Source:
July 31, 2010

Change for Equality: A court hearing for two campaign activists and women’s rights defenders, Fatemeh Masjedi and Maryam Bidgoli, has been scheduled for August 4, 2010. These activists have been charged with “actions against national security through membership in the Campaign a group intent on overthrowing the State,” and “spreading of propaganda against the State.”

Both activists were arrested in the city of Qom on May 7, 2009 and were released on May 19after spending 13 days in detention on a bail order of 20 Million Tomans (roughly $20,000).

It should be noted that Fatemeh Masjedi and Maryam Bidgoli have worked on women’s rights and women’s empowerment for years. Prior to their arrest, the two were involved in an effort to defend a young woman who was faced with a potential attempt on her life (honor killing) and as a result got into a verbal scuttle with some influential figures in the city of Qom.