In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Shirin Ebadi, head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, criticized the increasing pressure on the Iranian human rights community, reporting that Nasrin Sotoudeh has been under severe pressure since her arrest to confess against herself. “According to a resolution by the UN General Assembly, governments are responsible for supporting human rights defenders and to facilitate their work. This is because of the importance of human rights and those who work in this area. Governments must not prevent human rights activities; they must help it,” Ebadi told the Campaign.

“Unfortunately, the situation in Iran has become such that working in the field of human rights has become a serious liability. Whoever talks about human rights is accused of collaboration with the West and accepting money from western countries.  Those who work for human rights face all kinds of risks.  Now we observe that Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh is in prison for her human rights activities and is under pressure to speak against herself,” Ms. Ebadi added.

In a letter to the Head of International Bar Association, the 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate asked for the organization’s reaction to the pressure put on Sotoudeh and Mohammad Oliaifar, both human rights lawyers who are in prison at this time.

Ebadi demanded the release of the two lawyers in her letter.  “I would like to inform you that on 4 September 2010, Ms. Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights defender was imprisoned because of her efforts to defend her clients and her human rights activities.  She has remained in solitary confinement ever since and against Iranian laws, she has not been allowed to contact her lawyer and her family, including her three-year old child.  According to news from the prison, she is under pressure and threat to make false confessions against herself,” Ms. Ebadi wrote.

“Mr. Oliaifar, the other prominent lawyer and defender of human rights who has worked to end child executions for years, has been sentenced to one year in prison and is currently serving his sentence under unsuitable conditions,” added head of the Center for Human Rights Defenders.

“I ask that you use whatever way possible to object to the arrests of your imprisoned colleagues and to gain the Islamic Republic of Iran’s attention to the necessity of independence and freedom of expression for the lawyers in order to implement justice.  Please use your international resources toward the release of the imprisoned lawyers in Iran,” Shirin Ebadi’s letter concludes.