600 Activists Demand Release of Khadijeh Moghaddam

A major show of solidarity from Iranian activists:

Hundreds of Iranian civil rights activists have signed an open letter calling for the release of a women's rights advocate arrested for "acting against national security", reports said on Saturday.

Women's rights and environmental activist Khadijeh Moghaddam, 56, was arrested on April 8 and bail has been set at one billion rials (108,000 dollars).

Some 600 activists have signed the letter demanding that "Khadijeh Moghaddam's illegal detention end as soon as possible," the reformist Sarmayeh newspaper said...

"She has been active for years in creating jobs for women and forming women's cooperatives," it added. "Who would believe Moghaddam has harmed national security or caused public offence?"

Moghaddam has also been involved with the "one million signature" campaign -- an attempt to change Iranian laws that discriminate against women by collecting signatures online and in person.