The U.S. Calls for the Release of Narges Mohammadi

Mark Toner, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, expressed concern on Friday, October 1, regarding reports confirming the 16-year prison sentence of Narges Mohammadi by the appeals court. He urged Iran to release Narges Mohammadi on humanitarian grounds. According to Reuters, Mark Toner stated during a press conference that no one should be imprisoned for peaceful civil protests. The Human Rights Defenders Center announced on Wednesday that the Tehran appeals court upheld the ruling given to Ms. Mohammadi last May. Narges Mohammadi was sentenced in May at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, to 10 years in prison for founding and being a member of the Legam Association (a group advocating for the abolition of the death penalty) and an additional six years for charges of 'gathering and colluding to commit a crime against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Under Iranian law, Ms. Mohammadi must serve 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department spokesperson emphasized on Friday that reports regarding Narges Mohammadi indicate that her health condition in prison is deteriorating and that prison officials have prevented her from contacting her two children. Mark Toner stated that given these circumstances, the imposition of this prison sentence is especially harsh and unjust. We call on the Iranian government to provide necessary medical care for Narges Mohammadi and to release her on humanitarian principles. The news of the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence last week has sparked international reactions. Amnesty International criticized the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's 16-year prison sentence by the Tehran appeals court on Wednesday and called for her unconditional release. This human rights organization stated that this sentence is 'a clear indication of the Iranian authorities' intent to silence human rights defenders at any cost.' In this context, Reporters Without Borders also condemned the confirmation of Narges Mohammadi's prison sentence in a statement and called for her immediate release. Christophe Deloire, the Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders, said: 'The prison sentence for this brave Iranian woman is cruel, and we demand her immediate release.' Narges Mohammadi has been in Evin Prison since May 2015, while her husband, Taghi Rahmani, has stated that she suffers from 'muscle paralysis' and that the prison conditions are 'dangerous' for her.