May 15, 2011
Saturday May 14th, 2011 – Despite being very concerned for her old, ailing mother, Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer and human rights activist recently transferred to the Methadone Ward at Evin prison reserved for criminals and drug addicts, is unable to visit with her mother or contact her by phone.
Reza Khandan, Sotoudeh’s husband told Kaleme: “Nasrin lost her father when she was first incarcerated. At the time, the authorities did not even allow her to participate in her father’s funeral service. Lately we have been very concerned with my mother-in-law’s health. We are fearful that God forbid, something similar would happen to her mother and Nasrin would be deprived of the right to see her. As a result of her old age and various ailments, Nasrin’s mother is unable to visit with her daughter in prison and unfortunately, the female prisoners at Evin continue to be deprived of all telephone privileges.”
Since Sotoudeh’s transfer from the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 to the Methadone Quarantine Ward at Evin, she has had not had the opportunity to see her 10 year old daughter and 3 year old son. When at ward 209, Sotoudeh was reportedly allowed to informally meet with her children for a few minutes in the corridor.
Currently, Bahareh Hedayat, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Leyla Tavasoli, Atefeh Nabavi, Mahdieh Golroo, Nazanin Hassan Nia Hengameh Shahidi, Fatemeh Darvish, Parvin Javad Zadeh, Aalieh Eghdam Doost, Hanieh Farshi Shotorban, Ladan Mostoufi, Sholeh Taaeb, Saha Rezvani, Sousan Tabyanian, Nazila Dashti, Farah Vazehan, Kefayat Malek Mohammadi, Zahra Jabari, Fatemeh Khoramjou are all being kept in the Methadone Quarantine Ward at Evin.
Nasrin Sotoudeh remains behind bars, despite her numerous hunger strikes protesting the illegal charges against her and international pressure for her release. Sotoudeh was arrested on September 3rd and sentenced to 11 years prison and banned from practicing law and leaving the country for a period of 20 years by the 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Pir Abbasi.