Rights group stands up for jailed lawyer

Codir called on Tehran to review visiting times allocated to Ms Sotoudeh's family.

Authorities at the notorious Evin prison in the Iranian capital have changed visiting times for Ms Sotoudeh's husband and two children from Sundays to Wednesdays.

And, in an apparently co-ordinated action, her son's nursery has recently scheduled activities for Wednesdays with the school saying his attendance will be mandatory.

Ms Sotoudeh has announced that if she is unable to see her child she will go on hunger strike.

She was arrested following the disputed 2009 presidential elections on charges of acting against national security, anti-regime propaganda and belonging to the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights.

Codir assistant general secretary Jamshid Ahmadi warned that "this change of visiting day is another attempt to break the spirit of this courageous human rights defender.

"Ms Sotoudeh has served much of her prison term in solitary confinement.

"She is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately."

Ms Sotoudeh was also active in the Campaign for Equality, which aims to remove anti-women articles from the constitution.

Several campaign members have served prison terms as a result of their activities.

Codir called on human rights groups and trades unions to protest against these arbitrary actions.