Human rights

Radiofarda – In a letter written from Tehran’s Evin prison, four inmates have lambasted the Islamic Republic’s establishment for persecuting independent journalists, political and civil rights activists accusing them of security-related crimes and issuing harsh verdicts. The four prisoners, all young women, have criticized their condition in custody and referred to the long sentences issued against them. Two of the …

Radiofarda – FIFA President Gianni Infantino says soccer’s world governing body “cannot wait any more” and has been “assured” by Tehran that the authorities will allow women spectators into the arena when Iran hosts its next international match. Infantino’s September 22 comments follow a FIFA delegation visit to Iran over the conservative Shi’ite leadership’s longtime ban on women at major …

Iran-HRM – Two Iranian Baha’i women, Kimia Mostafavi and Kiana Rezvani, were sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison. According to the verdict issued by the Revelutionary court of Kerman, the Baha’i women were each sentenced to five years in prison for “membership in Baha’i community” and one year in prison for “spreading ropaganda against the state in …

Iran-HRM – The new academic year in Iran begins with 15 million students going to school while the education and university communities are fed up with the drastic state of economy and society. With the regime’s failure to provide free and mandatory education in Iran while more than 80% of the nation is living under the poverty line, there is …

Iran-HRM – Dozens of Iranian Baha’i students have been banned from higher education due to their faith. The names of 22 Baha’i students banned from higher education have been so far announced. These Iranian Baha’i students have passed the university admission test, some with distinguished grades, but they cannot register in Iranian universities to study in majors of their choice. This …

CHRI – On September 14, 2019, the BBC aired an audio file containing the voice of labor activist Sepideh Qoliyan saying that she was pressured to make a false confession by agents while held in Gharchak Prison in Varamin, south of Tehran, where she is currently awaiting the outcome of her appeal. “You are hearing my voice from among 1,500 innocent women [in the prison],” Qoliyan said. “Last …

Reuters- One-quarter of U.N. member states have carried out suspected reprisals against activists who cooperate with the world body on human rights issues, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday. Assistant SG for HHRR Andrew Gilmour addresses the SC.Andrew Gilmour, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (file). UN Photo/Manuel Elias China, Egypt, Iran, and Vietnam were among states named in …

Radiofarda – After years of delays, the Islamic Republic Judiciary has finalized a weaker bill for the “Protection of Women Against Violence” and returned it to President Hassan Rouhani’s administration. But the bill appears to be much weaker than the first draft proposed by the government. For one thing, the country’s judiciary has discarded the articles defining “violence” and its …

RFL/RE – FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he is hopeful that Iran will address the “unacceptable situation” of banning women from entering soccer stadiums as a World Cup qualifying match nears.The head of the world soccer’s governing body said in a statement on September 19 that he had contacted Iranian soccer officials several times recently over the issue and a …

Radiozamaneh – FIFA has responded to calls asking the world football governing body to look into the Iranian women’s fight to gain access to stadiums after the tragic death of an Iranian female football fan – Sahar Khodayari. A female soccer fan in Iran. Iranians have been writing to FIFA following the death of Sahar Khodayari – known in the …