Amnesty International Criticizes Confirmation of 16-Year Prison Sentence for Narges Mohammadi

Amnesty International has criticized the confirmation of a 16-year prison sentence for human rights activist Narges Mohammadi by the Tehran Court of Appeals, stating that this ruling is a clear indication of the Iranian authorities' intent to silence human rights defenders at any cost. Amnesty International has called for the unconditional release of Ms. Mohammadi. The Human Rights Defenders Center announced on Wednesday that the Tehran Provincial Court upheld the ruling given to Ms. Mohammadi last May. In May, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to 10 years in prison for founding and being a member of the Legam Association (a group working to abolish the death penalty) and an additional six years for charges of 'gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.' According to Iranian law, Ms. Mohammadi must serve 10 years in prison. Philip Luther, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated in response to the appellate court's ruling that this verdict is another ruthless and devastating blow to human rights in Iran, demonstrating how Iranian authorities mock justice. Narges Mohammadi is a prominent human rights defender and a prisoner of conscience who should be honored for her efforts, not imprisoned. This Amnesty International official emphasized that by upholding the primary court's ruling for Narges Mohammadi's peaceful human rights activities, Iranian judicial authorities have shown their intent to silence human rights activists at any cost. Philip Luther noted that while the appellate court confirmed the primary court's ruling against Narges Mohammadi, Iran is reestablishing its relations with Europe, and one of the charges against Ms. Mohammadi is her meeting with the former EU foreign policy chief. This Amnesty International official stated that the appellate court's ruling against Narges Mohammadi raises serious doubts about Iran's intention for meaningful engagement with the European Union regarding human rights. The director of Amnesty International for the Middle East and North Africa said, 'We have urged the European Union to place the issue of the escalating crackdown on human rights defenders at the center of upcoming human rights negotiations with Tehran.' Narges Mohammadi has been in Evin Prison since May 2015, and her primary court trial was held behind closed doors on April 1 of this year. Taghi Rahmani, Narges Mohammadi's husband, previously told Radio Farda that Ms. Mohammadi's meeting with Catherine Ashton, the former EU foreign policy chief, and her activities in the Legam campaign, which advocates for the gradual abolition of the death penalty, are among the charges brought against her. Previously, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, and several other human rights defenders condemned the prison sentence for Narges Mohammadi and called for her immediate release. Amnesty International had also called for her immediate and unconditional release in April, referring to Narges Mohammadi's health condition. In this context, thousands of Iranians have requested that Sadegh Larijani address Narges Mohammadi's situation, and political and human rights activists have sent messages urging her to end her hunger strike. A flood of tweets in support of Narges Mohammadi's freedom has emerged, along with Amnesty International's warning regarding the continuation of her hunger strike.