The U.S. Calls for 'Unconditional Freedom' of Narges Mohammadi and All 'Political Prisoners' in Iran

Abram Pili, the Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. for Iran, condemned the recent 15-month prison sentence for Narges Mohammadi and welcomed the temporary release of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, journalists who had been imprisoned for about 17 months. Mr. Pili stated on social media platform 'X' that the campaign by the Iranian regime to silence critics and human rights activists, including Narges Mohammadi, must stop. Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was sentenced this week for the third time by the Islamic Revolutionary Court while imprisoned in Evin Prison. According to a report published on Narges Mohammadi's Instagram page on Monday, January 15, the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced this imprisoned human rights activist to '15 months in prison, two years of exile outside Tehran and neighboring provinces, two years of travel ban, two years of prohibition from membership in social-political groups, and two years of prohibition from using a smartphone.' Narges Mohammadi was accused of 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic' based on a complaint from the Ministry of Intelligence. Due to the Nobel Peace Prize winner's refusal to attend a court session held on December 19 in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court presided over by Iman Afshari, the court's ruling was issued 'in absentia.' This human rights defender emphasized that she does not recognize the Islamic Revolutionary Court, which she described as a 'slaughterhouse for the youth' of Iran. In a separate post on social media 'X,' the U.S. Deputy Special Representative for Iran called for the unconditional and permanent release of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, two journalists arrested while covering reports related to the death of Mahsa Amini, stating they should never have been detained in the first place. Abram Pili stressed the necessity of freeing all 'political prisoners' in Iran who have been unjustly detained, expressing regret over the arrest of women by the Iranian regime for 'hijab violations' and journalists for reporting such heinous acts. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and the regime must cease silencing journalists. After 400 days of detention, Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi were temporarily released from Evin Prison this week after posting a bail of 10 billion tomans. Recently, Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi were sentenced by Judge Salavati to a total of 25 years in prison and additional penalties. These two journalists were arrested during last year's nationwide protests for covering the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, and they were accused of 'collaborating with the hostile government of the United States,' an accusation they vehemently denied. Elahe Mohammadi was sentenced to six years in prison for what the Iranian judiciary termed 'collaboration with the hostile government of the United States,' five years for 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' and one year for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Niloufar Hamedi was also sentenced to seven years for 'collaboration with the hostile government of the United States,' five years for 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' and one year for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' which, if confirmed, would result in seven years of imprisonment. The U.S. government has repeatedly denied any connection or collaboration with these journalists and described such rulings as an effort by the Islamic Republic to suppress freedom of expression in Iran. Previously, lawyer Hossein Ahmadinejad stated to Voice of America that the international community knows that the rulings against Narges Mohammadi are not legal.