Mehrangiz Kar

Mehrangiz Kar "is an attorney, writer and activist working toward the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights within the framework of Islamic law in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Despite her efforts being frequently impeded and curtailed by the intelligence services of the Islamic Republic, she has been an active public defender in Iran’s civil and criminal courts, and has published regularly in several influential and independent Iranian journals. Banned from making public appearances within her country, including conferences, radio and television, Ms. Kar has used international forums as a platform for voicing her opinions and advocating for the democratic, political, legal, constitutional and human rights of the Iranian people. In April of 2000, following her participation in a symposium in Berlin, she was arrested and imprisoned on charges of acting against the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Three of the five charges against her are pending, for which she may again be arrested upon her return."

POSITIONS HELD

 * Sep 2005 – June 2006: Fellow Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University


 * Sep 2004 – Sep 2005: Radcliffe Institute Fellow, Harvard University


 * Spring 2004: Visiting Professor, Obstacles to Democracy in Iran Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Culture, Columbia University


 * Jan 2003 – Present: Visiting Scholar, Washington College of Law, American University


 * Spring & Fall 2003 and Spring 2004: Visiting Professor, Democracy in Iran University of Virginia


 * Sep – Dec 2002: Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars


 * Oct 2001- Aug 2002: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy. Working on a project entitled “The Juridical Foundations of the Crisis of Democracy in Iran” that explores the theory and practice of law within the context of the Islamic Republic of Iran to assess the probability of effecting changes from within the government and establish a democratic political system.


 * 1979 – Present: Attorney-of-law, Islamic Republic of Iran


 * 1968 – Present: Independent Journalist, Islamic Republic of Iran


 * 2000 – 2001: Senior Fellowship, Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research, Japan


 * 1967 – 1970: Labor Law Specialist, The Ministry Of Labor And Social Security, Iran

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS/ADVISORY POSITIONS
In 2000, she was nominated as a candidate to the Board of Directors of the Bar Association but the intelligence services of the Islamic Republic interfered with and annulled her nomination stating that the position exceeded her competence.
 * Member, Bar Association of Iran, 1979 – Present.

Nominated while in jail
 * Honorary Member, Pen Club of the United States and Canada, 2000.

Persevered in the work despite the targeting and murder of intellectuals and political activists in 1999.
 * Board Director, Iranian Pen Club, 1999 – 2000




 * Winner of the 2002 NED Democracy Award
 * Board of Advisors, Persian Cultural Foundation
 * Honoree, Human Rights First: Human Rights Awards Dinner

Married to Siamak Pourzand


 * Women’s Learning Partnership: Program Advisors
 * Visiting Fellow, Human Rights Program