Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and women's rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh is on hunger strike for the third time, her husband has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.
Reza Khandan told Radio Farda on December 7 that Sotoudeh resumed her hunger strike because her demands have not been met. He said that in violation of assurances given by the judge when she first appeared in court, her temporary arrest has been extended and her request for release on bail rejected.
Sotoudeh was taken into custody on September 4 on charges of "acting against national security," "assembly and collusion to disrupt security," and "cooperation with the Defenders for Human Rights Center."
She represented a number of political prisoners who were arrested during the unrest that followed last year's disputed presidential election, won by Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Khandan said his wife has become extremely weak after the hunger strikes.
"Given her physical condition, another dry hunger strike would be very dangerous for her," he said.
Since her arrest, Sotoudeh has been held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Tehran's Evin prison, which is thought to be overseen by the Intelligence Ministry.
Sotoudeh went on trial on November 15 but has not yet been sentenced.
Read more in Persian here
Reza Khandan told Radio Farda on December 7 that Sotoudeh resumed her hunger strike because her demands have not been met. He said that in violation of assurances given by the judge when she first appeared in court, her temporary arrest has been extended and her request for release on bail rejected.
Sotoudeh was taken into custody on September 4 on charges of "acting against national security," "assembly and collusion to disrupt security," and "cooperation with the Defenders for Human Rights Center."
She represented a number of political prisoners who were arrested during the unrest that followed last year's disputed presidential election, won by Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Khandan said his wife has become extremely weak after the hunger strikes.
"Given her physical condition, another dry hunger strike would be very dangerous for her," he said.
Since her arrest, Sotoudeh has been held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Tehran's Evin prison, which is thought to be overseen by the Intelligence Ministry.
Sotoudeh went on trial on November 15 but has not yet been sentenced.
Read more in Persian here
