Although these stories are not at all surprising, and we are tempted to take them for granted now that we have seen so much of them, I still feel that it is important to keep up with the totalitarian regime that rules the Islamic Republic of Iran.

TEHRAN (AFP) – Hundreds of Iranian civil rights activists have signed an open letter calling for the release of a women’s rights advocate arrested for “acting against national security”, reports said on Saturday.

Women’s rights and environmental activist Khadijeh Moghaddam, 56, was arrested on April 8 and bail has been set at one billion rials (108,000 dollars).

Some 600 activists have signed the letter demanding that “Khadijeh Moghaddam’s illegal detention end as soon as possible,” the reformist Sarmayeh newspaper said.

“Moghaddam is a pioneer in environmental protection in Iran,” the letter said, noting her cooperation with city officials over waste management and protests against deforestation.

“She has been active for years in creating jobs for women and forming women’s cooperatives,” it added. “Who would believe Moghaddam has harmed national security or caused public offence?”

Moghaddam has also been involved with the “one million signature” campaign — an attempt to change Iranian laws that discriminate against women by collecting signatures online and in person.

Several women have been jailed for their involvement in the campaign as Iran has stepped up arrests of human rights campaigners and trade unionists over the past year.

I wish more of the defenders of the Islamofascists who run Iran would care about this sort of thing.