UN Declares Beating of Narges Mohammadi and Other Women in Evin Prison as 'Torture'

UN human rights experts expressed concern on Tuesday, August 30, stating that the Iranian government continues to deny timely and adequate healthcare access to human rights defender Narges Mohammadi and other detainees, despite repeated requests. This joint statement was supported by at least 15 independent UN experts, including Maya Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who began her mission at the start of this month. The statement was also signed by thematic reporters and senior experts from other UN working groups, including the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The UN Human Rights Information Center reported that these experts, while expressing deep concerns about the physical and mental health of Narges Mohammadi, who has been 'transferred to the Iranian government,' once again urged Iranian officials to 'immediately release her and provide full access to medical care without delay for her and other detainees.' On August 7, it was reported that this Nobel Peace Prize laureate was subjected to physical violence during an incident in the women’s section of Evin Prison. She reportedly lost consciousness and suffered injuries to her chest and other parts of her body. Narges Mohammadi requested access to her lawyer to file a complaint regarding the physical violence and also to undergo a forensic examination to assess her injuries. Reports indicate that both requests were denied by Evin Prison officials. UN human rights experts stated, 'It appears that the denial of medical care is being used as punishment and to silence Mohammadi inside the prison. These reports raise serious concerns regarding her right to health and physical well-being.' The UN human rights experts declared that 'such deprivations may amount to torture and inhuman treatment, which is an absolute and non-derogable right and a necessary norm of international human rights law.' The experts expressed equal concern for Fatemeh Sepahri, Mahmoud Mehrabi, Davood Razavi, Hassan Saidi, and Reza Shahabi Zakaria, who have also been denied adequate healthcare despite tests and medical reports. UN human rights defenders reiterated their call for the immediate release of human rights defenders and all individuals who are arbitrarily detained in Iran. Previously, following reports of beatings of political female prisoners in Evin Prison, Reporters Without Borders and the PEN America Association issued statements calling for the release of these prisoners, including Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mostafa Nili, Narges Mohammadi's lawyer, stated that prison officials struck the area of a 'tumor' in this political prisoner’s body, adding that this Nobel Peace Prize laureate has requested meetings with lawyers and also to be referred to forensic medicine. Reports of the suppression of female political prisoners in other Iranian prisons have also emerged. For instance, a family member of one of the prisoners at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad previously informed the Persian section of Voice of America about the protests of female prisoners against the very poor living conditions in the prison wards, stating that this protest, which occurred in two instances, was met with suppression by prison officials. Dozens of human rights organizations have called for international investigations into the 'brutal repression' of female prisoners in Evin. Shirin Ebadi warned about the situation of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners, stating that the government has drawn its sword. Reports indicate that the Evin guards struck the chest of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with Taghi Rahmani reporting on Narges Mohammadi's 'respiratory attack.'