Human Rights Watch: Narges Mohammadi's Prison Sentence is Unjust

Continuing the protests from human rights organizations against the sentence of Narges Mohammadi, Human Rights Watch on Saturday, October 1st, issued a statement calling the confirmation of this human rights activist's prison sentence "unjust" and demanded her immediate release. This human rights organization described the charge of "acting against national security" as an "ambiguous" accusation that is used "regularly" against civil activists and human rights defenders in Iran. Sarah Leah Whitson, the director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, stated on Saturday: "We urge the European Union to raise human rights issues in its trade discussions with Iranian officials." The European Union also issued a statement on Friday, October 1st, criticizing the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence and calling for her release. The statement read: "The confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's prison sentence raises concerns about the human rights situation in Iran." Mark Toner, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, also described the sentence as "harsh and unjustifiable" and stated: "No one should be imprisoned for their peaceful civil activities." Previously, several human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International, condemned the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's prison sentence and called for her immediate and unconditional release. The Human Rights Defenders Center announced on Wednesday, October 1st, that Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence was confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. In May, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati, to five years in prison for "collusion and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security," one year for "propaganda against the regime," and ten years for "establishing and managing an illegal group called Legam." According to the Human Rights Defenders Center, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals confirmed this sentence and stated that under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, which is ten years of imprisonment, will be enforced for Narges Mohammadi. According to Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code, if the judge issues independent punishments for each of the crimes, the highest punishment determined will be enforced at the time of execution. Narges Mohammadi has been in Evin Prison since May 2015, while her husband, Taghi Rahmani, has stated that she suffers from "muscular paralysis" and that the prison conditions are "dangerous" for her.