Denied Due Process, Detained Telegram Channel Admins Go on Hunger Strike
Telegram channel admin Nima Keshvari was detained in mid-March 2017 by the IRGC's Intelligence Organization. Six administrators of channels on the ...
Citizenship Rights Charter
Ailing Political Activist Detained Without Charge Subjected to Three-Month Solitary Confinement and Renewed Interrogations
Hengameh Shahidi’s Family Under Media Ban More than three months after her arrest and detainment, ailing political activist Hengameh Shahidi has not been charged and is in poor ...
Iran’s Judiciary Prevents Top Labor Activists From Attending International Conference
A travel ban imposed by the Iranian judiciary has prevented prominent labor rights activists Reza Shahabi and Davoud Razavi from attending an ...
Human Rights Lawyer: Iran’s Response to Terrorist Attacks Could Lead to Major Rights Abuses
The arrests by Iranian security forces of dozens of suspects with alleged links to the terrorist group that calls itself the Islamic State (IS) could result in extrajudicial retaliatory ...
Parliamentary Committee Blocks Security Agencies’ Attempts to Significantly Delay Death Penalty Amendment
A Parliamentary committee in Iran has blocked an attempt by security agencies to delay for a year a parliamentary vote on an amendment that could drastically reduce death penalty sentences ...
In Slight to Rouhani, Supreme Leader Forbids Adoption of UNESCO 2030 Educational Guidelines
Iran’s supreme leader has forbidden the government of President Hassan Rouhani from implementing any part of UNESCO’s non-binding educational guidelines from the 2030 ...
Some Female Sports Fans Allowed to Watch Men’s Volleyball Match in Tehran, But Ban Persists
After being denied entry into Iran’s sports stadiums since 2012, hundreds of women were allowed inside Tehran’s 12,000-seat Azadi Arena on June 9, 2017 to watch a FIVB ...
Human Rights Activist Told He Must Serve Additional Year in Prison on Day of Expected Release
While his family waited for him outside Rajaee Shahr Prison the day he was supposed to be released, on June 6, 2017, Navid Khanjani was told he would ...
MPs Criticize Friday Prayer Leader for Calling Female Rouhani Supporters “Prostitutes”
The Friday prayer leader of the city of Saveh in central Iran is facing backlash from reformist members of Parliament after he called female supporters of President Hassan Rouhani “prostitutes.” The MPs have demanded an ...
Rouhani Government “Closed Seven Million” Websites in First Term
A cabinet minister appointed by centrist President Hassan Rouhani has admitted that the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology filtered “seven million” websites during Rouhani’s first term (2013-17) ...
Another Student Expelled From University in Iran For Baha’i Faith
Farzad Safaei was one semester away from a bachelor’s degree in industrial metallurgy at the Islamic Azad University when he was expelled on May 20, 2017 by the security office for being a member of the Baha’i faith ...
Political Activist Detained Without Charge Subjected to “Illegal” Interrogations in Evin Prison
Ailing political activist Hengameh Shahidi, who has been on hunger strike in Evin Prison since March 16, 2017 to protest her detention without charge, is being subjected to renewed interrogations by security agents ...
Musical Concerts Face Uncertain Future in Iran Despite Rouhani’s Vocal Support
Officially sanctioned musical concerts in Iran continue to be canceled following pressure by religious conservatives, while musicians and performers are subjected to threats and other forms of intimidation ...
Arresting People for Eating in Their Cars During the Ramadan Fasting Month in Iran is Illegal
Iranian police are not legally allowed to arrest anyone eating or drinking in their car during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan without a warrant, a legal expert told CHRI ...
Top Reformist Campaign Staff Member Arrested in Front of Children Without Warrant
Reza Golestani, a senior staff member at the reformists’ election headquarters in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran, was arrested at his home in the capital city of Mashhad, the Center for Human Rights in ...
Artists, Activists Send Letter to Rouhani Demanding Release of Imprisoned Music Producers
A group of artists and supporters of the artistic community in Iran have called on newly re-elected President Hassan Rouhani to free two imprisoned music producers ...
Rouhani: Delivering Human Rights After the Election
Hassan Rouhani was re-elected as president of Iran in May 2017 largely on the basis of his support for human rights and Iranians’ perceptions that he would do more to improve civil and political rights in the country than his rivals. He should now deliver on his pledges. ...
Newly Reelected Rouhani Abandons Promise to End Six-Year House Arrest of Opposition Leaders
In the first press conference of his second presidential term, Rouhani refused to commit to ending the extrajudicial house arrests of three opposition leaders—a pledge he made four years ago ...
Rouhani’s Battle With Hardliners Over UN 2030 Educational Guidelines Follows Him Into Second Term
A major challenge for newly reelected President Hassan Rouhani is integrating guidelines from a UN agenda into the country’s educational system amid fierce opposition from hardliners ...
Iran Election Update | May 19, 2017 (Live Updates)
Find out the latest news about Iran’s May 2017 elections by following CHRI’s live updates ...
Presidential Vote Count To be Announced Gradually in May 2017 Elections
Assistant Interior Minister Mohammad Hossein Moghimi The authority in charge of counting ballots in Iran’s presidential election has backed down from its ...
Most Yarsani Religious Minority Candidates Disqualified From Iran’s 2017 Councils Elections
The majority of Yarsani candidates seeking seats in Iran’s May 2017 elections for local councils have been disqualified, the faith’s spokesman, Siavash Hayati, ...
Judiciary Announces Arrests of Election Campaign Staff One Week After Rouhani’s Criticism
A week after incumbent President Hassan Rouhani criticized Iran’s hardline judiciary, its spokesman has announced that dozens of government officials will face possible prosecution for unspecified election campaign violations. ...
29 EU Parliamentarians Say Iran Must End Crackdown Ahead of Elections
Letter to Mogherini Condemns Numerous Arrests and Summons May 15, 2017—This week 29 members of the European Parliament wrote a public letter to Federica Mogherini, the high representative ...