Statement by Mehrangiz Kar - June 25, 2002 Page 1 of 2
Statement by Mehrangiz Kar
Press Conference of PEN Canada and PEN American Center, Toronto, June
25, 2002
I spent the spring of 2000 in prison. My accusation was: why were you critical of the
legal system of Iran in an international conference with the foreign correspondents
present, saying their legal system was intolerant of freedom? Why did you rip
through the heavy veil of centuries, and why were you unfettered in expressing your
thoughts?
I had said in that meeting: “ Iran cannot be able to make itself compatible with the
world requirement in the third millennium within the framework of the present
constitution and under the domination of misogynous lifestyles.” I had further
added: “Aifier 21 years of violations of human rights, Iran has no choice other than
accepting reforms.'
Those in Iran today “passing judgment” on others could not tolerate this
forthrightness in a woman who had been writing for 33 years. They called my
peaceful talk an obvious case of criminal behavior. It was according to the verdict of
these judges that I stepped into the solitary confinement. When the door of the cell
was closed behind me, I thought I had lost my contact forever with a world that
stood at the threshold of the third millennium.
I underwent inquisition for hours on end in the spring of 2000. I was tried at the age
of 57 for an article I had written when I was 24, when I had criticized gender
limitations and prejudices imposed on women. I was released on heavy bail.
Sick and tired, I returned to my family and my professional life. I soon realized that
those “passing judgment” in Iran today were not ready to tolerate my feminine
consciousness in the realm of thinking, and they were determined to break the
female conscience, which had achieved even better awareness through the
experience of prison and inquisition. This is what they did. When they could not
stand world pressure, the struggle of all PEN Centers, the press and other media,
and when they were forced into permitting me to leave Iran to continue treatment
abroad, they outwitted themselves by another trick. They didn't want that female
conscience that had slipped through their grips and once more could write and
speak of freedom, to return to her natural and cultural life, resuming activity in her
own country.
When I was hospitalized in the United States, I heard the news that my seventy-one
year old husband had been abducted and taken to an unknown prison. This was
eight months ago. His legal case is shrouded in ambiguity. However, one thing is
quite clear:
“Siamak Pourzand is physically and spiritually in a bad shape. He has been tortured
and confessions have been extracted from him against his will. He is under physical
and psychological pressure now to agree to a television interview, making
allegations against himself and against others. They have destroyed his identity.
SPOOl 95
org/freedomJpressre1Istatement.htm 5/7/04
Statement by Mehiangiz Kar - June 25, 2002 Page 2 of 2
Consequently, they have destroyed my chances of returning to Iran and resuming
cultural activities which are my natural rights. They have opened these two cases,
with one aim in mind: the silencing of a family in which the wife has tried to defend
the rights of women living under oppression, by using every opporlunity to break the
silence of these women, and by writing and reporting about their conditions. And
she has done this for 33 years as a writer and journalist, and for 20 years as
attorney of law. To silence me, they have trapped my husband, the father of my
children. But they have made a mistake. The struggle for the promotion of the
situation of women to the human standard they deserve more than ever, will go on.
Women will no longer tolerate silence and oppression.
Mehrangiz Kar, June 25, 2002
https://pen.org/freedomlpressreL/statement.htm 5/7/04
writers enpri SOfl COMvflU&3C
tt HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO.
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Please cut and paste IIis letter onto your personal or institutional letterhead
requesting that Siamak Pourzand be released and mail to His Excellency
Hojjatoleslam Sayed Motjammad Khatami (postage $1 25)
Urgent Appeal: Siamak Pourzand
Date
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam Sayed Mohammad Khatami
President of the Islamic Republic of lran
do The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Excellency,
PEN Canada, the Canadian centre of the worldwide writers' organisation,
International PEN, calls for the immediate release of 72 year-old journalist, film
critic and PEN Canada honorary member Siamak Pourzand, who is serving
eleven years in prison.
Pourzand was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment on charges of
“undermining state security through his links with monarchists and counter-
revolutionaries” on May 3 2002 by the Tehran Press Court. lt is widely believed
that the charges against him are based on ‘confessions' which are thought to
have been exacted under duress. In May his family reported that he had
suffered a heart attack in prison. Pourzand has been dependent on medication
for a serious heart complaint and has reportedly not been allowed to receive this
medication from his family throughout his imprisonment.
PEN Canada considers the charges against Siamak Pourzand to be in
violation of his right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has
ratified. We are extremely concerned about reports that Pourzand may be
under intense pressure to confess to the charges against him. We are also
gravely concerned for Pourzand's health and urge that he receive all
necessary medical treatment immediately. We urge the authorities to
release him from prison immediately and unconditionally on humanitarian
treatment he requires, including transfer to a hospital if needed.
We urge the authorities to respond to these concerns.
Your Name
PEN Canada member
JOURNALIST AND FILM CRITIC
Arrested on November 24, 2001 and held for more
than three months without charges and without any p o e
information about his whereabouts being released.
Later charged with espionage and threatening national
security. Sentenced on May 3, 2002 to 11 years in prison.
Pourzand may have been coerced into confessing to the
charges against him. The 73-year-old journalist is the
husband of Honorary Member Mehrangiz Kar, and
suffers from diabetes and heart problems.
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