Empty Chair for Narges Mohammadi at International PEN Congress

The World PEN Association announced on social media platform 'X' that at the International PEN Congress taking place from September 25 to 28, an empty chair will be dedicated to Narges Mohammadi; a writer, human rights defender, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate currently imprisoned in Evin. This association and its affiliated centers in countries including the USA, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, Melbourne, and Denmark condemned the additional 15-month prison sentence imposed on Mohammadi, which extends her total imprisonment to 12 years and three months. The World PEN Association called for the cancellation of all retaliatory sentences against Ms. Mohammadi and her immediate and unconditional release. The signatories of this statement expressed concern over the deterioration of Narges Mohammadi's health and emphasized that Iranian authorities must guarantee her unrestricted access to medical care until her release. Last summer, the association also strongly condemned the additional one-year retaliatory sentence against Mohammadi. At that time, Romana Kachouli, the executive director of the World PEN Association, stated: 'Narges Mohammadi has once again been sentenced following a sham trial in retaliation for criticizing the regime and her unwavering defense of human rights. Defending human rights is not a crime, but violating these rights is a crime.' Meanwhile, Ali and Kiana, Narges Mohammadi's children, stated in an Instagram message: 'While the head of the Islamic Republic government travels freely to New York, our mother is in prison for defending human rights.' Reports indicate that Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, is scheduled to travel to New York on Sunday, September 23, to participate in the United Nations General Assembly and deliver an annual speech at the meeting. Narges Mohammadi's children have urged Western countries to prioritize human rights in any negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior to the arrival of world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the 'Free Narges Coalition' has also called for her immediate and unconditional release. Ms. Mohammadi's health has severely deteriorated in recent months in Evin prison, and she has been deprived of adequate medical care. This coalition referred to this Nobel Peace Prize laureate as 'a prominent example of the Islamic Republic's disregard for its commitments as a member of the United Nations' and called for 'swift and immediate' international community action regarding her situation. The U.S. State Department expressed concern on August 20 over reports of Narges Mohammadi being beaten in Evin prison and urged the Iranian government to stop attacks against human rights defenders and release all unjustly detained prisoners. Ms. Mohammadi, who has been in Evin prison since November 2021, has been denied transfer to the hospital despite suffering from heart and lung diseases and 'the discovery of a mass in her chest.' Since December 29, 2023, she has also been deprived of contact with her family and lawyer due to her refusal to wear a headscarf. Over the past two decades, Ms. Mohammadi has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. In her latest legal case, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of 'propaganda against the regime' and is currently held in Evin prison in Tehran.