Cartoon 137: “Remember the Spent Candle! Remember!”
“Tell our friends for us, remember the spent candle! Remember!" Iranian cartoonist Touka Neyestani's take on Zahra Rahnavard's message to her family, after five years ...
Free Expression
Iran Elections: The Ten Commandments
Political satire by Ebrahim Nabavi “My opponents should definitely vote in the elections, but there’s no need for them to become candidates,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of the Islamic Republic’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Following are ...
Iranian Couples Increasingly Living Together Outside of Marriage
First they called it “white marriage,” now it’s “black coupling.” But no matter how Iranian officials choose to denigrate the upward trend of young unmarried couples living together, it’s bound to grow. That’s because the ...
Arrest of Iranian-British Dual National in Tehran May Be Hardliners’ Ploy to Foil Iran-UK Relations
Updated on January 26, 2017: Bahman Daroshafaei’s one-year prison sentence for “propaganda against the state” has been reduced to a five million toman ($1,545 USD) fine and his passport has been returned to him upon appeal, he ...
Former BBC Reporter, Iranian-British Citizen, Arrested in Iran, Prior to Zarif’s Visit to London
Bahman Daroshafaei, a former journalist and translator, was arrested on February 3, 2016 at his home in Tehran under a warrant issued by Branch 2 of the Evin Prison Courts (Shahid Moqaddas), according to ...
Iranian Officials Condemn Radical Mob’s Attack On Top Actress
An attack last week on one of Iran’s most famous actresses by hardline vigilantes has been condemned by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Rouhani administration’s top official in charge of women’s ...
Two Dozen Iranian Baha’is Sentenced to Six to Eleven Years for Practicing Their Faith
Courtesy of BBC Persian Twenty-four Baha’is from northeastern Iran have been handed down sentences that range from six to eleven years “simply for being Baha’is,” according ...
Dispute between Judicial Officials on the Release of Kurdish Human Rights Activist Keeps Him in Prison
The prominent Kurdish human rights activist, Mohammad Sediq Kaboudvand, has been recommended for conditional release by the chief warden of the notorious Evin Prison, but the prosecutor in his case ...
Two Reformist Journalists Charged, after Three Months in Detention
Three months after their arrests, journalists Issa Saharkhiz and Ehsan Mazandarani have been formally charged with “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the ...
Call for Prime Minister Trudeau to Secure Release of Imprisoned Iranian-Canadian
February 1, 2016— Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should extend all efforts to obtain the release of Saeed Malekpour, a Canadian resident and web develop imprisoned in Iran since 2008 on false charges, three prominent human rights ...
Student of Imprisoned Iranian Spiritual Leader Facing Trial for Supporting Him
The student of a spiritual leader in Iran who has been imprisoned for his alternative beliefs, has been summoned to court for attending a gathering in support of his freedom. The trial of Sara Saei, a student ...
Rouhani’s Post-Deal Test Starts in Paris
This op-ed was originally published in French. By Hadi Ghaemi This week, President Hassan Rouhani will visit Europe, including France, his first trip since the implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal. The two governments will focus on boosting economic ...
Family of Imprisoned Iranian Producer: Canada Must Do More
The family of prisoner of conscience Mostafa Azizi is calling on Canada to exert more pressure on Iran to release him following the prisoner swap that led to the freedom of four Iranian-Americans held ...
Cartoon 136: Iran: Elections Without People’s Representatives
Iranian cartoonist Touka Neyestani's look at the widespread arbitrary disqualifications of female and reformist candidates by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Council of Guardians....
Iranian Artists Call for Immediate Release of Music Distributors
A coalition of Iranian artists have called for the immediate release of three music producers sentenced to six years in prison for promoting underground music in Iran. “This kind of sentencing by the Judiciary is more believable ...
Internet Freedom in Iran Will Benefit From Sanctions Relief
Increased foreign investment and access to foreign companies’ technology products in Iran now that sanctions against Tehran have been lifted will not only aid the country’s ailing economy, it will also give Internet access a vital boost. Long ...
US-Iran Prisoner Swap Raises Hopes for Iranian-Canadian Prisoners of Conscience in Iran
The release of Iranian-Americans in the recent prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States has given hope to the family of prisoner of conscience Saeed Malekpour that he too might also be freed. “When I ...
Why are Iranian-American Prisoners Released, but Not Iranian Ones?” Father of Imprisoned Blogger Asks
“Why has the Islamic Republic agreed to the release of Iranian-American prisoners but they won’t free our own prisoners who are the children of Iran?” asked Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki, whose son, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki,...
Nobel Peace Laureate Asks Iranian Government to “Make Peace with Its Own People”
While expressing joy at Iran’s recent release of four imprisoned Iranian-Americans, Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has called on the Iranian government to “make peace with its own people,” now that it has shown the ...
Faraghdani’s Handshake with Her Lawyer is Not a Crime, Judge Rules
Prisoner of conscience Atena Faraghdani and her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, have been acquitted of “illegitimate relations” for shaking hands during a prison visit. “My daughter was mentally crushed by this accusation but she’s very happy since ...
Cartoon 135: Prisoner Swap
On January 16, 2016, the Islamic Republic of Iran released four prisoners with dual Iranian and American citizenships, in return for the release of several Iranians held in US prisons mostly on crimes related to ...
Hardliners in Iran Moving to Shut Pro-Rouhani Forces Out of Upcoming Parliamentary Elections
Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran’s powerful Guardian Council, in charge of ...
Ageing Imprisoned Human Rights Lawyer Should Be Released on Medical Grounds, Wife Says
The wife of the prominent lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh, who has been imprisoned since April 2011 for his work defending human rights and political prisoners in Iran, is hoping the appeal for his release ...
Ailing Imprisoned Journalist Could Face New Charges for Speaking Out against Prison Conditions
Imprisoned journalist Saeed Razavi Faghih has been threatened with retribution for writing letters complaining about abuse inside Rajaee Shahr Prison and could be facing new trumped-up charges. “About a month ago one of the prison authorities threatened my brother and some other prisoners that ...
Release of Iranian Americans Welcomed, Time to Release All Political Prisoners
Steps Towards Reconciliation with the West Are Good but Iran Needs National Reconciliation As Well January 16, 2016—The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran welcomes the long-overdue release today of four Iranian Americans, including Jason Rezaian, the ...