Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Yasmin Aryani, Maryam Kakaei and Monire Arabshahi in Letter to Raisi
Amnesty International released a letter addressed to Ebrahim Raisi, Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Monire Arabshahi, Yasmin Aryani and Maryam Kakaei.
In its letter published on Tuesday, July 9, the human rights organization stated that these individuals were arrested in March solely for their “peaceful protest against Iran’s discriminatory mandatory hijab law” and have been denied access to legal representation since their detention.
Amnesty International, in this letter, while pointing to the pressures exerted by the judicial apparatus on these detainees and mistreatment by the judge during interrogation, wrote to Ebrahim Raisi that Monire Arabshahi, Yasmin Aryani and Maryam Kakaei are prisoners of conscience who were detained for their human rights activities and should be released immediately.
The letter also requested that the Head of the Judiciary ensure these individuals have access to lawyers and family visits upon their release, and that the judicial system cease criminalizing activities in defense of women’s rights.
Amnesty International called on users of its website to send a letter to Ebrahim Raisi demanding the release of these three prisoners based on available information about their situation in Iran.
According to reports, the reason for the arrest of Maryam Kakaei, Monire Arabshahi and Yasmin Aryani was distributing flowers on the women’s car of Tehran metro and protesting mandatory hijab on International Women’s Day (March 8), and they have been charged with “assembly and conspiracy against national security,” “propaganda against the system” and “promoting and encouraging corruption and obscenity through promoting unveiling.” Additionally, Yasmin Aryani has been charged with “insulting sacred values,” and Monire Arabshahi’s support for workers has also been considered a criminal act.
In recent years, the United States government has repeatedly supported Iranian women’s efforts to eliminate discriminatory laws, including mandatory hijab.
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the efforts of Iranian women to fight mandatory hijab at the “Courageous Women Award” ceremony at the U.S. State Department.
Source: Voice of America
