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Iran: Women's Rights Activist Dies at Father’s Funeral

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Iran, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Women & Gender

Haleh Sahabi, an Iranian women's rights activist died [1] yesterday morning as a result of rough treatment by security agents during the funeral of her father, Ezatollah Sahabi [2], a veteran patriotic political leader.

Haleh was leading the procession with flowers and a picture of her father when plain-clothed agents charged forward and tried to tear away the picture. Eye-witnesses said the security agents used batons and that she collapsed and died on the way to hospital.

Ezzatollah and Haleh Sahabi

Ezzatollah and Haleh Sahabi

Her untimely death made headlines in several news sites [3]. The photos of Haleh and her father (above), lifeless body and films of mourners made their way through Facebook [4] and blogs.

Iranian blogger Zede Kodeta (Anti Coup d'Etat)encourages [5] [fa] people to go to the rooftops and chant anti regime slogans, in order to protest against what happened to Haleh.

Another blogger Artenoos writes [6] [fa]:

Haleh was a 56 year-old women's rights activist and a Koran researcher. She was arrested on August 5, 2009 when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was inaugurated for a second term. She was one of the protesters present beside the Parliament of Iran. She was beaten by security forces… She believed you can find equality between men and women, if you read The Koran through a woman's prism and concerns.

Blogger Tweatter writes [7] [fa]:

How many Haleh Sahabis should be killed until we finish with our indifference? How long we should wait, and be pleased to see Obama say, “the first demonstrations in the region began in Iran”? Why we should not be inspired by Egypt, Tunisia, and the heroic people's movement in Syria? Does no one remember [the Iranian proverb] ‘you do something if you finish it'?