Gol Nush Golshani
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
When nationwide protests broke out in Iran in 2022, Nassim's life changed. Until then, she had been working as a hairdresser. She loved rap music and makeup. But when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody, Nassim and her friends decided to take to the streets in protest against the compulsory hijab. Like thousands of other women, she was arrested.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
Nassim was taken to the notorious Evin prison, where around 70 women are currently held as political prisoners. The BBC has obtained rare accounts of their daily life. Their words are spoken by actresses.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
For four months, Nassim was kept in solitary confinement in a tiny windowless cell. She had no access to a lawyer, family or friends.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
Eventually, she was moved to an overcrowded wing with up to 20 women in one cell. Iranian authorities crushed the demonstrations, arresting tens of thousands of people and executing at least ten. But they couldn't break the spirit of the women in Evin Prison. They've kept their protests alive.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
Every Tuesday, they hold demonstrations against the executions, chanting in prison yard, refusing to move all night and staging hunger strikes. One of the inmates organizing the protests is Nagas Mohammadi, a human rights activist and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The campaign has spread through jails across Iran, gaining international support.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
Vida was arrested for her work as a journalist. In prison, she keeps herself busy painting on anything she can, from walls to bedsheets.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
She also does portraits of the women here. One, which was smuggled out of Evin, is of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. She's been sentenced to death, and there is great concern this may be carried out soon. Other women in prison are also facing execution. Vida says they often joke about it, trying to fight the dread with dark humor.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
More than 800 people were executed for various crimes in Iran last year, the highest number in eight years, according to Amnesty International. The harsh living conditions in prison and the difficulty accessing health care are having a lasting impact on many of the inmates. But the Iranian government denies allegations of human rights violations.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
It claims conditions inside Evin Prison meet all necessary standards and that prisoners are not mistreated. Vida went on hunger strike demanding medical treatment for Narges, who suffers from life-threatening heart and lung conditions. Earlier this month, Nagas was granted temporary release on medical grounds.
Global News Podcast
Hundreds, possibly thousands, feared dead in Mayotte cyclone
As she's taken out of the ambulance on a stretcher, with her curly black hair uncovered and her fist raised in the air, she yells, freedom is our right.