Open Letter to His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General of The United Nations, about the situation of woman prisoners of conscience in Iran and the urgent need to release and save them from COVID-19
Copies:
- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, Under-Secretary-General of the UN (UN Women)
- Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR
- Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres,
We, the families, friends and lawyers of prisoners along with other prominent concerned individuals declare our high concern about the health conditions of the female prisonsoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran under the epidemic of coronavirus and the disregard of the public authorities despite the many serious alarming reports by the independent international organizations.
On March 10, 2020, Mr. Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran announced in a press conference that he had asked Islamic Republic of Iran to free all political prisoners temporarily from its overcrowded and disease-ridden jails to help stem the spread of coronavirus. (1)
On March 26, 2020, Amnesty International issued an urgent action directed to the Head of Judiciary of Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi demanding that ” The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of prisoners of conscience amid grave fears over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran’s prisons. The authorities should take measures to protect the health of all prisoners and urgently consider releasing pre-trial detainees and those who may be at particular risk of severe illness or death.” (2)
On April 17, 2020, 10 UN Human Rights Experts called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to expand its temporary release of thousands of detainees to prisoners of conscience and dual and foreign nationals still being held despite serious risk of COVID-19 infection. The experts commended the reported but temporary release of unconfirmed 100,000 prisoners since a 26 February 2020 order by the head of judiciary, which included few prisoners of conscience and dual and foreign nationals. However, they stated that most prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, conservationists and dual and foreign nationals remain imprisoned. “Some are at great risk from COVID-19 due to their age or underlying health conditions.” They called ”on the authorities to immediately release them.” and to also ”expedite the independent and impartial review of all cases of suspected arbitrary detention and to immediately and permanently release all individuals found to be arbitrarily deprived of their liberty,” (3)
On April 22, 2020. twenty-two human rights organizations that monitor Iran, listed 50 female prisoners of Conscience and called on Islamic Republic of Iran to “Free its Imprisoned Female Prisoners of Conscience as Coronavirus Overtakes Prisons”. They reported “These prisoners of conscience are confined to a room with 18 women and sleep on triple bunk beds with little space in between. They are at an even greater risk than the general prison population, as their wellbeing is already often compromised by torture, denial of medical treatment, other ill-treatment and their own hunger strikes.” And therefore urged “governments, non-governmental organizations, journalists, the United Nations and other international organizations to put pressure on the Iranian authorities to immediately release the following known prisoners of conscience, along with any other political prisoners, to save their lives. “(4)
Your Excellency,
The concerns of the human rights experts and organizations is unanimous. Therefore we are asking for your special attention to the situations of woman prisoners of conscience in Iran. Their lives are in grave danger(5). Lack of access to the proper medical services, spread of corona virus in overcrowded prisons(6), Islamic Republic’s coverups, denials and mismanagements are the reasons that make it urgent to take action now.
Islamic Republic intentionally does not allow or permit these prisoners to leave the prisons during this unprecedented crisis while allowing the release of many ordinary prisoners; therefore intentionally endangering the lives of those whose only faults have been to express their opinions or doing their jobs. These women are attorneys, educators, writers, mothers, artists, environmentalist etc.
We kindly ask for your direct support and call on the leader of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Head of Judiciary, Mr. Ebrahim Raisi to immediately release all female prisoners of conscience including several human rights defenders who are sentenced to long term prison sentences in Iran, as the next step in the right direction.
The harsh conditions of these female prisoners call for urgent actions now. Iranian male political prisoners’ lives are equally in danger and in need of immediate attention. The number and names of prisoners of conscience in Iran is not public, however following is the list of the female political prisoners that we know of and ask for their immediate release along with any other unknown ones:
Evin Prison:
- Nasrin Sotoudeh
- Fariba Adelkhah
- Kylie Moore-Gilbert
- Mojgan Keshavarz
- Saba Kord Afshari
- Raheleh Ahmadi
- Yasaman Aryani
- Monireh Arabshahi
- Atena Daemi
- Niloufar Bayani
- Sepideh Kashani
- Maryam Akbari Monfared
- Samaneh Norouz Moradi
- Negin Ghadamian
- Rezvaneh Khanbeigi
- Elham Barmaki
- Maryam Haj Hosseini
- Maryam Ebrahimvard
- Hengameh Shahidi
- Aras Amiri
- Sepideh Farhan
- Fatemeh Masni
Qarchak Prison
- Golrokh Iraee Ebrahimi
- Leila Mirghafari
- Raha Ahmadi
- Zohreh Sarv
- Fatemeh Khishvand
- Sakineh Parvaneh
Other Prisons:
- Narges Mohammadi (Zanjan Prison)
- Zeinab Jalalian (Khoy Prison)
- Fatemeh Sepehri (Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad)
- Fatemeh Dadvand (Bukan Prison)
- Mojgan Sayami (Ardebil, Central Prison)
- Fatemeh Asma Esmaeilzadeh
- Enis Saadet
- Jaka Esmaeilpour
- Sheida Najafian
- Samira Hadian
- Hajar Ardasr
- Hakimeh Ahmadi
- Fatemeh Kohanzadeh
- Zari Tavakkoli
- Gita Hor
- Maryam Mokhtari
- Saghar Mohammadi
- Mojgan Eskandari
- Ehteram Sheikhi
- Sheida Abedi
- Yalda Firouzian
- Farideh Jaberi
- N. urges Iran to free political prisoners temporarily amid coronavirus, Reuters, available athttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-rights-iran/u-n-urges-iran-to-free-political-prisoners-temporarily-amid-coronavirus-idUSKBN20X1YV.
