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Iranwire – A Norway-based human rights group says at least 218 rights defenders have been arrested and harassed in Iran since the eruption of nationwide protests more than three months ago.
In a report published on December 22, the Iran Human Rights organization says the Islamic Republic’s “systematic” repression of rights activists has dramatically increased in recent years.
It adds that the clampdown has been “unprecedented” since the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police triggered the ongoing wave of protests.
The Iranian authorities have cracked down hard on the demonstrations, which pose one of the most serious challenges to the theocracy installed by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
At least 469 people have been killed by security forces, including 63 children, according to Iran Human Rights.
More than 18,000 others have been detained. Dozens have been handed capital punishment or are facing charges that carry a death sentence. Iran carried out the first two executions earlier this month, triggering international condemnation.
Iran Human Rights’ report documents the cases of 218 activists, including lawyers, journalists, teachers, artists, civil activists and defenders of women’s rights, who have been arrested and harassed since the middle of September.
Lawyers have been particularly targeted with at least 46 of them being subjected to arrest or legal action.
“International pressure and raising the political cost of the repression is the only way to reduce the pressure on them,” the group says, calling on well-known figures across the world to “be their voice in interviews and public appearances.”
