EXCLUSIVE: Siemens risks losses due to Iran ties - Washington Times

Siemens and Nokia lent considerable assistance to the Iranian government in tracking down pro-democracy protesters and there have been calls for a boycott of those firms. It may be starting already.

Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer and winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, told The Washington Times Thursday that she is urging Los Angeles County not to award Siemens the contract. She also urged Californians to write letters to their local representatives to boycott Siemens.

"I don't think the City of Los Angeles should award contracts to companies such as Nokia or Siemens who participate in the violation of basic human rights including the right to free speech and privacy," she wrote in an e-mail. "Just as it is the duty of governments to uphold values and contracts honoring universal human rights, it is as important for companies and large corporations to do the same."

Saying that Nokia and Siemens participated in censorship in Iran, she added, "If such companies are faced with consequences that effect their 'bottom line' they will be less enticed to enter in to business agreements with any government attempting to restrict the basic human rights of their people."

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