Human rights

Iranwire – Striking workers across Iran have called on the government to pay delayed wages and insurance benefits, and to provide immediate covid vaccinations, but officials have yet to respond to these demands despite widespread media coverage. The general strike of oil industry workers, ongoing industrial action by Haft-Tappeh factory employees, strikes elsewhere in Khuzestan province, and at least fourteen other actions, …

Iran-HRM – Political prisoner Amir Hossein Moradi is critically ill, said a fellow inmate who is on temporary leave until August 22. Hossein Qashqaii, a social media activist, who is serving two years in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary for his activities on social media, has been on temporary leave from prison. He has made revelations about prison conditions in the …

Iranwire – A grieving mother has been brutally attacked by security forces while paying tribute to her son, who was killed during the nationwide November 2019 protests. Nahid Shirpisheh, whose 28-year-old son Pouya Bakhtiari was killed on November 16, 2019, described on Instagram what happened. On Wednesday, August 18, she and a group of human rights activists, including other grieving mothers, were taking …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – 22-year-old Ali Chebishat was arrested on security charges more than a year ago and has been held in the custody of intelligence services in Ahvaz Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, 22-year-old Ahvaz native, Ali Chebishat was arrested on 26 July 2020 and has been held in the custody of intelligence …

Al-Monitor – Iran “is no Stalin-era Soviet Union,” read a statement issued by Iran’s National Union of Theater Directors, addressing Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, the proposed minister of culture in the new administration of hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi. The statement was part of growing outrage against an 80-page document released by the proposed minister outlining his vision for the future of Iranian art and culture. Esmaili, 46, particularly lashed out …

Shabtabnews – In a letter to the chairman and ranking member Risch, a number of US senators requested an establishment of a Senate Human Rights Commission, by stating that: ” The adoption of this resolution would establish a nonpartisan platform for Senators to take action on matters regarding international human rights. “ For full text of letter see below: Establishing-the-Senate-Human-Rights-Commission-August-2021Download

RFL/RE – Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging Iranian authorities to redouble efforts to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying their prohibition on the import of U.S. and U.K.-produced vaccines, a lack of transparency, and mismanagement are exacerbating the already dire impact of the coronavirus in the country.With the number of deaths and hospitalizations on the rise and a …

Iranwire – At the opening of the criminal trial of Hamid Nouri in Sweden last week, the names of several Iranian journalists who were killed in Iran’s 1988 prison massacre were read out to the court. Prosecutors based this on a document provided to Stockholm District Court by global organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). On the second day of the trial, Reza Moeini, the …

Iranwire – Iran’s new Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has urged Iranians currently living abroad to come back home, even suggesting that they will return to a warm welcome if they do. This echoed comments made by Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s new president, during his own time as chief justice. Raisi had spoken of “laying the groundwork” for the repatriation of Iranians. Try telling that to Kianoosh …

iranwire – By the time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei announced his approval for Iran to import British and American coronavirus vaccines, it was too late for thousands of families. For those whose loved ones died waiting for a vaccine — people held prisoners to the stubborn arrogance of Khamenei’s misguided policies —  it was a bitter moment. The Supreme Leader made his …