2020 Iran: Narges Mohammadi
Deprivation of health care in Iranian prisons is a serious danger to political prisoners including Narges Mohammadi.
President Hassan Rouhani
Pasteur Street, Pasteur Square
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
PEN Norway is deeply concerned by the health conditions of journalist, human rights defender, and honorary member of PEN Norway, Narges Mohammadi in Zanjan prison in Iran. Narges Mohammadi recently stated in a letter from prison that she and 11 of her cellmates had many of the symptoms of Covid-19. After pressure from her family, Mohammadi was given a COVID test on 8 July but the authorities have reportedly refused to disclose the results. In the letter, she mentioned the lack of hygienic items and bad and unhealthy food in the prison and the inattention of prison officials to the needs of sick prisoners. She had already objected to the barring of the right to have a regular telephone call to her children.
PEN Norway calls on the Iranian authorities to take immediate responsibility and care of Narges Mohammadi and the other prisoners’ health. Our most important demand is her unconditional release from prison and the opportunity to visit and talk to her children and family.
Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to 16 years prison, and all of her charges are related to her human rights activities, including opposing the death penalty and protest against the violation of social and political rights.
PEN Norway:
- Calls on the Iranian authorities to drop the charges laid against Narges Mohammadi immediately and unconditionally.
- Calling Iranian authorities to observance all related articles to prisoners’ rights of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which has been signed by the Iranian state.
- Calling on the Iranian authorities to stop harassing Narges Mohammadi and other prisoners by banning them from visiting or talking to their families and forcing them to be held in high-risk prison conditions, especially with the outbreak of COVID-19.
On behalf of the Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee,
Asieh Amini
