1,591 days in prison; calls for release of environmental activists continue in Iran
On Sunday, June 5, nine former political prisoners published an open letter criticizing the Islamic Republic's treatment of imprisoned environmental activists in Iran.
These political prisoners, who were previously imprisoned with Sepideh Kashani and Niloufar Bayani, wrote in their letter: "Rulers who want to subjugate every connection between humans and their environment and silence the truth, imprison people who, with the weapon of knowledge and awareness, are trying to save nature and preserve its vitality and survival."
The letter, written to coincide with World Environment Day, June 5, and published by the BBC Persian website, was signed by Kylie Moore Gilbert, Nazanin Zaghari, Aras Amiri, Athena Daemi, Parisa Rafiei, Nazi Oskouei, Shokofeh Yadollahi, Negin Ghadmian, and Sepideh Farhan.
Eight environmental activists were arrested in Iran in February 2017, seven of whom are still in prison serving their sentences.
During this time, the United States, the United Nations, and human rights defenders have repeatedly called for the release of these individuals, describing their prison sentences as "unjust."
At the same time, Inger Andersen, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, also called for the release of Iranian environmental activists from prison. She wrote on her Twitter in Persian: “We only have one planet and no one should be put on trial for protecting it.”
Source: Voice of America
