Call for rally in Frankfurt against the "hostage taking" of a German in Iran
The International Human Rights Society in Germany issued a statement announcing its intention to protest the arrest of Nahid Taghavi in Iran in front of the Iranian Consulate in Frankfurt on Thursday, December 10.
The International Human Rights Society in Germany announced that it will hold a protest rally in front of the Iranian Consulate in Frankfurt on Thursday, December 10, along with Nahid Taghavi's daughter and the mayor of Frankfurt.
This human rights organization reported about a month and a half ago that Nahid Taghavi, a dual Iranian-German citizen, had been arrested in Tehran.
Ms. Taghavi's daughter also said that her mother was arrested on Friday (October 15) and taken to Evin Prison. During the arrest, security officers confiscated Nahid Taghavi's ID card, German passport, laptop, mobile phone, and cash.
Nahid Taghavi is 66 years old and, according to the International Human Rights Community, has been an activist for women's rights and freedom of expression. She came to Germany in 1983 and has been granted German citizenship in addition to Iranian citizenship since 2003. Taghavi has been traveling between Iran and Germany for the past 15 years.
Martin Lesnenstein, a spokesman for the international human rights community, criticized Ms. Taghavi’s imprisonment as “taking a German citizen hostage.” He said Iran is known for taking dual citizens hostage to gain political and economic privileges.
According to Lesnstein, Taqvi's friends and human rights activists in Germany expected the German government to pressure Iran to release him. He said that with the exception of "a few seconds of short calls from prison," the prisoner has been prevented from contacting his family and has been unable to receive consular protection.
The German International Human Rights Society has also announced that they plan to rally with Taqvi's daughter on Thursday, December 10, in front of the Islamic Republic's consulate in Frankfurt to demand the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
According to the program of this human rights organization, a joint rally with Frankfurt Mayor Peter Feldmann is scheduled to be held in front of Frankfurt's Römer Hall from 3:00 PM onwards.
Source: DW
