Nasrin Sotoudeh Protests ‘Systematic Violation of Women’s Rights’ in Iran
Nasrin Sotoudeh has released a message from Evin Prison on the occasion of March 8th. A call for joint struggle against discrimination and injustice. She has called on the Iranian government to end its hostility with the world, while referring to the prevalence of coronavirus in Iran.
The English-language weekly magazine “TIME” has reflected the message of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer, human rights activist, and women’s rights advocate. Nasrin Sotoudeh wrote this message from Evin Prison in English on the occasion of March 8th, International Women’s Day.
This brief message contains important and thought-provoking points. In her message, this human rights lawyer has cast two perspectives on women’s struggles and civil movements in Iran. She has taken a brief look at what has passed, and looks ahead to the year to come.
Nasrin Sotoudeh has referred to her arrest in 2018, writing that in one of the final spring days of that year, security forces raided her home and took her to Evin Prison. This civil activist then refers to her five-year prison sentence. A sentence that, after just a few months, was changed to 33 years of imprisonment and 148 lashes.
Stoudeh writes about the women’s ward in Evin Prison and forty women who are confined in a small, three-room ward, deprived of freedom largely for political reasons. This women’s rights activist has said that the only crime of some of these women was the distribution of flowers at the March 8th commemoration last year in Tehran’s metro.
She writes that the “crime” of some of them was merely distributing her photo in the metro. A matter that has strengthened her determination to defend these women and fight against such injustice. Some other women have been arrested in connection with trade union activities and participation in labor protests. Some dual-national citizens have also been arrested on espionage charges and are imprisoned in the women’s ward.
Nasrin Sotoudeh has described these charges as “systematic violation of women’s rights” in Iran and appeals to all free people and women around the world on March 8th for their support.
Lessons That Must Be Learned From the Past
In part of her message, Nasrin Sotoudeh asks: What happened that brought us to this point? What mistake did we make? Why couldn’t we succeed? Why can’t our government govern as it should and could? Why haven’t we learned how we can effectively and peacefully counter discrimination and injustice?
She says that in circumstances where Iranian society has been struck by the respiratory disease coronavirus, we must address the phenomenon of hostility and enmity that has gripped Iranian society.
Nasrin Sotoudeh says that on this world day, on March 8th, at a time when this deadly virus has struck Iran, she, as a citizen, respectfully asks the Iranian government to put an end to its hostility and enmity with the world and to view the world through the lens of peace and confidence in life and humanity.
She also asks all human rights activists and advocates around the world to support and back this peaceful campaign of the Iranian people.
She says that on such a day “I appeal for help from the American people.” Nasrin Sotoudeh writes in her message to the American people that our governments over these years, without regard for the concerns of the Iranian people, have been hostile to one another.
At the end of her note, this civil activist has asked all Iranians around the world to work for the preservation of peace, a peace that is the foundation of life and survival.
Source: DW
