The plight of women in Iran may seem a million miles away — but members of Amnesty International Bermuda are determined to bring it to Islanders' attention.

The organisation will today mark International Women's Day a day early by asking people to sign letters in support of five Iranians at the entrance to Par-la-Ville Park — on the verandah of the National Library — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lucy Attride-Stirling, executive director of Amnesty International Bermuda (AIB), said women in the Middle Eastern country faced widespread discrimination under the law and needed international support.

"They are excluded from key areas of the state," she said. "They cannot, for example, be judges or stand for the presidency. They do not have equal rights with men in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance.

"Criminal harm suffered by a woman is less severely punished than the same harm suffered by a man. Evidence given by women in court is worth half than one given by a man.

"Although the legal age for marriage is 13, fathers can apply for permission to arrange that their daughters are married at a younger age and to men much older. Men are allowed to practise polygamy, women are not. Men have an incontestable right in law to divorce their spouse, women do not."

AIB is asking people to sign letters in support of five brave Iranian campaigners, including a man, who have suffered for speaking out against the gender injustices.

Ms Attride-Stirling said: "The Government of Iran should recognise the positive aspects of the work of women's rights defenders as reflected in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders."