Human rights

VOA – In early January, labor activist Esmail Bakhshi posted a letter on Instagram saying he had been tortured in jail, attracting support from tens of thousands of Iranians online.

Radiofarda – The U.S. State Department has condemned the continued house arrests of former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard, and former Majles Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, the leaders of Iran’s reformist Green Movement.

Iran-HRM – Jailed human rights defender Arash Sadeghi, has had worsening health problems due to an infection on his shoulder that has been left untreated in Raja’i Shahr Prison.

CHRI – Prisoners Launched Protest After Being Falsely Led to Believe They Would be Released

Iran-HRM – At least three prisoners were executed on Wednesday, February 13, in Raja’i Shahr and Ardebil Prisons. 

VOA – Iranian teachers have staged peaceful rallies in at least six cities to protest what they see as government suppression of their rights and to call for better working conditions in their poorly paid profession.

CHRI – Aynehvand Denied Legal Counsel by Hardline Judge Mohammad Moghiseh Judicial officials in Evin Prison in Tehran are illegally preventing the release of political journalist Hamed Aynehvand by falsely claiming he has insufficient funds to post bail. 

CHRI – Esmail Bakhshi and Sepideh Qoliyan Pressured to Retract Torture Allegations A union representing workers of the Haft Tappeh sugar mill in the Iranian city of Shush, Khuzestan Province, has called on individuals and international organizations to demand the release of union representative Esmail Bakshi and freelance reporter Sepideh Qoliyan from the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in Ahvaz. 

CHRI – Ten political activists and environmentalists arrested in Iran’s Kurdistan Province between December 31, 2018, and January 6, 2019, are being held at the Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in the city of Sanandaj while being denied access to legal counsel and contact with family members.

Al-Monitor – Iranian women’s relationship with sports events could hardly be more complicated. They are allowed to watch female competitions — but barred from most men’s events (women have occasionally been granted permission to watch men’s volleyball and basketball).