Delaram Ali to Receive Lashings and Serve Prison Term of 2 Years 6 Months

Sunday 4 November 2007

Change for Equality: November 4, 2007: In an unprecedented and unexpected development Delaram Ali was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months and 10 lashing in appeals court. Delaram Ali was tried originally on 29 May 2007 for her participation in the June 12, 2006 protest in support of women’s rights in Hafte Tir Square which was violently broken up by police. Delaram was beaten severely during this protest, dragged on the ground by several police officers and subsequently arrested (see picture above). She suffered a broken arm as a result of these severe beatings. Complaints were filed against police for use of excessive force and violence during the protest, by a number of women including Delaram. Last month though the judiciary found the police innocent in the case, and instead has now upheld a substantial portion of Delaram’s original sentence through an appeals court ruling.

In her original trial Delaram was sentenced to 2 years and ten months prison term and 20 lashings, which was reduced to 2 years and 6 months and ten lashings in a ruling issued by the appeals court announced this morning. The courts have contacted Delaram in regards to implementing her sentence by the end of the week.

Iranian women’s rights defenders appeal to the national and international community to take swift action condemning the unjust ruling of the court in the case of Delaram Ali.

Lamenting a Dream

Friday 2 November 2007 

By: Delaram Ali*

Translated by: Sussan Tahmasebi

These days it seems that our writings have been transformed into lamentations, for an elegy which you have created for us—lamentations for Zeinab, Nahid, Mahboubeh, Bahareh, Amir and now for Ronak.

What have you done to us? What have you done that has transformed the ring of the telephone into an alarm of danger? What have you done to transform the sound of the door bell into a fear of the repetition of nightmares of the past?

My Brother, do you know that these days I have a dream. I dream that a few of us have gathered in a small park, I am not sure where, and we are engaged in conversation so that perhaps we can convince one of the passersby to sign our petition. The guard at the park approaches us, and when he reaches us he offers us tea. When I wake the lamentation remains, but has been transformed into a dream. The truth is that this time a young woman is imprisoned, someone who lives in another city, her words are warm and sweet and without reservation, and her accent is colored by resistance. Her mother says that they have stormed and searched their home. She says that these days she has heard only ill words from you. She says that you have taken the signatures that Ronak had in their home. Thank you. I hope that you will receive your due reward in this effort.

The reward is great, remember not to settle for less than its worth. For each of the signatu