Nasrin Sotoudeh Returned to Prison ‘in Worst Physical Condition’ from Hospital
A few days after Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights defender, was admitted to the ICU ward of Taleghani Hospital, her husband says that she has been returned to prison.
Ms. Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike for more than six weeks, and her physical condition has been reported as critical.
Reza Khandan, Ms. Sotoudeh’s husband, wrote on Wednesday, September 23rd, posting on Twitter: “This evening, after five days of detention in Taleghani security hospital, Nasrin was returned to prison in the worst physical condition without any medical intervention”.
Mr. Khandan says that this action means nothing other than putting Ms. Sotoudeh in mortal danger.
Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, also said on Wednesday in a Twitter post that the United States remains deeply concerned about Nasrin Sotoudeh’s health, who was recently hospitalized in a prison hospital.
She further wrote: “We stand with Nasrin and her sustained fight for human rights in Iran, and we call for her release. We condemn the regime’s brutal use of unlawful detention”.
In recent days, several international organizations, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the European Film Academy, along with a number of famous artists and writers, called on the Islamic Republic to immediately release Ms. Sotoudeh. Canada’s Prime Minister has also made a similar request of the Iranian government.
The arrest, prison sentence, and hunger strike of this renowned lawyer have sparked a wave of concerns among human rights defenders.
The German Judges Association awarded its human rights prize to Ms. Sotoudeh on September 4th.
Mr. Khandan had said on September 20th that Ms. Sotoudeh, who was transferred to the emergency room of Taleghani Hospital following “heart problems and shortness of breath, very low blood pressure and severe general weakness,” was “transferred to the ICU ward of the same hospital” because of her critical condition.
Since August 9th, Ms. Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike after releasing a letter in which she called for the release of political prisoners and protested the conditions of political prisoners. She described the conditions of these prisoners as “unjust” and emphasized that the situation in the prison has become “worse” following the outbreak of the coronavirus.
She had also gone 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 on charges such as “actions against national security,” “disturbing public opinion,” and insulting Iranian government officials. According to Islamic Penal Code, 12 years of this sentence will be carried out.
Source: Radio Farda
