Narges Mohammadi Protests Seven-Month Ban on Contact with Her Children

Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Vice President of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, in a letter to the head of the judiciary, protested her seven-month ban on phone contact with her children, announcing that seven other political-prisoner women in Evin Prison are also deprived of phone contact with their young children. In this letter, published on Sunday, February 6, on the website of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, she stated that the political-prisoner women's section of Evin Prison, despite having 27 prisoners, is the 'only section' where prisoners have 'no' phone contact with their families. She emphasized that her protests against being deprived of phone contact with her children are 'not merely a political protest' against 'laws and judicial procedures,' but rather an 'ethical protest' against the 'decay and fall and death of moral values, chivalry, and fairness in society, especially by the rulers against their own people.' Mohammadi referred to the remarks of the head of the judiciary, who stated that 'in addition to religious democracy, ethics should also be considered,' asking Sadegh Larijani, 'How does such behavior towards a mother align with any of the principles you mentioned?' The Vice President of the Center for Human Rights Defenders also questioned whether this behavior towards prisoners constitutes 'a violation of human rights, a violation of children's rights, a violation of women's rights,' and 'a display of government violence against women and mothers.' Mohammadi previously wrote to the Tehran prosecutor that since July 17, when her young daughter and son left the country, she has not been allowed 'any phone contact' with her children. According to Mohammadi, prison officials even 'prevented' her from receiving photos of her children brought by family members, stating in response to her request that 'it has been ordered that you be treated this way.' Taghi Rahmani, Mohammadi's husband and a national-religious activist who has been imprisoned in Iran for years, resides in France, and their young daughter and son live with him after their mother's imprisonment. Meanwhile, Rahmani stated in an interview with Radio Farda that the judiciary officials have given Mohammadi 'no explanation' regarding her ban on phone contact with her children, but have indirectly told her to 'reduce your husband's activities so that we can allow you to speak with your children.' He expressed that Mohammadi's deprivation of phone contact with her children is a 'psychological pressure' on her and her children, adding, 'Why should the children be punished?' According to Rahmani, Mohammadi is not even allowed to 'meet with her husband's family' and can only meet with her own family. He emphasized that Mohammadi's deprivation of phone contact with her children and the prison environment exacerbate her illness. Reports indicate that Mohammadi has suffered from neurological diseases since 2010 after being held in solitary confinement in Ward 209. Previously, the Center for Human Rights Defenders, led by Shirin Ebadi, had pointed out two diseases, 'pulmonary embolism' and 'muscular paralysis,' stating that these conditions are 'exacerbated' in the prison environment and 'can endanger the patient's life.' On Sunday, October 11, following a seizure in Evin Prison and with a delay in executing 'the orders of specialist doctors,' she was transferred and hospitalized, but was returned to prison on Wednesday, November 1. The Vice President of the Center for Human Rights Defenders was arrested at her home on May 4 of this year, just two days after her court hearing was postponed in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In December, Mohammadi reported that a third case had been filed against her due to complaints from the officers who transferred her to the hospital. Meanwhile, Taghi Rahmani announced in an interview with Radio Farda that the new case against Mohammadi was formed due to verbal confrontations between her and the officers against her. According to Rahmani, the officers accompany Narges Mohammadi to the hospital in handcuffs and sometimes 'even stand in front of the doctor,' and when Mohammadi needs to 'change clothes' for examination, they do not leave the examination room.