Narges Mohammadi's Letter from Evin: Violence Against Female Political Prisoners Has Increased

Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist imprisoned, has reported an increase in physical abuse and beatings of female political prisoners in the last three months in a letter from Evin Prison. The letter, published on Thursday, August 17, on Mohammadi's Instagram page, states that in recent months, women and girls have entered the women's ward 'with bruised and injured faces and bodies.' Mohammadi mentions that despite their protests to the ward office, physical violence against women has intensified. In her letter, she describes a woman around 70 years old who was so severely beaten on the night of her arrest that the dark circles around her eyes and the bruises on her face and body did not fade until 25 days later when she was released on bail. Mohammadi also mentions a 20-year-old girl whose ribs were injured due to beatings by security forces in the street, and another girl whose cheekbone was damaged, causing her to moan while eating, with her arms and hands covered in bruises. She further writes about a woman who reported being slapped by officers and kicked in the stomach before being transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence and Evin, noting that there were no cameras in the cell during the beatings. Mohammadi adds that 'nameless' detainees do not report violent encounters due to trials and threats, and families also refrain from speaking out while being under violent attack from security forces. She describes the 'horrific and deadly physical violence' against protesting women as 'systematic' and aimed at 'creating terror and fear,' warning of 'irreparable disasters.' This imprisoned human rights activist has called on international human rights organizations, women's institutions, feminists worldwide, journalists, and writers, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, to prevent the escalation and continuation of the regime's deadly violence against protesting women in Iran. In the conclusion of her letter, she addresses the Islamic Republic government, stating that the intensification of violence and repression will not weaken the people's will to 'transition from the authoritarian religious regime' but will leave them 'no choice but that.' Mohammadi has previously raised awareness about violence against female prisoners and warned about it. She has also written to Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, regarding the abuse of female prisoners in Iran, a matter that reportedly led to 'the formation of a case in the Security Prosecutor's Office' against her. The 51-year-old human rights activist has been imprisoned multiple times. She was released in October 2020 after serving five years in prison, but after a new case in June 2021, she was sentenced to 80 lashes and 30 months in prison for 'propaganda against the regime,' 'sit-in at the prison office,' 'disobedience to the prison authorities,' 'destruction of glass,' and 'defamation.' Mohammadi stated that she does not recognize this sentence and has been imprisoned since November 2021. Over the past year, she has protested various issues from prison and has been sentenced for her recent positions to 'propaganda activities' against the Islamic Republic regime. The judiciary's punishments against this imprisoned human rights activist increased with another new ruling to 10 years and 9 months in prison and 154 lashes. In May of this year, Narges Mohammadi jointly received the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize with Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, imprisoned journalists, and in June, she won the 'Freedom to Write' award from the American PEN Association. Narges Mohammadi, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to another year in prison. Narges Mohammadi: Women's defiance will break the authoritarian power of the religious government. Prison: a slaughterhouse or a university? Iran is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the number of prisoners. Hengaw: Soheila Mohammadi, a Kurdish prisoner, sewed her lips and went on hunger strike. Sepideh Ghalean has been sentenced to two years in prison and additional punishments. Narges Mohammadi did not accept the summons to the Evin Prosecutor's Office 'in her fifth case.' Exclusive: The makers of 'White Torture' are creating documents about hijab and Baha'is.