- URGENT ACTION PRISONERS AT RISK OF COVID-19 INFECTION, available at https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1320382020ENGLISH.pdf
- Iran: UN expert alarmed by detention conditions in the wake of recent protests, Office of the UN High Comm’r for Human Rights, Mar. 9, 2020, available at https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25689&LangID=E
- Grave Concerns for Prisoners in Iran Amid Coronavirus Outbreak,Center for Human Rights in Iran, Feb. 28, 2020, available at https://iranhumanrights.org/2020/02/grave-concerns-for-prisoners-in-iran-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/.
- Open Letter to Release Iran’s Female Prisoners of Conscience,available at https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/newsfeed/2020/4/21/open-letter-to-release-irans-female-prisoners-of-conscience-during-pandemic
- No water, no soap and crowded cells: COVID-19 fears spark riots in Iran’s prisons,France24, Apr. 7, 2020,available at https://observers.france24.com/en/20200407-covid19-riots-iranian-prisons-deaths
Most Regards,
- Hourieh Farajzadeh, Iran, Sister of protester Shahram Farajzadeh, who was trampled by Tehran Police vehicle
- Farangis Mazloom , Iran, Mother of Prisoner of conscience Soheil Arabi
- Shahnaz Akmali, Tehran, Iran, Prisoner of Conscience
- Neda Yousefi, Arak, Iran, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Amineh Ghaderi, Iran, mother of executed Prisoner of Conscience Zaniar Moradi
- Sholeh Pakravan, Iran, mother of Reyhaneh Jabari executed
- Mojgan Ataalahi, Iran, Author – Architect
- Alieh Motalebzadeh, Iran, Women’s Rights Activist, Journalist
- Ghazal Abdollahi, Iran, Student of Theater
- Aida Omidi, Tehran, Iran, Poet and member of the secretariat of the Writers’ Association of Iran
- Mohammad Karim Beigi, Iran, Father of Prisoner of conscience Mostafa Karim Beigi
- Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Tehran, Iran, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Ahmad Alinejad, Shiraz, Iran, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Taha Salesi, Shiraz, Iran, Prisoner of Conscience
- Amir Amirgholi, Tehran, Labor Activist
- Yousef Ghaderi, Ilam, Iran, Labor Activist
- Sajjad Shokri, Tehran, Labor Activist
- Salim Padehban. Chabahar, Iran
- Behzad Bahadori, Iran, blogger
- Ardavan Tarakmeh, Iran, Filmmaker and Cinema Researcher
- Bektash Abtin, Tehran, Iran, Poet and Filmmaker, Member of the Iranian Writers’ Association
- Sadra Abdollahi . Iran, Writer and Cinema Director
- Hossein Daemi, Iran, Father of Atena Daemi prisoner of conscience
- Heshmat Tabarzadi, Tehran, Iran, Former Prisoner of Conscience, Secretary General Iran Democratic Front
- Amir Ghazipour, Iran, Poet
- Ali Abdollahi, Iran, Poet and translator
- Shaparak Shajarizadeh, Toronto, Canada, Women’s Rights Activist
- Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Toronto, Canada, Human Rights Activist, Human Rights Sr. Advisor Iran Transition Council
- Golaleh Sharafkandi, Stockholm, Sweden, Women’s Rights Secretary Iran Transition Council
- Shabnam Shajarizadeh, Los Angeles, USA, Human Rights Activist
- Nahid Delnavaz, Netherlands, Human Rights Activist
- Shirin Nafe, Germany, Political Activist
- Nahid Bahmani, London, UK, Human Rights Activist, Iran Transition Council
- Effat Gohari, Dalfgauw, Netherlands, Women’s Rights Activist
- Taraneh Abravesh, Hamburg, Germany, Human Rights Activist
- Alham Sabetian, Washington D.C., USA, No to Execution Campaign
- Samira Jamali, Istanbul, Turkey, Women’s Rights Activist
- Shiva Ganji, Texas, USA, Journalist
- Mahtab Ghorbani, Paris, France, Human Rights Activist
- Hengameh Hoveida, France, Poet, Writer
- Farshideh Nasrin, Canada, Writer and Theater Director
- Christine Bradin, Paris, France, Prof de Fle, français et culture Générale
- Shamila Nejadashmi, Germany, Sales Expert
- Ava Erabi, Turkey, Human Rights Activist
