Paris-Geneva,November 9, 2020 – Prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh wastemporarily released from Qarchak prison on November 7, 2020, because of herdeteriorating health. The Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) and theLeague for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI) welcome Ms. Sotoudeh’stemporary release and call on the Iranian authorities to free her permanentlyand unconditionally.

OnNovember 7, 2020, Nasrin Sotoudeh, arbitrarily detained since June 13,2018, was able to reunite with her family at home, after she was grantedtemporary release with the consent of the prosecutor in charge of women’sprisons, in order to allow her to undergo treatment for her heart and pulmonaryproblems. Ms. Sotoudeh underwent a series of tests at home on November 8, 2020and is now waiting for the results. The conditions of her medical leave remainunclear.

Ms.Sotoudeh’s health has deteriorated severely over the last few months due to thehunger strike she undertook in Tehran’s Evin prison from August 11 to September25, 2020, to call for the release of all political prisoners in Iran. Thishunger strike caused her serious cardiac and pulmonary problems, which led toher transfer to Taleghani Hospital (Tehran) from September 19 to September 23,2020. She was then returned to prison before completing her full treatment andwithout receiving any specific medical attention, which put her health in greatdanger.

TheObservatory and LDDHI are relieved that Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh has been allowed toleave the prison and will now be able to receive the medical care that herhealth condition requires, and reiterate their call on the Iranian authoritiesto permanently and unconditionally release her.

The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 byFIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of thisprogramme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rightsdefenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented byinternational civil society.

The League for theDefence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI) was founded in Paris in March 1983,following the forced closure of the “Iranian Association for the Defence ofHuman Rights and Liberties” (established in 1977) in 1981, and the departure ofits leaders into exile. Since its establishment, LDDHI has consistentlyreported and campaigned against human rights violations in Iran, concentratingon the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, women’s rights, freedom ofpolitical prisoners, rights of religious and ethnic minorities, freedoms ofexpression, assembly and association among others. LDDHI has been a member ofFIDH since 1986.