60 European Parliament Members Call for Unconditional Release of Nasrin Sotoudeh

On Wednesday, August 22, 60 members of the European Parliament expressed deep concern over the continued detention of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, in a letter to Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, demanding her unconditional release. The letter referred to Ms. Sotoudeh's arrest two months ago and the new charges against her for 'espionage,' labeling the situation as alarming and accusing the judiciary of criminalizing legitimate human rights activities. The letter urged Rouhani to ask the judiciary to respect due process and disclose information regarding the charges Ms. Sotoudeh faces. The mentioned representatives also called on the Iranian president to use his powers to secure the unconditional release of this lawyer and human rights activist. They emphasized their continued support for Ms. Sotoudeh as a Sakharov Prize winner and a brave, respected lawyer who inspires many in Iran and around the world. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and jurist, was arrested on June 12 and, according to her husband, Reza Khandan, remains in 'temporary detention.' Khandan wrote on Facebook last month that this lawyer was sentenced to five years in prison in a case where the verdict was issued in absentia on October 5, 2016. Reza Khandan told Radio Farda that the Revolutionary Court had convicted Ms. Sotoudeh in absentia based on Article 510 of the Islamic Penal Code concerning aiding spies, while the Evin prosecutor's office had not charged her with such an accusation, and the verdict does not match the indictment. Meanwhile, Nasrin Sotoudeh stated in a letter from Evin Prison that she would refrain from appearing and defending herself before the prosecutor and investigator. In her letter, she expressed that in protest against the provision of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code, she would also refrain from providing any defense. She wrote: 'The mentioned prosecutor's office unlawfully prevents defendants from exercising their right to choose a lawyer based on a list that clearly contradicts Article 35 of the Constitution.' Ms. Sotoudeh added: 'From the moment I arrived at the prosecutor's office located in Evin Prison, I announced the names of three of my esteemed colleagues to take on my defense, but the relevant investigator has refused to accept my esteemed colleagues' representation until today.' In recent years, Nasrin Sotoudeh has represented numerous political and civil activists. She also represented several women during the protests against compulsory hijab, known as the 'Girls of Revolution Street' protests. Last month, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also called for the unconditional release of Ms. Sotoudeh.