RFL/RE – Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Jeddah in the highest level talks since the countries reconciled after years of bitter rivalry that destabilized the region. The unscheduled meeting on August 18 comes a day after Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the kingdom and declared that ties between the countries were “on the …

Iranwire – Security forces in Iran have arrested 12 people in the provinces of Gilan and Kurdistan, according to the Tasnim news agency, as authorities continue a crackdown in the run-up to the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death next month. Tasnim, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on August 17 that those arrested are …

Iranwire – In recent days, a number of developments within the realm of Iranian cinema has captured the attention of its ardent audience. These developments had in common the civil disobedience exhibited by filmmakers against government-imposed constraints. One of the most notable cases is the ongoing legal battle over the film “Tafrigh,” which was banned from release by the Ministry …

Iranwire – With the first anniversary of the September 16 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini approaches, the Iranian government is intensifying its crackdown on university students and activists across the country. According to the Telegram channel Khabarnameh Amirkabir, 2,843 university students have been summoned to appear before university disciplinary committees in recent days. These summonses mainly aim at …

Iranwire – After being arrested, journalists, civil and political activists, as well as trade union members are often either fired from their jobs or banned from working in their fields of expertise. Some opt to leave their work.  Paravan Leather emerged amidst these prohibitions and constraints. Hasti Amiri and Noushin Jafari, two civil activists recently freed from custody, and Sepideh Qoliyan, …

Iranwire – In a message written in Tehran’s Evin prison, prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi says she has witnessed over the past few months a sharp increase in the number of women entering the detention facility with visible signs of physical abuse. The text, published on Mohammadi’s Instagram page on August 17, says that violence against women inmates is …

VOA – Martin Scorsese has backed a petition against the jailing of prominent Iranian movie director Saeed Roustaee for screening a film at the Cannes Film Festival. Scorsese, the Oscar-winning director of “Taxi Driver” and “Goodfellas,” reposted a campaign launched by his daughter Francesca this week after news of Roustaee’s prison sentence emerged. “Please sign this petition to bring justice …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Shouresh Moravati, a man on death row for moharebeh and murder charges, has been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution in Sanandaj Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution in Sanandaj Central Prison on 14 August. His identity has …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Hamed Jamshidi and an unidentified man were executed for drug-related charges in Bam Prison. According to HRANA news agency, two men were executed in Bam Prison on 13 August. One of the men’s identity has been reported as Hamed Jamshidi. The second man’s identity has not been reported. They were sentenced to death for drug-related …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Abdolghani Arbabi, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was secretly executed in Kahnuj Prison. According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Kahnuj Prison on 13 August. His identity has been reported as 48-year-old Abdolghani Arbabi from Saravan who was a father of one. An informed source told Hal Vash: …