Iran suspends sentence of women's rights activist

November 12, 2007 - (Jurist) Iran temporarily suspended the sentence of women's rights activist Delaram Ali Monday for two weeks while officials decide whether to review her case. Despite leniency pleas from seven leading human rights organizations, Ali was set to begin a sentence of 34 months in prison and 10 lashes Saturday. Ali was sentenced for her part in a 2006 demonstration where she and other activists protested Iranian laws that discriminate against women. She had been out on bail, but her pending appeal was recently dismissed and Iranian authorities ordered her to begin serving her sentence. Charges of abuse that Ali had brought against police were also dismissed.

The demonstration Ali took part in was intended to help collect one million signatures protesting Iran's interpretation of Sharia law, which has been held to require a woman to obtain her male guardian's permission to work or travel, to prohibit women from serving as judges, and to give a woman's testimony only half the value of a man's. Ali was officially charged with "acting against national security" and "advertising against the system," as were other activists present. Five other women activists involved in the demonstration were given jail terms of up to a year, with suspended sentences of up to three years.

From: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/11/iran-suspends-sentence-of-womens-rights.php