Macron's Invitation to Nasrin Sotoudeh Delivered to Her Husband

An official invitation from Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, to Nasrin Sotoudeh, a imprisoned lawyer in Iran, for membership in the 'G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council' was delivered to her husband, Reza Khandan. Mr. Khandan stated on Friday, March 8, that the invitation was handed to him by a lawyer from the French embassy in Tehran on Thursday. He noted that their family was 'not aware of the selection process' and emphasized that Ms. Sotoudeh's presence in such a council 'should be considered an honor for Iranian women.' Copies of this invitation have also been sent to the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Iranian Bar Association. Reza Khandan, who is also facing a six-year prison sentence, had previously published the official letter from the French President on his Facebook page. According to the published text, Emmanuel Macron, who holds the rotating presidency of the G7, highlighted the importance of gender equality and stated that this council plays a 'significant role' in the legislative processes of the G7. The 'Gender Equality Advisory Council' was established in 2018 by the Canadian Prime Minister, the G7's rotating president, and includes women from civil society in various countries. The French President emphasized in his official invitation that the role of this council is to assist the G7 presidency in identifying and drafting regulations beneficial to women worldwide. This invitation was delivered on the eve of International Women's Day. Ms. Sotoudeh has been imprisoned since June of this year, and in addition to a five-year prison sentence that was handed down in absentia, new charges and convictions have recently been raised against her. Reza Khandan, in an interview with Radio Farda, pointed out the severe restrictions on phone communications in the women’s ward of Evin prison and mentioned that he would inform his wife about receiving this invitation on Sunday. 'Protecting women against all forms of violence,' 'ensuring access to education for women and girls,' and 'empowering women economically' have been declared as the three priorities of this council.