Free Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian Human Rights Lawyer
Nasrin Sotoudeh is a lawyer, human rights campaigner and women's rights activist who has been jailed in Iran on charges of spreading propaganda and threatening state security.
Nasrin has defended the rights of many activists who have been arrested, tried unfairly and jailed, including Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi. Nasrin has spoken publicly about the shortcomings of the Iranian legal system and is famous for defending young offenders on death row. Her activities made her a target, and she was arrested in September 2010.
In January 2011, Nasrin was sentenced to 11 years in prison. In mid-September 2011, the Appeals Court reduced her prison sentence to 6 years.
Amnesty International considers Nasrin Sotoudeh to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for excercising her human rights, and demands that she be freed immediately.
I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Nasrin Sotoudeh without delay or conditions as she is a prisoner of conscience held only for peacefully exercising her rights to freedom of expression and association.
Until her release she must treated humanely and protected from any threat of torture. In addition, she must be allowed regular access to a lawyer, to her family, and to any medical treatment that she may require.
I call as well for an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into reports that Nasrin Sotoudeh has been tortured while in detention, and that anyone found responsible for torture or other ill-treatment to be brought to justice promptly and fairly.
