There is nothing objectionable in the letter drawn up by Human Rights First (I know nothing about Human Rights First), and given Shirin Ebadi's prominence, this campaign may have an actual impact, so you might sign on to it.
IMHO, the Iranian government needs to learn that Iran, as well as any other countries, cannot do without organizations like Ebadi's, and that the only individuals and organizations that are dangerous to the Iranian people are those who have associated themselves with a hostile foreign power or commit terrorism against it.
If the Iranian government were smart in this department, it would have included Ebadi in its delegation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, but instead it included Saeed Mortazavi (you know who he is).
That said, Shirin Ebadi published a widely circulated op-ed this January, in which she advocated putting political and economic pressures on Iran, some of which may eventually become adopted by all Western nations, with or without the next UN SC resolution on Iran's nuclear program, though they may not be conditioned on human rights (in which the West has only instrumental interest at best) as Ebadi hopes.
<blockquote><http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2006/01/19/opinion/edebadi.php> Link the nuclear program to human rights Shirin Ebadi and Muhammad Sahimi Tribune Media Services International THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2006
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So, what can the West do?
First, Western nations with clean human rights records should urge the United Nations to appoint a special human rights monitor for Iran, to raise Iran's human rights record annually at General Assembly, and to condemn it if the record keeps deteriorating.
Contrary to the general perception, Iran's clerics are sensitive to outside criticism. There has been tangible improvement in Iran's human rights record whenever it has been criticized at the United Nations.
Second, the World Bank should stop providing Iran with loans. Instead, it should try to work with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in Iran to strengthen institutions of civil society.
The West should support Iran's human rights and democracy advocates, nominate their jailed leaders for international awards and keep them and their cause in the public eyes.
Third, if the hardliners continue violating the basic human rights, the West should downgrade its diplomatic relationships with Iran.
Fourth, the EU must declare unequivocally, backed by practical steps, that new investments - which Iran badly needs - will be provided only if Iran takes practical steps towards establishing a democratic political system.</blockquote>
This op-ed was unwise, and it probably has led to Tehran's decision to ban her organization. If I knew Ebadi personally, I'd let her know why op-eds like this aren't a good idea, since it is unlikely that a majority of the Iranian people would endorse such sanctions, but unfortunately I do not. -- Yoshie <http://montages.blogspot.com/> <http://mrzine.org> <http://monthlyreview.org/>