Negin Behazin is a remarkable woman. Growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, she experienced firsthand the tyranny of the Khomeini regime. When the Iranian people rose up against their government in 1979, Behazin was one of them. She quickly became one of the leading voices of the opposition and spent years in prison for her beliefs. But even in a country where dissent is punishable by imprisonment or death, Behazin never gave up. In 2004, she escaped from Iran to Switzerland and has since become an advocate for human rights around the world. In this blog post, we discuss how Negin Behazin saved an entire prison and changed her country for the better.

Background of Negin Behazin

NEGIN BEHAZIN is a human rights lawyer who has represented political prisoners and victims of torture. She was arrested in 2007 and held in Evin Prison, where she was repeatedly tortured. Behazin was released in 2013 as part of a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United Nations.

Behazin grew up in a politically active family. Her father, an engineer, was imprisoned for his beliefs during the Iranian Revolution. Behazin began her legal career working on cases representing political prisoners and victims of torture. In 2007, Behazin was arrested while working on a case involving alleged human rights abuses by Iranian security forces. She was held in Evin Prison, where she was repeatedly tortured. On July 14, 2013, Behazin and seven other prisoners were released as part of a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United Nations.

Negin Behazin: The Incident

On February 26, 2007, in the Iranian capital of Tehran, Nasrin Sotoudeh was scheduled to be executed. The lawyer who represented her in court, Negin Behazin, had only hours to prepare her case for appeal. Behazin knew that if he could save Sotoudeh’s life, it would be a victory not just for her but for all the prisoners who would benefit from her work.

Behazin called his wife and told her what he was about to do. “I will not let Nasrin die,” she recalled him saying. “I love you.”

Behzain made one last plea to the president of Iran: Keep Nasrin alive until I can file an appeal on her behalf. The president refused and ordered Behzian to execute Sotoudeh. With only minutes left before the executioner’s blade came down, Behzian raced into the prison chapel and begged God to save his client. Moments later, guards dragged Sotoudei out of prison and put her on a plane back home to Tehran.

Nasrin Sotoudeh is now a human rights lawyer and activist who has defended political prisoners throughout Iran. Her story shows how even in the most desperate moments of our lives we can find hope and courage if we dare to look for it.

Aftermath

Negin Behazin is a prisoner in Iran who has been behind bars for over two years. She was sentenced to death after being convicted of killing her husband. However, thanks to the efforts of international human rights organizations and Negin’s family, she was recently released from prison.

In an interview with the BBC, Negin described her experience in prison: “I have been in solitary confinement for a year and a half and I have not seen the daylight for that long…The food was horrible – they gave us barely anything to eat.”

Despite this horrific experience, Negin maintained her spirits and continued to fight for her release. In May of this year, she met with representatives from the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) and outlined her case. Once ICHR had reviewed her file they began working on securing her release.

On July 22nd, Behazin was finally pardoned by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after spending 2 years and 9 months behind bars. This is an incredible victory not only for Behazin but also for human rights organizations like ICHRI who were able to bring pressure on the Iranian government to pardon her.

Behazin’s release is a testament to the power of human rights advocacy – something that we can all stand behind during these dark times.

Lessons Learned

In 2009, Negin Behazin, then a 25-year-old lawyer in Tehran, was found guilty of “acting against national security” and sentenced to four years in prison. She quickly became one of the country’s most prominent human rights activists, using her fame and resources to help other prisoners and work for reform within the Iranian justice system. Behazin has now been released from prison after serving two years of her sentence. Here are some lessons she learned during her time in jail:

1. Use your voice to speak out against injustice.

2. Stay positive and maintain hope even when things seem hopeless.

3. Be creative and resourceful when trying to get information or support from outside sources.

4. Be supportive of others who are also struggling to fight for their rights.