Narges Mohammadi is a prominent human rights advocate in Iran campaigning for justice and gender equality, and against the death penalty. She should be lauded for her courage and efforts. Instead she's been languishing in Evin Prison for more than one year and has been sentenced to 16 years in prison following an unfair trial for trumped up national-security related charges. Her convictions are based solely on her peaceful human rights work and she has previously been imprisoned for her peaceful advocacy.
Narges Mohammadi has consistently received degrading and inhumane treatment from prison officials. Suffering from serious medical conditional, she requires specialized medical care that cannot be provided in prison. Despite doctors' recommendations that she remain in hospital for treatment, she has continuously been transferred back to prison, putting her health further at risk.
Authorities have consistently used access to her nine-year-old twins as a tool to punish her, denying her telephone contact. She undertook a hunger strike to protest the authority's refusal to let her speak with her children. Her hunger strike triggered global outrage and thousands of people, including more than 100,000 Iranians, posted messages in solidarity through a Twitter campaign. After 20 days and extensive global campaigning, Narges was able to speak with her children.
Narges Mohammadi's protest has been heard – but she is still in prison, facing a 16-year-sentence following an unfair trial. She is a prisoner of conscience, targeted because of her human rights work. Call on Iranian authorities to release Narges immediately and unconditionally!
To: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
Your Excellency,
Narges Mohammadi has been languishing in Evin Prison for more than a
year, unable to receive the critical treatment she desperately needs for her medical conditions and cut off from contact with her children as a form of
punishment.
She has been targeted solely for her peaceful human rights work, and faces
a 16-year sentence following an unfair trial on charges relating to national
security.
I respectfully call on you to:
- Release Narges Mohammadi immediately and unconditionally;
- Ensure she has regular visits and telephone calls from her family and
contact with a lawyer of her choosing; and
- Pending her release, make sure she has ongoing access to adequate
specialized medical care outside prison and that she is protected from torture
and ill-treatment.
[Your comments here]
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
