Let’s not to Let Nasrin Sotoudeh Return to Prison!

November 10, 2020

Dear Madam/Sir,

You are aware that Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, has been temporarily released from prison due to her deteriorating physical condition. The media center of the Judiciary announced that she has taken a furlough. At the same time, Ms. Sotoudeh's family has said that they are seeking medical leave for her.

In any case, it is important that this brave and humane lawyer is now with her husband, two children and with the family. This is gratifying and positive and shows the fruitfulness of international efforts to improve the human rights situation in Iran. Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been imprisoned several times, was last sentenced to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes.

Dear Madam/Sir, considering the criminal and legal laws that you are dealing with in your country, it is inconceivable to imagine these heavy sentences for not wearing a headscarf or defending a woman who is accused of not wearing a headscarf. But Ms. Sotoudeh's conviction is precisely because of her defense of these basic human rights.

There is a set of reasons, such as Nasrin Sotoudeh's illness and physical condition after her long hunger strike, continuation of the first Corona wave in Iran and the alarming escalation of its current dimensions, which left up to 400 deaths daily, and the risk of death threatening prisoners’ lives and the recent law of "Reduction of the imprisonment penalty" of the parliament of Iran, that can be consistently cited and other measures, according to which Nasrin should stay with the family and should not return to prison. This should be the case for the release of all other political prisoners as well.

Dear Madam/Sir, we urge you and your institution to take all possible diplomatic and humanitarian measures in this regard.

With best Regards,

Mehdi Ebrahimzadeh

the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian)

International Relations Committee