UANI Calls on Nokia and Nokia Siemens to End Their Business in Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2010
Contact: Kimmie Lipscomb, [email protected]
Phone: (212) 554-3296

UANI Calls on Nokia and Nokia Siemens
to End Their Business in Iran
 

New York, NY -  United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) on Thursday called on Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to end their business in Iran and to follow the lead of other responsible companies.  NSN's business dealings in Iran constitute a violation of U.S. law, and may preclude NSN from conducting business with the U.S. Government. 
 
In a letter to Stephen Elop, the President and CEO of Nokia, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:  

The technologies that you have provided, and continue to provide, are being used by the Iranian regime to oppress the Iranian people and permit the regime to engage in egregious human rights violations. 
 
On July 1, 2010, President Obama signed into law new Iran sanctions legislation, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA).  NSN should also take special note of "Section 106. Prohibition on Procurement Contracts with Persons that Export Sensitive Technology to Iran" of CISADA.  This provision specifically targets "hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other technology...used specifically... (A) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Iran; or (B) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran." (Section 106, CISADA).
 
The imperative of ending its business in Iran applies not only to NSN, but to Nokia as well, which operates an office in Iran and has reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that its market share in Iran is growing. 
 
Please be advised that CISADA expressly prohibits companies like NSN from entering into new or renewing any contracts with the U.S. government (Section 106, CISADA) should NSN's business dealings in Iran continue.  In recent years, NSN has been awarded $29.1 million in U.S. government contracts. (www.USASpending.gov). 
 
It is time to follow the lead of other responsible companies and stop putting short-term profits ahead of the lasting damage to not only your corporate image, but more importantly, to the people of Iran and the international community.


Please let us hear from you by October 14, 2010 as to whether or not you will take action to end NSN's business in Iran.

Click here to send a message to Nokia and Nokia Siemens.
Click here to read the full text of the letter to Nokia.
Click here to learn more about the Iran Disclosure Project.

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