Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Letter of Gratitude from Prison to Her Supporters

Translated by Persian Banoo |
Edited by Persian2English

By NASRIN SOTOUDEH

My fellow compatriots,

Is punishing family members [of political prisoners] a coincidence?

I was on hunger strike for 49 days to protest a variety of issues, including the punishment of my family. During this time many concerns were raised, out of grace and love, for a common demand: a big no to punishing families.

It is my duty to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all the people that, with their compassion and kindness, paid attention to this [common demand]: public and social groups, specifically the Mourning Mothers, who lost their children in the 2009 Movement (I had the honor of representing a few of them); Mothers for Peace; women’s rights activists; political prisoners, who I’ve had the honor of enduring imprisonment with; my dear cellmates, who’ve endured hardships due to my hunger strike; and my husband and young daughter, who have suffered greatly.

[Thank you to] human rights activists across the globe and the Iranian Diaspora who, following the 2009 Movement, have shown how important their presence is in restoring human rights and democracy in Iran.

[Thank you to] those who have used their individual rights and freedoms to stand with us and support the demands that, on the surface, seem to be limited only to my small family.

[Thank you to] the courageous people who made the personal choice to go on a [solidarity] hunger strike. They caused me to, in turn, be worried for them. They made me understand how one person’s hunger strike can cause others to be concerned and worried. Their action made me feel more responsible, because they launched hunger strikes to support me.

[Thank you to] the human rights activists across the globe who assisted me in my resistance; noble human beings on the other side of the ocean who support my cause and are sympathetic it, which helps me and my family endure the burdens.

I know you were worried about my hunger strike. I would like everyone to know that I was also worried for everyone’s concerns and worries. But, why I was not willing to halt my hunger strike?

I along with my clients and numerous other political prisoners held behind bars merely for their noble actions, spend difficult, albeit valuable days in prison.

I proudly endure my imprisonment alongside civil and political activists, prisoners of conscience, and our fellow Baha’i and Christian compatriots, who I have had the honor to represent a few of them; people who have been issued unlawful sentences for simply living based on their beliefs.

After all the injustices, [the Iranian regime] has even resorted to punishing families. First, they pursued my husband and pressed fresh charges against him. After detaining my family [including her children] for a few hours, they issued charges against my daughter, [who was 12 years old at the time]. Then, in a rash [decision], they banned her from foreign travel. My daughter, like any other child her age, has the right to live without the fear of threats and punishment.

I have had the honor of defending the children of my country. Punishing children is absolutely prohibited, much less for political charges on the account of their parents. But, of course, this sort of punishment has not only been limited to my family. To explain the wide scope of this unlawful treatment, it is enough to remember that, among the 36 female prisoners held in the political prisoner’s ward, the immediate families of 13 of them are either imprisoned or being pursued by the Judiciary. This figure represents one third of the female political prisoners. Among this group there are some that have more than one family member either imprisoned or being pursued by the Judiciary.

To protest punishing families, (using the example of my own family) I launched a hunger strike. I hope an end is put to punishing families.

Once again, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to those who, with their constant support, did not leave me alone. I am confident the path of justice, rule of law, and democracy will bear fruit.

With hopes of liberty and freedom,

Nasrin Sotoudeh
Evin Prison
December 2012