New Charges Against Nasrin Sotoudeh: 'Assisting in the Formation of a Home Church'

Nasrin Sotoudeh's husband stated that Iranian judicial authorities have raised new charges against the imprisoned lawyer and human rights activist, including 'attempting to hold a referendum' and 'assisting in the formation of a home church.' Reza Khandan told Radio Farda on Tuesday, September 5, that his wife informed him during a visit the day before that two judicial officials had come to her prison ward to inform her of the new charges. Sotoudeh has been on hunger strike for several days in protest against her detention and the pressure on her family and relatives. She has also announced in a letter that she will refrain from attending and defending herself in front of the prosecutor and investigator of her case. According to Khandan, after Sotoudeh refused to attend the prosecutor's interrogation, the investigator, along with the supervising deputy prosecutor and the head of the prison's execution of sentences, visited her ward on Saturday to 'complete the case.' The investigator mentioned three new charges against Sotoudeh: 'assisting in the formation of a home church,' 'encouraging a referendum,' and 'attempting to organize a gathering and sit-in.' Khandan expressed surprise at the new charges and stated that he does not know where the accusation of 'assisting in the formation of a home church' originated. He also noted that although a court had issued a ruling in 2016 regarding Sotoudeh's membership in the step-by-step abolition of the death penalty campaign, known as 'Lagam,' this charge has resurfaced recently. Sotoudeh cited the main reason for her hunger strike as the security and judicial pressures against her family and acquaintances. Last week, Khandan reported that agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided their home and 'turned the entire house upside down to find badges opposing compulsory hijab,' stating that security agents also visited the homes of their relatives. Sotoudeh has also protested the detention of Farhad Mithaami, a civil activist and 48-year-old physician, calling it illegal. Mithaami was arrested on August 1, and according to his mother, the reason for his arrest was a number of badges that read 'I protest against compulsory hijab.' In this context, 60 members of the European Parliament have called for the unconditional release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, and Amnesty International has requested the release of Farhad Mithaami and the abolition of compulsory hijab. The U.S. State Department has expressed concern about the situation of Sotoudeh and human rights activists in Iran. Khandan stated that Sotoudeh's arrest was carried out under the orders of the Ministry of Intelligence.