Nasrin Sotoudeh Returns to Varamin Qarchak Prison After Medical Leave Expires
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist who was sent on medical leave on December 10, returned to Varamin Qarchak Prison on Wednesday evening, January 20, to serve the remainder of her sentence.
According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Iranian human rights activist network, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, returned to Varamin Qarchak Prison on Wednesday evening, January 20, 2021, after her medical leave period ended.
Ms. Sotoudeh was previously sent on medical leave from Varamin Qarchak Prison on December 10 to receive treatment for a heart condition.
Reza Khandan, Ms. Sotoudeh’s husband, wrote in a note on his personal page: “Nasrin returned to Qarchak Prison this evening. She had an angiography performed at Pars Tehran Hospital a few days ago. Unfortunately, the conditions in Iranian prisons are dismal, and prisoners with physical problems and illnesses endure much harsher conditions.”
Ms. Sotoudeh was previously sent on leave on November 8 with the approval of the prison official, and returned to Varamin Qarchak Prison on December 3 after her leave period ended.
Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested at her home on June 13, 2018, and transferred to Evin Prison. According to her lawyers, her sentence totals 38 years imprisonment with 148 lashes across two cases; 5 years imprisonment for the first case and 33 years imprisonment with 148 lashes for the second case.
Regarding the second case, Ms. Sotoudeh was tried in absentia in a hearing held on December 30, 2018, at Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on seven charges including “conspiracy and collusion against national security, propaganda activities against the system, membership in the illegal and anti-security organization Defenders of Human Rights Center, LEGAM (Stop Executions), and National Council of Peace, inciting people to corruption and immorality, appearing without proper Islamic hijab at the prosecution office, disruption of public order and peace, and publishing false information with intent to disturb public opinion.” She was sentenced to a total of 33 years imprisonment and 148 lashes. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 12 years of her 33-year sentence is enforceable as the heaviest punishment, which she is currently serving.
Ms. Sotoudeh was finally transferred from the women’s ward of Evin Prison to Varamin Qarchak Prison on October 20 of this year.
It is worth noting that Nasrin Sotoudeh was previously arrested in September 2010 and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment, 20 years prohibition from practicing law, and 20 years travel ban. This sentence was reduced to 6 years imprisonment and 10 years prohibition from practicing law at the appeals court. She served time in Evin Prison from September 13, 2010 to September 18, 2013 on charges of “actions against national security.”
Nasrin Sotoudeh is 57 years old and the mother of two children named Mehraveh and Nima.
Source: Hrana
