Ongoing detention of Shahnaz Akmali for advocating prisoners’ rights
On 25 July 2020, Shahnaz Akmali was informed that the furlough of her sentence, granted on 2 March 2020 in the context of COVID-19, has been extended to permanent release.
On 2 March 2020, woman human rights defender Shahnaz Akmali was temporarily released as part of the Iranian government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The measure is valid until 4 April 2020 but may be extended.
On 30 September 2019, the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced woman human right defender Shahnaz Akmali to one year in prison and handed down a two year travel ban. Shahnaz Akmali was charged with “spreading anti-government propaganda”. The sentencing is in retaliation for her work seeking justice for her son who was killed by the Iranian authorities during a peaceful demonstration in 2009.
In February 2018 Shahnaz Akmali was released from prison after serving 13 months for “spreading anti-government propaganda”.
Iranian authorities are refusing to release human rights defender, Shahnaz Akmali, after informing her on 27 January 2017 that she could be released on bail of USD 25,000. Her family members arrived to pay her bail on 29 January 2017 but they were told that there was no judicial order for her release and that she will be kept in prison. The human rights defender was arrested on 25 January 2017 and is currently being held in Ward 209 of Evin prison – a solitary confinement ward run by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.
Shahnaz Akmali is the mother of well-known Moustafa Karimbeigi, a 26-year-old peaceful street protester and member of the Green Movement. He was shot and killed by Iranian authorities in 2009 during the Ashura uprising,the result of widespread protests against Iran’s presidential election results that year. Since her son’s death, the human rights defender has made numerous attempts to seek redress for her son in Iran’s courts, resulting in repeated threats by the Iranian government against her and her family. She also joined the mothers of other victims of political violence to demand justice for their children. Shahnaz Akmali is likewise known for advocating for the rights of political prisoners held in Iran’s Evin prison by shaving her head in solidarity with the prisoners.
On 25 July 2020, Shahnaz Akmali was informed that the furlough of her sentence, granted on 2 March 2020 in the context of COVID-19, has been extended to permanent release.
The woman human rights defender has stated that despite being released from prison, she will not stop seeking justice for her son Moustafa Karimbeigi, who was killed by the Iranian authorities whilst peacefully protesting in 2009.
On 2 March 2020, woman human rights defender Shahnaz Akmali was temporarily released as part of the Iranian government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The measure is valid until 4 April 2020 but may be extended.
On 30 September 2019, the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced the woman human right defender to one year in prison and handed down a two year travel ban. Shahnaz Akmali was charged with “spreading anti-government propaganda”, in connection with her work seeking justice for her son who had been killed by the Iranian authorities during a peaceful demonstration in 2009.
On 30 September 2019, the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced woman human right defender Shahnaz Akmali to one year in prison and handed down a two year travel ban. Shahnaz Akmali was charged with “spreading anti-government propaganda”. The sentencing is in retaliation for her work seeking justice for her son who was killed by the Iranian authorities during a peaceful demonstration in 2009.
In January 2017 the human rights defender was also sent to prison for “spreading anti-government propaganda”. She was released in February 2018.
Iranian authorities are refusing to release human rights defender, Shahnaz Akmali, after informing her on 27 January 2017 that she could be released on bail of USD 25,000. Her family members arrived to pay her bail on 29 January 2017 but they were told that there was no judicial order for her release and that she will be kept in prison. The human rights defender was arrested on 25 January 2017 and is currently being held in Ward 209 of Evin prison – a solitary confinement ward run by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.
Download the Urgent Appeal (PDF)
Shahnaz Akmali was arrested from her workplace and then taken to her home on 25 January 2017 by agents of the Intelligence Ministry in Tehran. No charges have yet been brought against her. Some of her belongings were confiscated. She was initially taken to an unknown location, and is now being held in Ward 209 in Evin prison. Although Ward 209 is inside Evin, it operates outside the prison’s jurisdiction as it is in the complete control of the Ministry of Intelligence. On 28 January 2017, it was reported in Iranian news that Shahnaz Akmali was taken to hospital and remained there for a few hours. Her family doubts the validity of the report and believes that the Iranian authorities have been providing them with misleading information regarding her arrest in order to cause them to worry about the human rights defender.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by, and strongly condemns, the detention of Shahnaz Akmali, which it believes to be in retaliation to her legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Shahnaz Akmali as Front Line Defenders believes that she has been targeted solely as a result of her legitimate human rights work;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Shahnaz Akmali, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Cease targeting human rights defenders in Iran and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
