Iranian women's human rights defender Shadi Sadr was abducted by plainclothed agents on a busy street last Friday morning, 17 July 2009. Sadr has been one of the leading feminist activists in the country. She served as director of Raahi, a legal centre for women. She is also a journalist who regularly writes for Meydaan and a pioneer of the first website dedicated to Iranian women, Zanan-e Iran.

According to eye witness accounts, Sadr was walking with friends for Friday's prayers when some men grabbed and shoved her into a Peugeot. Sadr was said to be badly beaten when she resisted arrest. Her shawl and manteau were also removed during her struggle. Her friends likewise attempted to pull her away especially as the men failed to present any warrant of arrest. But they were beaten as well. It is not yet known when Sadr was taken. Last Friday's prayers once more ignited the embers from the past week's protest as former Iranian president and prominent council member Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani termed the current period a “crisis.”

On the website of Meydaan, one of Sadr's companion narrated the events: “My friend then tried to open the door and we were pulling Shadi out but an official who was inside the car was grabbing onto her. He was pulling onto her in such a way that her manteau was coming off but one of my friends still held onto Shadi’s hand and her blouse and pants that were once intact started to come off when caught in the car. At that time she escaped. The officials in civilian clothing, [myself] and my friend were running after her. It was then one of the officials from the opposite side attacked her.... Shadi was resisting his force when the scarf came undone. Shadi again escaped. This time two other people appeared unexpectedly, one of them carrying a spiral baton. They took Shadi and beat her violently while she continued to resist them. We weren’t allowed to go towards her. By force they had taken her and put her in the car.”

Many women's organisations and networks have condemned the attack that has become common following the elections in Iran. Some have also tagged the government as the agent that could only be responsible for the abduction. They also urged individuals to formally express their concerns on the attack to bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and its human rights mechanisms.

The partners of Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) reported, “the regime has become very brutal over the past weeks [that] the numbers of activists, journalists and intellectuals who are under arrest and in jail have increased exponentially." The Women's Learning Partnership (WLP) echoed this sentiment as they expressed concerns for Shadi Sadr and other people, “who have been peacefully speaking out for their basic rights. We are especially concerned about the mounting violence against women by state agents.”

The Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) demanded the immediate release of Sadr and other political detainees. Gigi Francisco, General Coordinator of DAWN described Sadr as “principled, vigilant and seek to protect civil liberties and achieve social transformation through the courts, media and other peaceful means.” She added that “her rightful place is with the people and the social movements inside Iran.”

Sadr is among the 33 women arrested in a March 2007 peaceful demonstration against the trial of five women who were deemed threats to national security, given their participation in another peaceful demonstration in June 2006. Sadr was held for two weeks until she was released on bail.

Sources:
Al Jazeera (17 July 2009). “Rafsanjani: Iran in crisis.”
DAWN (18 July 2009). “DAWN Demands for Immediate Release of Shadi Sadr and all Political Detainees in Iran.” APWW-List
Maydaan (17 July 2009). “Shadi Sadr violently abducted without headscarf.”
WLP (17 July 2009). “Iranian women's rights activist Shadi Sadr beaten, arrested and disappeared”
WLUML (17 July). “Iran: Women human rights defender Shadi Sadr arrested.”