Nasrin Sotoudeh

Nasrin Sotoudeh is a prominent human rights lawyer who has been working in the field of human rights, women's rights, and children's rights since the early 1990s, defending numerous political and human rights cases since the early 2000s. She has been arrested and tried on several occasions during this time.

<coverage-outsourcing id='23206'> She was called into the Bar Association. In previous years, she had been denied this despite passing the relevant exams </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25874'> International Human Rights Committee in Mirano, Italy, gives its first award to Nasrin Sotoodeh </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25857'> In previous years, she was active with Center for the Supporters of Human Rights and One Million Signature Campaign and defended cases of human rights defenders, women rights activists, child victims of abuse and children facing capital punishment. In 2009, she accepted to represent a large number of political prisoners and families of those who lost their lives in the protests </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25856'> Won the human rights award of the “International Human Rights Organization” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25935'> Nasrin Sotoudeh told DW that Ayoub Porkar was sentenced to death on charges of being a member of the Mohareb group and effective efforts for this group, and based on the findings of the illegal search of his personal emails and phone calls, he was neither a member of the Mojahedin Organization nor did he make effective efforts for this organization. Mr. Porkar was inquisitioned by Judge Pirabbasi in the court session, "one of the most important reasons for issuing the verdict" was based on this inquisition and the verdict was not communicated to the lawyers. Ms. Sotoudeh later said in another interview that the five-page verdict did not refer to the crimes but to the beliefs of her client. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25887'> She received a summons </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25861'> According to BBC Persian, security forces went to Nasrin Sootodeh’s house and working place and after a few hours of search, captured a number of cases of her clients, her computer and some of her personal belongings and that of her husband and children. She told BBC she’d be happy to be arrested because she will face conditions similar to those of her innocent clients in prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23207'> Upon receiving a summon order, she went to the Evin prosecutors together with her lawyer, Nasim Qanavi. The lawyer was not allowed to be present in the interrogation session. In the same session, Sotoode’s arrest order was issued and she was sent to Section 209 of Evin prison. For months, she was denied access to her lawyers or meeting with her family. Nasrin Sotoodeh was under pressure for a long time to end her human rights activities, especially as a lawyer. Her husband, Reza Khandan, was also sent to the prosecutors multiple times and was once arrested for a short time. Due to space restrictions, IPA has not registered every count of international support that she’s received since, except in some exceptional cases. She staged five hunger strikes in relation to this case </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25860'> Interrogator didn’t let her lawyer, Nasim Qanavii, to access the case but the security prosecutor confirmed Nasrin Sotoodeh’s arrest </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25888'> The Reporters Without Borders and, three days later, Amnesty International, issued statements to protest her arrest </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23208'> She started a hunger strike. It lasted 28 days </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25889'> She was prevented from taking part in her father’s funeral </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25890'> Reza Khandan wrote to Tehran Prosecutor to say that he has no news from Nasrin Sotoodeh for two weeks. This lack of news lasted for another few weeks </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25891'> Shirin Ebadi and eight human rights organization published a statement and called for her release </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23211'> Shortly after the last strike, she staged a 9-day dry hunger strike and then changed it to a water-inclusive hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23212'> The first trial of her charges happened in the Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Pirabbasi. She was under a hunger strike at this time but was sent to hospital after the trial, where she ended her strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23210'> Nasrin Sotoodeh’s husband told BBC Persian that she had been tried because she recorded a film message without observing Islamic Hijab and sent it to a gathering abroad and had then been sentenced to five days in detention because she protested the procedures of the court. That the revolutionary court was trying a case of non-observance of Hijab, that there was a camera in the court whose ownership was unclear and preventing the presence of one of her friends in what the judge had billed as an “open” trial led Sotoodeh to protest and refuse to answer questions </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25879'> She was tried because she hadn’t worn her Hijab in a filmed message she sent to a gathering abroad. She protested the process of trial because one of her colleagues was refused attendance (even though it had been an open trial), because a camera whose ownership was unclear was present and because “a security trial is not fit to try a case of non-observance of Hijab”. She was thus sentenced to five days in detention </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23209'> According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Nasrin Sotoodeh has been sentenced by the Branch 25 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Pirabbasi to 11 years in prison, 20 years of disbarment and 20 years of ban from leaving the country. Her