2007年VOA标准英语-Iran Under Fire for Crackdown on Women Activist

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
08 March 2007

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are accusing Iran of increasing persecution¹ and legal prosecution² of women's rights activists³.  As VOA's Stephanie Ho reports, the two groups held a joint⁴ news conference in Washington Thursday to mark International Women's Day.

Women's rights activists in Iran

Human Rights Watch researcher Hadi Ghaemi says the situation for women in Iran is paradoxical.

"Iranian women are at the cutting edge of social activism in Iran," he said.  "Although they are visible and extremely successful in every social, economic and cultural domain⁵, Iranian law treats them as second class citizens, and discriminates⁶ against them."

He said that during the past year, the Iranian government has "substantially stepped up its persecution and prosecution of peaceful women's' rights advocates."

Last Sunday, Iranian security forces arrested 34 women's rights activists at a demonstration⁷ in Tehran.  Most of them have since been released, except three women who the rights groups say are being held in solitary⁸ confinement⁹ and are on hunger strikes.

"Are we supposed to be happy that all the other women were released?" asked Fariba Davoodi Mohajer, a prominent Iranian campaigner for women's rights.  "Meanwhile, there are open cases before the court for all these women.   And at any moment, they might be detained again.  And is this a mode to try to control all women's rights activists?"

Fariba Davoodi Mohajer is one of five defendants¹⁰ in a court case stemming from a demonstration last June that urged equal rights for women.  Tehran says the rally was unauthorized.

"For the first time, five women were accused on charges of working against national security, undermining the basis of government and advertising¹¹ against the government by speaking with foreign media," she said.

She accused Tehran of treating the women's protest as a threat to national security.  She denied Iranian women's rights activists are controlled by foreign powers.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch's Ghaemi says he believes international concern over Iran's nuclear program is actually having a negative effect on efforts to promote women's rights in the country.

"Unfortunately, the saber rattling¹² over the nuclear issue, and generally, American policies have strengthened the political fortunes of hardliners in Iran," he noted¹³.  "And Iranian civil society is paying a heavy price because Iranian government is taking advantage of the nuclear crisis to crack down on social activists and critics, and the women's' movement is an example of that today."

Over the past year, women's rights activists in Iran have been protesting against articles in Iranian law which are seen as discriminating¹⁴ against women.

1 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

2 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。

6 discriminates   

分别，辨别，区分( discriminate的第三人称单数 )； 歧视，有差别地对待

参考例句：

• The new law discriminates against lower-paid workers. 这条新法律歧视低工资的工人。
• One test governs state legislation that discriminates against interstate commerce. 一个检验约束歧视州际商业的州立法。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

8 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

9 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

10 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

11 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

12 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。