Nasrin Sotoudeh Remains in 'Temporary' Detention

After one of Nasrin Sotoudeh's lawyers announced on Tuesday, August 23, that two 'new' cases had been opened against her, her husband, Reza Khandan, told Radio Farda that nothing 'new' has happened. According to Reza Khandan, the imprisoned lawyer has been in 'temporary' detention for two months. The official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday, citing Payam Darafshan regarding the latest status of Nasrin Sotoudeh's case: 'My client was arrested a while ago under the title that a default judgment had been issued against her by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court.' Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested on June 13, and according to her lawyer, 'due to a five-year prison sentence for the charge of espionage, which is not present in her indictment, she is in detention following a complaint from the investigator of the Kashan Prosecutor's Office and the issuance of a detention order by the second branch of the investigation office in prison.' Payam Darafshan also stated: 'In a visit by Dr. Behzadi, another lawyer for Sotoudeh, to the Evin Prosecutor's Office, it was said that she was arrested and imprisoned due to a default judgment issued by the judge of the case. Following this, Sotoudeh's lawyer filed a request for retrial, and according to the law, after the request for retrial, the court must issue a bail order and release the accused until a final verdict is issued.' He added: 'Despite this, the Revolutionary Court does not accept this matter. Also, in the indictment issued by the prosecutor's office for Sotoudeh, her charges are listed as propaganda against the regime and insulting the leadership, but Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court has issued a ruling for my client on the charge of espionage.' In this context, Reza Khandan, Nasrin Sotoudeh's husband, stated on Tuesday in an interview with Radio Farda that the Revolutionary Court condemned his wife with a default judgment based on Article 510 of the Islamic Penal Code, which concerns aiding spies. Reza Khandan recalled that the Evin Prosecutor's Office did not bring such a charge against Nasrin Sotoudeh, and the ruling does not match the indictment. He also expressed ignorance about the reason for this action by the Revolutionary Court. Mr. Khandan added that Dr. Behzadi, Nasrin Sotoudeh's lawyer, has protested this ruling due to its 'default' and 'defective' nature. He added that Ms. Sotoudeh is still in temporary detention in Evin Prison, and two days ago, her two-month 'temporary' detention ended, but she remains in prison. Reza Khandan says that if the temporary detention order has been extended for a third month, it should be communicated to his wife, but today he spoke with her, and the extension of the temporary detention has not yet been communicated to her. Nasrin Sotoudeh has represented many political and civil activists in recent years. She also represented several women during the protests against compulsory hijab, known as the 'Girls of Revolution Street' protests. In September 2010, Nasrin Sotoudeh was also arrested and sentenced to 11 years in prison, 20 years of disqualification from practicing law, and a 20-year exit ban, which was reduced to six years in prison and ten years of disqualification from practicing law by the appeals court. She was eventually released after serving three years in prison.