"Protest is Our Right"; Gathering of a Group of Iranian Activists in Front of Evin Prison

Mohammad Nourizad, an Iranian journalist and critic, has shared a video on his YouTube channel showing gatherings and protests by a group of human rights activists and social and political activists in front of Evin Prison and on Chamran Highway. In this gathering, in addition to activists, relatives of a group of political prisoners were also present. Mr. Nourizad stated on his Facebook page that activists gathered in front of Evin Prison on Saturday, November 16, but were forced by police to move to the street outside the prison premises. Among those present were Mohammad Nourizad, human rights activist Mohammad Maleki, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, the mother of Saeed Zinali, a protesting student who has been missing for years, the mother of Omid Alishenas, a civil rights activist currently in prison, and students of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of "Erfan Halqeh," who is also imprisoned. Mr. Nourizad wrote on his Facebook that "a little distance from our crowd, two members of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani's family were standing. Mrs. Effat Marashi, his wife, and Fatemeh, his daughter. A little later, Yasser, Mr. Rafsanjani's son, also came. I asked for a photo. Mr. Hashemi's wife said no. But Fatemeh persuaded her: 'Mother, your photo is everywhere, why shouldn't it be here?'" They then discussed Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is also in prison. According to Mr. Nourizad, the number of activists reached "150" and then they moved in a group towards Chamran Highway. The protesters, in addition to their demands regarding human rights, also called for the release of political prisoners or for information about the status of their loved ones.