The Islamic Republic of Iran has stepped back from stoning Jhila to death. Jhila is a 13-year girl who, in an unwanted and unknowing sexual relation, became pregnant. The Islamic Republic of Iran had imprisoned and sentenced her to death penalty by stoning. They took away her new born child to a state infants centre. To protest this verdict, I published my first press release to announce a campaign against stoning and imprisoning this 13-year child. It is unprecedented that this campaign has proliferated everywhere now! The Islamic Regime has stepped back under the pressure of people?s struggle and the campaign for saving the life of Jhila. The Islamic Republic Daily Paper on 17.10.04 has quoted one of the official judiciaries that they did not issue a sentence of death penalty by stoning for Jhila, but she had been sentenced to penal imprisonment. He said that Jhila has been sent back to Marivan to fulfill her punishment.

This step back is not enough. Jhila is a child. Jhila must live with her family, not in jail, be a provincial welfare penitentiary or any kind of prison. She is a child who needs guardianship, support and safe environment. International covenant on Civil Rights forbids and condemns children imprisonment. Jhila must be released immediately. We fight for her release.

Jhila?s child, if she will, must be given back to her. We demand financial and health support for both of them. The two children, both mother and her baby, must be kept in a safe place out of religious and traditional moral pressures and political violence.

According to the recent news received by the Organization for Woman Emancipation, Jhila and her brother?s cases had been sent to the office of Khameniee, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Regime.

On behalf of the Organization for Woman Emancipation and as a coordinator of the campaign for saving the life of Jhila, I call upon all people, progressive individuals, web lags owners, media representatives and all opposition groups to help me to release Jhila from prison. If necessary, we will process a procedure to reside Jhila and her child in an European country.

The Organization for Woman Emancipation will publish details of this campaign. You can go to the site for saving Jhila?s life and sign the petition for her releas: www.stoning.webbyen.dk.

Phone: 0045 40543992
E-mail: nahid@mail.danbbs.dk

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To all freedom living people

Zhila and Bakhtiyar are still in detention. Zhila is in a poor mental and physical state of health. Visits by humanitarian individuals and institutions have been blocked. The management of the centre keeping them has rejected the attempts of the "Committee to Save Zhila and Bakhtiyar" to visit them.

Save Zhila and Bakhtiyar's campaign has now expanded into a worldwide campaign. We can now claim that we did not allow Zhila and Bakhtiyar to perish in silence and suffer the same fate as thousands of other hapless children in Iran. A massive force in support of Zhila and Bakhtiyar has been mobilised. Our campaign has attracted the attentions of honourable people and pro-children and humanitarian organisations worldwide.

Despite the current reprieve and the retreat of the Islamic republic from carrying out the stoning and execution, both Zhila and Bakhtiyar still remain in detention.

Zhila and Bakhtiyar are still kept in the so-called "House for children with crime and disorder problems" in the city of Sanandaj. Repeated requests by the "Committee to Save Zhila and Bakhtiyar" to visit them have been declined. Such visits are crucial to the well being of Zhila and Bakhtiyar. Without such contacts and supports by children rights and women's rights organisations their lives would be in danger and tragedies awaits them. They could easily fell victim to bigotry or be driven, under duress, to take their own lives. The force that has been mobilised to save their lives should continue with their efforts to protect the mental and physical health of these three children.

"Campaign to Save Zhila and Bakhtiyar Izadi" will endeavour to:

Have these two children freed. Leading a near normal life in their small hometown is not possible. Safety and security of these children against the background of bigotry and reactionary thoughts and practices, which are compounded by the Iranian regime, is beyond the means of their family. Their family is also subjected to a wave of backward morality attacks and need help as well. The Islamic regime is more thanl capable of instigating and organising a campaign of so called "honour crimes" against these children. The moral assault on these children will have detrimental consequences and could drive them to despair.

All our efforts must be aimed at securing the well-being and safety of these children. The responsibility for lives and dignity of Zhila and Bakhtiyar must be entrusted to a reputable and trusted institution or under the auspice of a group of humanitarian individuals with sufficient means and resources to help them rebuild their lives.

At this stage, an important element of our campaign will be to focus on raising funds and resources for Zhila and Bakhtiyar. To safeguard their safety and security and help them in rebuilding their shuttered lives we will need the support of all human loving and honourable people.

Nahid Riazi
Co-ordinator and Spokesperson for:
Campaign to save Zhila and Bakhtiyar
November 3, 2004-11-07
Tel: 0045 40543992
Email: nahid@mail.danbbs.dk

Click Here for Zhila and Bakhtiyar Izadi Case Information