Send e-letters highlighting the case of Rozita Vasseghi, jailed for her Baha'i faith

Background
Rozita Vasseghi, is a Baha’i prisoner detained in a Mashhad prison who is, according to her sister, in poor health. Rozita was arrested in 2005 and imprisoned for nearly 27 days. Rozita’s seventy-year-old mother, who has witnessed the ongoing persecution of her family, bailed out her daughter by leveraging their home. Rozita was released from prison, and while awaiting her court hearing, endured several home invasions and episodes of property confiscation. Rozita was summoned, with several other members of the Baha’i community, in January 2010 to hear the court’s decision on their fates. Rozita received a 5 year prison term and banned from leaving Iran for 10 years. Despite an appeal, she was taken into custody again in March 2010. Detained in solitary confinement, her health is said to be deteriorating rapidly. The Baha'i community routinely faces systematic oppression and discrimination by the IRI, including denial of education and government jobs, home raids, arbitrary detention, cemetery desecration, and much more. We encourage all to send e-letters highlighting the case of Rozita.

Directions
The letter is below. If you choose to add a personal message to the e-letter, please keep it polite, human-rights focused, and without rhetoric. To the right of the e- letter page are the various recipients of the e-mail you send -- this way you don't have to send a letter multiple times (one click will send your message to all of the listed embassies, consulates, interest sections, IRI authorities, and UN officials). Below the letter are personal fields to fill out. Enter as much information as you feel comfortable. A VALID e-mail address is required; however, if you don't feel comfortable sharing your e-mail, consider making an e-mail account just to use for actions like this. (You will receive a confirmation e-mail that your letter has been sent).

If you have any questions or trouble with the letter, feel free to e-mail us at info@united4iran.org

Subject:

Your Letter:

Your Excellency,

As stated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, religious freedom is a major cornerstone of democracy. Unfortunately, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) continues to systematically harass members of the Baha'i community. There are currently 51 Baha’is in detention throughout Iran.

One of these unjustly jailed members of the Baha'i community includes 43-year-old Rozita Vasseghi, who remains detained in a Mashhad prison, and is, according to her sister, in poor health. Her time in solitary confinement has further contributed to the deterioration of her health, and currently, Rozita is in need of medical care.

She has lost a great deal of weight, suffers from low blood pressure, chronic pain, and eye problems. We plead that you and your colleagues work to ensure Rozita receives adequate medical care, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The politically motivated charges brought against Rozita included "teaching against the regime, taking action against national security and illegal dissemination of CDs, teaching the Bahá’í Faith, and insulting religious sanctities." In January 2010, as a result of these baseless, discriminatory charges, Rozita received a 5 year prison term and was banned from leaving Iran for 10 years. Despite an appeal, she was taken into custody again in March 2010.

With the integrity of international human rights community at stake, I plead that you and your colleagues use your influence to bring about the fair treatment and release of Rozita Vasseghi and all of Iran's other prisoners of conscience.

I plead that you and your colleagues use every mechanism at your disposal to highlight the gross human & civil rights violations systematically employed by the Islamic Republic.

Please, do everything you can to demand that the IRI adheres to its international human rights obligations, releases Rozita Vasseghi and all other prisoners of conscience, and respects the rights to religious freedom and human dignity.

Yours Faithfully,

William Hague

United Kingdom

Beatriz Lorenzo

Spain - Human Rights Office

Michael Spindelegger

Austria

Steven Vanackere

Belgium

Jan Kohout

Czech Republic

Alain Juppe

France

Guido Westerwelle

Germany

Peter Balazs

Hungary

Michael Martin

Ireland

Franco Frattini

Italy

Jean Asselborn

Luxembourg

Samuel Zbogar

Slovenia

Carl Bildt

Sweden

Micheline Calmy-Rey

Switzerland

Dilma Rousseff

President - Brazil

Stephen Harper

Canada - Prime Minister

David Cameron

Prime Minister

GB

Navanethem Pillay

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Kathy Stewart

US Bureau of Democracy & Human Rights

S. M Krishna

India

Lawrence Cannon

Canada - Minister of Foreign Affairs

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