Women Prisoners of Conscience Write Letter of Condolence to Human Rights Lawyer

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – Following the sudden death of Homa Soltani, the 27-year-old daughter of imprisoned human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, a group of women prisoners of conscience in Tehran’s Evin Prison wrote a joint open letter to convey their condolences.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
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Dear Mr Abdolfattah Soltani and Ms [Masoumeh] Dehghan [spouse of Mr Soltani and mother of Homa Soltani],

It is with great regret and sadness that we hear from our prison cells the heartbreaking news of your beloved daughter’s passing.

Enduring the pain of this loss while serving your eighth year of imprisonment will not be easy, Mr Soltani, as a bereft father and one of the most steadfast defenders of human rights and one of the most compassionate figures in this land – or for you, Ms Dehghan, a kind mother and companion and an aid to Iranian civil society.

We appreciate the scale of your suffering and bereavement. We wish patience and better days for you and your children, and demand Mr Soltani’s freedom from prison.

The list of signatories is as follows:

Nasrin Sotoudeh, Narges Mohammadi, Atena Daemi, Maryam Akbari Monfared, Azita Rafizadeh, Sima Kiani, Nazanin Zaghari and Negin Ghadamian.

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Abdolfatah Soltani was granted furlough to attend the funeral of his daughter, Homa Soltani, who died on August 3, 2018, at the age of 27 as a result of a heart attack.

Amnesty International issued a statement on Twitter in reaction to Homa Soltani’s death, and citing the human rights activities of Mr Soltani, asked “How much longer will Abdolfattah Soltani and his family be punished for defending human rights? The Iranian authorities must put an end to this injustice and release Abdolfattah Soltani immediately”.

On Sunday, August 5, 2018, Saeed Dehghan, Mr Soltani’s lawyer, wrote a letter to Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, citing the reason behind the arrest of his client was politically motivated and orchestrated by individuals such as Saeed Mortazavi (former Tehran Prosecutor General and Iran’s Prosecutor General Assistant who has been convicted of abetting the murder of a jailed protestor during the 2009 popular unrest. He has been sentenced to two years in prison). Mr Dehghan requested from Mr Rouhani to observe the law regarding the conditional release of his client.

Prominent Human Rights Lawyer Granted Furlough Following Daughter’s Death

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) –  Abdolfattah Soltani, imprisoned human rights lawyer and activist, was granted temporary release from Tehran’s Evin Prison today to attend the funeral of his 27-year-old daughter, Homa Soltani, who died suddenly on August 3, 2018, from a heart attack.
A group of political and civil rights activists visited Mr Soltani’s home to convey their condolences to him and his family.
Abdolfatath Soltani is serving his seventh year of a ten-year prison sentence. During his incarceration, poor prison conditions, malnutrition, and lack of access to clean water led to various health problems for Mr Soltani including a broken tooth, psychological stress, irregular blood pressure, anaemia, and acute nervous colitis (nervous colon syndrome). His previous request for conditional release had been denied, and his appeals for a new hearing were ignored by the Iranian authorities.
Mr Soltani was arrested on September 10, 2011, and was subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison and barred from practicing law for 20 years for accepting the International Nuremberg Human Rights Award in 2009, conducting interviews with media regarding his clients [who were mostly human rights, civil rights, student and political activists], and being a founding member of Defenders of Human Rights Centre. His sentence was eventually reduced by an appeals court to a 10-year prison term and a 2-year ban from practising law. 
The following video shows the moment Abdolfattah Soltani stepped into his home after years in prison:

Abdolfattah Soltani Sent To Furlough

HRANA News Agency – Abdolfattah Soltani, lawyer and political prisoner in ward 350 of Evin prison, was sent to furlough unexpectedly and attended his mother’s fortieth day of mourning on June 26.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Abdolfattah Soltani, imprisoned lawyer was sent to furlough on June 26 while he had requested to see his mother, but the delay of prison officials led to her death without seeing her son. Mr. Soltani could attend his mother’s funeral by an earlier furlough. Continue reading “Abdolfattah Soltani Sent To Furlough”

Abdolfattah Soltani Returned To Evin Prison

HRANA News Agency – On June 7, 2016, Abdolfattah Soltani, lawyer and political prisoner in ward 350 of Evin prison returned to prison by the end of his furlough.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Abdolfattah Soltani, imprisoned lawyer who had been sent to furlough on May 17 after his mother’s death, returned to Evin prison to serve his sentence by the end of the furlough. Continue reading “Abdolfattah Soltani Returned To Evin Prison”

Abdolfattah Soltani Transferred to the Clinic of Evin Prison

HRANA News Agency – Abdolfattah Soltani, imprisoned lawyer was transferred to the prison clinic by the emergency by tingling and severe heart pounding on May 3, 2016.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Abdolfattah Soltani was transferred to the prison clinic by the emergency by tingling and severe heart pounding on May 3, 2016. His general condition after the transfer is unknown. Continue reading “Abdolfattah Soltani Transferred to the Clinic of Evin Prison”

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Abdolfattah Soltani Returned To Evin Prison

HRANA News Agency – Abdolfattah Soltani, imprisoned lawyer returned to Evin Prison by the end of his furlough. Founding member of the Association of Defenders of Human Rights has been sent to furlough after more than 4 years for first time on 17th January.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), judicial authorities opposed the extension of Abdolfattah Soltani’s furlough and this human rights activist returned to prison on Saturday, 13th of February. Continue reading “Abdolfattah Soltani Returned To Evin Prison”

A Report about Abdolfattah Soltani’s Situation in Rajai Shahr Prison

HRANA News Agency – Abdolfattah Soltani, an imprisoned lawyer and founding member of the Association of Defenders of Human Rights, despite numerous legal conditions for his release from prison, due to authorities’ sabotage has been denied from his legal and human rights.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Abdolfattah Soltani, despite the agreement of five judges to apply Article 18 and to restore the legal process, has been waiting for it for more than two years and a half and has been held in pending and undecided condition until the Head of the Judiciary will order a hearing. Continue reading “A Report about Abdolfattah Soltani’s Situation in Rajai Shahr Prison”

Abdolfattah Soltani in critical health condition

HRANA News Agency – Abdolfattah Soltani was transferred to prison clinic due to hypotension and heart complications, but in contrast with recommendation of the physicians regarding his need for chocardiography, he was sent back to the ward.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), he had experienced hypotension and heart complications on July 6th and consequently was transferred to clinic to be examined. Prison physician recommended that for precise diagnosis echocardiography is required which is not possible to be performed in prison. Continue reading “Abdolfattah Soltani in critical health condition”

The families of political prisoners go on hunger strike

HRANA News Agency – Davar Hosseini Vojdan’s mother goes on hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mozhgan Moradpour, the mother of Davar Hosseini Vojdan who is imprisoned in ward 350 of Evin prison and was beaten by prison guards started her hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners since April 23rd. Continue reading “The families of political prisoners go on hunger strike”