European Bar Association Calls for Release of Imprisoned Lawyers in Iran

The European Bar Association has issued a letter addressed to Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran, calling for the release of imprisoned lawyers in Iran.

The European Bar Association, which represents more than one million lawyers in 45 European countries, issued this letter on Friday, April 18 (Farvardin 29). Referencing the coronavirus outbreak and its spread in Iranian prisons, the association urged Rouhani to release imprisoned lawyers in Iran who have been detained for peaceful activities and whose lives are currently in danger.

The group of lawyers expressed concern about the situation of imprisoned lawyers in Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 disease. Based on reports circulated in recent days regarding the infection of some prisoners in Iranian prisons, particularly Evin Prison, they stated that the condition of prisoners in Iranian jails is alarming.

The letter also mentions Nasrin Sotoudeh, Abdolfattah Soltani, Mohammad Najafi, and Amir Salar Davoudi, four imprisoned lawyers in Iran who received the 2019 Human Rights Award from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe in December of last year. The letter notes that these lawyers have been punished solely for their activities as lawyers.

At the conclusion of the letter, these lawyers urged Rouhani to do whatever is in his power to protect the health and safety of all lawyers deprived of their freedom in Iran by releasing them. They also asked him to take all necessary measures to ensure that lawyers can perform their professional duties without fear and anxiety in Iran.

On the same day, twelve United Nations reporters and experts issued a statement referring to the latest statistics from Iran’s Ministry of Health regarding one death every ten minutes from coronavirus infection. They called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners and dual nationals held in Iranian prisons who are at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Previously, Reza Khandan, the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, announced that “the judiciary continues to prevent the release of political prisoners,” and currently many families, despite the risk of coronavirus infection, are caught between visitation halls, prosecutor’s offices, and their homes.