charges read as such: “Assembly and Collusion to act against national security” with unclear evidence; “Propaganda against the regime” probably with the evidence of giving interviews about her clients; “Membership in illegal groups” with the evidence of membership in CSHR. She was also sentenced to pay a 500000 rial fine because of “open non-observance of Hijab”. Based on many reports, the appeals court reduced this sentence to six years in prison and a 10 years disbarment. Her disbarment order was later reassessed by the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Court </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25878'> Pen (US) gave the award of Barabara Goldsmith to Nasrin Sotoodeh </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23213'> She was called to the Lawyer’s Disciplinary Court but was prevented from attending by prison authorities </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25863'> She was prevented from being sent to the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Court, which was to make a decision on the situation on her legal license </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25858'> Her husband, Reza Khandan, and their 12-year-old daughter, Mehrave Khandan, were banned from leaving the country </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25875'> Shirin Ebadi wrote to Human Rights Commissioner of the UN and Unicef to protest persecution and travel ban on Nasrin Sotoodeh’s 12-year-old daughter </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23217'> She staged a hunger strike to protest the ban on travel on her daughter who was a child then. Mehrave Khandan had been banned from leaving the country due to the human rights activities of her mom </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25870'> She was sent to Section 209 (ran by the Intelligence Ministry) in the middle of her hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25873'> Nasrin Sotoodeh’s continued hunger strike led to wide-ranging domestic and international protests. Reza Khandan and a group of women's rights activists also met a number of MPs. The MPs declared that they would negotiate to realize Sotoodeh’s demands </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25871'> On the 47th day of Nasrin Sotoodeh’s hunger strike, Reza Khandan told a website close to the Green Movement: “Her physical conditions are now such that I don’t think she can stay on her feet until the next trial. Vertigo, vision impairment, lack of balance in walking and low blood pressure shows the gravity of her state and she has also become extremely thin” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23218'> She ended her hunger strike after the travel ban on Mehrave Khandan was lifted. The strike had led to wide-ranging reactions in the Iranian civil society, international bodies and also Iranian government authorities and ultimately the government accepted all of the requests. The strike lasted 49 days </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23214'> She was released after 1110 days in jail, IPA reported. She was released together with a number of other political prisoners. This happened a few days before Hassan Rouhani was due to speak at the UN </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25876'> The European Union’s parliamentary delegation met Nasrin Sootodeh and Jafar Panahi in the Greek embassy. The Iranian government reacted harshly to this </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25865'> Nasrin Sotoodeh had gone to a trial for the defense of Koroosh Zayim but was barred by the court authorities. They referred to the court order which had disbarred Ms. Sotoodeh </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25877'> Nasrin Sotoodeh and 13 of Iranian political activists staged a hunger strike to protest the attack by ISIS and massacre of people in Kobane. “We want to say that ISIS is not only a Kurdish issue but one that threatens global peace” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25864'> The Branch Two of the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Court agreed with Evin Prosecutor office to disbar Nasrin Sootode for three years. In his Facebook page, Reza Khandan wrote that Majed Vosooghi, head of the Branch Two, “in order to prevent his own infamy by issuing a decree that had apparently been decided upon before the trial took place, had told Nasrin that it would be better if she gave up her license herself and stop practicing law for now because we are under pressure.” Reza Khandan said this was “the most shameful decree in the 100-year history of Iran’s bar associations” and said, before or after the revolution, no lawyer who had been a political prisoner had ever been disbarred </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25882'> Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Moghise, without letting Nasrin Sotoodeh know, tried her in absentia. She was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion for acting against national security” and two years in prison on the charge of “insulting” Ali Khamenei. After the application of Article 134, this will be reduced to five years in total </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23888'> In early December 2017, Vida Movahedi stood on a platform in Tehran's Enghelab Street, without a veil, and raised her white scarf in protest of forced veiling. The white scarf symbolizes the White Wednesday campaign in protest of the mandatory wearing of hijab in Iran. Vida Movahedi was arrested immediately after doing so. This protest was extensively covered on social media but her identity and status was unclear for the first few weeks. Movahedi was released shortly after and then arrested again. