US and Amnesty International React to Prison and Whipping Sentence for Nasrin Sotoudeh

The US and Amnesty International have reacted to reports of a sentence of "38 years in prison and 148 lashes" for Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist. Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh's husband, announced on Tuesday: "In her latest case, the sentence communicated to her in prison is 33 years in prison and 148 lashes." Meanwhile, Mohammad Mogheiseh, head of Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, stated that Sotoudeh has been sentenced to "seven years in prison." Robert Palladino, a spokesperson for the US State Department, commented: "While the rights of women are being celebrated by the rest of the world, the Iranian regime issues a sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent defender of human rights and women's rights. Is this the 'new chapter of justice' that Khamenei proudly preaches?" Amnesty International described the new sentence against Sotoudeh as the "harshest sentence" issued in recent years for a human rights defender in Iran. This human rights organization stated that the new ruling against Sotoudeh indicates that Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on human rights defenders. Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa section at Amnesty International, also stated: "It is absolutely horrific that Nasrin Sotoudeh has been sentenced to nearly four decades in prison and 148 lashes for her peaceful activism in defense of human rights, including defending protesters against mandatory hijab." There are conflicting reports regarding Sotoudeh's new sentence; Reza Khandan claims it is 38 years, while Judge Mogheiseh states it is 7 years. This Amnesty International official emphasized that countries with influence over Iran must act for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh. The international community, especially the European Union, which is currently in talks with Iran, must take decisive and public action against this shameful ruling and work for the unconditional release of Nasrin Sotoudeh. Philip Luther further stated: "Nasrin Sotoudeh has dedicated her life to defending women's rights and has spoken out against the death penalty, and it is very shameful that Iranian authorities punish her for her human rights activities. The punishment and ruling against Nasrin Sotoudeh underscore Iran's image as a ruthless repressive regime against women's rights." Mahmoud Behzadi Rad, Sotoudeh's lawyer, also reported on Saturday regarding the judicial process of Sotoudeh's charges, mentioning the issuance of a new absentia ruling in her case in Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court. According to Behzadi Rad, "Nasrin Sotoudeh had two cases pending in the Security Prosecutor's Office, one related to a complaint from the Kashan prosecutor against her and the other concerning charges of membership in the Legam campaign, which aims to gradually abolish the death penalty. This lawyer added: "Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court held a session to address this case, in which my client was not present, and ultimately we learned that the court had issued an absentia ruling." Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, was arrested on June 13 of this year under an arrest warrant and has been in prison since then. This lawyer and human rights activist was also arrested in September 2010, during which she was sentenced to 11 years in prison, 20 years of disqualification from practicing law, and 20 years of prohibition from leaving the country.