Concerns Over Physical Health of Nahid Taghavi, Iranian-German Citizen Detained in Evin

Son of Nahid Taghavi: Officials say don’t tire yourself out until interrogations are finished, we won’t provide any explanation

Nearly forty days have passed since the arrest of Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German citizen. Nahid Taghavi was detained at her home by security forces on the 28th of Mehr month this year. During a search of her Tehran residence, security officials confiscated some of her personal items including a laptop, mobile phone, passports, and several books belonging to this Iranian-German citizen. Nahid Taghavi is 66 years old and has traveled back and forth between Iran and Germany over the past 15 years, with no previous detention record.

Maryam Claren, daughter of Nahid Taghavi, referring to the “unfair” manner in which authorities are handling her mother’s case, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “After 39 days of my mother’s detention, authorities have provided no explanation for the reason for this arrest. We are currently only waiting for the Evin prison authorities to give us any news about my mother.”

Nahid Taghavi’s daughter, noting that no visitation has been allowed during all this time, said: “Only 12 days after my mother’s arrest was she allowed to make a brief phone call, but other than that one brief call we have had no other news from her.”

Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German dual national citizen, has been held since her arrest in one of the security detention blocks of Evin prison in solitary confinement.

Maryam Claren, daughter of this 66-year-old citizen, noting that her mother’s brothers came from Shiraz to Tehran after learning of their sister’s arrest, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “My uncles have repeatedly gone to Evin prison and received no response from officials. Each time the officials tell my uncles not to tire yourselves out and don’t come here because until the end of the interrogations we won’t give you any explanation.”

The daughter of this dual-national citizen, referring to her mother’s physical health condition, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “Our greatest concern is regarding my mother’s health condition. At minimum, we want my mother to have access to her medications and that at least there be an opportunity for visitation with her.”

Maryam Claren, noting that no details about the reason for her mother’s arrest have been announced, said: “I simply cannot understand why there is such prolonged silence about my mother’s condition. We are neither given access to the file nor are we able to have a lawyer.”

Maryam Claren told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “Our main demand is my mother’s immediate release, but given the unjust judicial system, at minimum our current demand is information about my mother’s physical condition and health as well as the scope and details of her case.”

Mrs. Taghavi’s daughter, noting that it is possible to appoint a court-appointed lawyer for her mother, said: “We insist that the appointed lawyer be chosen by the family itself to pursue the case, not a lawyer appointed by the judiciary.”

Maryam Claren told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “The German government is aware of this case but they don’t give me specific information and only say they are busy collecting information about the case.” According to Nahid Taghavi’s daughter, “German authorities say that since Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, we cannot do anything.”

Maryam Claren, who resides in Germany, explaining the reason for her mother’s arrest, says: “The officials just came, took her, and left, and until now haven’t even provided a single word of explanation.”

Maryam Claren, referring to a statement by the German government a few days ago recommending citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Iran and the response of Iranian authorities, said: “I hope that international voices and such positions will help accelerate my mother’s release.”

The German Foreign Ministry, in a statement referring to the Islamic Republic’s history of detaining dual Iranian-German citizens without cause or justification, had asked them to refrain from unnecessary travel to Iran.

The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic, responding to the statement by the German Foreign Ministry on Sunday, the 2nd of Azar month, said: “All Iranian nationals enjoy equal protections, rights, and responsibilities. The fact that the German government, which itself had a role in some hostage-taking incidents involving Iranians and arrested Iranian individuals and personalities at its airports under very flimsy pretexts, cannot make such claims about Iran.”

Earlier, after several weeks had passed since the arrest of Nahid Taghavi, a dual Iranian-German citizen, German government officials confirmed that besides Ms. Taghavi, three other Iranian-German citizens are imprisoned in Iran. German officials did not mention the names of the three other citizens.

The German government had said that the Foreign Ministry would continue its efforts to clarify the reason for Nahid Taghavi’s detention and her condition. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers dual citizens to be Iranian citizens, making it impossible for German consular authorities in Iran to provide assistance.

In Mordad month of this year, the German government confirmed that an Iranian-German citizen named Jamshid Sharmahd, who lived in America, was detained without any explanation by Iranian security forces in Dubai. Sharmahd’s son, stating that his father was in Dubai for a business trip, told the Associated Press that “the Sharmahd family last received a message from Jamshid Sharmahd on July 28, and since that date he has not responded to their phone calls and messages.”

Iranian authorities announced on Saturday, the 11th of Mordad month, the detention of Jamshid Sharmahd, head of the “Tondar Group,” whom they claim is the media organization of the monarchist National Council of Iran in America. Iranian television also showed Jamshid Sharmahd after his arrest with his eyes covered and in forced confession.

The German Foreign Ministry at that time demanded consular access to Jamshild Sharmahd by its embassy in Tehran and emphasized that it wanted to know how Jamshid Sharmahd was detained.

Source: Campaign for Human Rights in Iran