Nargis Mohammadi’s Husband Says Pressure on Human Rights Activist is ‘Retaliation Against a Prisoner’

Nargis Mohammadi’s husband, a human rights activist imprisoned in Iran, says the pressure being exerted by the government against this human rights activist is retaliatory in nature and aims to make prison conditions harder for her.

Taghi Rahmani, the husband of Ms. Mohammadi who recently contracted coronavirus while imprisoned in Zanjan prison, said on Tuesday, August 5, in an interview with Voice of America: “She has very sensitive lungs and if the illness had spread to her lungs it would have caused serious problems. Fortunately, the critical stage has been overcome and that is cause for relief. However, she still needs to remain under medical supervision due to her previous condition. Moreover, she was beaten during her transfer to Zanjan prison, which has caused many problems for her.”

The husband of this human rights activist, noting that Zanjan prison houses inmates with various charges and crimes, added: “Zanjan prison is not an appropriate place for holding Nargis Mohammadi and the restrictions are very extensive due to the closed conditions of the prison. This is a double pressure that is continuously repeated for her; pressures that are signs of retaliation against a prisoner.”

Mr. Rahmani believes that such treatment by judicial authorities toward human rights activists is to make these civic activities costly so that others are not willing to engage in such activities. He said: “What has a human rights activist, whose goal was to change laws in favor of human rights, done that she is subject to such retaliatory treatment?”

Nargis Mohammadi, Vice President and Spokesperson of the Center for Human Rights Defenders and imprisoned civil activist who has been in prison since mid-May 2015, was recently transferred from Evin prison to Zanjan prison, along with seven other women prisoners, following a sit-in in protest of the November killings, and was subjected to beating during the transfer. She currently faces new charges in two separate cases.

Taghi Rahmani, referring to the status of Nargis Mohammadi’s case, the imprisoned human rights activist, said: “Our request from the authorities of the Islamic Republic is clear. Nargis Mohammadi has not committed any crime for which she is imprisoned. She was sentenced to sixteen years in prison, of which 10 years were enforceable, and she has served six years and should be released from prison according to current laws.”

In late June, Kiana and Ali, the children of this human rights activist, announced through a video that they have not heard their mother’s voice for 11 months. Following the release of this video on social media, some Twitter users began a new campaign with messages using the hashtag #BeNargisVoice in support of this imprisoned journalist and in response to the pressures being exerted on her and her family by Iranian judicial authorities, including the cutting of phone calls and visits to this human rights defender by authorities, and Twitter users called for the release of this imprisoned human rights activist from Zanjan prison.