Prize-winning Iranian human rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi, at present jailed in Tehran’s Evin jail as protests grip the nation, has not seen her 16-year-old twins for seven years.
She has not met her husband Taghi Rahmani, himself a veteran of Iranian jails however now dwelling in exile in Paris, for the previous decade.
In a brand new restriction in obvious response to the protests, the authorities have now stripped Mohammadi, 50, of her jail phone playing cards for the following two months.
She had already been blocked by authorities from telephoning her youngsters Ali and Kiana in France for the previous seven months: the most recent restriction signifies that can not now even converse to her household inside Iran.
“The system of prisons in Iran is torturing households,” Rahmani instructed AFP in an interview within the French capital.
“It isn’t only a torture for the prisoner however for the whole household. The kids haven’t heard Narges’ voice for the final seven months.”
The toughening of her jail situations come as Iran presses a crackdown in opposition to 5 weeks of protests which have shaken its management over the demise of Mahsa Amini who was arrested by the infamous morality police.
Mohammadi had already been banned by the Iranian authorities from talking to Rahmani, an influential opposition determine extensively adopted on social media, in jail calls.
“In the event that they heard her talking to me, they might minimize the telephone,” he stated.
“They’re torturing our youngsters as they haven’t seen Narges since 2015. I’ve not seen her since 2010.”
– ‘Prisoner of conscience’ –
In one other blow to any hopes the household have of reunification, Mohammadi was this month handed one other 15-month jail sentence on expenses of inciting protests, and he or she is now serving a time period of at the least eight years in jail.
Her sentences have additionally include further punishments, comparable to an order for 70 lashes and, within the newest conviction, clearing up the municipal rubbish as soon as she is lastly launched.
“She doesn’t take part in any of these case hearings. The decide will not be impartial, and he or she has stated she won’t take part,” stated Rahmani.
Explaining the phone card ban he stated: “The authorities don’t want prisoners spreading data to the surface world.”
A former colleague of Nobel Peace Prize-winning campaigner Shirin Ebadi, Mohammadi has campaigned in opposition to the demise penalty and for justice for protesters killed in a crackdown on November 2019 demonstrations.
She has received quite a few worldwide prizes in recognition for her work, together with in 2011 the annual Per Anger Prize issued by the Swedish authorities. She has been tipped as a doable candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mohammadi’s activism has disadvantaged her of her freedom for a lot of the previous decade after being given a string of convictions by the authorities on nationwide safety expenses.
She was launched from jail in October 2020 however then arrested in November 2021 exterior Tehran, whereas attending a memorial for a person killed throughout the November 2019 protests.
Mohammadi, who suffers from a coronary heart situation, was given a short break from jail in April for medical causes however was then transferred again to Qarchak jail exterior Tehran after which despatched to Evin.
“Narges is now in Evin which is now full of people that have been arrested within the protests. The situations in Evin and Iranian prisons typically are very poor,” stated Rahmani.
Amnesty Worldwide describes Mohammadi as a “prisoner of conscience” who has been arbitrarily detained and subjected to torture by the deliberate denial of healthcare for her coronary heart situation.
– ‘One in every of us all the time inside’ –
Rahmani described the state of affairs in Evin as “infected” with tensions, saying that actions by prisoners in help of the protests led to a crackdown by the authorities on the night time of the October 15 fireplace that ripped by the jail.
Prisoners from the ladies’s part and political detainees “had been elevating their voices in help of the protests day-after-day within the courtyard”.
After the hearth broke out some prisoners had been transferred to different jails like Gohardasht the place safety forces obtained them with so-called “welcome tunnels” by standing in rows and beating them as they got here out of buses, he alleged, citing particulars from contained in the jail.
Rahmani stated there wanted to be a global mission to analyze the state of affairs in Iranian prisons however the Islamic republic “would by no means settle for that”.
In the meantime, he and his household proceed to rely the non-public value of their resistance to the regime.
“One in every of us has all the time been inside (jail) whereas the opposite has been out. Life continues however it’s troublesome. I hope when the youngsters develop up they perceive why we have now taken sides.
“Narges doesn’t keep silent. This isn’t acceptable for the Iranian authorities.”
However he acknowledged that the federal government response to the protests had already toughened her situations.
“The strain will get more durable now.”
