Detained Iranian lawyer denounces mistreatment in prison

Nasrin Sotoudeh

Nasrin Sotoudeh, detained Iranian lawyer challenged the state in her trial by speaking out against being “mistreated” by prison officials.

Reza Khandan, husband of Sotoudeh told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his wife has told the court that the “greatest pressure” on her is being kept in solitary confinement.

Sotoudeh was tried on Sunday in the branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. Reza Khandan reports that Sotoudeh “followed up on her complaint against the prison official that had insulted her. While she had filed a complaint against him at the time, no copy of her complaint was in her file.”

Khandan also reports that despite arguments put across by Sotoudeh’s lawyers the judge refused to allow Sotoudeh out on bail or even allow her out of solitary confinement.

Reza Khandan claimed he was not very optimistic about the court progress and felt the parties were involved in a cross talk.

Sotoudeh is charged with “activities against national security, assembly and collusion to disturb national security and collaboration with the Human Rights Defenders Centre.”

Nasrin Sotoudeh was held in an undetermined state in prison for a long time after her arrest on September 3. She went on a hunger strike until she was finally given the first session of her trial two weeks ago.

Sotoudeh’s practice is mostly comprised of various human rights cases and before her arrest she also represented numerous post-election political detainees.