Narges Mohammadi, Maria Kolesnikova, Li Qiaochu, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Amal Fathy and Kenia Inés Hernández Montalván have all been jailed unjustly (Pictures: PA/AFP/Getty/Amnesty International)
Today marks two years since British charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released after her wrongful imprisonment in Iran.
The dual Iranian-British national had been on holiday in 2017 when she was detained at Tehran’s airport on charges of ‘spreading propaganda against Iran’ – and sentenced to five years in prison.
For six long years, Nazanin was separated from her loved ones in Evin Prison, known for its violent and harsh conditions.
Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, campaigned tirelessly for her release, which eventually happened in March 2023.
But Nazanin is not alone in her wrongful imprisonment. Thousands of women around the world have been wrongfully detained for their activism by governments.
Maria Kolesnikova
Maria was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her role in protests after the fraudulent Belarusian elections in 2020 (Picture: AP)
After the 2020 elections in Belarus, which were widely seen as fraudulent, massive protests erupted around the country.
One woman helped lead the opposition: Maria Kolesnikova. She was given an 11 year prison sentence on charges of ‘extremism’ and ‘trying to seize power’.
In 2022, she was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after being in isolation for months, worrying her family and friends.
Though she is now recovered, it’s incredibly hard to communicate with Belarusian prisoners, meaning her family doesn’t know how she truly is.
Four years on from Maria’s sentencing, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Metro.co.uk: ‘There are now at least 171 women political prisoners in Belarus. At least 8,000 women have been subjected to political persecution in Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya knew Maria very well before she was jailed – just like Sviatlana’s husband (Picture: Reuters)
‘It is important that the world is in solidarity and also remains true to its democratic values… It’s difficult, but there is no other way.’
Amal Fathy
Amal Fathy has been jailed multiple times for speaking out against sexual harassment in Egypt and critcising the government (Picture: Amnesty International)
Egyptian women’s rights campaigner Amal Fathy was initially jailed in 2018, after highlighting her experience of sexual harassment and criticising the Egyptian government.
Three days after posting the video, her home was raided and she was detained, before becoming the victim of a targeted smear campaign from the government and online trolls.
She was released on probation in December 2018, before being jailed again in January 2022 for similar charges.
Amal is now a free woman, but remains at risk from the Egyptian government, whom she continues to critcise as she highlights sexual assault and harassment in the country.
Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her efforts to free political prisoners and her fight for women’s rights in Iran (Picture: AFP)
Narges Mohammadi worked for decades to free wrongly imprisoned activists in Iran, before she was sentenced to prison herself.
Arrested 13 times, she was sentenced to 31 years in prison and to 154 lashes for her open campaign to liberate women in Iran.
For her tireless work, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 – but still remains in one of Iran’s most notorious prisons, where Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe served her prison sentence as well.
After receiving her Nobel prize, Narges said: ‘I will never stop striving for the realization of democracy, freedom and equality. Surely, the Nobel Peace Prize will make me more resilient, determined, hopeful and enthusiastic.’
Kenia Inés Hernández Montalván
Kenia Inés Hernández Montalván has been campaigning for women’s and indigenous rights in Mexico for years (Picture: Amnesty International)
In Mexico, indigenous Amuzga woman and lawyer Kenia Hernández was sentenced to 11 years and 10 years in prison for the alleged commission of ‘attacks on public roads as a gang’ and ‘robbery with violence using a weapon’.
Her real crime? Working to defend the rights of indigenous peoples and women in her native Mexico.
She’s been in solitary confinement for her resistance to the Mexican state.
Civicus’s Advocacy and Campaigns Lead for the Latin America and the Caribbean region, Isabel Rosales, explained to Metro.co.uk: ‘Kenia Hernández’s case is emblematic of the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Mexico.
‘Despite enduring extreme conditions, including hunger strikes, discrimination, and isolation, Kenia remains steadfast in her fight for justice.’
Ms Rosales added Kenia’s case is not an isolated incident,but rather a reflection of the widespread persecution faced by human rights defenders globally.
She said: ‘By standing together, we can amplify the voices of those silenced by oppression and work towards a world where human rights are respected and upheld for all.’
Li Qiaochu
Li Qiaochu was targeted in a smear campaign after speaking against the Chinese government (Picture: Amnesty International)
In a sentencing followed by years of ‘harassment and detention aimed at silencing peaceful dissent’, Li Qiaochu’s imprisonment in China shocked the world.
A worker’s and women’s rights activist went on trial on charges of ‘inciting subversion of state power’, Li was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after daring to speak out.
Amnesty International China’s director, Sarah Brooks, said: ‘The unjust conviction of Li Qiaochu is the culmination of the Chinese government’s cruel campaign to silence her.
‘Li has been ruthlessly targeted for expressing views the Chinese authorities would prefer to suppress – on the premise that her speech could somehow topple the government. Her conviction highlights the grave dangers of peacefully advocating for human rights in Xi Jinping’s China.’
But Li is just one of many female activists unjustly jailed in China for speaking against Xi Jinping’s regime.
Others include: Kamile Wayit, Zhanargul Zhumatai, Zhang Zhan, Sophia Huang Xueqin, Gulshan Abbas, and countless others.
What can be done?
Richard Ratcliffe went on hunger strikes in an effort to have government step in and help his wife (Picture: Getty)
Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, campaigned tirelessly to bring home his wife from her detention.
Hunger strikes, campaigns in parliament and more formed his life for many years while his wife was in Evin Prison.
Two years on from Nazanin’s release, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘If you look at my family’s experience, there was a reluctance on the part of the government to engage – they kind of hoped the problem solved itself.
‘Whatever was done is done very quietly, and as a family, you get very suspicious that things aren’t picked up.
‘We got lots of nice words, but I needed to force political attention on Nazanin’s case and demand it – but not every family has the ability to do that.’
Richard, Nazanin and their daughter were separated for years (Picture: AFP)
Richard said in recent years more and more states appear to be unfairly imprisoning people for leverage, and ‘using their own court system as a tool of diplomacy’.
He did say that the level of solidarity from other women regarding Nazanin’s case was extremely powerful.
And other cases, like the women profiled above, have a network of support assisting the families – which is irreplaceable while going through the unthinkable.
Richard said: ‘I gained a lot of strength by being in touch with other families going through a similar thing.’
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