Human rights

Despite a deadly coronavirus epidemic, Iranian security forces and Judiciary continue the persecution of political dissidents, activists and critics as well as the ill-treatment of prisoners with great zeal. A glance at social media platforms and even the highly censored Iranian media leaves no doubt that criticism of the establishment for its mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis, even from non-political …

Iran-HRM – Civil activist and political prisoner Arash Sadeghi sent an open letter from Rajaei Shahr Prison of Karaj in which he blamed the regime’s officials for foot dragging to quarantine the city of Qom and to contain the coronavirus. Noting remarks by officials and their wrong decisions to continue the flights to China, hold the parliamentary elections and celebrate …

Iran-HRM – Various national and local officials in Iran have spoken of sweeping arrests across the country of people charged with “spreading rumors” and “disrupting the public opinion” by disseminating the truth about the Coronavirus outbreak in the country. The head of the Justice Department of Qom on Monday gave news of the arrest of a nurse who had attempted …

Amnesty – The UN Human Rights Council adopted the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review on the Islamic Republic of Iran on 12 March 2020 during its 43rd session. This is Amnesty International’s statement on the outcome prior to the adoption of the report of the review. View report in English DOWNLOAD PDF

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Two death-row prisoners were hanged on February 26 at Karaj city’s Rajai-Shahr prison, near Tehran.  According to Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources, death-row prisoners Mohammmadreza Rafati (65) and Mohammad Tayyebi were executed at Karaj city’s Rajai-Shahr prison on February 26, 2020. “Mohammadreza Rafati was arrested 22 years ago for murder charges and spent 20 years …

CHRI – In addition to renowned filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, three members of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA)—Baktash Abtin, Reza Khandan Mahabadi and Keyvan Bajan—have been summoned to prison as other inmates are being reportedly released to prevent more COVID-19 outbreaks, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned. “I’m sure it upsets them very much that I made a new film …

Shabtabnews – On March 11th, IOPHR wrote and open letter to Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, (Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy & Vice-President of the European Commission), regarding the Iranian Government’s struggles dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran. In the letter IOPHR warns the EU that the Iranian ruling government does not seem to pay …

Radiofarda – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has included Iran’s Cyberspace Supreme Council among the twenty worst digital predators in 2020 in a list published to mark this year’s World Day Against Cyber-Censorship, celebrated on 12 March. RSF asserts that the Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council uses digital technology to “spy on and harass” journalists and thereby “jeopardize people’s ability to get …

Iran-HRM – Political prisoner Soheil Arabi who is presently detained in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary wrote a letter from prison, pointing to the threats of coronavirus and drugs posed to those arrested during the November 2019 protests in Iran and presently detained in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary. Full text of his letter follows: I want to be the voice of my fellow …

RFL/RE – The United States has singled out Iran, China, Venezuela, and Cuba for their gross abuses in its yearly report on human rights practices that covers 199 countries and territories. Iran was chastised for its November crackdown on protesters following a government decision to raise fuel prices, according to the report, which covers global rights developments during 2019. Security …