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23219'> Nasrin Sotoudeh wrote on her Facebook page: > Today, Reza and I (Reza Khandan, husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh) went to the same place that the girl of Enghelab Street stood on with her white flag. We went to find out about her condition. Local investigation proved that a young girl whose name is still unknown to us, was arrested the same day. After being arrested, she was released for a short time and re-arrested. She has a 19 month old baby and is herself 31 years old. After being arrested, she was transferred to police station 148 on Enghelab Street, and then her case went to the Khark Street’s Prosecutor's office, which has now been transferred to Shiroodi Street in Mofatteh. It is up to the judiciary and the captors to protect their rights and preserve their lives. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23889'> A woman named Narges Hosseini came to Tehran, stood on the same platform Vida Movahedi stood on and raised her white scarf. Throughout the next few hours, a number of other women in different parts of Iran took off their veils in solidarity. Narges Hosseini was arrested and transferred to Qarchak prison in Varamin. Nasrin Sotoudeh assumed her legal representation. In the following days, women and men similarly protested against the laws that made hijabs mandatory. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25892'> Nasrin Sotoodeh, Shirin Ebadi, Narges Mohammadi, Payam Akhavan, Jafar Panahi, Mohsen Sazgara, Mohammad Seyfzade, Hasan Shariatmadari, Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, Abolfazl Qadiani, Mohsen Kadivar, Kazem Kardavani, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Mohammad Maleki and Mohammad Noorizad issued an appeal that called for peaceful transition from the Islamic Republic toward a parliamentary secular democracy based on free vote of the people, full observation of human rights and lifting of all discrimination especially full equality for women, ethnicities and religions in all cultural, social, political and economic fields. According to the undersigned “forty years of experience shows that the Islamic Republic of Iran can’t be reformed” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23215'> Nasrin Sotoodeh was arrested and sent to Evin’s Women Section. Security forces first showed her a decree that showed the trial in absentia had sentenced her to five years in prison. She never knew such decree existed. In the interrogation session in the Branch 7 of Evin Prosecutors, she was told that she had been arrested upon a suit by Mehdi Pitam, an interrogator in Kashan Prosecutor’s office. Mehdi Pitam had filed a suit against Sotoodeh due to her activities as a lawyer for Shaparak Shajarizade. Shajarizade was among women who took her scarf off to protest compulsory Hijab. In addition to her, Sotoodeh had represented a few other of the Revolution Street Girls as well. Based on some reports, bail was posted for Sotoodeh but she refused to provide it and went to prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25869'> Speaking for the US State Department, Heather Nauert asked for her immediate release </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23216'> Security forces attacked a gathering by a number of lawyers and civil activists who were protesting Sotoodeh’s arrest and beat up some protesters and arrested some. They were released after a few hours </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23876'> Nasrin Sotoudeh joined Farhad Meysami in not eating </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25880'> According to ICHRI, Nasrin Sotoodeh’s sister was threatened with arrest after she protested her visitation ban </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23879'> Reza Khandan was released on parole and Farhad Meysami and Nasrin Sotoude ended their refusal to eat </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25885'> She was tried in the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Moghise. Nasrin Sotoudeh refused to take part because she considers Revolutionary Courts “illegal.” She has also refused to hire a lawyer to protest the enforcement of the Note to Article 48 according to which political prisoners in Tehran can only pick from the 20 lawyers accepted by the government </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23884'> It was reported that Reza Khandan and Farhad Meysami had been each sentenced to six years in prison, two years of deprivation from social rights and a ban from leaving the country on charges of “assembly and collusion for acting against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” After Article 134 is applied, their sentence will be reduced to five years each </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24679'> Nasrin Sotoudeh’s ban on having visitors has been lifted, Payam Dorafshan told IRNA. According to Mr. Dorafshan, a pair of scissors had been found in Sotoudeh’s personal belongings and this is why the head of the prison had banned her from having visitors for three weeks. He said that since prisons have been privatized, the prisoners have access to cooking devices such as various knives so “using a pair of scissors as an excuse to issue a ban on visitors is totally unacceptable.” Nasrin Sotoudeh filed a suit against the prison’s warden in the Government Employees Court </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23941'> In her new case, Nasrin Sotoudeh has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda acitivity against the regime,” “effective membership in the illegal and anti-seucrity groupings CSHR, Step by Step to End Death Penalty Campaign and National Peace Council,” “Encouraing people to corrpution and prosutiton and bringing about its means”, “Non-observance of Hijab in the interrogation room”, “disrupting public calm and order” and “publishing falsehoods to disturb the public.” ICHRI reported </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23940'> French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to Nasrin Sotoudeh for joining of a gender equality advisory committee of the G7 was given to Reza Khandan by the French embassy in Tehran </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23933'> Reza Khandan wrote on his Facebook page: “Nasrin’s decree in her last case was given to her in prison. 