Akram Nasirian, a civil rights activist and flood relief worker, arrested on unspecified charges

Akram Nasirian, a civil activist and member of the " Voice of Iranian Women " group and a member of the "Flood Relief Assistance" group, was arrested on the street by security agents on May 29, 2019 and transferred to Evin Prison. There is still no information about his charges, the reason for his arrest, or the ward where he is being held in Evin Prison.

The Telegram channel " Voice of Iranian Women " announced her arrest and wrote that Akram Nasirian's family was unaware of her arrest for a day until Ms. Akram Nasirian called her family on the morning of May 10 and informed them that she was in Evin Prison and being interrogated. According to the Telegram channel, Ms. Akram Nasirian's case has been opened in the Second Investigation Branch of the Evin Prosecutor's Office, but no information has been provided about her charges.

Akram Nasirian is a civil activist and one of the main members of the group “ Voice of Iranian Women. ” The group introduces itself in the About Us section of their website as follows : “ Voice of Iranian Women reflects the efforts, suffering, failures, and successes of women in Iranian society and strives to empower women to achieve a better life in the face of problems and discrimination. ” The website introduces the main members of the group in the About Us section by publishing a photo of six women, one of whom is Ms. Akram Nasirian.

This grassroots group was very active in the field of literacy training for working women and children, and Afghan children, providing financial assistance to working children, holding charity meetings, trying to obtain birth certificates for many Afghan children, and writing statements on acid attacks on women.

During this time, Ms. Akram Nasirian was a literacy teacher for working children, Afghans, and women in the Iranian Women's Voice group, and after the flood, she was one of the helpers helping flood victims in the southern region of the country.

Her daughter, Nima Mehdipour, posted a video on her Instagram page on April 1, looking at the camera and asking all human rights activists to work for her mother's unconditional release. She says : " My mother, Akram Nasirian, is a  "He was arrested on the street on Monday, 26th of Ardabeesht, and without informing us, he was transferred to Evin Prison. Through our follow-up on Tuesday, we learned that he was being interrogated in the second investigation branch of the Evin Prison Prosecutor's Office. "

Akram Nasirian's son, asking for what crime his mother was arrested, said : " For what crime did you arrest my mother? Teaching reading and writing to a group of Afghan refugees and helping flood victims in the south of the country. I call on all social activists and human rights groups to release her."  "Immediately and unconditionally release Akram Nasirian. "

There are no specific statistics on the arrests of flood relief workers. In the first days of the flood in Khuzestan, some sources reported the arrest of a number of Arab activists in the region. Also, Munireh Arabshahi, the mother of Yasmin Ariani, an activist protesting against compulsory hijab and one of those who helped flood victims, was arrested and remains in detention.

Source: Human Rights Campaign