A group of 21 cyclists left Toronto Saturday to travel to the Iranian embassy in Ottawa. On Monday, they will deliver an Amnesty International petition calling for the release of political prisoners in Iran, respect for prisoners’ human rights and the freedom to express opinions peacefully.

– The Canadian Press

Our First Initiative, the ride to Ottawa, was a huge success. We cycled over 450km from Toronto to deliver a petition initiated by Amnesty International, to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa. The petition, signed by over 3,500 supporters, calls on the authorities to respect the human rights of all Iranian citizens and for the immediate release of those arrested for expressing their critical opinions of the elections since June 12, 2009.

Our Campaign was very well received by Iranians and Canadians alike and was successful in bringing much needed media attention to the subject of Human Rights in Iran.

The AI petition to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa featured three main demands which are as follows:

• “immediately and unconditionally release the political leaders and activists arrested on June 15th, and all others who have been arrested for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly;
• allow them immediate access to their family members, lawyers of their choice and to any medical treatment they may require, and that they be protected from all forms of torture or ill-treatment;
• allow peaceful demonstrations by those wishing to express their opinion of the elections, even if critical.”

Read more about the campaign and find pictures and details of the trip here.