Continued Reactions to Nasrin Sotoudeh's Sentencing; Pompeo Emphasizes U.S. Support for Human Rights

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, highlighted the heavy prison sentence against Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist in Iran, stating that his country will never cease its fight for the advancement of human rights. The renewed sentencing of Nasrin Sotoudeh, while she is currently imprisoned, has received widespread attention globally, with the European Union calling it a 'worrying development' and demanding a reconsideration of the ruling. Various reports have emerged regarding the sentence against Ms. Sotoudeh, with the minimum being seven years in prison for 'conspiracy and collusion against the regime' and 'insulting' the Supreme Leader, according to a report from the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) citing the judge of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. However, Reza Khandan, Nasrin Sotoudeh's husband, states that she has been sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. He claims that Nasrin Sotoudeh has not faced the charge of 'insulting the leadership' in any of her cases, but rather has been accused of 'encouraging corruption and prostitution.' Mr. Khandan also mentioned that the maximum penalty stated in her ruling is 12 years, which, according to new laws, should be enforced as such. Mike Pompeo also addressed this ruling in a tweet on Friday, March 15, stating, 'UN member states appointed Iran to a women’s rights working group this week, at the same time a court in Iran sentenced Nasrin Sotoudeh, a defender of women's rights, to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes.' Previously, the U.S. State Department spokesperson condemned the judicial ruling against Ms. Sotoudeh. Robert Palladino tweeted, 'While the rights of women are celebrated by the rest of the world, the Iranian regime issues 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent defender of human rights and women. Is this the 'new era of justice' that Khamenei proudly preaches?' Amnesty International also described this ruling as 'horrific,' stating that it shows Iranian officials have intensified their crackdown on human rights defenders.