To all those who value nature and freedom; a letter from former co-stars Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani, on the occasion of World Environment Day
More than four years (1,592 days) have passed since the imprisonment of eight environmental activists in Iran, and on World Environment Day, a group of female political prisoners and former cellmates of Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani (two of the imprisoned environmental activists) published a letter criticizing the Iranian government's treatment of these environmental activists.
The letter, signed by eight former prisoners, including Nazanin Zaghari, Aras Amiri, and Atena Daemi, addressed to "all those who value nature and freedom," expressed their support for the activists imprisoned in Iran and honored their love and commitment to preserving nature.
The letter from former partners of two environmental activists criticizing the Iranian government's treatment of these nature lovers and environmentalists was published a day after Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, called for the release of Niloufar Bayani and other imprisoned environmental activists in Iran.
Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Hooman Jokar, Taher Ghadirian, Sepideh Kashani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi, Abdolreza Koohpayeh, and Kavous Seyed-Emami were environmental activists who were arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in the winter of 2017 on charges of “espionage.” Kavous Seyed-Emami died in prison under very suspicious circumstances two weeks after his arrest. Despite international pressure, the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran never allowed an independent investigation into the cause of Kavous Seyed-Emami’s death. More than two years after the environmental activists were arrested, in February 2019, the then-judiciary spokesman announced that these activists had been sentenced to a total of 58 years in prison; Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani were sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "collaborating with the United States", Hooman Jokar and Taher Ghadirian were sentenced to 8 years in prison on similar charges, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, and Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi were sentenced to 6 years in prison on charges of "espionage", and Abdolreza Koohpayeh was sentenced to 4 years in prison on charges of "gathering and colluding with the intention of acting against security".
The text of the letter from former associates Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani is as follows:
Greetings to all those who value nature and freedom.
The truth and necessity that calls for this letter is the emptiness that every open sea, every wild bird, every cheetah, dolphin, Asiatic black bear, and everyone who has known Sepideh, Niloufar, Hooman, Sam, Amir Hossein, Taher, Murad, and Kavus, is a witness to. Because they know how to live with love and are concerned about the deep and key relationship between humans and nature.
Who in this day and age walks the coastline of the Persian Gulf to save turtles? Who spends half of their meager salary on animal feed? Who, as a comrade, works alongside local ranchers to prevent the destruction of native vegetation? Who, for years and years, in the absence of infrastructure and government support, has been fighting in nature and academia to save Iran's natural habitats and waters? Who reminds us of the richness of Iran's nature by introducing it to global environmental organizations, scientific work, publishing specialized journals and books, dialogue sessions, scientific and field research, supporting and cooperating with veteran Iranian environmental activists and researchers, and protecting endangered species.
The story of the past 1,591 days of the lives of these 8 nature lovers, who have been involved in prison, solitary confinement, the loss and death of Kavous Seyyed Emami in the first days of his arrest, has a clear meaning. The rulers, who want to subjugate and silence every connection between humans and their environment, are imprisoning people who are trying to save nature and preserve its vitality and survival with the weapon of knowledge and awareness. Contrary to the will of such rulers, environmental protection is now an increasingly fundamental issue throughout the world. A large group of people know that hope for a better life comes through hope for nature, and this awareness would not have been achieved if people had not persevered in its creation and expansion at the cost of the most difficult days.
Firmness, unparalleled willpower, and respect for nature and life; this is how we came to know Niloufar and Sepideh in the fabric of our lives in prison, and with them, Hooman, Sam, Amir Hossein, Taher, Morad, Abdolreza, and Kavous; and after that, sensitivity to the environmental conditions of this planet as the true wealth of each of its inhabitants.
On the occasion of June 5th, World Environment Day, we honor the sensitivity and love that was and is their life and concern, and with respect for all those who strive in this way, we recognize our contribution to supporting nature and its protectors.
A group of former inmates of Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani:
Parisa Rafiei, Nazi Oskouei, Shokofeh Yadollahi, Atena Daemi, Negin Ghadmian, Sepideh Farhan, Nazanin Zaghari, Aras Amiri
Source: Iran Human Rights Campaign
