Nasrin Sotoudeh Contracts Coronavirus; US and German PEN Centers Call for Her Permanent Release
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist imprisoned in Iran, has tested positive for coronavirus, according to an announcement made by her husband on Tuesday, November 10. Simultaneously, PEN centers in the United States and Germany have called for the permanent release of this prominent Iranian human rights lawyer.
Mrs. Sotoudeh was released on temporary leave from prison on Saturday, November 11, but her husband, Reza Khandan, states that her coronavirus infection occurred before her release and while she was still in prison. Mr. Khandan wrote on his Facebook page, referring to a visit he had at Qarchak Prison before his wife’s release: “Last Wednesday, during my first visit to Nasrin at Qarchak Prison, she told me that coronavirus had come to our ward and many people had become ill. This is why she was in a hurry to follow up on her temporary release procedures.”
He continued: “Yesterday we went to the hospital due to Nasrin’s heart condition. Before conducting a heart test, they suggested we both take coronavirus tests. Today, Nasrin’s test result came back positive. My test result is not yet ready.”
Mr. Khandan further wrote that the judicial authorities and the prison organization “transferred her from Evin Prison to Qarchak without justification, despite their awareness of the unsanitary and catastrophic conditions at Qarchak Prison, and exposed her to the virus despite her severe illness and weakness.”
Call for Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Permanent Release
Simultaneously, PEN America and PEN Germany, along with the “Right to Life” Foundation, while protesting the unjust prison sentence imposed on Nasrin Sotoudeh, have called for her immediate and unconditional release. They have demanded that her current temporary leave from prison lead to her permanent freedom.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison by the Islamic Republic on charges including “assembly and conspiracy against national security, spreading lies and causing public unrest” for her defense of political prisoners, was temporarily released on bail for medical treatment on Saturday, November 7.
Previously, independent experts from the United Nations warned about Mrs. Sotoudeh’s condition and called for her immediate release to access medical services.
During her imprisonment, Nasrin Sotoudeh repeatedly went on hunger strikes in protest of the denial of fair trial principles in her trial proceedings and the violation of the rights of political prisoners during their incarceration.
Reza Khandan had previously told Voice of America: “It is true that my wife’s general health has improved due to breaking her hunger strike, but her heart condition and shortness of breath persist.”
Previously, Robert Menendez, a senior Democratic U.S. Senator, announced on September 20 on Twitter that Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights defender, should never have been imprisoned in the first place. In his Twitter message, he wrote that Iran must immediately and unconditionally release Nasrin Sotoudeh and end her hunger strike before her condition worsens.
The United States has repeatedly condemned the violent crackdowns and widespread repression of protesters and civil activists, as well as the repeated and systematic violation of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
