[This statement is an update to that issued by the company on August 17, 2010 where we declined to comment on the complaint. This can also still be found below.]

This updated statement can also be found on the company’s website.

We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his son; indeed Nokia Siemens Networks condemns human rights violations around the world. But the Saharkhiz lawsuit is brought in the wrong place, against the wrong party, and on the wrong premise.

The Saharkhizes allege brutal treatment by the Government in Iran, but they have not sued that government. Instead, they are seeking to blame Nokia Siemens Networks for the acts of the Iranian authorities by filing a lawsuit in the U.S., a country that has absolutely no connection to the issues they are raising.

Mobile communications are a powerful tool in the promotion of human rights and the rule of law. They have done far more to empower those who fight for democracy than to empower oppressive governments. It is true that all modern mobile communications networks include a lawful interception capability; this capability became a standard feature at the insistence of the United States and European nations. These countries needed the capability for law enforcement reasons that are common throughout the world. It is unrealistic to demand, as the Saharkhiz lawsuit does, that wireless communications systems based on global technology standards be sold without that capability.

Further information about our activities in Iran can be found in our 2009 corporate responsibility report and in the statement given in June to the European Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights. Both are available on our website www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com.

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PREVIOUS STATEMENT ISSUED August 17, 2010:

We are aware of the legal action initiated in a federal court in Virginia by Isa Saharkhiz and his son, Mehdi Saharkhiz. We would not comment on any litigation without having had a chance to study the complaint along with our co-defendants Nokia and Siemens.

We will say that the misuse of communication technologies, intended for legitimate use, to infringe human rights is wrong. It is those who misuse technology who must be accountable for their actions. We condemn the abuse of technology to suppress political activity, and deplore any government, anywhere, that employs torture.

Further information about our activities in Iran can be found in our 2009 corporate responsibility report and in the statement given in June to the European Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights. Both are available on our website www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com.

We are confident that our business activities are fully compliant with United States law and with international standards of business conduct.

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Written By Ben Roome

Please Note: Comment Moderation Maybe Active So There is No Need To Resubmit Your Comments

10 Responses to “August 20, 2010 update: Response to lawsuit filed by Isa and Mehdi Saharkhiz against Nokia Siemens Networks”

1. Georg Warning says:

   August 17, 2010 at 6:46 pm

   Poor Nokia Siemens,
   these guys didn’t know what kind of people govern Iran.
   Really? Never heard of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International or of Human Rights Reports published annually by the U.S. Department of State? Never heard of Khomeiny, Khameney, Ahmadinejad, Kahrizak etc.
   You can make us believe anything, but not this kind of fairy tales.
   with best wishes
   Georg Warning, Konstanz, Germany.

   Reply
2. Bobby says:

   August 18, 2010 at 6:43 pm

   Shame on you . Because of your greed , Iranian journalists and lots of innocents people are being tortured in Iran’s jails .

   Reply
3. Nokia Siemens Networks sued by Iranian activist for human rights abuses | ZDNet says:

   August 19, 2010 at 1:11 pm

   [...] Siemens Network acknowledged the suit and declined to comment directly but have issued the following statement: We will say that the [...]

   Reply
4. anonymous Iranian says:

   August 19, 2010 at 7:18 pm

   What you did might have been legal but was it moral?
   Would you sell guns to a person who you know will kill people?
   You people are just seeking profit, nothing else matters to you.
   You must know that your not gonna get away with this.

   Reply
5. Nokia Siemens Networks respond to Iran human rights abuses claims | ZDNet says:

   August 21, 2010 at 1:46 am

   [...] Nokia Siemens Networks issued a statement in response to the law suit filing which I have quoted below in its entirety: We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his son; indeed Nokia Siemens Networks [...]

   Reply
6. Khashayar says:

   August 21, 2010 at 1:42 pm

   All Iranians will vehemently support the Saharkhiz lawsuit against the Nazi loving Nokia Siemens. You knew full well your equipment was going to be used against Iranian dissidents and you continue to do business with the Iranian government. You are nothing but scum of the earth.

   Reply
7. Nokia Siemens Networks issues a statement regarding Iran says:

   August 24, 2010 at 9:41 am

   [...] prisoner by the way.NSN had a few days to sit on this and think about what to say, and last Friday they had this statement to offer:We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his son; indeed Nokia Siemens Networks condemns human [...]

   Reply
8. Nokia Siemens Networks: We are not responsible for what Iran did with our technology | MAXINITY says:

   August 24, 2010 at 9:52 am

   [...] had a few days to sit on this and think about what to say, and last Friday they had this statement to offer: We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his son; indeed Nokia Siemens Networks condemns human [...]

   Reply
9. Smart Phone Top 10 » Nokia Siemens Networks: We are not responsible for what Iran did with our technology says:

   August 24, 2010 at 10:30 am

   [...] had a few days to sit on this and think about what to say, and last Friday they had this statement to offer: We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his son; indeed Nokia Siemens Networks condemns human [...]

   Reply
10. Global Voices Advocacy » A legal case against Nokia Siemens Networks says:

    August 31, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    [...] Siemens Networks issued a statement on August 20 in response to the Saharkhiz law suit: We have no quarrel with Isa Saharkhiz and his [...]

    Reply