Iranian human rights activist Reza Khandan, the husband of prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been summoned to report to prison to begin a six-year sentence, a US-based group has reported. The summons came days after Sotoudeh, who is on furlough from her own 38-year sentence, gave an interview to broadcaster CNN, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (|CHRI) said.  

Human rights activist Nasrin Sotudeh and her husband Reza Khandan

Nasrin Sotoudeh and Reza Khandan

Source: Maryam Rahmanian/UPI/Shutterstock

It described the move as 'a blatant attempt by the Iranian authorities to pressure Sotoudeh, as well as her husband, into silence. Sotoudeh has spent years in and out of Iranian prisons. Her most recent prosecution led to a 2018 conviction on charges including 'encouraging prostitution' for defending women who had protested against Iran's hijab laws. The issue has been the focus of unrest in the country since the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest.  

'The Iranian authorities are going after Reza Khandan because he and his wife, Nasrin Sotoudeh, refuse to be silent in the face of the slaughter of young men and women protesting the Islamic Republic’s tyranny,' said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the CHRI. 'The international community should speak out forcefully against this blatant attempt to muzzle and punish this brave family and warn the Iranian authorities against returning Khandan or Sotoudeh to prison.' 

Khandan has faced prison since his conviction in 2019 on charges of 'assembly and collusion against national security' and 'propaganda against the state' after he campaigned for his wife's release. Sotoudeh was released from prison on medical grounds in July 2021 but may be recalled at any time. Professional bodies from around the world, including the Law Society, have expressed outrage at her conviction and sentence.