Urgent Action: Iranian Women Activists Sentenced
Iranian journalist and activist Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to six years in prison
Update
Jailed human rights activist Nargess Mohammadi was finally given a temporary furlough on August 1 on bail of 600 million toumans (487,409 US$).
Mohammadi was first convicted in September 2011 in Tehran for reporting on human rights violations and for being a member of Iran’s Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC). She worked closely with the president of the organization, Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Mohammadi is a mother of two and wife to journalist-in-hiding Taghi Rahmani. Mohammadi’s family is concerned for her deteriorating health. She has developed severe muscular spasms that worsen when faced with stress.
Iranian authorities have also arrested Mansoureh Behkish on 3 April 2012. They have sentenced her to four and a half years in prison for “propagating against the regime” and “conspiring against national security”. Mansoureh Behkish was targeted for visiting the graves of executed prisoners and for being a supporter of the Mourning Mothers.
Iran’s Mourning Mothers is composed of mothers of all ages who publicly speak out against human rights violations. Many of the Mothers’ children are detained, missing or dead. The group has been bringing attention to the country’s tortures, massacres and rapes for over thirty-one years. The Iranian authorities have covertly executed hundreds of prisoners and will persecute those who bringattention to the dead.
Both arrests have sparked outrage among human rights groups. Petitions are being circulated to urge supporters to take a stand against these unjust imprisonments.
TAKE ACTION
- Free Nargess Mohammadi, Go Petition.
- Repeal The Prison Sentence of Mansoureh Behkish, Go Petition.
LEARN MORE
- News: IRAN: Human rights defender and journalist Nargess Mohammadi (f) summoned to serve out a six-year sentence; serious health concerns, Pen International, 25 April 2012.
- Iran: Sentencing of human rights defenders Ms Mansoureh Behkish, Front Line Defenders, 17 April 2012.
- Jailed Iranian activist Nargess Mohammadi released on bail, Payvand Iran News, 1 August 2012