Narges Mohammadi, Iranian Physicist and human rights advocate was again rushed to a hospital for emergency care while serving an 18-year sentence for her work advocating for women’s rights in Iran. On July 3 Mohammadi had gallbladder surgery and was taken back to prison. A few days later she began having convulsions and seizures and was taken back to the hospital. CCS has written President Hassan Rouhani requesting that he release Mohammadi on medical and humanitarian grounds and let her recover safely in a home environment where she can receive the care she needs.
August 20, 2018
Hassan Rouhani
President, The Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Your Excellency:
We are writing on behalf of the Committee of Concerned Scientists, an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We write now out of grave concern for Dr. Narges Mohammadi, a 46-year old Iranian physicist, engineer and human rights advocate. She was arrested at her home on May 5, 2015. Mohammadi, as reported, has been a peaceful advocate of women’s rights, human rights and opposition to the use of the death penalty. She has repeatedly been detained for voicing her opinion. She was initially arrested in 2011 for alleged assembly and collusion against national security, membership with the Defenders of Human Rights Center and propaganda against the State. After her sentence was imposed she was released on bail after three months due to a medical condition that caused muscular paralysis.
In April 2014, Narges along with other women, met with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, to discuss women’s rights. While incarcerated, she had lung problems and her muscular paralysis worsened. She was hospitalized three times as her medical situation deteriorated – resulting in slurred words, difficulty speaking, seizures – all exacerbated by stress and her confinement. On July 3, 2018, Mohammadi was again hospitalized, requiring gallbladder surgery. Immediately following her surgery, she was returned to prison with no time to recover. Ten days later Mohammadi suffered convulsions and seizures and was rushed back to the hospital for emergency care, where she is now located. Narges requires significant medical care, without which could result in a life-threatening situation.
Given that Mohammadi has a number of serious health problems, we are requesting her release on medical and humanitarian grounds so that she can receive the care and treatment that she needs and can successfully recover in a home environment once the hospital decides that she can safely be discharged.
Narges has been incarcerated solely for her peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, rights which are guaranteed under the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran ratified in 1975.
We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists