Iranian Rights Lawyer Says Son Summoned Over Prison Complaint

Prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh said Tuesday that her son has been summoned to court following a complaint filed by Evin Prison.

Sotoudeh announced on Instagram that Nima Khandan was called to appear before prosecutors, adding that “many families have become hostages of the Islamic Republic for the crime of seeking freedom.”

She said someone identifying himself as the head of the juvenile court’s fourth branch called her cellphone, asking her to bring her son to court regarding charges filed by Evin Prison.

Sotoudeh said she told the caller that prosecutors must send a written summons for such matters.

The lawyer said both her children have faced government pressure from an early age.

She said authorities opened a case against her daughter Mehraveh when she was 12 and repeatedly banned her from leaving the country.

“Both our children became targets of government violence before age 18,” Sotoudeh wrote, referring to a system “that adheres to no principles.”

She said her son was subjected to “savage physical attacks,” and authorities now want to “escape responsibility through accusations.”

Sotoudeh said she and her husband “neither fear nor remain silent,” adding that public spaces in front of the juvenile court and Evin Prison belong to citizens for protests against government injustice.

Her husband, Reza Khandan, is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison.

Sotoudeh has represented numerous political prisoners and human rights activists. She was previously imprisoned for her work defending women’s rights.