Launch of International Campaign for the Release of Narges Mohammadi

The international campaign for the release of Narges Mohammadi has commenced following the confirmation of her 16-year prison sentence as a human rights activist. This campaign was announced on October 21, just five days after the "Human Rights Defenders Center" called for a "global solidarity" for her freedom. Narges Mohammadi, vice president and spokesperson of the Human Rights Defenders Center, has been arrested four times and tried three times in Iranian revolutionary courts during her civil activities. In its call on October 15, the Human Rights Defenders Center requested "all free thinkers, organizations, and individuals defending human rights and freedom of expression" to "spare no effort to help free Narges Mohammadi." The call stated that Iran's judicial and security apparatus has attempted to silence the voices of human rights defenders by issuing a "heavy sentence" of 16 years in prison for Ms. Mohammadi, showing that the cost of freedom of expression in Iran is very high. The Human Rights Defenders Center, led by Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, described this sentence as "unjust and unfair" and demanded the "unconditional release" of Narges Mohammadi. Ms. Mohammadi has been in Evin Prison since May 2015, and according to her husband, Taghi Rahmani, she suffers from "muscular paralysis" and the prison conditions are "dangerous" for her. This global campaign has also stated that in response to the opposition to the request for Narges Mohammadi's release, it will "attempt to inform the world about the situation of this human rights activist by publishing videos, short texts, photos, and holding gatherings worldwide." "Sending letters and requests for support for Narges Mohammadi's freedom from international human rights organizations, influential and prominent figures around the world" is another action announced by this campaign. "Reporters Without Borders" has also issued a statement supporting this campaign. Christophe Deloire, the Secretary-General of the organization, stated, "By joining this campaign, we condemn the repression of journalists and human rights defenders in Iran." Deloire added, "We hope that global solidarity in support of this brave Iranian woman will convince the Iranian authorities to release her immediately." Following the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence by the Tehran Court of Appeals, a wave of domestic and international criticism has arisen against this decision by the judiciary. Narges Mohammadi had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison for founding and being a member of the Legam Association (a group that works to abolish the death penalty) and an additional six years for charges of "collusion and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security" and "propaganda against the regime." According to Iranian law, Ms. Mohammadi must serve 10 years in prison. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, and several human rights activists, including Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as well as the United States and the European Union, have protested the confirmation of this sentence and called for Ms. Mohammadi's release. The request from the U.S. State Department and the European Union to the Islamic Republic for Narges Mohammadi's release on humanitarian grounds due to her illness has faced a negative reaction from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which described the request as "interventionist." A group of members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also reacted to the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence by writing a letter to Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, asking him to intervene in Narges Mohammadi's case and apply what they called "Islamic clemency" in this case. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of Iran, criticized this letter and accused the signatory representatives of "ignorance and negligence." Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, also rejected the request from a group of representatives to overturn the 16-year prison sentence of Narges Mohammadi and to review this case. Mohseni Ejei added that Islamic clemency in this case "does not make sense" and that the representatives of the parliament do not have the legal authority to make such a request. Meanwhile, Narges Mohammadi has described the confirmation of her 16-year prison sentence by the Court of Appeals as a "cruel" act and stated that she does not consider it "legal, humane, or ethical" for even a single day and that she will "always speak against this oppression."