38 years in prison and 148 blows of the lash are sentences in her two open cases. Five years in prison for the first case and 33 years in prison and 148 blows of the lash for the second case.” After Article 134 application, this will be reduced to twelve years. Based on the decree, which was published later, the following are the convictions and sentences of Nasrin Sotoodeh: Seven years and six months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit crime against national security” (Article 610 of the Iranian Criminal Code), 1.5 years in prison on the charge of “propaganda activity against the system” (Article 500), 7.5 years in prison on the charge of “membership in illegal groups” (Article 499) with the evidence of membership in Step by Step campaign which works for abolition of the death penalty, 12 years in prison on the conviction of “encouraging corruption and prostitution” (Article 639) with the evidence of opposing compulsory Hijab, 74 blows of the lash for “public non-observance of Hijab” (Article 638), Three years in prison and 74 blows of the lash on the conviction of “publishing falsehoods to disrupt public opinion” (Article 698) and two years in prison on the conviction of “Disrupting public order” (Article a 618) </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25883'> On the sidelines of the inauguration of the new head of the Judiciary, Judge Moghise said Nasrin Sotoudeh has been sentenced to seven years in prison, five of which will be enforceable. He denied the news that Sotoudeh had been sentenced to 33 years in prison (12 enforceable years.) This is while the five-year-sentence case was from two years and the 12-year-sentence was from the very same months and he was the judge in both cases </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25884'> While her husband, Reza Khandan, was visiting, she said that she considers the judicial system of the Islamic Republic “unjust” and will thus refuse to file for an appeal </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25859'> French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Tehran that efforts to save the JCPOA does not mean that his country will ignore violation of human rights in Iran. The decree against Soodeh had led to global anger and France will also declare its anger, he told the French parliament, according to Reuters </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25881'> Amnesty International had declared that 1 million and 188 thousand people had signed the petition that asked for Stoodeh’s release and gave the petition to Iranian embassies around the world </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='26171'> In a letter from prison, she praised the Iranian women’s efforts to end the mandatory hijab and called them peaceful and creative. The letter is documented in the supporting evidence section of this page. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='26912'> She won the 2019 peace memorial award in Spain. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27116'> <reference source='https://united4iran.org/fa/womenoffreedom'> The graffiti by seven Iranian women political prisoners in San Francisco's Clarion Alley was unveiled and the “In Praise of Women of Freedom” campaign started work. The images of these seven women were painted by Shaghayegh Siroos as part of a campaign by United for Iran in collaboration with IPA. The campaign aims to raise awareness on the situation of women imprisoned in Iran; women who have been imprisoned for their ideas or political or civil activities. The graffiti is located in the famed Clarion Alley, a narrow alley which holds paintings of many artists from around the world, often with political and social content </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27451'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/0.pdf'> Speaking to a French publication, Nasrin Sotoodeh pointed to systematic injustice in Iran. Ms Sotoode said: “I can’t regret not having freedom because the Iranian society is not experiencing such freedom either. To bear working as a female lawyer in unjust courts brings more suffering to me than bearing time in prison.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27693'> European Bar Associations and Lawyers stated that Human Rights Award granted to four Iranian lawyers, Abdolfattah Soltani, Amir Salar Davoodi, Mohammad Najafi and Nasrin Sotoudeh </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27916'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86_%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87.pdf'> Nasrin Sotoudeh issued a statement condemning the Iranian government's behavior and demanded the Iranian government to publish killed and detained names of nationwide protests in November 2019 </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30215'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%d9%86%d8%b3%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87/'> Nasrin Sotoudeh, Rezvaneh Khan Beigi, and Nahid Behshid went on a hunger strike in protest of avoiding Mrs. Behshid from sending to leave despite the Coronavirus pandemic. After Mrs. Behshid's release, Nasrin Sotoudeh, and Rezvaneh Khan Beigi ended their hunger strike </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29965'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%d9%85%d9%be%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%a2%d8%b2%d8%a7%d8%af%db%8c-%d9%88%da%a9%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86%db%8c/'> United for Iran and the Free Lawyers' Tribune launched a campaign to release three imprisoned lawyers:, Mohammad Najafi, Amir Salar Davoodi, and Nasrin Sotoudeh. This campaign condemned the human rights violations of political prisoners committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and urged the Iranian government to stop its inhumane policies </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30237'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%d9%86%d8%b1%da%af%d8%b3-%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af%db%8c%d8%8c-%d9%86%d8%b3%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87%d8%8c-%d8%a2%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%a7-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%85%db%8c/'> Nasrin was refused a furlough from prison despite the COVID19 pandemic. IPA News published a report detailing Iranian authorities’ refusal to release Nasrin, and two other female political prisoners Narges Mohammadi and Atena Daemi, despite the health risks posed by the COVID19 pandemic </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30169'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/499634'> The European Bar Association sent a letter to President Hassan Rouhani asking him to release three imprisoned lawyers:, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Amir Salar Davoodi, and Mohammad Najafi </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30789'> <reference source='https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/IranianPrisioners.aspx'> The UN Human Rights High Commission pointed out the spread of coronavirus and its effect in prisons and on the actions of the judiciary and then discussed the situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh and political and ideological prisoners. In a video message to the organization, her husband Reza Khandan: “Since the arrest, my wife has gone on hunger strike three times. She has got weak physically but is still being kept in prison under these conditions. The Islamic Republic’s problem with Nasrin Sotoudeh is that she ignores her own interests in the defense of human rights.” Ms. Sotoudeh has refused to visit the infirmary in the past two months because of the fear of the coronavirus. Mr. Khandan also mentioned that in Iranian prisons, prisoners do not have access to preventive measures like masks, gloves, and disinfectants and this puts them in danger. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32439'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-25517/'> According to HRANA, 35 political women prisoners are currently being kept in the women's Evin Prison ward. They face problems such as limited access to medical services, rarity and high prices of goods, low-quality food, etc. After the coronavirus's pandemic, prisoners are responsible for preparing masks and gloves. In the prison store, each mask or pair of gloves is sold to prisoners at a price of between eight and ten thousand tomans. Detergents and disinfectants are also given to the prisoners rationally. Still, the prisoners have to buy these materials from the store due to the lack of these items. The prison store sells Alcohol and other disinfectants at high prices, so some prisoners buy these substances together. The quality of food is low, and most prisoners are forced to buy food from the prison store. Maryam Akbari Monfared, Atena Daemi, Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kord Afshari, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Fatemeh Mosanna, Zahra Zahtabachi, Monireh Arabshahi, Yasaman Ariani, Mojgan Keshavarz, Aras Amiri, Samaneh Norouz Moradi, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Hengameh Shahidi, Rezvaneh Ahmad Khanbeigi, Sepideh Farhan, Sepideh Gholyan, Maryam Ebrahimvand, Neda Ashtiani, Zahra Jamali, Fariba Adelkhah, Mozhgan Kavousi, Mozhdeh Negahdar, Elham Barmaki, Masoumeh (Minoo) Ghasemzadeh Malek Shah, Maryam Haji Hosseini, Nazanin Toosi, Mina Saki, Mira Radpour, Leila Raouf, Hajar Siamifar, and Soroush Ahmadi Khosravi are among the 35 women prisoners currently being kept in the women's ward of Evin Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='31932'> <reference source='https://iranhr.net/fa/articles/4353/'> Nasrin Sotoudeh’s bank accounts were frozen by the order of the public prosecutor. Her husband Reza Khandan along with her attorney went to the Pasargadae Bank legal office, Evin court, and Tehran public prosecutor’s office but didn’t get a response. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='31988'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-26115/?tg_rhash=22a41dd9689763'> In a letter stating the demand for the release of political prisoners, she announced her hunger strike and wrote that she is doing it in protest of the refusal to release political prisoners during the coronavirus crisis. She writes: “Many prisoners qualify for parole and many of them could be released under the new law, but the prisoners are treated in such manner as if the law doesn’t exist and none of them has a legal right. The prisoners’ correspondence in search of a legal channel remains unanswered.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33254'> <reference source='https://united4iran.org/en/15prisoners'> United for Iran published the fact patterns and legal analyses of Nasrin Sotoudeh's case, taking into consideration human rights and fair trial violations based on international treaties to which the IRI is a signatory. The Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has been used as the lead document for this context. United for Iran has published similar fact patterns for 14 other political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, and has called on UN institutions to use these resources to file cases and follow up on their situations </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32154'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-26212/'> Mehraveh Khandan, daughter of Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested in front of their home by the security forces and was released on bail hours later. No reason was offered for the arrest. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32181'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/statements/a-523/'> 44 attorneys at law released a letter in support of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other political prisoners who are on hunger strike, asking them to end their hunger strike and “harming themselves”. The signatories of the letter pointed out the callousness of the officials with regard to the lives of political prisoners and asked the prisoners: “The officials have no ears for your demands of justice, so please do not put your health at risk.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32262'> Her husband Reza Khandan reported her bad health on Twitter. On her 17th day of the hunger strike, she has lost around 6kg, and her blood pressure and blood sugar dropped, but due to nausea, she can’t consume enough water and sugar. