Iran Must Re-Open an Independent and Impartial Investigation into Labor Activist’s Abuse Multiple Cases of Alleged Torture Must Be Thoroughly Investigated January 17, 2018—After a brief and deeply flawed investigation lacking any semblance of impartiality, the authorities in Iran have denied that labor activist
Sham Investigation of Labor Activist’s Alleged Torture Lacks Impartiality, Ignores Witnesses
Three Members of Iran’s Writers Association Charged With National Security Crimes for Opposing Censorship
Three senior members of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA) have been charged with national security crimes for peacefully protesting state censorship policies, according to a statement posted by the trade union on Facebook on January
Labor Activist Ali Nejati Denied Medical Treatment Against Doctor’s Orders
Petition Signed by 800 People Calls on Iran to Release Striking Haft Tappeh Workers Detained labor rights activist Ali Nejati is being denied medical treatment for heart disease and kidney and prostate problems in Shush Prison in the city of Andimeshk, Khuzestan Province, against the prison clinic
Just Released From Prison, Golrokh Iraee Ebrahimi Faces More Time Behind Bars
Newly released from prison, civil rights activist Golrokh Iraee Ebrahimi may have to serve more time behind bars depending on the outcome of another case against her, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned. Iraee,
Icon of Iran’s Hijab Protest Movement Vida Movahedi Released From Prison
Eight months after she was arrested for peacefully protesting Iran’s compulsory hijab law, Vida Movahedi was released from prison on May 26, 2019, her lawyer announced. “According to judicial authorities, the reduction of her punishment has been approved and she has been granted furlough,” attorney Payam
Cannes Film Festival, Iranian Filmmakers Condemn Sentence Against Colleague Mohammad Rasoulof
Iranian Heavy Metal Band Members Escape to Norway After Receiving Prison Sentences
Nikan Khosravi and Arash Ilkhani, members of the Iranian heavy metal band Confess, have left Iran to escape prosecution and prison for their art. “We took a risk and left the country so that we could continue our work,” Khosravi said in an interview with the Center
Iran Cracks Down on Instagram Celebrities as It Tightens Noose on Freedom of Speech and Expression
Investigations by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) indicate that dozens of Iranians with large followings on Instagram—including athletes, fashion models and actors—were summoned by security officials in 2019 and in some cases charged with crimes for the content of their posts. Although most were ultimately
Arrests, Prison Sentences Fail to Stem Growing Public Opposition to Iran’s Mandatory Hijab Law
At Least 12 People Sentenced to Prison Since January 2018 August 19, 2019 – Mounting arrests and prison sentences have not enabled Iran's government to achieve broad public compliance with the country's mandatory hijab law, or stem growing protests against it. At least 12 people have been issued prison
Four women arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Four women arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on August 17, 2019, for trying to enter Azadi Stadium in Tehran to watch a men’s soccer game were released on bail from Gharchak Prison, south of the capital, two days later. Forough Alaei,
Prisoners in Iran’s Gharchak Prison for Women Protest Inhumane Living Conditions
Prison Fails to Meet UN’s Minimum Standards for Treatment of Prisoners Two hundred inmates in Ward 5 of Gharchak Prison for women in the Iranian city of Varamin have sent an open letter to the head of the State Prisons Organization in Tehran Province protesting the prison’s inhumane living
Iranian Actress Matin Sotudeh Summoned to Court for Red Carpet Attire: “The Reaction Shocked Me”
Matin Sotudeh (middle) was dressed in a hijab and buttoned-up, long-sleeved tunic that was tucked into belted pants at
Iran Releases Seven Political Prisoners on Bail Without Explanation
Six Prisoners Posted Extraordinarily High Bail, Unclear Why Fellow Prisoners of Conscience Remain Jailed A Christian convert, four journalists and two activists were released from prisons in Iran on October 26, 2019, without any public announcement as to who ordered their long-sought release or why others who’d been
No Action Yet in Parliament on Bill to Ban Broadcast of Confessions During Investigations
Bill Does Not Ban Extraction of Confessions, They Can Still Be Used at Later Stages An Iranian parliamentary bill that aims to stop state-funded media outlets from airing forced “confessions” during the investigative phase appears at a standstill more than a month after it was introduced by Member
Rule Allowing Appeals Hearings without Defendants Present is Blatant Violation of Law
Judiciary Chief and Supreme Leader Hollow Out Appeal Process, Defendants’ Last Line of Defense The decision by Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s blessing, to prevent the presence of the defendant, plaintiff or their legal representatives at appeal hearings is a violation of
Widow of Detainee Who Died in Iranian Custody Recognizes Her Interrogator Posing as “Reporter” on State TV
IRIB Briefly Airs Pseudo-Documentary About Detained Conservationists Ahead of Verdict A man claiming to be a reporter in a pseudo-documentary about Iran’s detained conservationists that was aired by the state-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) organization on national television has been recognized as an interrogator by one
University Helped Build Sham Court Case against Young Student Activist, Source Reveals
Parisa Rafiei Loses Her Last Legal Challenge to Seven-Year Sentence for Peaceful Protest Parisa Rafiei, the young student activist who recently lost her last chance to have her seven-year prison sentence reviewed by Iran’s Supreme Court, was convicted based on reports that her own university submitted, a source with
“They Want to Create Fear” More Artists Summoned to Prison Amid Iran’s Rising COVID-19 Death Toll
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
Nasrin Sotoudeh Released on Temporary Leave from Prison
Human Rights Lawyer, Weakened from Lack of Proper Medical Care, Now Home in Tehran November 7, 2020—Imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was released on temporary furlough today from Gharchak Prison in the Iranian city of Varamin, south of Tehran, her husband Reza Khandan told the Center for
UN: Iran Must Quash Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Convictions and Ensure Her Permanent Release
Top Experts Say Her COVID-19 Diagnosis “Shows the real risks for those in detention in Iran” Top UN experts* released a statement today, welcoming the temporary release of human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh on November 7, 2020, who had been imprisoned since 2018 on manufactured charges,