Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Qolyan: Holding rallies is a "right," not a "crime."

Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Gholian, two prisoners of conscience in Evin Prison, issued a statement calling for the arrest of labor activists and teachers during the days of protest. They say that holding gatherings is a right, not a crime.

The website of the Center for Human Rights Defenders has published the text of the statement by Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Qolyan. In their statement, the two protested the arrest of labor activists and teachers. They referred to the principles stated in the constitution, which states that “holding peaceful assemblies 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 a “right” to a “crime” and repressed activists in this field.”

The two are specifically referring to the arrest of a group of workers and teachers in recent days. Narges Mohammadi and Sepideh Qolyan’s statement states: “Unfortunately, in recent days, dozens of teachers and workers who had participated in the rally organized by their trade unions have been arrested and even beaten. This way of treating workers and teachers is not only an attack on a trade union or group, but also a violation of the principles of the country’s constitution and an attack on the rights of the nation, which is in line with the suppression of civil society.”

They have noted that "due to the lack of management and efficiency of the system and the existence of systematic corruption in the Islamic Republic of Iran, they live in the worst economic and livelihood conditions, and shocking news of endless embezzlement and plunder of the nation's property is heard every day. Instead of sympathizing and accompanying the hardworking and respectable segment of society and listening to civil and peaceful protests, the government throws peaceful protesters into prison and closes peaceful and civil avenues to civil activists more and more every day."

At the end of their statement from prison, these two political prisoners of conscience wrote in response to the important question of "what should be done now?": "You must insist on realizing your "right," even if the government considers it a "crime."
"Holding gatherings and forming associations is a right. Criticism and civil protests are a right."

Narges Mohammadi, the vice president of the Iranian Center for Human Rights Defenders, has been in prison for nearly seven years. Sepideh Gholian, a civil rights activist, was arrested for the second time in Ahvaz in February of last year and transferred to Evin Prison some time later.

Workers' and teachers' gatherings and the government's response to them

In a report published on May 6, the Iranian Human Rights Campaign considered the continued detention of detained workers and teachers to be against the law.

A group of workers, teachers, and students were arrested in two protest rallies on May 1 and 2. Some of them remain in illegal detention without specific charges or access to a lawyer, according to the campaign.

The report states that "by the evening of May 5, a number of them were released from prison on bail or bail, but some protesters are still in Qarchak Prison, Evin Prison, and Tehran's large prison (Fashafoyeh)."

The campaign also referred to Article 27 of the Constitution, according to which "the formation of gatherings and marches is free, without carrying weapons, provided that it does not violate the foundations of Islam."

The campaign says that although workers and teachers participated in recent and other rallies peacefully and without weapons or other weapons, they have been beaten and detained by Iranian police and security forces.

On International Workers' Day (May 11), a peaceful rally was held in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Workers' House, with the participation of a large number of workers. The rally was held at the call of labor organizations, unions, and labor activists.

A day later, on Teacher's Day (May 12), after protest rallies were held in various provinces of the country, many teachers were beaten and arrested by law enforcement and security officers.

HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists Association in Iran, also reported on Sunday, May 5, that the Teachers' Union of England protested the recent arrests in an open letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. According to the news, the Teachers' Union of England has called for the immediate release of the detainees. HRANA News Agency wrote that the workers' union of the Vahed Company expressed concern about the health condition and lack of news of Reza Shahabi, and that Mostafa Kawakbian, a member of parliament, has called for the release of those arrested for the rally in front of the parliament.

Source: DW