U.S. State Department Expresses Concern Over Beating of Narges Mohammadi and Other Female Prisoners in Evin

On Monday, August 20, the U.S. State Department expressed concern over reports of the beating of Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate imprisoned in Evin. The department described the attack by prison officials on Narges Mohammadi and other female prisoners in Evin due to their peaceful protest against the execution of Reza Rasayi as 'deeply troubling' and condemned it. The U.S. State Department also urged the Iranian government to stop attacks against human rights defenders and to release all unjustly detained prisoners in the country. Following reports of the beating of protesting women in Evin, including Narges Mohammadi, a group of human rights activists called for an international investigation on August 20. Previously, Reporters Without Borders and the American PEN Association had also separately called for the release of these prisoners. Following the attack on August 7 by Islamic Republic forces against female prisoners in Evin, Narges Mohammadi's family expressed concern for her health, stating that 'after the protest gathering of female prisoners against the execution of Reza Rasayi, Narges suffered a respiratory attack and chest pain due to several punches delivered by men from military and security agencies to her chest and fell to the ground in the prison yard.' Narges Mohammadi, born in 1972 in Zanjan, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades. In her latest legal case, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 'propaganda against the regime' and is currently held in Evin prison in Tehran. Dozens of human rights organizations have called for an international investigation into the 'brutal repression' of female prisoners in Evin. Mustafa Nili: Prison officials have struck the 'tumor' area in Narges Mohammadi's body. The health condition of Sarvnaz Ahmadi in Evin prison has been reported as 'very critical'; officials are opposing her medical leave. Amnesty International's reaction to the beating of Narges Mohammadi and other female prisoners in Evin: Independent observers should be granted access to prisons. New charges have been brought against Pakhshan Aziz, a political prisoner sentenced to death. Message from Rezvaneh Ahmadkhani from Evin: The homeland will not remain under the control of oppression, corruption, and tyranny.