Iran-HRM – Authorities have banned political prisoner Saeed Eghbali from visits because of an open letter he wrote about executions in Rajai Shahr Prison. Saeed Eghbali’s mother went to Rajai Shahr Prison to visit her son today but was not allowed to see him. According to an informed source, under the pressure of the Ministry of Intelligence, the political prisoner …

Iran-HRM – political and civil activists and journalists signed a statement calling for the release of Keyvan Samimi, freedom of speech and thought advocate, journalist, and political prisoner. In their statement, they said that the regime’s “inhumane treatment” of Keyvan Samimi was “attempting gradual murder.” The signatories of the statement, which was released on Tuesday, June 14, condemned the regime …

CHRI – In violation of its international obligations against torture, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s judicial system has authorized prison authorities to amputate the fingers of eight prisoners accused of theft. The prisoners are Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, Mehdi Shahivand, Yaghoub Fazeli, Amir Shirmard, Morteza Jalili, Ebrahim Rafiei, and one prisoner whose name has not been disclosed. In a message leaked from prison on …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Eight men were executed for murder charges in Rajai Shahr Prison today. At least 56 people have been executed in Iranian prisons in the last two weeks. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, eight men were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison. All men were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind). Two of the men have been identified …

Iran.hr – UN human rights experts* today expressed serious concerns about a violent crackdown against civil society in Iran, including members of workers’ unions and teachers arrested for protesting against their low salaries and poor working conditions, and urged those responsible for using excessive force to be held to account through comprehensive and independent investigations. “We are alarmed at the …

RFL/RE – Thousands of young women and girls in Iran continue to be subjected to “virginity tests” before marriage despite there being no medical basis for such examinations. Those who fail the tests can be forced to undergo hymen reconstruction or, in some cases, have been the subject of “honor killings.” https://www.rferl.org/a/young-iranian-women-still-being-forced-into-virginity-tests-ahead-of-marriage/31896130.html

RFL/RE – Pensioners and retired public employees have again taken to the streets in the southern city of Ahvaz amid growing discontent over living conditions in Iran and the government’s failure to address the problem.Videos released from the June 14 rally in front of the Ahvaz governor’s office showed demonstrators chanting against what they called the “lies” and “hypocrisy” of the Islamic …

Iranwire – One of the guerrilla hackers responsible for high-profile takedowns of municipal IT systems last year has reportedly been arrested in Iran. Fars News Agency, which is managed by the IRGC, reported on Tuesday that the unnamed “saboteur” had been “in contact with foreign services”. There were several high-profile hacks of Iranian state infrastructure over the past year. Digital …

Iranwire – The last decade has seen the assassinations of several Iranians involved in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile programs. Now, it seems, a series of less marked “suspicious deaths” are following them. Late on Sunday, June 12, and then the next day, Iranian state media reported that two men working in tthe aerospace industry had been killed in separate incidents. The circumstances of their …

VOA —Iran appeared to be readying for a space launch Tuesday as satellite images showed a rocket on a rural desert launch pad, just as tensions remain high over Tehran’s nuclear program. The images from Maxar Technologies showed a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s rural Semnan province, the site of frequent recent failed attempts to put a …