Closure of the women's magazine ‘Zanan’ in Iran

7.2.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0775/08
by Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE)
to the Commission

On 28 January 2008, the Iranian news agency Fars reported the closure of the magazine ‘Zanan’ (‘Women’), founded sixteen years ago, in 1992, by Shahla Sherkat to tackle the lack of information on women's rights in Iran.

This magazine had become the country's leading publication for women, with a monthly circulation of 40 000, serving as a platform for the defence of Iranian women's rights and equality and exposing such issues as ‘honour crimes’, the sex trade and gender violence.

This closure was preceded by arrests of women journalists and of campaigners for equality and for the reform of laws which undermine women's identity and rights, a struggle embodied in the campaign ‘One million signatures demanding changes to discriminatory laws’ (www.we‑change.org).

At this moment there are dozens of women imprisoned in Tehran's jails for demanding their freedom, while officially being accused of endangering state security.

Does the Commission intend to react to the closure of this publication? Does it intend to exercise any kind of pressure with a view to enabling the magazine to resume business? What measures will it take in the face of the visible lack of free speech in Iran? Does it plan any action in favour of freeing these women who have been arbitrarily arrested and fighting the Iranian authorities' harassment of the feminist movement? What is its view on the petition? Will it support it in any fashion?

OJ C 291, 13/11/2008