This is a welcomed development as well as a reminder of the need to reinforce calls for the release of the remaining members of the Nojin Association.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) celebrates the Iranian Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Soma Pourmohammadi, a prominent defender of Kurdish cultural and political rights, and member of the Nojin Cultural Association. This ruling represents a positive step toward judicial transparency in a country that has repeatedly been condemned by the international community for its treatment of human rights defenders, especially those belonging to ethnic or religious minorities.
The Nojin Cultural Association, whose Board of Directors Soma Pourmohammadi is a member of, has been promoting the rights of the Kurdish community with a special focus on the right to freely teach the Kurdish language. The Association also works to raise public awareness of the Iranian Government’s policies and attempts to eliminate Kurdish culture as well as their gross violations of the civil and political rights of the Kurdish community.
Over the course of 2022 and 2023, members of Nojin –namely, Idris Manbari, Serwe Pourmohammadi, Seywan Ebrahimi, and Soma Pourmohammadi– were arrested and tried on false accusations of “forming an illegal group” and “spreading propaganda against the regime”. Soma Pourmohammadi was unjustly detained for her peaceful activism, which focused on the promotion of the Kurdish language, culture, and identity in Iran.
Since 2012, the UNPO and our partner organisations, have been working tirelessly to raise awareness on the violation of civil and political rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran. Throughout 2022-2024 we have been making submissions to various UN mechanisms, including the OHCHR Working Group Against Arbitrary Detention, calling for the necessary pressure and scrutiny to be applied towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Soma’s acquittal is a triumph for human rights defenders everywhere and a testament to the power of advocacy and solidarity on a global scale. However, this victory will not be complete until all Nojin Association members are acquitted and released.
The UNPO remains deeply concerned about the continued detention of the other members of the Nojin Association, and we reiterate our call for the Iranian Government to cease the persecution of peaceful activists who seek only to protect their cultural heritage.
As we celebrate Soma Pourmohammadi’s acquittal, we will continue our advocacy on behalf of all those who face unjust imprisonment for peacefully standing up for their rights.