Shirin Ebadi, who represents women activists Jelveh Javaheri and Maryam Hosseinkhah, ‎appeared at the Revolutionary Court yesterday but was not able to meet with the ‎prosecutor in the case. ‎

Shirin Ebadi told reporters, “I went to the especial security branch [at the Revolutionary ‎Court] to discuss the heavy bails that were posted for my clients and to announce that ‎these are excessive bail amounts for the two women’s rights activists, but the prosecutor ‎in the case was not present there.” ‎

Ebadi added, “Despite promises that were given to follow up on the condition of Jelveh ‎Javaheri and Maryam Hosseinkhah, nothing has been done yet.” ‎

According to the Website Change for Equality, Ebadi also commented on reasons behind ‎the elongation of this case, “whatever the judge rules, he must be accountable for that. ‎As far as I am concerned, I expect nothing but the unconditional release of my clients, ‎because they have not committed any crime. The Iranian government has recently been ‎condemned in the United Nations General Assembly for violating human rights. The ‎Iranian government has been advised to release women’s rights activists and I hope that ‎judicial and security officials heed to the suggestions of the United Nations.” ‎

Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Court held the trial related to the two women’s ‎participation in a 13 Esfand gathering yesterday without notifying Ebadi. Ebadi said, ‎‎“The date of this trial was not announced to my clients and I accidentally stumble upon ‎my client in the hallway. Jelveh was doing very well, like always resistant and lively and ‎happy. I admire this young woman, who continues to insist on her human rights despite ‎all the problems that have come up for her.”‎

In a related development, Abdolfattah Soltani announced that the “arrest of Maryam ‎Hosseinkhah can be an instance of an illegal arrest.” ‎

‎“Ms. Maryam Hosseinkhah,” said Soltani, “has not only not committed a crime in my ‎opinion, but those who have arrested her have actually committed a crime, meaning that ‎her arrest is an instance of an illegal arrest. I have to point out that when one speaks of ‎free speech and free opinion, it is obvious that in no government, even the most ‎totalitarian, proponents of the government are in trouble to voice their opinion. It is ‎always those who are critical of government officials that face prison and intimidation. ‎For this reason, whenever the Constitution speaks about free speech and free opinion, ‎logically we must first extend such rights to opponents and critics of government. ‎Therefore, any government that claims to be popular must essentially create an ‎environment in which people can freely express their opinion and not terrorize the people ‎from demanding their rights. Otherwise, a government that treats its opponents with ‎violence cannot be democratic.” ‎