- Fereshteh Majidi, Switzerland, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Elham Rahimi, Sweden, Human Rights Activist
- Simin Sabri, Norway, Psychologist -Human Rights Activist,
- Tahereh Sadeghi, Sweden, Human Rights Activist
- Parisima Nielsen, Sweden, Political Activist
- Tayebeh Sanavi, Vienna, Austria, Women’s Rights Activist
- Nahid Hosseini, UK, Researcher Women and Education Studies
- Younis Shameli, Sweden, Journalist
- Simin Sabri, Norway, Psychologist
- Hassan Shariatmadari, Hamburg, Germany, Secretary General of Iran Transition Council
- Shahriar Ahi, Spokesperson Iran Transition Council
- Mehran Barati, Berlin, Germany, International Relations Secretary of Iran Transition Council
- Mohsen Sazegara, Washington D.C., USA, Secretary of Civil Resistance Iran Transition Council
- Abdulllah Mohtadi, London, UK, Secretary General of Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Secretary Special Affairs Iran Transition Council
- Mohammad Farsi, Newcastle, UK, Iranian Naval Officer, member Iran Transition Council
- Fereydoon Khavand, Paris, France, Economist, Sr. Economic Consultant Iran Transition Council
- Hossein Alavi, France, Journalist, member Iran Transition Council
- David Etebari, Los Angeles, USA, Co-Founder Stop Child Executions, Member Iran Transition Council
- Djamchid Assadi, Paris, France, Economist, Iran Transition Council
- Ata Hoodshtian, Toronto, Canada, Professor of Political Science and Psychology, Iran Transition Council
- Fereydoon Ahmadi, Cologne, Germany, Secretary Strategy and Discourse Iran Transition Council
- Karim Shambayati, Germany, Member Iran Transition Council
- Yazadan Shohadaie, Germany, VP Iran Transition Council
- Hamid Aghaie, Dalfgauw, Netherlands, Member Iran Transition Council
- Behrooz Ghasemi, Oxford, UK, Member Iran National Front
- Nasser Mansouri Monfared, London, UK,
- Bahram Bahramian, Washington D.C., USA, Member Avaye Melat Iran
- Khalil Rashidian Monfared, Durham, UK,
- Amir Hooshmand Momtaaz, California, USA, Member Iran National Front
- Manochehr Maghssuudnia, Berlin, Germany, member Iran transition Council
- Mahmoud Tadjalimehr, Cologne, Germany, Political Activist
- Mohammad Moghimi, UK, Lawyer and Human Rights Expert
- Ali Gholilou, Istanbul, Turkey, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Majid Rezaii, Istanbul, Turkey, Former Prisoner of Conscience
- Asghar Jeilou, Researcher Women and Education Studies
- Kamal Azari, Pateluma, USA, Iran Transition Council
- Hamid Hamidi, Netherlands, Political Activist, Economic Planner
- Mehdi Hazeghazam, Sacramento, USA, Engineer, Rights Activist
- Kambiz Basetvat, Los Angeles, CA, Business Owner
- Olivier Vilain, Massy, France, journalist
- Ali Zarrin, Arizona, USA/Doctor of Philosophy
- Abtin Tahrozi, Australia, Student Directing Cinema
- Ali Jokar, Germany, Film Editing Expert
- Damon Tahrzi, Germany
- Behrouz Heshmat, Vienna, Australia, Sculptor
- Masoud Salazi, Paris, France, writer and journalist
- Frédéric Aribit, Paris, France, Writer
- Hossein Lajevardi, France, Sociologist
- Reza Moridi, Ontario, Canada, Physicist
- Ali Vakili, Canada, Political and Cultural Activist
- Afshin Afshin_Jam, Canada, Human rights and Environmental activist
- Abbasi, Netherland, Human Rights Activist
- Kia Hamidi, Istanbul, Turkey, Journalist
- Hassan Nayeb Hashem, Austria, Human Rights Activist
- Monoucher Mohammadi, USA, Human Rights Activist
- Farhad Taleshi, UK, Political Activist
- Hamid Tabrizi, Finaland, Social and Political Activist
- Abbas Khorsandi, Secretary General Iran Democratic Front Abroad
- Saeed Mohammadi, Los Angeles, USA, Singer Musician
- Masoud Akhtarani Tehrani, Turkey, Journalist
- Nahid Hosseini, UK, Researcher Women and Education Studies
- Nima Alimi, Australia, Political Activist
- Omid Mohamamdi, Sweden, Rights Activist
- Kavos Arjmand, Sweden, Iran National Front
- Abbas Mohammadpour, Stuttgart, Germany, Human Rights Activist