Noushin Ahmadi is a notable Iranian author, translator, essayist, journalist, women's rights activist[1] and community activist.[2] She is one of the founding members of the One Million Signatures campaign.[3] She was also a founder of Women's Cultural Center.[4] (Markaz-e Farhangi-ye Zanan). The Women's Cultural Center is an "NGO that focuses on women's health, as well as legal issues".[5] Khorasani also wrote several books about the women's movement in Iran.[6] Khorasani was the 2004 winner of the Latifeh Yarshater Award, given by the Persian Heritage Foundation, for a book she co-authored with Parvin Ardalan about the country's first female lawyer, Mehrangiz Manouchehrian, titled "Senator: the Work of Senator Mehrangiz Manouchehrian in the Struggle for Legal Rights for Women".[7]
Activism
In 2007 she, together with Parvin Ardalan, was sentenced to three years in prison for "threatening the national security."[8] Ahmadi was released on 22 September 2010 after she appeared before the Evin Prison Court "to provide some explanations," and was informed of her charges.[9] Ahmadi was interrogated when she first appeared in court on Tuesday following a summons, and was asked to return the next day to meet with "case analysts." On 23 September, she was informed of her charges of "propagation activities against the regime through: (a) writing and publishing content against the regime on the Feminist School website,[10] and (b) participation in the illegal gatherings after the 2009 elections,".[11] After being informed of her charges, Ahmadi defended herself and she was released to a custodian. She was released until her trial date.[12] Ahmadi's trial was held on 11 March 2012 in Branch 26 of the Islamic revolutionary court. On 9 June 2012, she was sentenced to one year of suspended imprisonment and five years of probation.[13]