PRESS ROOM
Videos and Multimedia:
BoomGen TV covers rally in NYC & talks to CHRI cyclists
VOA talks to CHRI cyclist Pouya Alagheband
CNN interviews CHRI member at NYC rally, CNN.com, Youtube.com
CHRI cyclists talk to Radio Farda
Youtube video of Brooklyn Bridge rally by Noushin Nourizadeh
Cyclists Pouya and Binesh read CHRI’s UN letter of appeal at NYC rally
Cyclists arriving at “Iran Alive” program in NYC (1)
Cyclists arriving at “Iran Alive” program in NYC (2):
Cyclists riding off from Hart House, University of Toronto, September 19th
CHRI team chanting while walking on the streets of NYC
TwitVid from United 4 Iran that shows CHRI cyclists chanting at “Iran Alive” program in NYC
CHRI promo video for September 19th demonstration at University of Toronto
Pictures
Pictures of Toronto rally September 19th of Solidarity with Iran and CHRI
Radio Farda presents pictures of CHRI
Facebook photo album of NYC rally and CHRI
Facebook photo album of CHRI in Toronto
Facebook photo album of CHRI in Toronto
Facebook photo album of NYC rally
facebook photo album of NYC rally
Facebook photo album of NYC rally
Facebook photo album of CHRI @ rally
Picture Gallery of Day 1 in NYC by OnlyMehdi:
Facebook photo album of CHRI team
Facebook photo album of NYC rally
Pictures of CHRI from Flickr account zuorheb
Flickr picture gallery of “Iran Alive” performance and CHRI
Picture/video compilation of NYC rally
CHRI Flickr page (Toronto only)
Articles
Amnesty International announces CHRI’s campaign
BBC Persian covers CHRI in NYC, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE
The New York Times writes about NYC protests. Includes video commentary by Nazli Fathi and interview with CHRI cyclist Pouria Lotfi. ONE, TWO
MowJCamp writes about “Iran Alive” audio art installation and CHRI. ONE, TWO
Balatarin features BBC’s CHRI album
This Magazine interviews Ali Bangi from CHRI
The Wall Street Journal mentions CHRI’s initiative:
Salam Toronto creates beautiful video of CHRI in Toronto demonstration, September 19th
NiacINSight writes announces CHRI’s campaign
Payvand News writes about CHRI. ONE, TWO
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
Shahrvand Magazine writes about CHRI. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR
Homylafayette Blog about CHRI. ONE, TWO
CHRI cyclists talk to Radio Farda
Kiana Hayeri’s Blog about CHRI
NYF for Iran blog on NYC rally and CHRI
Why We Protest writes about NYC rally
Ray Man Kojast blog about CHRI
Kodoom announces CHRI’s campaign
Nikahang blog writes about CHRI
Iranian UK writes about NYC rally and CHRI
Pouria Lotfi writes about CHRI’s campaign
OnlyMehdi picture blog about CHRI, ONE, TWO
Iran Press News writes about CHRI
Sarkhat writes about NYC rally and CHRI
Donbaleh.com writes about CHRI
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NEW YORK INITIATIVE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (English)
September 19, 2009
“Human Rights Issues Must Be at the Forefront of Engagement with the Iranian Government”
19 September 2009, Time: 11:30 a.m. Hart House,
University of Toronto, 7 Hart House Circle
23 September 2009, Time: 12:00 p.m.
United Nations, 47th St. & 1st Ave.
(Toronto) – Heads of the State at the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly in Setember 2009 should condemn the use of government-sanctioned violence in response to public demonstrations. The arbitrary arrests, torture, and inhumane interrogations in Iran following June elections represent a blatent disregard for human rights in Iran. Cycling for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) encourages world leaders attending the meeting to demand independent and credible investigations of human rights abuses in Iran.
On September 23, 2009, the president of Iran, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, plans to attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting. Around 30 students, academics, and concerned citizens will cycle over 800 km from Toronto to New York City to deliver a letter to the UN General Assembly urging members of the UN to express their concern regarding the use of intimidation, violence, and iniquity that has taken place since the June 2009 presidential election.
“Unfortunately, widespread government-sanctioned human rights abuses have grown at an alarming rate. The Iranian authorities have not only failed to address this issue, but they are also trying to lay the blame on ‘foreign powers’ for interfering in Iran’s domestic affairs,” said Ali Karimzadeh Bangi, the founder of CHRI. «The world leaders need to make it clear to the Iranian government that it cannot evade responsibility and human rights issues will be at the forefront of engagement with the Iranian authorities.»
On Saturday September 19, 2009, after taking part in a pre-departure event organized by Solidarity with Iran at University of Toronto, cyclists/activists will be departing on their four-day journey to New York City.
Cycling for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) is a large, diverse, and nonpartisan group of students, academics, and concerned citizens whose principal objective is to further the cause of human rights in Iran.
