Iran Letter: Activist Narges Mohammadi "Prison is Causing My Slow Death"

Narges Mohammadi with Her ChildrenNarges Mohammadi, the deputy head of the Center for Defenders of Human Rights, was sentenced last year to 11 years in prison for propaganda against the regime, actions against national security and membership o the CDHR. The term was reduced to six years by an appeals court, and Mohammadi was summoned in April to serve the sentence.

Mohammadi has been in poor health since an arrest and solitary confinement in 2010, suffering from loss of muscle control.

Last week the website Melimazliabi posted a letter from Mohammadi to Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi --- translation by Persian Banoo:

An ailing human rights activist whose contribution to the campaign against juvenile executions in Iran is internationally recognised has been arrested to serve her six-year prison term.

Last month an appeal court in Tehran reduced Mohammadi's earlier 11-year jail sentence to six years after finding her guilty on charges of spreading propaganda against the ruling system, acting against national security and membership of Iran's Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC).

In the name of God,

Mr. Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi
Prosecutor of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court

Hereby, I inform you that, I, Narges Mohammadi while out on bail, under a six year prison sentence, was arrested at my home on April 21 by the Intelligence Ministry’s agents.

From April 21 to May 16, I was incarcerated in the high security Ward 209 in Evin. During this time I was transferred to the Women’s General Ward for 24 hours and returned back to Ward 209.

During this period, I wrote to you three times, protesting the incarceration of a person who has already been sentenced, in Ward 209, and have asked for my transfer to Women’s General Ward.

In a meeting I had with Mr. Reshtehahmadi on May 8, I urged that I be transferred to Women’s ward. I also gave him a signed letter requesting my transfer to the women’s ward.

I have always stressed the point that incarceration of a person already tried and sentenced, in the high security ward (209) is illegal and I according to law should be transferred to the general ward.

I have never, neither verbally, nor in writing, have requested to be transferred to any other city, certainly not Zanjan.

On May 16, at 6:00 AM, agents woke me up, blindfolded and handcuffed me, and placed me in a car.

Unaware of what was going on, during the long distance of travel, I realized we had left Tehran. It was in a Court in Zanjan that I realized I was in Zanjan.

It has been alleged that Narges Mohamadi personally requested her transfer to Zanjan. This is a total fabrication.

It has been claimed that, due to her illness, Narges Mohamadi requested to be transferred to Zanjan; this is also totally false.

Hereby I inform you:

1. I, strongly protest my illegal transfer to the women’s ward in Zanjan which holds criminals, and request you take the necessary action for my immediate transfer to the women’s ward in Evin prison that holds non-criminal inmates.

2. It should be noted that I entered Evin prison on June 10, 2010 in complete health, and on July 1, 2010, I was transferred to hospital suffering from serious neurological and psychological disorders.

After intensive medical care and using 18 pills a day, I was discharged from hospital. I currently am on 11 pills a day, but since my latest arrest, these medications do not control my illness and my illness has worsened.

I currently am incarcerated among fifty female murderers, death row prisoners (on narcotics charges), [those on] immorality charges, and even women with mental disorders.

Since I have entered this ward, I have experienced nothing but anxiety, nervousness and fear, which has exacerbated my illness moment by moment.

My medical records and the opinion of my treating physicians suggest that my illness has a direct relationship with the escalation of anxiety.

And even while this is so, since entering this ward, I have encountered horrible situations that I am not even able to describe and write about.

Putting me under such a stressful situation is equivalent to feeding me cups of poison that help to destroy me moment by moment.

I persistently and emphatically proclaim that such treatment and actions towards me are in fact causing my slow death and the responsibility lies with the authorities.

The respected officials who are in possession of my medical records, know very well that keeping me in the stressful conditions of prison, especially where criminals (murderers, death row inmates, drug traffickers, etc…) are held, conditions that, for the good of society I will not describe in detail, is equivalent to intentional murder, for which the officials will be directly responsible.

I certainly hope that this won’t be another case like the martyrdom of Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber which was said to be caused by hot weather and hunger strike.

If another incident occurs, even if it seems due to natural causes, I hereby proclaim that not only won’t it be due to natural causes, but the exacerbation of my illness or the occurrence of any traumatic event for me in this situation is quite deliberate.

3. My legal residence, and more importantly my doctors and specialists (neurologist, psychologist, pulmonary, heart and gynecologist), are all in Tehran. Because I am under their care and treatment, I must be seen by them at least every two months, for they hold all my medical records and I am under their care and treatment.

My illegal transfer to Zanjan has denied me such medical care and treatment. The complications and damages arising from this action would be irreversible and is an inhumane act.

4. My 5 year old children, Ali and Kiana do not reside in Zanjan and must inevitably travel a long distance for many hours to visit with their mother. This is very difficult for Mrs. Rahmani (my mother-in-law) and for my small children and perhaps will be impossible in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

This in itself is putting severe psychological stress on an imprisoned mother.

The Honorable Mr. Prosecutor, the above mentioned conditions plus the issues that I hope to share with Your Excellency in person, are the plight of a mother and your fellow citizen who writes to you and looks forward to hope of justice.

I hope that at the earliest possible time I am afforded the proper conditions for sending me to my treating physicians before my health deteriorates even more and I hope I am afforded my freedom.

With much gratitude,

Narges Mohammadi