Iran- Sotudeh: Jailed lawyer in critical health

radiozamane:
Jailed Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been on a hunger strike for more than a month, is now in critical condition, her husband Reza Khandan reports.


 

The International Campaign for Human Rights published an interview with Reza Khandan on Wednesday November 28 in which he conveyed the latest news of Nasrin Sotoudeh’s condtion in Tehran ’s Evin Prison.

Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike since October 17 in protest against the violation of her rights as a prisoner, including the right to make phone calls to her family and to have in-person visits with her children. She is also protesting against the travel ban imposed on her husband and daughter.

So far, the Iranian judiciary has been indifferent to Sotoudeh’s demands and, on October 30, had her transferred to solitary confinement.

Reza Khandan reported that his last visit with his wife was on November 27, the fortieth day of her hunger strike. He added that she was down to 43 kg last week, and this week she had lost even more weight. “Since yesterday when we saw her, I realized that she has reached a critical stage.”

Khandan added that Sotoudeh is now ready to break her strike if the ban on her daughter’s travel abroad is lifted.

Sotoudeh’s daughter is a minor and, according to her father, has committed no crime and is being persecuted without any justification.

The head of the Iranian judiciary’s human rights commission, Mohammad Javad Larijani, told a press conference yesterday that Sotoudeh recently met with her family and is in good health.

He claimed that Sotoudeh has acted against the regime and “abused” the legal profession.

Sotoudeh was arrested in September of 2010. She is serving a six-year prison term and has been banned from legal practice for her membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Centre of Iran, a prohibited Iranian NGO extending pro bono legal services in human rights cases.

 

 

NCRI

 

The NCRI called on international organizations in defense of human rights  particularly the relevant United Nations bodies to take immediate action to save imprisoned lawyer  Nasrin Sotoudeh who is on her 7th week of hunger strike.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, 49,was arrested on September 2009  for the "crime" of defending political prisoners. The Iranian regime's sham trial condemned  her to six years in prison, 10 years ban on practicing law and prohibiting to leaving the country  for  "acting against national security" and "propaganda against the regime."  She is also faced with all types of pressures and limitations including long stay in solitary confinement and being deprived of receiving visits by her two children.

To protest against inhumane pressures and restrictions imposed on her and her family that includes prohibiting  her 12 year old daughter to leave the country, Nasrin Sotoudeh began a hunger strike on October 17 that she is now in its 7th week while in serious condition. Instead of providing the basic care, the guards threw her to solitary confinement for several weeks but they failed to make her end her hunger strike.

French:

le CNRI appelle l’ensemble des organes internationaux de défense des droits humains, en particulier les instances concernées de l’ONU, à agir de toute urgence pour sauver l’avocate emprisonnée Nasrine Sotoudeh qui se trouve dans sa septième semaine de grève de la faim.

Âgée de 49 ans, Nasrine Sotoudeh, a été emprisonnée en septembre 2010 pour le « délit » de défendre des prisonniers politiques. Elle a été condamnée dans un simulacre de procès pour « atteinte à la sécurité nationale » et « propagande contre le système » à 6 ans de prison et 10 ans d’interdiction de pratiquer son métier et de sortir du territoire. En raison de la colère et de la haine que lui voue le régime, elle a fait l’objet de pressions et de privations doubles, comme un long passage en cellule d’isolement et l’impossibilité de recevoir la visite de ses deux enfants.

Pour protester contre les pressions et les restrictions dont elle et sa famille sont victimes, comme l’interdiction de sortie de territoire visant sa fille de 12 ans, Nasrine Sotoudeh a entamé le 17 octobre une grève de la faim qui entre aujourd’hui dans sa 7^e semaine, et elle est dans un état grave. Au lieu de lui prodiguer des soins élémentaires, les gardiens l’ont jetée en cellule d’isolement pendant plusieurs semaines. Cependant ils n’ont pas réussi à lui faire arrêter sa grève de la faim.