On May 20, the Iranian journalist and activist Narges Mohammadi was yet again sentenced by an Iranian court; 30 months in prison, 80 lashes and a fine. The reason was “propaganda against the Islamic State.” The brutal persecution of Mohammadi illustrates the severe crackdown on critical voices in Iran.
PEN Norway condemns the verdict and calls for Narges Mohammadis immediate and unconditional acquittal.
– I was appalled when I heard about the verdict. PEN Norway has for years worked for and with Narges, to promote her noble fight for women’s rights, freedom of expression and justice, which Iran repeatedly overthrows in inhuman manners. Everyone who has met Narges knows that she has Iran’s best interest at heart, says PEN Norway’s chairperson Kjersti Løken Stavrum.
In addition to “propaganda against the Islamic State”, Mohammedi’s sentence was based on her participation in a protest against Iranian security forces’ gross violence against demonstrators in December 2019, and for insulting the regime. Mohammadi has pointed out that she does not accept the verdict.
Mohammadi has fought for women’s rights, freedom of expression and against death penalty in Iran for many years and in many capacities, including as the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center – a human rights group that’s banned in Iran. Mohammadi is an honorary member of PEN Norway.
In 2016, Mohammadi was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but was released in October 2020. The sentence also included a travel ban, and therefore Mohammadi has not seen her family, who resides in France, since 2015. She recently wrote the anthology “White Torture” where she and 12 female prisoners talk about the torture they were subjected to in Iranian prisons.
– This is oppression of free speech at its worst, and we call on the international community to join our demand for acquittal and justice for Mohammadi, says Løken Stavrum.
PEN Norway continues to fight for acquittal and justice for Narges Mohammadi.
- PEN Norway call for Iranian authorities to overturn the sentence against Narges Mohammadi immediately and unconditionally;
- PEN Norway call for Iranian authorities to stop persecuting Narges Mohammadi, and to lift her travel ban; and
- PEN Norway calls on the Iranian authorities to apply the international human rights standards and conventions in which they are party to, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
For press inquiries:
Siri Berge Engerud, siri@norskpen.no
