Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 16, 2022: For decades, the Islamic Republic has sought to silent civil society by repressing human rights defenders, writers, artists and civil rights activists. This has been escalating in recent months with mounting pressure on writers, artists and human rights defenders who are unjustly behind bars.
Expressing its grave concern about the situation of imprisoned dissidents and human rights defenders, Iran Human Rights calls on the international community to strive harder for their release.
“Access to adequate medical treatment and not being transferred to solitary confinement or prison-exiled are only basic requirements. The real issue is that no individual should be imprisoned for their peaceful activities, such as expressing their views. The Islamic Republic must release all human rights defenders immediately and unconditionally,” said Iran Human Rights Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
Depriving prisoners of their basic rights like medical treatment not only distresses the prisoner but can also result in extrajudicial killings like the recent case of filmmaker and poet, Baktash Abtin. Following his death, other jailed activists have faced reprisal for seeking accountability for his death. Journalist, Alieh Motalebzadeh was prison-exiled to Qarchak Prison after holding a memorial ceremony for Baktash Abtin in Evin Prison.
Seven political prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison have began a hunger strike demanding that authorities accept responsibility for their “role in Baktash Abtin’s death.” Their names are: Sadegh Omidi, Hamid Haj Jafar Kashani, Mahmoud Ali Naghi, Peyman Pourdad, Ali Asghar Hassanirad, Mehdi Darini and Moein Hajizadeh. Prison officials have a duty of care for these prisoners’ lives.
72-year-old veteran journalist, Keyvan Samimi is another human rights defender who must be immediately released from Evin Prison due to his age and health. Given that his imprisonment for expressing his right to freedom of speech is in itself unlawful, Islamic Republic authorities are responsible for any harm to his life and health.
Human rights defender, Narges Mohammadi has been under interrogations in solitary confinement for the last 60 days. Her crime is to have fought to defend human rights.
These are just a few people who have been jailed solely for expressing their views or engaging in peaceful human rights activism. Their sin is to have listened to their conscience to help build a better society, the Islamic Republic must release them mmediately.