Front Line Defenders Calls for the Release of Imprisoned Lawyer Mohammad Reza Faqihi

The organization 'Front Line Defenders', which works to protect human rights defenders at risk, issued a statement on Thursday, February 11, calling for the release of imprisoned lawyer Mohammad Reza Faqihi and expressing concern over his arbitrary conviction and judicial harassment. The statement from this international organization, based in Dublin, Ireland, and shared with the Azerbaijani Political Prisoners Defense Association in Iran (ADAP), notes that Mohammad Reza Faqihi, a human rights lawyer with a history of defending political and ideological prisoners, began serving a 5-year prison sentence on February 2. He was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court to 5 years in prison and a 2-year ban from practicing law, membership in political groups, and leaving the country on charges of 'gathering and colluding with the intent to act against national security'. According to the statement, the charges against Mr. Faqihi stem from sending a text message to his colleagues to inform them about a gathering in front of the Bar Association on October 12, 2022. He was arrested during this gathering, which was part of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. The statement also added that a case was opened against this lawyer in Branch 7 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office, but he was released on bail due to a lack of documented evidence. Front Line Defenders expressed serious concern over the arbitrary sentences and judicial harassment of Mohammad Reza Faqihi, stating that he is targeted by the Iranian judicial system for his peaceful human rights activities, including representing political prisoners and exercising his legal rights to freedom of assembly and association. This human rights organization called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release Mohammad Reza Faqihi and annul his convictions, as well as to adhere to international standards during detention and cease the harassment of human rights defenders in Iran. Front Line Defenders urged the Iranian government to ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of retaliation and without any restrictions, including judicial harassment. Mohammad Reza Faqihi has previously represented many civil and political activists from Azerbaijan and has been a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Central Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the Prisoners Defense Association in Tehran. According to this report, he played an active role in seeking justice for victims of the Islamic Republic regarding the import of COVID-19 vaccines. Mr. Faqihi was also one of the few lawyers from the Central Bar Association who took on defense duties in espionage cases. Yashar Hakakpour, director of the Azerbaijani Political Prisoners Defense Association in Iran (ADAP), told Voice of America: 'Mr. Faqihi has represented hundreds of ethnic activists in Azerbaijan over the past 20 years and has been targeted by the Iranian security apparatus solely for doing his job and defending the accused.' Mr. Hakakpour, who himself has been a client of Mohammad Reza Faqihi, added: 'He sacrificed his comfort and work to defend the rights of the voiceless.'