Narges Mohammadi: I Will Defy the Order to Return to Prison
Narges Mohammadi, a human rights defender, stated in a statement that by following civil disobedience methods, she defies the prosecutor’s order and will not return to prison.
Narges Mohammadi, stating that she does not recognize the system of religious despotism and its repressive court rulings, said that as long as her disobedience does not result in the confiscation of the property pledged as bail, she will defy the prosecutor’s order to return to prison.
According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, Narges Mohammadi announced on Thursday, the 26th of Esfand, in a statement that she is “on the sixth day of absence and defiance of returning to prison,” while on Wednesday she received a notice regarding the seizure of her pledged property.
Ms. Mohammadi emphasized in this statement: “It is obvious that systems violating human rights, due to the clear and evident crime against human dignity, have no legitimacy and do not deserve compliance and respect, and civil disobedience of anti-human orders and laws is a civil, peaceful action toward peace.”
Majid Tavakkoli, a political activist, considered Narges Mohammadi’s statement and action, spokesperson and vice-chairman of the Human Rights Defenders Association, as an example of a change in political struggle in Iran, and described her action in a tweet as a step toward peace.
Narges Mohammadi was sent on medical leave on the fourth of Esfand following heart surgery, and shortly thereafter was summoned back to prison to continue her detention.
The judicial sentences issued for Narges Mohammadi come as her activities, including opposition to capital punishment, support for families of those killed in nationwide protests, defense of political prisoners, protest against prolonged solitary confinement, raising awareness about prison conditions, and describing physical and psychological torture, have always been pursued through civil and peaceful means.
This human rights activist was previously sentenced in one of her cases to 16 years of imprisonment (10 years enforceable), and after serving eight years of this sentence, she was released from prison in Mehr of 1399.
Following repeated imprisonments in which one case alone included “16 years of imprisonment with 10 years enforceable,” Narges Mohammadi contracted muscular paralysis disease in prison, and her family has repeatedly pointed out that prison conditions exacerbate her illness.
The United States, the European Union, and human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Narges Mohammadi from prison.
Source: Voice of America
