A leading Iranian human rights lawyer has been hospitalised, a month after beginning a hunger strike seeking better prison conditions and the release of political prisoners amid the Covid-19 pandemic, her husband said on Saturday.
Reza Khandan wrote on Twitter that healthcare professionals decided to hospitalise his wife, Nasrin Sotoudeh, 57, because of heart and respiratory problems as well as low blood pressure.
Mr Khandan said Ms Sotoudeh was transferred to a hospital in north Tehran from the notorious Evin Prison earlier on Saturday. He added that his wife was in “serious condition”.
Ms Sotoudeh — known for defending activists, opposition politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves — began her hunger strike on August 11 from her prison cell to protest the risks that political prisoners in Iran face amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawyer was arrested for a second time in 2018 on charges of collusion and propaganda against Iran’s rulers and eventually was sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. She must serve at least 12 years under the law.
In prison, Ms Sotoudeh occasionally visited clinics as she suffered chronic gastrointestinal and foot problems.
Earlier this year, Ms Sotoudeh held another five-day hunger strike demanding prisoners be released to protect them from Covid-19.
A report on the spread of the coronavirus in Iranian prisons published by Amnesty International in April revealed the regime "deliberately exposes them to the risk of infection in overcrowded prisons under poor hygienic conditions."
Thousands of prisoners have been granted temporary prison leaves to help shield them from the virus, but many have not been included.
Covid-19 has killed more than 24,000 Iranians and infected over 400,000, official figures say. Real numbers are believed to be significantly higher due to a lack of tests available and many cases with no or mild symptoms.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
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TEAMS
US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
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International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
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* denotes captain's picks
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
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How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
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MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
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