UN Environmental Official Calls for Release of Imprisoned Environmental Activists in Iran on Nowruz
The UN Environment Programme director called for the release of environmental prisoners in Iran on the occasion of Nowruz.
Inger Andersen wrote on Friday, the first day of Farvardin, in a message on Twitter in both Persian and English: “On the occasion of Nowruz, I encourage Iran to free imprisoned environmental experts so they too can celebrate nature’s rebirth with their loved ones. Happy Nowruz!”
Human Jokar, Taher Ghaderian, Murad Tahbaz, Sepideh Kashani, Niloofar Bayani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi, and Abdolreza Koohpayeh are Iranian environmental activists and experts who, following two years of detention, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on security charges.
In recent days, a number of prisoners, including security detainees, have been released or granted furlough to reduce prison overcrowding and prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, the number of released political and security prisoners is proportionally lower compared to prisoners convicted of other crimes.
Iran’s judicial system announced that a number of security detainees with sentences under five years and some prisoners on furlough have been pardoned and will not return to prison. Shahanz Akmeali, mother of Mostafa Karimi Bighi, Abdolreza Koohpayeh, an environmental activist, and a number of Gonabadi Dervishes are among the prisoners who have been released. Nazanin Zaghari was also released on furlough after approximately four years.
However, seven other environmental prisoners remain in custody.
Source: Voice of America
