Esha Momeni
Encyclopedia
Esha Momeni is an Iranian-American women rights activist and a member of One Million Signatures
campaign.
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.
, 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.
. 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. 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. She was released and returned to Los Angeles 11 August 2009.
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. 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. The Presidency of the European Union
described her detention as a "violation of human rights."
An official Iranian spokesperson, Alireza Jamshidi
, said that Esha was charged with “acting against national security.”
Outstanding Service Award at CSU Northridge.
One Million Signatures
One Million Signatures for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws , also known as Change for Equality, is a campaign by women in Iran to collect one million signatures in support of changing discriminatory laws against women in their country.Activists of the movement...
campaign.
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 revolutionIranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, 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
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
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
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
as part of her California-based studies.
Arrest and detention
Esha Momeni was arrested on 15 October 2008 for unlawfully passing another vehicle while driving in Tehran. She was then held at the notorious Evin PrisonEvin Prison
Evin House of Detention is a prison in Iran, located in Evin, northwestern Tehran. It is noted for its political prisoners' wing, where prisoners have been held both before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
. Prominent Iranian lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah is a well-known Iranian human rights lawyer who is a political prisoner in Iran. He is associated with the Defenders of Human Rights Center founded by several of the most prominent Iranian lawyers and headed by Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Dadkhah spoke for...
represented her, although prison authorities illegally prevented him from visiting her there. He quoted officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court
Islamic Revolutionary Court is a special court in the Islamic Republic of Iran designed to try those suspected of smuggling, blaspheming, inticing violence or trying to overthrow the Iranian government...
as saying her detention related to involvement in the One Million Signatures
One Million Signatures
One Million Signatures for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws , also known as Change for Equality, is a campaign by women in Iran to collect one million signatures in support of changing discriminatory laws against women in their country.Activists of the movement...
"Change for Equality" campaign launched by women in Iran in September 2006. California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
professor Nayereh Tohidi
Nayereh Tohidi
Professor Nayereh Tohidi is Professor and former Chair at the Department of Gender & Women Studies,California State University, Northridge. She is also the Research Associate at the Center for Near Eastern Studies of UCLA where she has been coordinating the Bilingual Lecture Series on Iran since...
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. 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.”Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
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
Kian Tajbakhsh
Kian Tajbakhsh is an Iranian-American scholar, sociologist and urban planner. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, and has taught at both American and Iranian universities. Tajbakhsh is also an international expert in the areas of local government reform, urban planning, public...
, Haleh Esfandiari
Haleh Esfandiari
Haleh Esfandiari is an Iranian American academic and the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Her areas of expertise include Middle Eastern women's issues, contemporary Iranian intellectual currents and politics, and...
, and Ali Shakeri
Ali Shakeri
Ali Shakeri is an Iranian-American businessman and activist. He graduated from the University of Texas with a business administration degree. He serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine...
were imprisoned on these grounds. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (run by OMCT
World Organisation Against Torture
The World Organisation Against Torture is the world’s largest coalition of non-governmental organisations fighting against arbitrary detention, torture, summary and extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances and other forms of violence...
and FIDH
International Federation of Human Rights
The International Federation for Human Rights is a non-governmental federation for human rights organizations. Founded in 1922, FIDH is the oldest international human rights organisation worldwide and today brings together 164 member organisations in over 100 countries.FIDH is nonpartisan,...
) believe Esha’s arrest is part of a systematic plan to discourage women activists from exercising their rights for equality. The Presidency of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
described her detention as a "violation of human rights."
An official Iranian spokesperson, Alireza Jamshidi
Alireza Jamshidi
Dr Alireza Jamshidi is an official spokesman for Iran's judiciary, headed by Mahmoud Shahroudi. In that capacity he holds regular news conferences....
, said that Esha was charged with “acting against national security.”
Honors
Esha Momeni was on 1 May 2009 honored in her absence with the Kappa Tau AlphaKappa Tau Alpha
Kappa Tau Alpha is an American college honor society which recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication...
Outstanding Service Award at CSU Northridge.