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"The government must be held responsible for Sara's death": Cellmates in Evin
The government must be held responsible for Sara's death, previous cellmates of Sara Tabrizi said in a statement from Evin Prison, posted by @free.nahid and @narges_mohamadi_51
She was with us for a week. Her fears were not alien to us. She spoke about her lonely nights in solitary confinement and her terror of the interrogators’ threats becoming reality. She said after three nights alone in the cells of Ward 209 of the Ministry of Information, due to the intensity of her heartbeat and nervous attacks, she was transferred to the Prison Health Clinic and then to a communal cell after the doctor’s prescription.
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From the next day, she was under pressure in the interrogation room, warned that if she didn’t cooperate, she would be returned to previous conditions, solitary confinement. She didn’t know what cooperation meant. She only knew she didn’t want to become a captive by the delusions she was afflicted with.
Sara Tabrizi, a twenty-year-old girl with no experience facing such an environment, had intended to leave Iran for her dreams before she got involved with the security forces.
If Sarah had lived in a society free of suppression and discrimination, without the tyranny and exploitation of life, she wouldn’t have decided to leave the country nor would she have met such a bitter end.
After she was released on bail from prison, Sara understood the concept of cooperation. The repeated calls and interrogator’s insistence on what Sarah was not willing to give in to. And then the threats to re-arrest and the disclosure of her private information.
On March 23, Sara [was contacted by] the Tehran [police] department and the day after that, she was [found dead at home].
Regardless of the circumstances under which it occurred, the responsibility for this death lies with the government.
Like the deaths of thousands who have disappeared under the control of governments, under decades of fascist dictatorship, vanished without a trace.
Like many who have lost their eyes or have been physically disabled in some way.
Like many of our children who, for greater security or to achieve their dreams, have been forced to leave their homeland.
And like many who have been imprisoned for years and their homes’ lights have gone out.
Although the government will not be held accountable and will try to evade responsibility with another trick if necessary, the responsibility for this crime, like those committed before, will be on its shoulders and and will one day be held accountable before the people.
Signatories:
Narges Mohammadi
Nahid Taqhavi
Anisha Asadollahi
epideh Gholian
Reihaneh Ansari Nejad
Mahbooubeh Rezaei
Mariam Haj Hosseini
Golrokh Iraee
@golrokh.iraee @free.nahid @anishaasadollahi @sepide_qoliyan #saratabrizi
Evin Women Sit In to Support Narges Mohammadi; Nahid Taghavi Sent Back to Evin
In the days before elections in Iran on March 1, for which the ruling theocrats desperately tried to drum up participation, the regime took several vengeful steps against political prisoners. They denied 2023 Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi’s request to attend her father’s funeral, sparking protest in Evin Prison and outrage beyond. And they suddenly terminated Nahid Taghavi’s medical furlough, and returned her back to prison.
On February 29, female political prisoners staged a sit-in protest according to an Akhbar Rooz newspaper report[i]. Described in the social media of Golrokh Iraee, imprisoned along with Narges Mohammadi in the political prisoners’ women’s ward,, women prisoners “fortified” the ward and sang protest anthems to demand that the prison grant Narges leave to attend her father’s services that were held that same day[ii]:
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[Sitting in] in Evin Prison Women's ward they sang the anthem [“Blood of the Purple Tulip”] in protest against the refusal to allow Narges Mohammadi to be present at her father's funeral...
Narges Mohammadi has not been able to contact her family by phone since November 29 [2023].
It is the most basic human and legal right of all prisoners to be able to be with their family and other relatives to endure such a loss.
Karim Mohammadi, the father of Nargis Mohammadi, died on [February 27] without even hearing his daughter's voice for 3 months and without seeing her for 22 months.
Sixty women in Evin signed a statement of condolence and support which noted that “Mr. Karim Mohammadi, a man of honor, spent his later years while his daughter, Narges, endured years of separation from her children in government prisons. Despite never seeing Narges and being deprived of her voice in his last months, he consistently encouraged her to stand against injustice. On February 25th, 2024, at age ninety-two, he joined the hunger strike in Evin Prison protesting the execution of young people.”
Nahid Taghavi Ordered Back to Evin
Mariam Claren, daughter of political prisoner Nahid Taghavi, announced via social media and press interviews on February 29:
Randomly and for no apparent reason my 69-year-old mother Nahid Taghavi was forced to return to Evin Prison last night.
She was released on January 9 with an electronic ankle [bracelet] due to health reasons. Necessary medical care was hardly possible during this time, as her freedom of movement was limited to 1,000 meters from her apartment. In addition, she had developed a painful eye disease in the last weeks, which needs to be strictly monitored by doctors. Nahid Taghavi suffers from severe joint pain, herniated discs, hypertension and diabetes.
The Islamic Republic of Iran and its judicial system are responsible for everything that happens to my mother.”
Mariam Claren’s post ends with this urgent call, which we echo wholeheartedly:
I ask all freedom loving people to be the voice of my mother and all political prisoners.
#FreeNahid #cuttherope
[i] “News Bulletin: Female political prisoners staged a sit-in in support of Narges Mohammadi”, Akhbar Rooz (in Farsi), February 29, 2024.
[ii] https://www.instagram.com/p/C351YrJLig6/ Translation to English by IEC volunteers.
Toomaj Message From Behind Bars
reposted from @burnthecage, @toomajofficial - translated by IEC volunteers
Hope you're doin' ok!
Thank you for still supporting me, like you have from the first days (and hopefully not forgetting all the other loved ones in prison).
In here, I am still getting the news channels, and sometimes even reading your tweets. Nothing can disconnect us -- because our hearts remain connected.
~ Toomaj
February 14, 2024 (25 Bahman 1402)
Isfahan Prison