NEW YORK - Congressman Charles B. Rangel, joined by a host of elected officials and community leaders including Rep. Carolyn Maloney, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, attended the first annual Iran180 Hero Awards presentation today on the steps of New York's City Hall. Rangel presented an award to Ahmad Batebi, an Iranian dissident who escaped from prison after eight years of torture over his involvement in the 1999 Iran student protests.

"I am honored to present this award to an international icon such as Ahmad Batebi," Rangel said. "Batebi is an inspiration to all people, especially to those living under oppression in Iran. He reminds us not to give up the fight for human rights and freedom from tyranny."

Batebi, a student involved in the July 1999 protests at Tehran University, became an icon when he appeared on the cover of The Economist holding the blood stained shirt of a fellow protester who was beaten by Iranian forces. As he gained international acclaim, Batebi was promptly arrested, tried in closed-door proceedings, and sentenced to death. He spent eight years being tortured in prison until he escaped in 2008. Since then, Batebi serves as the chairman of Cyber Dissidents where he continues to advocate for human rights and democracy.

"We have to stand up for heroes like Batebi who risk their lives each and every day to achieve the freedom and liberty we enjoy to create a world without fear," Rangel said.  "A nuclear Iran is not only a threat to Israel and the Middle East, but also to democracies throughout the world."

The event was hosted by Iran180, a multi-cultural and multi-faith organization established with the goals of pushing Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and to address its human rights violations. The award ceremony comes almost two years after the Iranian protests over the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. For more information, visit: http://www.iran180.org/