Three women human rights defenders Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Esrin Derkale were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran to begin prison sentences.
Together with Nahid Shaghaghi,the they have been sentenced to two years and three months in prison because of their advocacy for women’s rights. The four are members of The Call of the Iranian Women NGO, which focuses on empowering women in disadvantaged situations, such as at times of natural disasters.
The NGO has been active in capacity building of women in different provinces in Iran, including through literacy classes and public advocacy. On 4 December 2019, the Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced each woman activist to three years in prison on the charge of “gathering and colluding against national security;” six months in prison for “propaganda against the state;” and eight months in prison for “not wearing a hijab in public”.
After the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence was reduced to two years and three months. They were denied access to a lawyer during their detentions and were summoned to Evin Prison despite having posted bail. They stated that those who had posted their bail had been threatened last week with the confiscation of their properties, had the four not presented themselves to prison.
Front Line Defenders (FLD) expressed grave concern over the imprisonment of the women rights defenders especially amidst the failure of prison authorities in Evin prison to respond efficiently and effectively to the display of COVID-19 symptoms. It urged the authorities to
immediately and unconditionally release them, and quash convictions, as it believes that they have been targeted solely as a result of their legitimate and non-violent human rights work.
