Nasrin Sotoudeh protests against “systematic violation of women’s rights” in Iran

Nasrin Sotoudeh has published a message from Evin Prison on the occasion of March 8. A call for a joint fight against discrimination and injustice. Referring to the outbreak of the Corona virus in Iran, she has called on the Iranian government to end its hostility towards the world.

The English-language weekly magazine “Time” has reflected the message of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer, human rights activist and women’s rights activist. Nasrin Sotoudeh wrote this message from Evin Prison, in English, on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day.

There are important and thought-provoking points in this short message. In his message, this lawyer has taken two perspectives on women's struggles and the civil movement in Iran. He has taken a brief look at what has passed, and he has a look at the year ahead.

Nasrin Sotoudeh referred to her arrest in 2018, writing that on one of the last spring days of that year, security agents broke into her home and took her to Evin Prison. The civil activist then referred to her five-year sentence, which was commuted to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes after just a few months.

Sotoudeh writes about the women's ward in Evin Prison and the forty women who are deprived of their freedom in the small, three-room ward, mostly for political reasons. The women's rights activist said that the only crime of some of these women was distributing flowers during the March 8th ceremony in the Tehran metro last year.

She writes that the “crime” of some of them was simply distributing her photo on the subway. This has only strengthened her resolve to defend these women and fight against this injustice. Some other women have been arrested in connection with union activities and participation in labor protests. A number of dual citizens have also been arrested on charges of espionage and are imprisoned in the women’s ward.

Nasrin Sotoudeh calls these accusations a "systematic violation of women's rights" in Iran and asks for help from all free people and women around the world on March 8th.

Lessons to be learned from the past

In part of her message, Nasrin Sotoudeh asks, "What happened that led to this? What mistake did we make? Why couldn't we win? Why can't our government govern as it should and could? Why haven't we learned how to effectively and peacefully confront discrimination and injustice?"

He says that in a situation where Iranian society has been hit by the coronavirus respiratory disease, it is necessary to confront the phenomenon of hostility and hostility that has engulfed Iranian society.

Nasrin Sotoudeh says that on this World Day, March 8th, in a situation where this deadly virus has taken hold in Iran, she, as a citizen, respectfully calls on the Iranian government to stop its hostility and enmity with the world and look at the world through the lens of peace and trust in life and humanity.

He also calls on all human rights activists and activists in the world to support and back this peaceful campaign of the Iranian people.

She says that on this day, “I ask for help from the American people.” In her message to the American people, Nasrin Sotoudeh writes that our governments have been hostile to each other for years without caring about the Iranian people.

At the end of his note, this civil activist called on all Iranians in the world to strive to maintain peace, a peace that is the foundation of life and survival.

Source: DW