Human Rights Campaign: Sepideh Farahan, a detainee from the protests, has no access to a lawyer

The International Human Rights Campaign in Iran reported, citing relatives of Sepideh Farahan (Farahabadi), who was arrested during recent protests in Tehran, that she has been denied access to a lawyer and family visits since her arrest. The report describes Sepideh Farahan as an architecture graduate and civil activist who was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence forces on December 12 and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. According to an unnamed source, Ms. Farahan has only had a few brief phone calls to check in with her family since her arrest, and her parents still do not know what the charges against their daughter are. The report also indicates that Ministry of Intelligence agents have threatened Sepideh Farahan's family, stating that if they inform the media or give interviews about their daughter, her case will become more complicated and her release will be delayed, which is why her parents are unwilling to speak to the media. Previously, some human rights groups had reported that Sepideh Farahan was being held in solitary confinement, and the Iran Human Rights Organization reported on December 18 that 'security agents contacted her family and stated that she is currently in solitary confinement and under interrogation, and she is not allowed to contact or meet with her family or lawyer.' According to statistics provided by Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, about 3,700 people were arrested during the nationwide protests in Iran. These protests began on December 28 in Mashhad with economic slogans, but demonstrations were held in other cities in the following days, targeting the Supreme Leader and the Iranian government. The International Human Rights Campaign in Iran stated that most of those arrested during the nationwide protests in December have not had access to a lawyer or family visits during the preliminary investigation phase. During this period, at least three detainees have died in prison, with Iranian authorities citing 'suicide' and 'addiction' as the causes of death. However, this has been questioned by some members of parliament. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports have emerged regarding the deaths of additional detainees.