Amnesty – Responding to reports that Iranian prison guards in riot gear beat prisoners and used tear gas, firearms and pepper spray during raids inside the women-only Shahr e-Rey prison (commonly known as Gharchak) in Varamin outside Tehran that began last night, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Philip Luther, said:  

HRANA – The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on February 8th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

CHRI – Imprisoned dual national scientist Ahmadreza Djalali was prevented from leaving Evin Prison in Tehran for a scheduled medical appointment with a cancer specialist because he refused to wear a prison uniform. 

CHRI – The mother of Saeed Malekpour, a Canadian resident imprisoned in Iran since 2008, sent a letter to Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi on February 1, 2019, requesting that Malekpour be included in a mass pardon of prisoners that may happen in March.

CHRI – Widow Remains Barred From Leaving Country Despite Expired Travel Ban

Radiofarda – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ (IRGC) top commanders disclosed information about an “underground ballistic missile factory,” in Iran the state owned news agency ISNA reported.

Radiofarda – Iranian government’s official news agency IRNA reports that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will soon travel to Beirut and meet with officials of the newly formed Lebanese government.

Radiofarda – Senior U.S. officials are increasingly pointing out Iran’s and Hezbollah’s role in Latin America and Venezuela as a threat to the hemisphere and the United States.

Radiofarda – Iran’s intelligence minister Mahmoud Alavi said on Thursday that at the onset of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 revolution several “sabotage plots” were discovered and “neutralized”.

Radiofarda – In a series called “Forty Years, Forty Interviews,” Radio Farda’s Farhang Ghavimi is sitting down with 40 prominent Iranians who played a role in events leading up to the Islamic Revolution 40 years ago. In a recent episode, he spoke with the first President of the Islamic Republic, Abolhassan Banisadr (February 5, 1980 – June 20, 1981). Once …