16 UN Special Rapporteurs call for the immediate release of Narges Mohammadi
Published by Ali on July 23, 2020
“Iran must release human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, reportedly ill with coronavirus symptoms, and other arbitrarily detained individuals before it is too late”, a group of UN human rights experts said on Wednesday 22 July 2020. International Liberty Association: 16 UN rapporteurs, including Javid Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, called for the immediate release of Mrs Narges Mohammadi.
The statement from the 16 Special Rapporteurs, released on Wednesday, 1 August 2020, says: “Reports of Mrs Narges Mohammadi’s possible infection with the coronavirus in Zanjan Prison is” extremely worrying.”
Emphasizing that they had previously called for the immediate release of people at risk of Coronavirus in Iran prisons, the Rapporteurs stated that: “For people like Narges Mohammadi, who suffers from underlying diseases, it is a life-threatening issue” and, “The Islamic Republic authorities must do something before it is too late.”
The statement was signed by Javid Rahman, as well as other Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, the Reporters on Arbitrary Detention, the Reporters on Discrimination against Women, and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhuman Punishment.
Emphasizing concerns about Iran’s ability to counter the corona outbreak in overcrowded prisons, the Rapporteurs once again called for the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of Conscience in Iran.
Narges Mohammadi, spokeswoman and vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Association, has been imprisoned for five years and is currently being held in Zanjan Prison.
Following reports about one of Ms Mohammadi’s inmates, that had contracted coronation, her husband and a number of human rights activists expressed grave concern over her condition and called for her immediate release, citing her underlying illness.
However, Islamic Republic TV broadcast a short, edited video showing Ms Mohammadi in the prison’s medical ward, saying only one word in response to a vague question: “I’m fine.”
“We also deplore the publishing of a video by State-affiliated media which claims to portray Ms Mohammadi receiving a medical check-up by a doctor, reportedly to suggest that she is in good health. This video represents a violation of Ms Mohammadi’s privacy rights and has no value as its content cannot be verified in any way”, the experts stressed.
ILA: In recent days, Narges Mohammadi’s two children have also posted a video message in cyberspace, announcing that the prison guards have not allowed their mother to talk to them on the phone for 11 months.
