Narges Mohammadi in an interview with Radio Farda: Despite heart surgery, I will return to prison on Tuesday

Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist, spokesperson, and vice president of the Center for Human Rights Defenders in Iran, who has been summoned to return to prison again despite heart surgery, said in an interview with Radio Farda that she will return to prison on Tuesday, April 13.

Ms. Mohammadi, who had previously told Radio Farda that the sentences issued against her have no legal validity and that she will not obey them and will engage in civil disobedience, told us today in an interview: "I did not obey such a vote that is aimed at suppressing civil society and the people's fundamental freedoms, and I announced that I would engage in civil disobedience and would not return to prison. However, they have sent a letter to my bailiff, who has posted a bail of 500 million tomans, and they want to confiscate his house in two days, even though the house is worth more than 500 million tomans."

He stated: "Many friends have announced that they are willing to pay 500 million tomans. Some friends even tried to announce it publicly so that the bailiff would not suffer, but I did not believe in this. This is because even a single Quran going into the pocket of any of the rulings issued against me has no legal, moral, or religious validity, and I do not recognize these rulings."

Narges Mohammadi was arrested on November 15 during a security forces raid on a mourning ceremony at the tomb of Ebrahim Kebatdar, one of the victims of November 1999, and after 64 days in solitary confinement in Evin's Security Ward 209, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin in late January. She has been on sick leave since March 20 to undergo heart surgery.

Narges Mohammadi was transferred to prison on May 5, 2015, to serve her sentence, and was released from Zanjan Prison on October 6, 2020, using the law to reduce prison sentences.

In a new case opened against him in recent months, he has been sentenced to "80 lashes, 30 months of penal servitude, and two counts of financial payment" on charges such as "propaganda against the regime," "sit-in at the prison office," "rebellion against the prison administration and officials," "destruction of windows," and "slander" on charges of torture and assault.

Narges Mohammadi was also sentenced in a five-minute trial to eight years and two months in prison, 74 lashes, two years of exile from Tehran, a two-year ban on activities in organizations and parties, and a two-year ban on presence and activity on social networks and interviews.

Source: Radio Farda