Iranian authorities step up pressure on women rights activits

She has not been charged with any offence, and is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty Inernational and several International organizations have expessed concern about her well being.

According to the site "Change for Equality", another member of the Campaign for Equality, Parastoo Alahyaari’s home was searched the security officers on Saturday October 18, 2008, and her laptop, CDs, books, picture albums and Campaign materials in her possession were seized. She was also presented with a summons to appear in court immediately. The security officials escorted Parastoo Alahyaari to the Revolutionary Courts, where she was interrogated by Mr. Sobhani the investigative judge in charge of her case.

The same site reported about Sussan Tahmasebi, another women’s rights defender and member of the campaign, whose passport was seized at the airport, on October 18, while she was about to leave Iran.

Upon her return to her home, she was met with 5 security agents at her door, who presented her with a court order to search her home. The security officials, while filming the home, seized a number of CDs, books, writings, texts addressing peacebuilding, cassette tapes and a Laptop. The security officials also presented a summons to Tahmasebi, which requires that she present herself to Security Branch of the Revolutionary Courts.

She told in an interview with the site "Change for Equality": “This is the fourth time that security officials have prevented me from traveling under different pretenses. Despite my repeated inquiries I was provided with no information on the reason for their action and the case on which I am being called to the Revolutionary Courts.”

She was interrogated for several hours yesterday.

It is believed that these actions are parts of the Iranian authority’s campaign to shut down the civil rights movments in Iran.

Several women’r rights defenders and members of the "Campaign for Equality" have been arrested in the past years.

Two women, Ronak Safarzadeh and Hana Abdi, remain detained in the city of Sanandaj, Kurdestan province , while a third woman, Zeynab Beyezidi is imprisoned in Mahabad in connection with their activities on behalf of the Campaign for Equality.