Esha Momeni

Esha Momeni (born c. 1980, Los Angeles) is an Iranian-American women rights activist and a member of One Million Signatures campaign.[1]

While working on her master thesis in Iran, she was arrested in October and November 2008, and subsequently prevented from leaving Iran. She is a citizen of both Iran and the USA.

Background

The Momeni family went back to live in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution, but, as an adult, Esha returned to the United States to study. As a graduate student of the School of Communications, Media and Arts at California State University, Northridge campus, Momeni traveled to Iran in August 2008 to visit her family members and to work on a master's degree. This involved making a documentary film about the women's rights movement in Iran, and she conducted interviews (in accordance with Iranian laws) with members of the One Million Signatures Campaign in Tehran as part of her California-based studies.[2]

Arrest and detention

Esha Momeni was arrested on 15 October 2008 for unlawfully passing another vehicle while driving in Tehran.[3] She was then held at the notorious Evin Prison. Prominent Iranian lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah represented her, although prison authorities illegally prevented him from visiting her there. He quoted officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Court as saying her detention related to involvement in the One Million Signatures "Change for Equality" campaign launched by women in Iran in September 2006.[4] California State University professor Nayereh Tohidi has also been associated with the campaign.

Momeni was released in November 2008 on a $200,000 bail after three weeks in prison, but was not allowed to leave Iran.[5][6][7] She was released and returned to Los Angeles 11 August 2009.

Charges

The law of Iran does not require a permit to make video recordings in private homes. The “One Million Signatures Campaign” is considered a non-political organization. It is legal in Iran to advocate against discriminatory laws through peaceful means. According to Iranian lawyer, Nasrin Sotoodeh, “Criticizing the law is not illegal in any part of the world, including Iran.”[8]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the United Nations that Iranian citizens have the right to express themselves freely. However, many members of the One Million Signatures Campaign have been arrested for “propaganda against the state.” US-Iranians Kian Tajbakhsh, Haleh Esfandiari, and Ali Shakeri were imprisoned on these grounds.[9] Amnesty International, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (run by OMCT and FIDH) believe Esha’s arrest is part of a systematic plan to discourage women activists from exercising their rights for equality.[8] The Presidency of the European Union described her detention as a "violation of human rights."[10]

An official Iranian spokesperson, Alireza Jamshidi, said that Esha was charged with “acting against national security.”[8]

Honors

Esha Momeni was on 1 May 2009 honored in her absence with the Kappa Tau Alpha Outstanding Service Award at CSU Northridge.[11]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Hashem Kalantari and Fredrik Dahl (2008-11-04). "Iran holds student living in U.S. on security charges". Reuters via Iran Focus. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  3. ↑ "U.S. student arrested in Tehran while working on thesis project". CNN. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  4. ↑ Ali Akbar Dareini (2008-10-25). "Lawyer Says Iran Should Release Arrested American". ABC News (Associated Press). Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  5. ↑ Scott Simon (2009-04-25). "Birthday Wishes For Imprisoned Journalist Saberi". Weekend Edition (NPR). Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  6. ↑ Melissa Wall (2009-01-18). "Statement from Esha Momeni's thesis adviser, Melissa Wall". Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  7. ↑ Haleh Bakhash (2009-03-25). "Commentary: Graduate student Esha Momeni is still being detained in Iran". Honolulu Advertiser, via California State University Northridge News Clippings Service. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Esha Momeni: CSUN Graduate Student Arrested". Evil Monito. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  9. ↑ Anthony Faiola and Robin Wright (2007-09-25). "Ahmadinejad's Day One in New York: A Hostile Reception, a Rambling Talk". The Washington post. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  10. ↑ "Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the repeated violations of human rights in Iran". European Union. 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  11. ↑ "The acceptance letter written by Esha Momeni". 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-07-09.