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Dear Kathleen J. Murphy and Gerald E. Connolly,

I am writing to you seeking your support to back my project.  It is called “Honorary Citizen project” and its goal is to make a prisoners of conscience in Iran an Honorary Citizen of a major city.  Although we are aware this is a symbolic gesture, I assure you it will be a major boost to her moral and others prisoners knowing that there are other world nations who care about their situation.

I have selected Narges Mohammadi, a lifelong human rights defender, for this project.

Narges was originally arrested in 2009 for charges of threatening national security, propaganda against the state, and membership in the Center for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD). Her original sentence was 11 years, which was reduced to 6 years by the court of appeal. She began serving this prison term in April 2012 but was released three months later on medical grounds to receive treatment for a health condition that caused partial paralysis, which was exacerbate by her imprisonment. Re-arrested in May 2015, Iranian authorities sent Mohammadi back to Evin prison where she is currently denied proper medical treatment.

While in prison, she was denied the basic right of a mother to even talk to her kids.  Therefor knowing a risk to her health, she went on hunger strike with a simple demand, “let me talk to my kids!”

After many weeks on hunger strike, the Islamic Republic of Iran relented to her demands and she was allowed to talk to them.

Dear Kathleen J. Murphy and Gerald E. Connolly,

Although Narges is no longer on hunger strike, but she still remains in prison.  SHE DESERVES BETTER!

I truly hope you take this request to make her an honorary citizen of the great State of Virginia seriously as they need our support.

Mehdi Amini and the signatories below! >>>