An Iranian court has handed down another harsh sentence to the well-known human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. She was sentenced to an additional 7.5 years in prison on charges of "conspiracy against national security" and "propaganda against the state." This was reported by Reuters, writes UNN.
Details
Mohammadi, 53, who has dedicated three decades to fighting for women's rights, received the new verdict in the pre-trial detention center in Mashhad. In addition to a long prison term, the court sentenced her to two years of internal exile to the city of Khosf and a two-year ban on leaving the country.
According to the Narges Foundation, the human rights activist was able to confirm receipt of the verdict only on Sunday during a brief phone call with her lawyer.
After weeks of absolute isolation and complete cessation of communication, she was finally able to describe her situation
In protest against illegal detention and ill-treatment, Mohammadi held a week-long hunger strike, which ended on the day the verdict was announced.
Supporters of the activist are extremely concerned about her health, as there were previous reports of the woman being repeatedly beaten during her arrest last December.
Reason for persecution and government reaction
The reason for the new term was Mohammadi's speech at the memorial ceremony for lawyer Khosrov Alikordi, where she criticized the authorities for his suspicious death. Prosecutors accused her of inciting public disorder and calling for anti-government slogans.
No one has the right to dictate our behavior
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far refrained from official comments on the new verdict against the Nobel laureate. The international community and human rights organizations have already condemned Tehran's actions, demanding the immediate release of Mohammadi, whose total prison term for all sentences already exceeds 30 years.