Nasrin Sotoudeh Released
On 18 September 2013 the Iranian authorities reportedly freed 11 political prisoners, including prominent human rights lawyer Ms Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was detained in 2010 and sentenced to 11 years, reduced to six on appeal.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is a human rights lawyer in Iran who has been given a prison sentence of eleven years and banned from working as a lawyer or leaving the country for twenty years. This sentence has been given to her, not for any criminal activity but as a result of her peaceful human rights work. She was accused of 'spreading propaganda' and 'conspiring to harm state security'. Nasrin has represented many defenders opposed to the current regime in Iran. She has also worked extensively with young prisoners who have been sentenced to death for crimes they committed when they were under 18. Prior to her arrest, Nasrin had reported harassment on the part of the authorities. On 28 August 2010 her home and office were searched, and her assets were frozen. On 1 September 2010, she described how the authorities were creating falsified allegations of tax irregularities against human rights lawyers as a means to impede them from carrying out their human rights work.
On 18 September 2013 the Iranian authorities reportedly freed 11 political prisoners, including prominent human rights lawyer Ms Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was detained in 2010 and sentenced to 11 years, reduced to six on appeal.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and hopes that it will also include dropping the 20 -year travel ban and the restriction from practising law that were also part of the sentence. Front Line Defenders reiterates the importance of guaranteeing that all human rights defenders can practice their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights in Iran safely and without fear of violence or other restrictions including judicial harassment.
The charges against her – 'spreading propaganda' and 'conspiring to harm state security' – were in fact designed to force her to stop her legitimate and peaceful human rights activities. Prior to her detention, Nasrin Sotoudeh represented many human rights defenders opposed to the current regime in Iran, and worked extensively with young prisoners who had been sentenced to death for crimes they committed when they were under 18. Before arresting the human rights lawyer, the Iranian authorities had intimidated her by raiding her office and freezing her assets.
For more information on Nasrin Sotoudeh, please click here, or see the urgent appeals and updates which Front Line Defenders has issued on her case, most recently on 2 November 2012 and 26 October 2011.
