Opinion: Trump calls himself a "poltical prisoner." That's an insult to these real heroes. [View all]

By Sen. Ben Cardin, Democrat representing Maryland

Regardless of your political affiliation, we should all agree that Trump’s attempt to rebrand himself insults the sacrifices of the many actual prisoners still suffering around the world.

Over the summer, minutes after Donald Trump became the first former president in American history to be convicted of felony crimes, his campaign began fundraising. Emails flooded supporters’ inboxes with the words “I’M A POLITICAL PRISONER” and Trump’s picture. “Your support is the only thing standing between us and total tyranny,” the appeals declared.

Throughout my career, and especially as chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I’ve encountered numerous political prisoners and their families. I’ve embraced the spouses and partners of individuals imprisoned for speaking truth to power. I’ve stood beside the loved ones of journalists and opposition leaders, demanding their immediate release. I’ve mourned the deaths of these courageous individuals, whose lives were cut short by authoritarians who saw their dissent as a direct challenge to their rule.

Let me be clear: Donald Trump is no political prisoner. However, Narges Mohammadi is.

Since 1998, Mohammadi — an Iranian human rights lawyer and activist — has faced relentless persecution at the hands of a misogynist Islamic Republic of Iran for her unwavering commitment to Iranians’ human rights. Her activism has led to repeated incarcerations, with her most recent sentences totaling almost 14 years in Tehran's Evin prison, accompanied by more than 150 lashes. Last month, it was reported that she has once again been sentenced to additional prison time, the latest in a string of sentence extensions, and the Iranian regime continues to deny her critical medical care despite her deteriorating health.
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I would prefer he be a martyr rather than a political prisoner. Oh, well, one can dream.