On 5 May, State Security Forces (SSF) raided the home of Ms. Narges Mohammadi, human rights activist and spokeswoman for the association of human rights activists, and arrested her.
Gohar Eshghi, mother of slain blogger Sattar Beheshti, was a guest at Ms. Mohammadi’s home at the time of her arrest. SSF first put them in a car yet released Ms. Eshghi go and took Ms. Mohammadi to the Evin Prison. Ms. Eshghi attempted to prevent her arrest by yelling and screaming, yet the SSF paid no attention to her.
Narges Mohammadi was supposed to be tried for the charges of propaganda against the establishment, assembly and collaborating with the intent to act against national security and establishment of an illegal group. A few days prior to this arrest, Ms. Mohammadi had requested for her trial to be held publicly.
Members of Ms. Mohammadi’s family and a group of mothers of martyrs of the 2009 uprising, and human rights activists, after hearing the news about this arrest, immediately staged a protest outside Evin Prison and called for her release. At 5:00 pm, they were told that Ms. Mohammadi was transferred to the women’s ward in Evin Prison.
Human rights advocate and lawyer Nasrin Sotudeh who has staged a sit-in outside the Iran Bar Association for over 150 days said, the detention of
Nargis Mohammadi is illegal because according to information, they have arrested her with reference to a 6-year conviction verdict that was issued 4 years ago. This verdict was issued by an unofficial court without the presence of a jury during the post-election period with a security atmosphere. The “revolutionary court” is a court that prevents the presence of family members of the accused and instead allows the free commuting of interrogators and MOIS agents.
Maryam Karim-Beygi, mother of 2009 uprising martyr Mostafa Karim-Beygi, said on 5 May, “I spoke to Narges on the phone, her spirit was very high!”
