flyer for this event

- Friday 18th June – Prisoners of Conscience Panel, featuring Iranian journalist and writer Masih Alinejad, author and women's rights activist Rouhi Shafii and Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Free Word Centre.

Internationally, over 60 cities worldwide will be taking part in various events on and around June 12th with the goal of bringing the world’s attention on the human and civil rights abuses in Iran, particularly as related to the cases of prisoners of conscience. For more information on London events please visit www.uniteforiran.org.uk for information on global activities please visit, http://12june.org.

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Further Information:

High resolution images available upon request

Editorial notes:

For more information on the events in London, please visit www.uniteforiran.org.uk.

For more information, interviews or images please Niloufar on niloufar@u4i.org.uk