Iran – Death of Armita Geravand (31 October 2023)

We were utterly shocked to learn of Armita Geravand’s death in Iran, which was announced on Saturday 28 October. The disturbing circumstances of her death must be the subject of a transparent investigation as soon as possible.

France voices its deep concern following the arrest of the Iranian lawyer and human rights campaigner, Ms Nasrin Sotoudeh, at Armita Geravand’s funeral. The European Parliament Sakharov Prize laureate (2012) and winner of the Franco-German Human Rights and the Rule of Law Prize (2019), Nasrin Sotoudeh had already been imprisoned several times for fighting for women’s rights. France asks for her immediate release.

France reaffirms its steadfast, determined commitment throughout the world to combating and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. It will continue to argue in favour of the universalization of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, which is the most successful international instrument in fighting violence against women.