CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation has published a statement calling attention to the human rights crisis in Iran and, in particular, urging for authorities to drop the charges against Mourning Mothers supporter Mansoureh Behkish, who was recently sentenced to four and a half years in prison. CIVICUS is an organization dedicated to empowering various forms of civil society worldwide.

“The sentencing of Mansoureh Behkish is motivated solely by her legitimate activities as a human rights defender, and is in clear violation of Iran’s international law commitments,” says David Kode, Policy and Advocacy Officer at CIVICUS, in the statement.