A/HRC/28/26 E. Situation of human rights defenders and activists 40. The Secretary-General remains concerned at the shrinking space for human rights defenders, who continue to risk harassment, intimidation, arrest and prosecution for defending rights and speaking up against violations and abuse. In certain cases, the authorities have invoked national security-related charges against individuals for merely expressing their opinion and for participating in peaceful assemblies. Lawyers and human rights defenders associated with the Centre for Human Rights Defenders (founded by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi), the Committee for the Defence of Political Prisoners in Iran, the Committee of Human Rights Reporters and individual lawyers representing clients in sensitive cases have in particular been attacked. This not only endangers their physical integrity but also undermines their work as human rights defenders and instils fear in society. 41. On 8 August 2014, a group of special procedures mandate holders publicly expressed their dismay at the escalating trend of arrest and sentencing of individuals exercising their rights to freedoms of expression and opinion, peaceful assembly and association.27 They noted the arrest and sentencing of at least 36 individuals, many of whom human rights activists, between 22 May and 8 August, in connection with their activities or for expressing their opinion on social media websites. Some had also been charged for “gathering and colluding against national security” following their participation in peaceful assemblies, then sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to more than 20 years. One individual was sentenced to 50 lashes, and another to death. Many of the trials had been marred by procedural irregularities, including deprivation of legal representation and exclusion from attending one’s own sentencing. 42. On 18 October 2014, the Iranian Bar Association, allegedly under pressure from the Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran, the Head of the Evin prison court and the Ministry of Intelligence, reportedly imposed a three-year professional ban on Nasrin Sotoudeh, an internationally recognized human rights activist and recipient of the European Parliament’s 2012 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, after revoking her lawyer license. Ms. Sotoudeh, who had been released on 18 September 2013 after having served half of a sixyear sentence imposed on charges of acting against national security, not wearing a hijab during a videotaped message, propaganda against the system and membership of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders, was not allowed to present a defence during the hearing at which the sanctions were decided, in contravention of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular principles 27 to 29 thereof The decision came despite the fact that, in September 2014, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal had reportedly revoked a 10-year professional ban previously imposed on her. On 25 October, Ms. Sotoudeh was reportedly briefly arrested by security forces after returning from a protest against the acid attacks on women. On 8 November, Nargis Mohammadi, also a prominent human rights activist, was reportedly summoned to Evin prison court for interrogation, which lasted for six hours. She is currently at liberty but risks arrest. 43. The ongoing harassment of and professional ban on human rights activists and lawyers, who are instrumental in representing their clients and safeguarding the rule of law, is a setback for the country as a whole. 27 12 OHCHR, “Iran: UN rights experts condemn the recent wave of arrest and sentencing of civil society actors”, 8 August 2014.