United Nations: Release Nasrin Sotoudeh and Other Political Prisoners Due to Coronavirus Crisis
The United Nations on Tuesday, October 6, called on Iran to immediately release Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, and other political prisoners.
In a statement released for this purpose, it was stated that these individuals have been discriminated against amid the outbreak of COVID-19, and contrary to other prisoners, delays have been made regarding their release.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed the organization’s deep concern about the deteriorating situation of human rights activists, lawyers, and political prisoners in Iran as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Eight months ago, Iran took action to temporarily release approximately 120,000 prisoners across the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus in prisons, but those accused of crimes against national security with prison sentences exceeding five years were excluded from this measure.
Ms. Bachelet stated that these defendants have been exposed to a greater risk of contracting coronavirus and expressed regret over this discrimination.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressing concern about the systematic and persistent targeting of dissidents in Iran, called for medical facilities to be provided to Nasrin Sotoudeh at her home.
Ms. Sotoudeh, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes on political charges and went on a hunger strike in prison from August 11 in protest of the situation of political prisoners, ended her hunger strike on September 26 after her physical condition deteriorated.
Hundreds of writers and cultural figures around the world, by signing an open letter from the American PEN Center addressed to Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s President, called for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other political prisoners in Iran.
In this open letter, signed by renowned authors such as Margaret Atwood, Ariel Dorfman, and Paul Auster, the Islamic Republic authorities were asked to release Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, “immediately and unconditionally.”
A number of female activists outside of Iran also, in an open letter expressing concern about Nasrin Sotoudeh’s physical condition, called on the Islamic Republic authorities to end her imprisonment and that of other political prisoners.
Source: Radio Farda
