Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2023. Independent UN experts: Iran must stop persecuting Narges Mohammadi and release all human rights defenders Human rights
The Islamic Republic of Iran must immediately and unconditionally release Narges Mohammadi and all women who remain in prison on human rights charges. This statement was made by independent UN experts.
“We are dismayed by the unfair trial and lengthy sentences handed down to human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, directly related to the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and assembly in pursuit of gender equality in Iran,” experts said.
Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison. In January 2024, her sentence was extended for another 15 months on new charges of “disseminating propaganda against the state.” On June 18, the court sentenced Mohammadi to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activities.” This is her sixth conviction since March 2021, three of which appear to be related to her activities in prison, including advocating for the rights of other female prisoners in connection with sex crimes by government officials, the statement said.
Previously, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in its Conclusion 48/2017, recognized Mohammadi’s detention as arbitrary.
According to UN experts , discrimination and violence against women and girls are unacceptable. “We wish to remind the Government of Iran of its obligation to protect and promote the rights of all human rights defenders as they peacefully carry out their legally mandated work,” the statement said.
The experts also received reports that Narges Mohammadi was denied access to her lawyer and has not been allowed to communicate with her family since November 29, 2023, shortly after she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. What is even more alarming to the authors of the statement is that Mohammadi was reportedly denied medical attention. Access to medical and legal assistance for detainees is a fundamental right that must be respected at all times, they note.
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Arrests of women’s rights activists have reportedly increased in Iran in recent years. “Women human rights activists challenging the introduction of a mandatory dress code for women are defending human rights guaranteed by all. We urge the Iranian government to remember this,” the experts said.
They recalled that using repressive legislation to criminalize freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is inconsistent with Iran’s obligations under international law in the field of human rights.
The statement was signed by: Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Dorothy Estrada Tank, Laura Nyirinkindi, Claudia Flores, Ivana Krstic and Haina Lu, Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls; and Matthew Gillette, Anna Yudkivska, Priya Gopalan, Miriam Estrada-Castillo and Mumba Malila, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts are not UN employees and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and act in an individual capacity.