On Monday Iranian human rights defender and lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes after being unjustly detained for nearly eight months. She is being punished simply for doing her job, which includes standing up for the rights of women and children in the country.
In February 2018, a group of Tehran women were arrested after they removed their hijabs in street protest. Nasrin stepped in to defend them. Her arrest in June 2018 came not long after she announced plans for a sit-in in protest of a new government rule to restrict the right of dissidents to hire independent lawyers.
“It is now confirmed that Nasrin is sentenced to 33 years and 148 lashes for 7 charges. However, based on Iranian criminal code 12 years and 74 lashes is applicable if the sentence confirmed by the appeal. This is very harsh punishment,” says Iranian Nobel peace laureate, Shirin Ebadi. “Unfortunately, Nasrin is not the only feminist who is behind bars in Iran. There are many women’s rights defenders who are currently behind bars in Iran. The lengthy and harsh punishments for those who are advocating for human rights and gender equality is condemned. I urge the international community to hear the voice of Iranian women and reflect their concerns.”
This is not the first time Nasrin has been persecuted for her work—she has spent her life speaking truth to power at enormous personal cost. A 2010 conviction of “conspiring against state security” put her in prison for three years.
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