Samantha Power: Iran Should Release Narges Mohammadi, Whose Children Are Waiting for Her

Samantha Power, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Friday, as part of a campaign for the release of political prisoners, shared a photo of Narges Mohammadi, a jailed human rights activist, stating that the children of this political prisoner are waiting for their mother's return and that the Iranian government must 'immediately release Narges Mohammadi and return her to her family.' Narges Mohammadi, the Vice President of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati, for establishing and being a member of the Legam Association (a group campaigning for the abolition of the death penalty), and for charges of 'gathering and colluding with the intent to commit a crime against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime,' totaling an additional six years of imprisonment. According to Iranian laws, Ms. Mohammadi must serve 10 years in prison. According to the Persian Facebook page of the U.S. State Department, Ms. Power introduced Narges Mohammadi and wrote: 'Narges is severely ill and requires special medical care that she is deprived of in prison. Her small twin children are waiting for their mother to return. Iran must immediately release Narges Mohammadi and return her to her family.' Narges Mohammadi has been in Evin Prison since May 2015, while her husband, Taghi Rahmani, states that she suffers from 'muscular paralysis' and that the prison conditions are 'dangerous' for her. Last month, Ms. Mohammadi requested her case to be reviewed by the Article 90 Commission of the Parliament. Narges Mohammadi wrote that if the judiciary does not address her case, she asks the representatives to have the Parliament review this case in the Article 90 Commission, as she believes that 'the power of public opinion is greater than the power of rulers.' Previously, several international human rights organizations have called for the release of Narges Mohammadi. Amnesty International also described the issuance of a 16-year prison sentence for Narges Mohammadi as 'a clear indication of the Iranian authorities' intent to silence human rights defenders at any cost.' Philip Luther, the Director of Amnesty International in the Middle East and North Africa, stated in a statement: 'This sentence is another ruthless and devastating blow to human rights in Iran, showing how Iranian authorities mock justice. Narges Mohammadi is a prominent human rights defender and a prisoner of conscience who should be honored for her efforts, not imprisoned in a cell.' In this regard, Narges Mohammadi requested her case to be reviewed by the Article 90 Commission of the Parliament. 17 members of Parliament called for an explanation of the contents of Narges Mohammadi's case to the public. Narges Mohammadi to the Attorney General of Iran: I am eager for my violations to be revealed. The launch of an international campaign for the release of Narges Mohammadi.