Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has sent a letter to Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, urging the Iranian government to release human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. Currently in critical condition, Sotoudeh was imprisoned for her advocacy on behalf of Iranian women and has been on a hunger strike since August 11, 2020.
“Ms. Sotoudeh received a sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes after she advocated on behalf of women imprisoned for protesting Iran’s compulsory hijab law. Ms. Sotoudeh has been on a hunger strike since August 11, and she is now in critical condition and requires urgent medical care,” wrote Feinstein.
“Prisoners have disproportionately suffered the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be put at medical risk for the politically-motivated charges against them. This is a violation of their most basic human rights, and I urge the Iranian government to immediately release Ms. Sotoudeh into medical care.”
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