Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Ghilian: Holding Gatherings is a ‘Right’ not a ‘Crime’

Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Ghilian, two political prisoners at Evin Prison, issued a statement protesting the arrest of labor activists and teachers during recent days of protest. They say that holding gatherings is a right, not a crime.

The Human Rights Defenders Center website published the text of a statement by Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Ghilian. In their statement, the two protested the arrest of labor activists and teachers. They referred to the explicit principles of the Constitution, which states that “holding peaceful gatherings and forming associations and societies are among the fundamental rights of the nation.”

The two wrote: “Over the past forty years, the government has transformed these fundamental rights from ‘rights’ into ‘crimes’ and suppresses activists in this field.”

Their reference is particularly directed at the arrest of a group of workers and teachers in recent days. In the statement by Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Ghilian, it states: “Unfortunately, in recent days, dozens of teachers and workers who participated in gatherings organized by their professional associations have been arrested and even beaten. This manner of dealing with workers and teachers is not merely an assault on one profession or group, but a violation of the principles of the country’s constitution and an assault on the rights of the nation, in line with the suppression of civil society.”

They pointed out that “due to the lack of management and efficiency of the system and the existence of systematic corruption in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s system, people are living in the worst economic and livelihood conditions, and shocking news of endless embezzlements and plundering of national assets reaches our ears every day. Instead of sympathizing and walking alongside the hardworking and respected classes of society and listening to civil and peaceful protests, the government throws peaceful gatherers into prison and closes the doors of peaceful and civil ways to civil activists more and more each day.”

These two political prisoners conclude their statement from prison in response to the important question of “what should be done?” They wrote: “We must insist on realizing ‘rights,’ even if the government considers them ‘crimes.’
Holding gatherings and forming associations is a right. Criticism and civil protests are a right.”

Narges Mohammadi, Vice President of the Iran Human Rights Defenders Center, has been in prison for nearly seven years. Sepideh Ghilian, a civil activist, was arrested for the second time in Ahvaz in February of last year and was later transferred to Evin Prison.

Workers’ and Teachers’ Gatherings and Government Response

Iran Human Rights Campaign, in a report released on April 6, deemed the continued detention of arrested workers and teachers to be in violation of laws.

In two protest gatherings on April 1 and 2, groups of workers, teachers, and students were arrested. According to the campaign’s report, some of them remain in illegal detention without clear charges and access to a lawyer.

The report states that “by the evening of April 5, some of them were released from prison on bail or with security deposits, but some of the protesters still remain in Qarchak Prison, Evin, and Tehran’s large prison (Fashafuyeh).”

This campaign also referred to Article 27 of the Constitution, which states that “holding meetings and marches without carrying arms is free, provided that it does not harm the principles of Islam.”

The campaign says that although workers and teachers in recent and other gatherings participated peacefully, without weapons or other arms, they were subjected to beatings and arrests by Iranian law enforcement and security officials.

On International Workers’ Day (April 1), a peaceful gathering was held in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Workers’ House with the participation of many workers. This gathering was held in response to calls from workers’ unions, federations, and labor activists.

One day later, on Teachers’ Day (April 2), following the holding of protest gatherings in various provinces of the country, many teachers were subjected to beatings and arrests by law enforcement and security officials.

The Hrana News Agency, the news organ of Iran’s human rights activists network, also reported on Sunday, April 5, about the English Teachers’ Union’s protest in an open letter to Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, regarding recent arrests. Based on this report, the English Teachers’ Union called for the prompt release of those detained. Hrana News Agency wrote that the United Company Workers’ Syndicate expressed concern about the health status and lack of news about Reza Shahabi, and Mostafa Kavakbian, a parliamentary representative, demanded the release of those detained at the gathering in front of parliament.

Source: DW