Nasrin Sotoudeh was returned to prison from the hospital "in the worst physical condition"
A few days after Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights defender, was hospitalized in the CCU ward of Taleghani Hospital, her husband says that Ms. Sotoudeh was returned to prison.
Ms. Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike for more than six weeks and her physical condition is reported to be critical.
Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh's husband, tweeted on Wednesday, October 19: "This evening, after five days of imprisonment in Taleghani Security Hospital, Nasrin was returned to prison in the worst physical condition without any medical treatment."
Mr. Khandan says that this action has no other meaning than to put Ms. Sotoudeh at risk of death.
US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus also tweeted on Wednesday that the United States remains deeply concerned about the health of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was recently admitted to a prison hospital.
He continued: "We stand with Nasrin and her enduring struggle for human rights in Iran and call for her release. We condemn the regime's brutal use of unjust imprisonment."
In recent days, several international organizations, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the European Film Academy, along with a group of famous artists and writers, have called on the Islamic Republic to immediately release Ms. Sotoudeh. The Prime Minister of Canada has also made a similar request to the Iranian government.
The arrest, prison sentence, and strike of this prominent lawyer have sparked a wave of concern among human rights defenders.
The German Association of Judges awarded its Human Rights Award to Ms. Sotoudeh on September 4.
Mr. Khandan had said on September 10 that Ms. Sotoudeh, who had been taken to the emergency room of Talfani Hospital after experiencing "heart problems and shortness of breath, very low blood pressure, and severe general weakness," was "transferred to the CCU ward of the same hospital" due to her deteriorating condition.
Ms. Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike since August 10, 2020, in protest of the conditions of political prisoners, by publishing a letter calling for the release of political prisoners. She described the conditions of these prisoners as “unfair” and emphasized that the prison situation has become “worse” following the spread of the coronavirus.
He also went on a hunger strike last March.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has represented many political activists, women, and students, has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison and 148 lashes for charges such as "acting against national security," "inciting public opinion," and insulting Iranian government officials. According to the Islamic Penal Code, 12 years of this sentence will be served.
Source: Radio Farda