Media Liaison:
Maryam NY
Web: www.cyclingforhumanrightsinIran.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ( Farsi)
۱۲ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۹
«مساله حقوق بشر باید موضوع اصلی در ارتباط با دولت ایران باشد»
تاریخ: ۱۹ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۹، ساعت ۱۲ ظهر
مکان: ساختمان هارت هاوس دانشگاه تورنتو واقع در شماره ۷ میدان هارت هاوس
تورنتو – گروه «دوچرخهسواری برای حقوق بشر در ایران» ، امروز اعلام کرد: «سران کشورهای شرکتکننده در شصت و چهارمین مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل در سپتامبر ۲۰۰۹، باید خشونتهای اعمال شده توسط دولت ایران از قبیل دستگیریهای خودسرانه، شکنجه، و بازجوییهای غیرانسانی را محکوم نمایند. این خشونتها در پاسخ به اعتراضات عمومی در پی انتخابات خرداد ماه اخیر رخ داده است. سران شرکتکننده در این نشست، باید بررسیهای مستقل و موثق در مورد نقض حقوق بشر در ایران را خواستار شوند.»
در روز ۲۳ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۹ آقای محمود احمدی نژاد قصد دارد در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل حضور یابد. حدود سی تن از دانشجویان، استادان، و شهروندان بیش از ۸۰۰ کیلومتر مسافت بین تورنتو تا شهر نیویورک را رکاب خواهند زد تا نامهای را به دست اعضای شرکتکننده در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل برسانند. این نامه حاوی نگرانی آنها از ارعاب، خشونت و تبعیضی است که از زمان انتخابات دوره دهم ریاست جمهوری در ایران اعمال شده است.
علی کریمزاده بانگی، مؤسس این گروه میگوید: «متأسفانه، با این که تخطی گسترده دولت از رعایت حقوق بشر در روزهای اخیر به طرز نگرانکنندهای افزایش یافته، رهبران ایران نه تنها از توجه به این مهم سرباز زدهاند، بلکه “نیروهای خارجی” را نیز به دخالت در امور داخلی ایران متهم میکنند. سران کشورهای جهان باید دولت ایران را توجیه کنند که نمیتواند از زیر بار مسئولیت شانه خالی کند؛ مسأله حقوق بشر باید موضوع اصلی در ارتباط با مقامهای ایرانی باشد.»
دوچرخهسواران و فعالان روز شنبه ۱۹ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۹، ساعت ۱۲ ظهر از هارت هاوس دانشگاه تورنتو، پس از شرکت در برنامهای که توسط ستاد همبستگی با مردم ایران برای بدرقه آنها تدارک دیده شده است، این شهر را ترک خواهند کرد.
گروه دوچرخهسواری برای حقوق بشر در ایران، گروهی مستقل و بزرگ، متشکل از دانشجویان، استادان، و شهروندان نگران حقوق بشر در ایران است. فعالیت های این گروه به هیچ حزب سیاسی وابسته نیست.
روابط عمومی:
مریم ن
Maryam NY
Web: www.cyclingforhumanrightsinIran.org
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OTTAWA INITIATIVE
CHRI in the Media
Global protest denounces human rights violations in Iran, By The Canadian Press featured in:
Toronto Star
Canoe.ca
Macleans
CFRB
Yahoo News
Canada East
Truro Daily
Thompson Citizen
Journal Pioneer
Metro News Vancouver
CHOM
Heather Keachie’s Interview with UofO Station about CHRI, Jambo Ottawa [Audio file]
Coverage in Farsi newspapers and media:
Shahrvand, Report before our departure
Shahrvand, Report after our Departure
Elsewhere:
Blog TO: Green is the Thing as Iran’s Protest Movement Takes to Toronto’s Streets
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2009
Community Members Gather at Queen’s Park to Send off Cyclists for Human Rights in Iran to Ottawa
Date: 25 July 2009, Time: 11 a.m.,
Queen’s Park, Provincial Legislature (at the corner of College St. and University Ave.)
Toronto –Around 50 students, academics, and concerned citizens will depart from Toronto to the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa in order to raise awareness about human rights abuses in Iran. The group will cycle over 450 km to deliver a petition initiated by Amnesty International (AI) to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa. The cyclists will be arriving in Ottawa on 27 July 2009 at 2 p.m. to formally present the Amnesty International petition to officials at the Iranian embassy.
Academic Ramin Jahanbegloo will speak at Queen’s Park about the human rights concerns in Iran. A dual citizen with Iranian and Canadian citizenship, Prof. Jahanbegloo was arrested by the Iranian authorities in 2006 and held in Evin prison for speaking out on Iranian affairs in international journals. Amnesty International sent out Urgent Actions on his behalf to help secure his release.
The AI petition, signed by more than 3,700 supporters, calls on the Iranian authorities to respect the human rights of all Iranians and demands the immediate release of those detained for protesting the controversial 12 June 2009 presidential election.
July 25th is the Global Day of Action for Human Rights in Iran, an action called for by 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate, Ms. Shirin Ebadi. In addition to the cycling initiative, a rally and a sit-in are to occur on the site of the cyclists’ departure on July 25. The event is sponsored by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, Physicians for Human Rights, Nobel Women’s Initiative, and other prominent human rights activists and organisations from around the world.
Relying on expert research, Amnesty International exposes human rights abuses and supports ordinary people in protecting and promoting universal human rights in Canada and around the world.
Cycling for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) is a large, diverse, and nonpartisan group of students, academics, and concerned citizens whose principal objective is to further the cause of human rights in Iran.
Media Liaison:
Binesh Hassanpour | Cell: 416-357-6989 | Email: bineshh@gmail.com
Web: www.cyclingforhumanrightsinIran.org
