Nahid Jafari, a women’s rights activist facing a prison and lashing sentence, tells Rooz that suspended sentences are passed by courts to terrorize activists. She is a member of the One Million Signatures Campaign to Change Discriminatory Laws. Read on for the details.
Rooz (R): In recent months, women have received court sentences that are not harsh in comparison to the level of their social activism. What does this show and what does the future hold?
Nahid Jafari (NJ): In my opinion, this shows that the existing laws are paternalistic and they [officials] will do whatever it takes to defend and preserve these laws. The women’s rights movement is spending most of its energy right now to change discriminatory laws. They create these conditions to terrorize us, and hold suspended sentences over our heads like batons to prevent us from doing anything. For example, my sentence states that if I commit any crime, my suspended sentence would be executed; but they haven’t defined what that means. So for example, I don’t know whether a mere traffic offense will trigger a response from the courts or not.
R: Sometimes officials talk about their fear that civil society organizations receive aid from foreigners. Do you think that officials may have acted differently if such a fear did not exist?
NJ: They accused some of us during interrogations that we had received support from foreigners. Those of us who are involved in the women's movement know well that these accusations are false. During some interrogations they had also told others that they planned to stop and end the One Million Signatures Campaign. In other words, they themselves don't know their own position. They can't tell us clearly why it is a crime to work for a fully legal and peaceful social cause.
R: What do you think will be the outcome of your sentence?
NJ: I have discussed this with my attorney and want to appeal the verdict and will definitely file one. But regardless of this, I believe that we can't ignore such sentences because they have obviously issued them so I stop speaking with my own people and end my activism.
