Nasrin Sotoudeh infected with coronavirus; PEN America and PEN Germany call for her permanent release
The husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist imprisoned in Iran, announced on Tuesday, November 10, that Nasrin Sotoudeh had tested positive for COVID-19. At the same time, the Pen Association in the United States and Germany called for the permanent release of this prominent Iranian lawyer.
Ms. Sotoudeh was sent on leave by the prison on Saturday, November 11, but her husband, Reza Khandan, says that she contracted the coronavirus before her leave and in prison. Mr. Khandan wrote on his Facebook page, referring to a meeting he had with his wife in Qarchak Prison before she was sent on leave: “Last Wednesday, during my first meeting with Nasrin in Qarchak Prison, she said that [in] our ward, the coronavirus had arrived and many people had fallen ill. That is why she was in a hurry to follow up on her leave.”
He continued: "Yesterday we went to the hospital for Nasrin's heart problem. Before doing the heart test, they suggested we both take a coronavirus test. Today Nasrin's test result was announced positive. My test results are not ready yet."
Mr. Khandan further writes that judicial authorities and the prison organization, “aware of the unsanitary and catastrophic conditions of Qarchak Prison, transferred her [Nasrin Sotoudeh] from Evin Prison there without reason and exposed her to the virus despite her severe illness and weakness.”
Request for the permanent release of Nasrin Sotoudeh
At the same time, the American PEN Association and the German PEN Association, along with the Righteous Life Foundation, protested against Nasrin Sotoudeh's unjust prison sentence and called for her immediate and unconditional release. They have called for Ms. Sotoudeh's current leave to lead to her permanent release.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison by the Islamic Republic for defending political prisoners on charges such as "gathering and colluding against national security, spreading lies, and disturbing public opinion," was temporarily released from prison on Saturday, November 8, after posting bail for medical treatment.
Previously, independent UN experts had warned about Ms. Sotoudeh's condition and called for her immediate release so that she could access medical care.
While in prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh had repeatedly gone on hunger strike to protest the failure to observe the principles of fair trial in the trial process and the failure to respect the rights of political prisoners while serving their sentences.
Reza Khandan previously told VOA: "It is true that my wife's general condition has improved since she broke her hunger strike, but her heartache and shortness of breath still remain."
Earlier, US Senator Robert Menendez, the top Democrat, tweeted on September 10 that Iranian human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh should never have been imprisoned in the first place. He continued his tweet by writing, “Iran must immediately and unconditionally release Nasrin Sotoudeh and end her hunger strike before her condition worsens.”
The United States of America has also repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters and civil activists, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
