Human rights award winner barred from leaving Iran

An Iranian women’s rights campaigner has been prevented by police from leaving the country to pick up a human rights award in Sweden, Reuters reported Monday.

Parvin Ardalan, who is a leading figure in the campaign to collect one million signatures for greater women’s rights, was awarded the Olof Palme Prize for 2007. She had already boarded her plane at Tehran’s international airport when she was informed she would not be permitted to leave. Airport police took her passport, saying they were acting on a judge’s order.

“I think they didn’t want me to attend the prize ceremony because it was a good opportunity for me as an activist, a member of the women movement,” the 41-year-old journalist said.

Dozens of activists have been detained for their involvement in the one million signatures campaign since it began in 2006, with most being released after a few days or weeks.

For the campaign’s website, click here.

For the full article, click here.