Iran unlikely to release women activists during pandemic

Mohammadi, a prominent activist and vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which is led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, has been serving a 16-year sentence since 2015 for engaging in peaceful human rights activism. She is not eligible for release before serving 10 years.

Known for her resilience and determination, Mohammadi did not give up her human rights activism in jail. She and seven other inmates waged a sit-in inside Evin Prison to express solidarity with families mourning the protesters killed in Iran’s November uprising. She also issued an open statement condemning the authorities for the killings and the abusive treatment of new detainees arriving in the prison in the aftermath of November’s crackdown.

Her activism in prison was noticed, and she was punished for it. In December, she was taken from the Evin facility and exiled to a prison in the city of Zanjan, which is more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Tehran. She is kept with general population inmates in an overcrowded room with no ventilation. Her move to Zanjan coincided with the coronavirus outbreak in the country, which is particularly dangerous for her as she suffers from both gastrointestinal and lung problems. Her mother, Ozra Bazargan, reacted to this alarming development by writing a letter to judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warning about the life-threatening situation facing her daughter. Yet along with Sotoudeh and many other rights defenders, Mohammadi remains behind bars during these difficult days. 

In addition to the 85,000 inmates Iranian authorities have already temporarily released since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in order to reduce the pressure in overcrowded prisons, around 10,000 inmates were pardoned before the Iranian New Year. Although some political prisoners have been released, the vast majority are still behind bars. When the pandemic began and questions were raised about the dangers facing prisoners, authorities made it clear they would not release any political prisoner serving anything longer than a five-year sentence. Since a significant number of political prisoners, including Sotoudeh and Mohammadi, have long sentences, they are unlikely to qualify for a temporary release. As if the harsh prison sentences were not enough, now these political prisoners are facing an invisible killer, which is only adding to their physical and psychological predicaments.

Why is the government so reluctant to release political prisoners? The answer lies in its legitimacy crisis that has resulted from political gridlock, widespread corruption, a paralyzing economic situation and the security establishment’s excessive use of violence to curb the recent anti-state protests. The coronavirus pandemic and its devastating socio-economic implications have only added to the state’s anxieties about maintaining order. Given the history of political prisoners such as Sotoudeh and Mohammadi, they would be likely to publicly criticize the government upon their release.

Authorities fear losing control during this pressure-filled time. Both the insecurities of a government trying to maintain its grip and the current socio-political situation have created obstacles for political prisoners to qualify for a temporary release. Despite the government’s claims, there is no reliable evidence in place to suggest that the coronavirus is under control, and prisoners are particularly vulnerable.