HCHR- In response to a tweet from Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and her claim that Athena was barred from contacting her family, the HCHR tweeted: “Special mandate holders must rely on credible sources. The HCHR investigated the news and the results are as following: She has met her family and lawyer 34 times during past 7 months. She has also no problem to phone her family in line with the relevant regulations.”
Mary Lawlor had tweeted: "I’m hearing disturbing reports that jailed WHRD Atena Daemi has not been allowed to phone her family for over 2 months. She shouldn’t be in prison in the first place-this is unnecessary cruelty and I call on Iranian authorities to arrange a phone call immediately.
The UN Rapporteur claims so, while all prisoners in Iran have the right to contact and visit their families and lawyers in accordance with the rules and regulations.