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32653'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/CNBarreaux/status/1301910974962769922?s=20'> A group of attorneys at law joined the “Support Nasrin Sotoudeh” Campaign. Saeed Dehghan, Arash Kaykhosravi, Ghasem Komaili, Shahin Hajian, Majid Salmani, and Abouzar Nasollahi are among the attorneys who have released videos every day demanding the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other imprisoned attorneys. The campaign started at the request of the French bar association. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32657'> <reference source='https://p.dw.com/p/3iB1N'> The German Judges Association awarded Nasrin their 2020 Human Rights Award.This award has been awarded by the German Judges Association since 1991. It goes to judges, state attorneys, or lawyers who stand up for human rights in their country at the risk of life, health, or personal freedom and despite serious personal disadvantages. Nasrin shared a thank you message from prison for the award ceremony, dedicating her award to four protesters sentenced to death: Navid Afkari, Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32656'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1305416102302937088?s=20'> Nasrin Sotoudeh has not had family visitation for four weeks. Her husband Reza Khandan tried to visit her at Evin Prison and was told by other prisoners’ family members that “Ms. Sotoudeh is in bad health.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32662'> The hunger strike of Nasrin Sotoudeh along with the demand for the release of political prisoners caused reactions across the world. In addition to Iranian citizens, many human rights activists in several countries, human rights organizations, and some politicians including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Justin Trudeau objected to the violations of her rights and demanded her release. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32654'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1307345679233306624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1307345679233306624%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fpersian%2Firan-54218622'> After her health declined, Nasrin Sotoudeh was transferred to Taleghani hospital in Tehran. Hours later, her health took a turn for the worse and she was hospitalized in the CCU. She is having respiratory and heart problems. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32739'> Nasrin Sotoudeh has been hospitalized without access to family. According to Reza Khanda, her health has deteriorated. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32740'> Ms. Sotoudeh was returned to the hospital without finishing her treatment. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32769'> Amnesty International expressed concern about her health and demanded her immediate and unconditional release. The statement reads: “Nasrin Sotoudeh has been hospitalized after 40 days of hunger strike and Iranian authorities are obligated to release her immediately.” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32829'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/features/41438'> IranWire published a report about the problems and illnesses of female political prisoners in Evin Prison including Nasrin Sotoudeh, Saba Kurd Afshari, Rezvaneh Khanbeigi, Mozhgan Kavousi, Samaneh Nowruz Moradi, and Atena Daemi. The reports state that despite illnesses and health problems, these female prisoners have no access to medical services and treatment. According to Reza Khandan’s (Nasrin’s husband) tweet, she was kept in Taleghani hospital for five days and was returned to prison without any medical treatment. Saba Kurd Afshari is suffering from stomach bleeding. Mozhgan Kavousi needs emergency hemorrhoid surgery. Rezvaneh Khanbeigi is suffering from epilepsy. Samaneh Nowruz Moradi has lupus and breast cancer, and Atena Daemi has had a gastrointestinal infection and a tumor in one of her breasts; she might also have MS. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32855'> Due to health problems, Nasrin Sotoodeh and Rezvaneh Ahmad Khan Beigi broke their hunger strike. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32881'> <reference source='https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-54367422'> Right Livelihood foundation in Sweden awarded Nasrin Sotodeh for her “fight for justice in an unfair system” and for representing political activists and other victims of oppression in Iran. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33168'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1318531517463789570'> Nasrin Sotoudeh was moved to Qarchak Varamin Prison. The authorities told her that she is to be transferred to a hospital but took her to Qarchak Prison instead. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33222'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-27190/'> Her daughter Mehraveh Khandan was summoned to the 1175th branch of Qods judicial complex. According to her father’s report, her trial will be held the next day. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33225'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-27372/'> The trial of Nasrin Sotoudeh’s daughter Mehraveh Khandan was held. The case was brought against her after a complaint from a prison guard in the women’s ward of Evin Prison. The guard had chastised her about what she was wearing, and she had objected. The guard, Fatemeh Hassanpour is the plaintiff in the case. Ms. Khandan’s attorneys Mostafa Nili and Shadi Halimi presented their defense. According to the judge, the CCTV images from the prison will be brought to court for further investigation. Reza Khandan stated: “The female guard from Qarchak Prison and the Evin magistrate both wanted compromise and to drop the case, but Mehraveh Khandan has not accepted it.” The case was eventually closed after the plaintiff dropped her complaint. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33293'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/548304'> Sixteen UN experts called her arrest arbitrary and demanded the immediate release of Nasrin Sotoudeh for medical treatment. The statement mentions her health and emphasizes that she is at risk of contracting coronavirus. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33545'> <reference source='https://www.dw.com/en/german-lawmakers-demand-release-of-nasrin-sotoudeh/a-55570576'> 38 German lawmakers released a signed statement demanding the "unconditional" permanent release of Iranian human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh. "We express our full solidarity with Ms. Sotoudeh, and we will continue to stand by her and all other human rights defenders pursuing the respect of fundamental freedoms for all Iranians," the parliamentarians wrote. The open letter also urges Iran to guarantee that all human rights defenders are able to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33427'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1326191740051714050'> Her coronavirus test was positive. He husband announced on Twitter that she seems to have contracted the virus in Prison: “Last week when I went to visit Nasrin, she said many in her ward have contracted it.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33519'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/553977'> Her furlough was extended for 21 more days. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33540'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/features/43244'> “Nasrin” documentary about the life of Nasrin Sotoudeh was uploaded on the IranWire website. The documentary was made by the American writer and director Jeff Kaufmann. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33695'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1334109640439820291'> She returned to prison at the end of her furlough. Despite having contracted the coronavirus and the doctor’s order for two more weeks of furlough, she returned to prison at the order of the authorities. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33720'> <reference source='https://en.qantara.de/content/right-livelihood-award-goes-to-iranian-human-rights-lawyer-nasrin-sotoudeh'> <strong>The alternative Nobel prize</strong> Right Livelihood Award or the alternative Nobel prize goes to Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde presented the award to Sotoudeh, saying it was "in recognition of your fearless activism to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran at great personal risk." The Stockholm-based foundation, which awards the Right Livelihood Award, said it was "shocked at the news" that Iranian authorities had ordered Nasrin Sotoudeh back to prison on the eve of the ceremony. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33797'> <reference source='https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/iran/iran-nasrin-sotoudeh-back-in-prison-despite-poor-health-condition'> The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Committee for Defence of Human Rights in Iran released a joint statement warning about the return of Nasrin Sotoudeh to Prison and demanded her immediate release. The statement says: “Ms. Sotoudeh was returned to prison without medical treatment and any improvement in her health, exactly one day before she was to receive the alternative Nobel Prize. Her early return to prison is a bigger threat to her life.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33869'> <reference source='https://www.kampain.info/archive/51607.htm'> The Campaign for Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners reported that a group of UN human rights experts released a statement regarding Ms. Sotoudeh’s return to prison, warning that it could have dire consequences for her. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34137'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2021/hranews/a-28241/'> According to HRANA, she was released on medical furlough for three days due to heart problems. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34312'> According to IPA sources, her previous case was reviewed by the court again in accordance with the new law. The court has the power to reduce her sentence significantly. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34311'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%d9%86%d8%b3%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87-%d8%a8%d9%87-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%82%d8%b1%da%86%da%a9-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%da%af%d8%b4%d8%aa/'> According to Atlas (IPA) sources she returned to prison at the end of her furlough. She went under angiography at the hospital two days earlier. Based on her heart disease and the unsuitable conditions in Qarchak Prison, her health could be seriously at risk. The court had asked the medical examiner to offer a report regarding her condition, but before the report was prepared, she was summoned back to prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34746'> <reference source='http://bit.ly/3rHas0C'> In an interview with DW, her husband Reza Khandan said: “All my bank accounts were frozen in the past three weeks. There is no financial crime in her case, and there is not even a crime in the case that would lead to freezing a bank account. He was told that the sentence enforcement judge at Evin has ordered to freeze his account. Mr. Khandan said: “They have disrupted the lives of families with these actions. We don’t even have access to the subsidies that are being deposited in my account.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='35250'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1372194391360700417'> Furlough. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='35911'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/NickSotoudeh/status/1379146074028269568?s=20'> Returned to prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='36337'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/news/tehran/51027'> Furlough </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='38142'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/Moghimi_Lawyer/status/1483162706899259397?s=20'> Her attorney announced that the prosecution has denied the request to extend her furlough because she attended a few events while on furlough. