Recently Released Prisoners Call for Freedom for All Political Prisoners
Protests commemorate 40th day after executions
Over the past couple of weeks, the Islamic Republic of Iran has released a number of political prisoners before the completion of their sentences, while at the same time keeping many more political prisoners behind bars and convicting and sentencing others.
Many of those released have shown their brave and unrepentant stand right outside the prison walls, supporting the recent Woman, Life, Freedom (W/L/F) uprising in Iran. They demanded that all political prisoners be immediately released. We welcome their release and celebrate their continuing courage.
Over the past couple of weeks, the Islamic Republic of Iran has released a number of political prisoners before the completion of their sentences, while at the same time keeping many more political prisoners behind bars and convicting and sentencing others.
Many of those released have shown their brave and unrepentant stand right outside the prison walls, supporting the recent Woman, Life, Freedom (W/L/F) uprising in Iran. They demanded that all political prisoners be immediately released. We welcome their release and celebrate their continuing courage.
Outside the walls of Evin Prison, hijab-less Bahareh Soleimani and Nazanin Mohammadnejad sang a snippet from “Baraye” and wished for the freedom of all fellow courageous dissidents still in prison, including women’s activist Nahid Taghavi and journalist Sepideh Gholian. Bahareh defiantly cut her hair on camera to express solidarity with the recent uprising.
Soleimani, a nurse, and Nazanin, a student, were convicted in a sham trial in August 2021, along with four other co-defendants including Nahid Taghavi (German-Iranian) and Mehran Raouf (British-Iranian). These two elderly dual-nationals are the only ones to remain locked up in Tehran’s Evin Prison from that one court case.
Five women recently released from Evin published a letter “as a very small part Iran's political prisoners who have recently been released,” crediting their freedom to the W/L/F uprising. Their letter calls for the release of all political prisoners, including their cellmates in Evin Women’s Ward. Read the translation of their letter by IEC volunteers here.
Outside the doors of Kachooie Prison, Karaj, where they’d been exiled, mother and daughter activists Monireh Arabshahi and Yasaman Aryani joyously chanted Woman. Life. Freedom. Arrested after posting a video without hijab on International Women’s Day 2019, they were originally sentenced to 16 years (reduced to 9.5). Iran’s theocratic regime also released a young couple who were each sentenced to 10 years after they posted a video of themselves dancing by Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Tower.
It is important to note those newly incarcerated or summoned to court by the regime. Among them is Reza Khandan, husband of courageous defense lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh who is currently on medical furlough. Khandan was summoned to serve a prior 6-year sentence. PEN America commented, “In September 2018, Khandan was arrested and charged with ‘spreading propaganda against the system’ and ‘colluding to commit crimes against national security,’ after posting several updates about his wife’s June 2018 arrest online and protesting against the mandatory hijab law.”1 It is curious that he was summoned to serve his sentence shortly after Nasrin Sotoudeh gave an extensive interview to PBS’s Christina Amanpour on February 8 that was critical of the Islamic Republic government.
Renewed Protests on 40th Day After Executions
BBC reported that “Iran has seen its most widespread anti-government protests in weeks, after small crowds marched overnight in Tehran and a number of other cities.
“It followed calls to mark the 40th day of mourning for two men executed on protest-related charges, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini....
"Footage posted on social media showed small protests took place on Thursday night in several parts of the capital, Tehran, as well as in nearby Karaj, the eastern city of Mashhad, the central city of Isfahan, the northern cities of Qazvin and Rasht, and the western cities of Arak, Izeh and Sanandaj.”
"In Zahedan, Baluchistan, large crowds continued with their 20th consecutive march after Friday prayers. In an attempt to defuse the ongoing uprising in this impoverished and oppressed region, a court sentenced a police commander to a 15-month prison term. He was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Chabahar, in Sistan-Baluchistan province, an incident which first sparked the protest on September 30. That day saw IRI police/security forces carry out an unprovoked massacre of 60-100 people, some of them starting a protest in front of the main mosque and others still attending prayers. The police commander was not even convicted of rape, but rather of “creating an atmosphere of distrust towards the police.”
1. In January 2019 Khandan and another activist, Farhad Meysami, were sentenced to six years in prison for supporting women’s struggle against compulsory hijab. In March 2019, Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced to a total of 38 years and 148 lashes on a range of charges; she is currently conditionally released from serving part of this sentence in prison and is on an extended medical furlough. Meysami’s life was gravely at risk after a lengthy hunger strike while in prison. He was freed from February 10, after Sotoudeh publicized his case on CNN. PEN America Condemns Prison Summons Issued To Reza Khandan, Husband To Prominent Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, PEN.org, February 14, 2023.