Watchdogs Condemn Iranian Rights Defender’s Sentence

Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi (file photo)

Human rights groups have condemned a decision by an Iranian court to uphold a long-term prison sentence against human rights activist Narges Mohammadi.

Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani who lives in France with their two children, said Iran's Appeals Court had upheld Mohammadi's 16-year prison term on September 27.

Mohammadi will only serve the sentence linked to the most important charge -- in this case 10 years for "forming and managing an illegal group."

"Narges's only crime is to be a human rights defender in a country that flouts these rights," said 2003 Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, a co-founder of the Center for Human Rights Defenders (DHRC).

"Mohammadi does not deserve a day in prison," the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said. "Instead she should be respected and praised for her humanitarian work and efforts to end injustice."

Mohammadi, deputy head of DHRC, was initially arrested in May 2015 and sentenced in April this year.