Facebook Activist Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for “Insulting the Prophet”
Soheil Arabi and his family Soheil Arabi, whose death sentence for “insulting the prophet” was recently struck down by the Supreme Court, has been sentenced ...
Free Expression
Cartoon 123: Jason Rezaian and Rouhani in New York
In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran would be willing to discuss release of American prisoners, such as Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, if the U.S. is willing to releases Iranians in its prisons. ...
Judiciary Silent on Status of Tech Expert almost Two Months after His Arrest
Arash Zad, Information Technology Expert Nearly two months after the arrest of information technology expert Arash Zad, who was detained at Imam Khomeini Airport by the authorities ...
Mother of Imprisoned Physicist Writes Letter to Khamenei Pleading for His Freedom
Omid Kokabee. The mother of Omid Kokabee, a physicist imprisoned in Iran since January 2011, has written a letter to the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling for her son’s ...
Imprisoned Teacher Sentenced to Three More Years in Prison after Completing Six
Teachers’ rights activist Rassoul Bodaghi Teachers’ rights activist Rassoul Bodaghi, who was near the end of serving a six-year prison sentence for his peaceful labor activism, ...
Rouhani and Undelivered Promises (Video)
When Rouhani campaigned for the presidency in June 2013, he said he had “the key” to solve Iran’s problems. Those problems included hundreds of political prisoners in Iran, some dating back to the disputed 2009 presidential election. More than two years later, the prisoners remain behind bars, the three ...
Message to Rouhani: Rights Crisis in Iran Must Finally Be Addressed
Hassan Rouhani addresses the UN General Assembly in New York, 2014. September 22, 2015—When Iranian president Hassan Rouhani addresses the ...
Artist Goes on Hunger Strike to Protest Prison Staff Verbal Abuse
Atena Faraghdani, Artist and Civil Activist The artist and civil activist Atena Faraghdani, behind bars since January 10, 2015, went on a hunger strike ...
Telegram Denies Claims by Iranian Government that it Has Servers in Iran
The popular instant messaging service Telegram has dismissed claims by Iranian officials that a third of the data from its Iranian users is processed by servers based in Iran, saying such statements were “100 ...
Imprisoned Activist’s Medical Condition Worsens as Trial Date is Set
Archival photo shows Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi hospitalized during a prior imprisonment. Narges Mohammadi Remains in Prison despite Doctors’ Request for Hospitalization Imprisoned human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who ...
Imprisoned Labor Activist Dies of Stroke after Being Denied Medical Care
Shahrokh Zamani, Labor activist Authorities Routinely Refuse Medical Treatment to Political Prisoners September 16, 2015—Labor activist Shahrokh Zamani died of a stroke on September 13, 2015, at Rajaee ...
Khamenei Consolidates Power over Internet Policy in Hard Line Council He Controls
On September 5, 2015, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei re-appointed the members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace for another four-year term. Move Cuts Rouhani Administration Out of Decisions ...
Imprisoned Leader of Spiritual Group on Hunger Strike
Mohammad Ali Taheri, the leader of a spiritual group Mohammad Ali Taheri, the leader of a spiritual group who has been behind ...
House Arrest of Presidential Candidates, Long a Taboo Topic, Emerges as Public Issue Again in Iran
Minister of Justice, Mostafa Pourmohammadi Three days after President Hassan Rouhani suggested the possibility of a legal solution to the long-running house arrest of Iran’s former ...
Keeping Activist Bahareh Hedayat in Prison is Against the Law Says Legal Expert
Political motivations are taking precedence over the law when it comes to activists such as Bahareh Hedayat, who is being kept in prison despite the completion of her sentence, legal expert Mohammad Oliaei-Fard told the International ...
Cartoon 122: Two More Years for Bahareh
The student and women’s rights activist Bahareh Hedayat, imprisoned for over five years in Iran, has been given an additional two-year prison sentence, days after receiving release orders from an Appeals Court in Tehran. ...
Leading Societal Figures in Iran Urge Americans to Support Nuclear Deal
More than fifty prominent members of Iranian society have written an open letter to the American people urging them to ask their Congressional representatives to support the nuclear agreement reached with Iran in July 2015. Describing themselves as ...
Jailed Activist Diagnosed with Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Atena Daemi, children’s rights and civil activist Family Hopes Atena Daemi Will Be Released on Medical Grounds A doctor at Evin Prison has diagnosed imprisoned ...
Wife of Imprisoned Pastor Asks US Officials to Obtain Release of Her Husband
Saeed Abedini American officials must do more to obtain the release of unjustly imprisoned Iranian-Americans, according to the wife of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American pastor who is currently serving ...
74 Prominent Iranians Urge Congress to Support Nuclear Deal with Iran
The following letter, written by 74 prominent Iranians representing many spheres of civil society, urges members of the U. S. Congress to support nuclear agreement with Iran. The signers of the text hold diverse ...
Prominent Women’s Rights Activist Held Illegally after Completion of Sentence
Bahareh Hedayat Given Two Additional Years in Prison after She Was Due for Release August 28, 2015—The student and women's rights activist Bahareh Hedayat, imprisoned for over five years in Iran, has been given an additional two-year ...
Imprisoned Cartoonist Grateful for International Courage Award
Atena Faraghdani Jailed artist Atena Faraghdani has expressed gratitude upon hearing she was awarded the 2015 Courage in Cartooning Award by the Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), her father ...
Former Tehran Prosecutor Acquitted of Charges in Kahrizak Murders despite Overwhelming Evidence
Saeed Mortazavi, The former Tehran Prosecutor Mortazavi Verdict Shows Officials Still Enjoy Impunity even in Cases of Torture and Death of Prisoners. The former Tehran Prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, was acquitted on August 19, 2015, on ...
Fabrication in Iranian Reports on Wall Street Journal Reporter Exposed
Farnaz Fassihi False Allegations Are Attempt to Justify Coming Verdict against Washington Post Reporter Rezaian After a week of attacks by the hardline Iranian newspaper Kayhan against Wall Street Journal ...
Imprisoned Human Rights Defender Abdolfattah Soltani Denied Visitation with His Wife
Abdolfattah Soltani, human rights lawyer. Evin Prison authorities have prevented Massoumeh Dehghan from visiting her husband, the imprisoned human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, a source close to the family told ...