Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 9, 2024: Fatemeh Davand, a November 2019 protester and one of the witnesses at the Aban People’s Tribunal was detained in Turkey and is at imminent risk of deportation to Iran.
Emphasising that Fatemeh Davand’s deportation will endanger her life and put her at serious risk of imprisonment, torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment and violates the principle of non-refoulement, Iran Human Rights calls on the Turkish government to immediately stop her deportation. Mindful of the issues of Turkey hosting refugees from the Middle East, IHRNGO urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to facilitate Fatemeh Davand’s relocation to a third safe country.
Iran Human Rights calls on countries that have the capacity to accept refugees, particularly signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, to address the situation of Iranian refugees in neighbouring countries and process their applications.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Fatemeh Davand was arrested by Turkish police while trying to leave the country without any documents with her 18-year-old son on 3rd August. They were transferred to a deportation camp in Aydin, where they are currently at imminent risk of deportation.
Fatemeh Davand was arrested on 16 November 2019 at the height of the November 2019 nationwide protests and tortured to force false confessions that were aired on national television. She was subsequently sentenced to 5 months imprisonment and 30 lashes for "disrupting public peace and order by taking part in protests and taking off her hijab" by Branch 103 of the Second Bukan Criminal Court. In a second case, she was sentenced to five years imprisonment for "assembly and collusion against national security" by Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court which was later reduced to 45 months. Fatemeh managed to escape Iran while out on temporary bail and sought safety in Turkey.
In November 2021, Fatemeh was one of the witnesses at the Iran Atrocities (Aban) Tribunal. She testified via video from Turkey. The Aban Tribunal was created in response to the cries of victims and survivors of the nationwide November 2019 protest crackdowns by three NGOs, Justice for Iran, Iran Human Rights and Together Against Death Penalty. On 30 September 2022, the Aban Tribunal panel found the leaders of the Islamic Republic guilty of crimes against humanity.