Global petition with over one million signatures for Nasrin Sotoudeh's release
Amnesty International announced that more than one million people from 200 countries have signed a petition calling for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist who has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges including “acting against national security.”
According to Amnesty International, more than one million people in 200 countries around the world have participated in the human rights organization's campaign and signed a petition demanding Nasrin Sotoudeh's release from prison.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and winner of the European Parliament's Prize for Freedom of Thought (Sakharov Prize), has been in Evin Prison for a year.
Ms. Sotoudeh was charged with “gathering and colluding against national security, propaganda activities against the system, effective membership in the illegal and anti-security group Human Rights Defenders Center, Legam (Campaign for the Step-by-Step Abolition of Executions) and the National Peace Council, encouraging people to engage in corruption and prostitution and providing the conditions for it, appearing without a religious veil at the interrogation branch, disturbing public order and peace, and spreading lies with the intention of disturbing public opinion.” She was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison and 148 lashes, of which 12 years are “enforceable” according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
Nasrin Sotoudeh's lawyer said on August 13, 2018, that two new cases had been filed against her client, and that Ms. Sotoudeh had been accused of "espionage" by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, in addition to charges of "propaganda against the system" and "insulting the leadership."
Amnesty International, marking one year since Nasrin Sotoudeh's imprisonment, has called for the unconditional release of this human rights activist and announced that it will send the signatures collected from around the world to the Islamic Republic's missions in various countries around the world today, Thursday, June 13.
The number of signatories to the global petition for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh reached 1,188,381 as of last Monday (June 10).
"A clear message" for the Islamic Republic
Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Director, described the "brutal sentence" of imprisonment and flogging against Nasrin Sotoudeh as revealing "the depth of the Iranian authorities' repression at the international level."
Pointing out that “we are sending them [Islamic Republic officials] a clear message today,” Amnesty International’s Middle East Director explained the human rights organization’s “message”: “The world is watching your actions and our campaign will continue until Nasrin Sotoudeh is freed.”
Markus N. Biko, head of this human rights organization in Germany, also said: "Today, Amnesty International, together with one million people around the world, once again calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Nasrin Sotoudeh."
The head of Amnesty International in Germany added: "If someone like Nasrin Sotoudeh works peacefully for women's rights or against the death penalty, she should not only not be sanctioned, but should be supported with all her might."
According to Marcus N. Biko: “Ms. Sotoudeh is one of many who are being prosecuted and punished in Iran for their activities against human rights violations.”
Nasrin Sotoudeh has represented many cases of political and human rights activists and has faced repeated security clashes. One of her most recent cases was representing a number of women protesting against the mandatory hijab in Iran, known as the “Girls of Revolution Street.”
Nasrin Sotoudeh was previously arrested in September 2000 while representing a number of political prisoners and sentenced to six years in prison and a 10-year ban from practicing law. The lawyer was then released in September 2013 after serving three years in prison. Ms. Sotoudeh was arrested again at her home on June 13 of last year and is currently being held in Evin Prison.
Source: DW
