Narges Mohammadi’s Letter: Security Ward Suffering Exceeds Prison Torture

Narges Mohammadi, a civil activist and human rights lawyer in prison, said in a “letter” published by the “Campaign of Imprisoned Mothers” that enduring solitary cells in security wards is far more difficult than prison itself, and many detainees sometimes lose their physical and mental health for the rest of their lives.

The Kelame website published a letter reportedly written by Ms. Mohammadi from prison; at the beginning of this letter, it is stated that there are 25 female political prisoners in prisons, 23 of whom have been sentenced to a total of 177 years in prison.

According to Ms. Mohammadi, these 25 women have spent more than 12 years collectively in security wards, which is “far more severe than prison punishment.” This human rights activist added that these wards are places where suspects are held “before trial and prosecution during a period called preliminary investigation” and “this period (preliminary investigation) can last from one day to several years.”

Narges Mohammadi emphasized that the Human Rights Defenders Association, of which she is a spokesperson, and the Iran Peace Council, where she also serves as head of the executive board, have repeatedly published investigations and statements on this matter: “but unfortunately, solitary cells in security wards still host critical women and men, political and civil activists.”

Ms. Mohammadi says one of the functions of solitary cells is to force detainees to confess and make “baseless confessions” against themselves.

This civil activist described the atmosphere of security wards as “a sealed box” in which “a person is left in a void and dark, ambiguous space that is deprived of everything necessary for the sense and perception of being human and maintaining one’s identity.”

She added that the problems resulting from solitary cells, whether physical or mental health of prisoners, sometimes accompany them until the end of their lives.

According to Narges Mohammadi, political detainees who are imprisoned because of their civil activities and beliefs are held “like a dangerous terrorist” for an indefinite period in solitary cells of security wards.

According to Islamic Republic laws, holding prisoners in these wards is illegal.

This letter was written, as the Campaign of Imprisoned Mothers says, in the month of Ordibehesht and in Evin Prison.

Ms. Mohammadi has been placed in solitary confinement three times in recent years. As a result, this civil activist developed neurological diseases that have sometimes resulted in her hospitalization outside of prison.

According to reports from the end of Ordibehesht month, Branch 15 of the Tehran Islamic Revolution Court, headed by Judge Solwati, sentenced Ms. Mohammadi to ten years in prison. She is convicted of “assembly and conspiracy with intent to commit crimes against national security,” “propaganda activities against the system,” and “forming and managing the illegal group Legam.” Mohammadi has repeatedly denied these charges. The “Legam” campaign is a civil campaign aimed at step-by-step countering the implementation of death sentences in Iran and preventing the execution of minors. At the same time, Taghi Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi’s husband, said she is “not the founder of the Legam group.”

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, human rights defenders, Reporters Without Borders, a group of major civil and political figures from different countries around the world, have called for Narges Mohammadi’s release. The U.S. representative to the United Nations also described Ms. Mohammadi’s sentence as “unjust” on Friday and said she should be released.