Human rights

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Hajar Atabaki, a woman on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in silence in Qazvin Central Prison in January. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was executed in Qazvin Central Prison on 20 January. Her identity has been established as 41-year-old Hajar Atabaki from Tabriz. Informed sources told IHRNGO that …

RFL/RE – Iran’s judiciary has handed down lengthy sentences to several members of the Baha’i community, the country’s largest non-Muslim group, the latest in a series of acts by the government against the faith’s followers. Keyvan Rahimian, a psychologist and Baha’i follower, was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, according to …

Iranwire –Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of the southeastern Iranian city of Rask and a vocal critic of the Islamic Republic, has been in custody since August 20 last year.   Reports from Baluch human rights media emerged last week suggesting that the 66-year-old cleric may have died due to torture.  Amid mounting concerns in Sistan and …

Iranwire – Ninety Iranians incarcerated in Zanjan Central Prison await execution on charges including drug trafficking, murder, armed robbery and rape, human rights groups have warned.  The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said that the vast majority of them were sentenced to death for drug-related offenses. Four were convicted of rape. In recent weeks, the sharp rise in executions in …

Iranwire – A Baha’i woman residing in the United Arab Emirates has been detained by intelligence agents in the Iranian city of Shiraz while visiting her ailing parents. Roya Sabet’s current whereabouts and status remain unknown. An informed source told IranWire that Sabet traveled to Iran on January 4 to care for her elderly parents who are both suffering from …

Iranwire – Following the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, several publishers have taken a stand against censorship imposed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.  Maryam Kian Afraz, a director at Kian Afraz Publishing, voiced her discontent on Instagram, criticizing members of the country’s publishing guild for remaining silent in the face of the suffering of oppressed people. Publishers …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Abuzar Taher Arab, an Iraqi national on death row for murder, was executed in Qom Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, an Iraqi national was executed in Qom Central Prison on 12 February. His identity has been established as 38-year-old Abuzar Taher Arab from Mosul. He was arrested for the murder …

Iranwire – Iranian embassies in Europe refuse to renew passports held by critics and opponents of the Islamic Republic living abroad, IranWire has learned.  IranWire has received reports indicating that in recent years, a number of Iranians residing in European countries with study or work visas, or with other residential statuses, have been denied new passports upon expiration of their …

Iranwire – Sepideh Rashno, an Iranian writer, poet and vocal critic of compulsory hijab, says she will go to prison to serve a three-year-and-11-month term handed to her for “publishing obscene images” on social media.   Rashno said on her Instagram account that she was also barred from traveling. “A travel ban for someone who doesn’t intend to leave,” Rashno wrote. …

Iranwire – Keyvan Rahimian, a member of Iran’s Baha’i religious minority, has been sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.  The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Rahimian to five years’ imprisonment, six years of social rights deprivation and a 50-million-toman ($920) fine for engaging in “deviant educational or propaganda activities contrary to Islamic Sharia.” He was also handed a …