Iran Arrests Four Women Activists

Four womens rights activists were arrested on Monday for collecting signatures for a campaign.

Four women's rights activists were arrested on Monday for collecting signatures for a campaign demanding equal legal rights for women in Iran, an Iranian news agency reported.

The ILNA news agency said the women were collecting names for a so-called "one million signature campaign" demanding changes in what activists say are discriminatory laws against women in the Islamic Republic.

"Four women activists were arrested in Tehran's Laleh Park this afternoon (Monday)," ILNA reported.

The report could not be independently confirmed.

Iran denies discriminating against sexes and says its laws are based on Islamic sharia.

A Web site www.nobelwomeninitiative.org reported the Iranian women activists launched the campaign in August 2006.

Iran arrested more than 30 women activists last month when they protested outside a Tehran court in support of five other women detained last year. The authorities said it was an "unauthorised rally".

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, rebuked Iran for those arrests.