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42341'> <reference source='https://time.com/6218181/iran-protests-nasrin-sotoudeh-human-rights/'> In an interview with Time Magazine about the nationwide uprising triggered by the murder of Mahsa Amini, Nasrin Sotoudeh said it is now more clear than ever that the people are seeking regime change. She said there is no way back and people will no longer tolerate the mandatory hijab. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48681'> <reference source='https://ir.voanews.com/a/nasrin-sotoudeh-annual-global-human-rights-defender-award-recipients/6943623.html'> Nasrin Sotoudeh was added to the list of the US State Department's recipients of the annual Human Rights Defenders award. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48019'> <reference source='https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/02/08/amanpour-nasrin.cnn'> In an interview with CNN, she discussed the nationwide uprising of 2022, saying it is not over and that the people are seeking regime change. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48015'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3m8Irlc'> Her husband Reza Khandan was summoned to serve his sentence. He was summoned a few days after her interview with CNN in which she said the protests in Iran are not over. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48017'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/32271427.html'> The director of the PEN Association of America released a statement calling the arrest of Mr. Khandan "cruelty". </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48020'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/USEnvoyIran/status/1626334143171756038?s=20'> The US Special Representative on Iran Robert Malley condemned the summon of Reza Khandan and said it was done to put pressure on Ms. Sotoudeh. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58815'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/44c9hj6n'> According to Voice of America, Nasrin Sotoudeh won the "2023 Democracy Medal" from the University of Pennsylvania. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58816'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/2unh9372'> According to IranWire, during the funeral of Armita Geravand, she was arrested and taken to the Vozara Police Detention Center. Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, said Mrs. Sotoudeh's accusations were removing the hijab and propagandistic activity against the psychological security of citizens. According to the report of IranWire, Mrs. Sotoudeh called Armita's death "government murder" before attending Armita Geravand's funeral and wrote on her Facebook page: > We have lost our two young daughters in the subway. Let's protect our youth. Until the time comes for the fair trial of the perpetrators and commanders of these government murders. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58817'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/2unh9372'> She was transferred to Qarchak prison. Reza Khandan, Mrs. Sotoudeh's husband, while announcing this news, told IranWire that his wife has been on a hunger and medicine strike since the moment of her arrest. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53260'> <reference source='https://t.me/dhrciran/4424'> On the anniversary of rapper Toumaj Salehi's arrest, Nasrin Sotoudeh sent a message from prison and demanded his immediate release. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58818'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/32665029.html'> In a statement, the spokesperson of the US State Department, while condemning the arrest of a number of civil activists and human rights defenders at the funeral ceremony of Armita Geravand, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Sotoudeh and other detainees. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58832'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-44839/'> Reza Khandan, Mrs. Sotoudeh's wife, announced in an interview with HRANA that she is facing two new cases. According to Mr. Khandan, a case with accusations of assembly and collusion with the intention of disrupting the security of the country, propaganda against the system, disturbance of public order, and disobeying police orders, was referred to Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and the other case was referred to Branch 1097 of the Criminal Court-2. Ershad judicial complex and is being processed. He said that there was no information about the charges in the second case. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58830'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/ycxf7fxs'> She was transferred to Evin Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58833'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/43pbd2mz'> In a letter from prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh narrated the events of the day of her arrest. In the letter published by IranWire, she says that during the arrest, the officers dragged her and Ms. Pourzarabi, one of the plaintiff mothers of the Ukrainian plane victims, "to the ground and took her away" and "shocked" her leg several times before putting her in the van. Mrs. Sotoudeh wrote that she and some of the detainees refused to wear headscarves, and for this reason, their interrogation session was not held in the Evin courthouse. She wrote to Ali Ghenaatkar, deputy prosecutor of Tehran: > I told the agent to tell Mr. Ghenaatkar that I will file a complaint against him, because he cannot stop me from participating in the trial for not having a scarf. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58829'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/EMMA_Magazin/status/1724425687644225827'> According to IranWire, the Human Rights Award "Heroic Women" of the German Foundation Alice Schwarzer, a well-known German feminist, was awarded in absentia to Nasrin Sotoudeh during a ceremony in the Berlin City Hall. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='58831'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/5fmm22pe'> She was released on bail. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>