Nasrin Sotoudeh temporarily released 
from prison

"Every day that I spend out of prison, I am waiting to hear the news of the release of all political prisoners" 
– Nasrin Sotoudeh, released on temporary medical leave 

Amnesty International welcomes the temporary release of unjustly jailed human rights lawyer and women human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh from prison in Iran. She should never have been imprisoned for defending human rights. Now is the time to keep the pressure up and ensure Nasrin is not returned to prison.  

Nasrin has dedicated her life to peaceful human rights work, including defending women who peacefully protest against an Iranian law which compels women to wear hijab (headscarf) and loose clothing. In 2019, Nasrin received the harshest sentence recorded against a human rights defender in Iran in recent years -- 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. 

Amnesty members and supporters delivered more than 1 million signatures demanding that Iranian authorities overturn Nasrin's unjust sentence. Our actions contributed to Nasrin's release. Let's re-double our efforts to ensure Nasrin isn't sent back to prison.

The COVID-19 pandemic raises grave fears that prisoners like Nasrin could contract the virus. Prisoners are at particular risk because they are unable to take the same social distancing and hygiene measures as those outside of prison to protect themselves.

Across Iran, prisoners have pleaded with officials to address overcrowded, unhygienic and unsanitary conditions that put them at greater risk of COVID-19 infections, raising alarms about the authorities' failure to sufficiently protect prison populations from the spread of the virus. Some prisoners have been denied adequate medical care, leaving them at greater risk from the virus if contracted.

Send an urgent message calling on Iranian authorities to quash Nasrin Sotoudeh's sentences unconditionally and make her release from prison permanent. 

1. Add your name to our urgent online petition