Human rights

Shadi Sadr wins Tulip Award

Posted on 17/12/2009

She is not only a lawyer. She is also a defender of human rights – especially the rights of women in Iran. Last November, Shadi Sadr (1974) won the Tulip Award for her hazardous but indefatigable activism.

'The prize is meant as encouragement to Shadi Sadr. But also to civil society in Iran – and certainly the women’s rights movement there.' These are the words of Marcel van der Heijden of Hivos. He calls the prize 'a recognition of the commitment of Hivos as well, because we work with people like Sadr.'

Iranian authorities

Women Living Under Muslim Law, Justitia et Pax and Hivos were the organisations that had nominated Sadr for the Dutch Tulip Award. From 2004 to 2007 Hivos gave financial support to Sadr’s NGO Raahi. This organisation furnished legal advice to women who needed help with matters such as divorce, custody and domestic violence. Raahi was closed by the Iranian authorities in 2007.

Regime change

Since that year, Shadi Sadr has been arrested twice. Marcel van der Heijden: 'Because Shadi received money for her organisation from the West, the government suspected her of participating in a Western plot for regime change in Iran.' Sadr is currently living in Europe, where she holds temporary appointments at universities. 'She did not flee', says Van der Heijden. 'But the present political situation means it is not clear when she can go back.'

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Photos: Sharzhad News

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