Prisoners of Conscience

May 20, 2023

UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission on Iran Condemns Surging Executions

UN Photo Press briefing by Mr. Javaid Rehman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic ...

May 17, 2023

More Executions of Protesters in Iran Imminent after Sham Trials

Prosecution of Three Young Men Relied on Torture, Forced “Confessions” Defendant: "They kept beating me to make me tell their version of their crime on camera" *Editor's Note: Saeed Yaghoubi, Saleh Mirhashemi, and Majid Kazemi were hanged on May 19, ...

April 6, 2023

Imprisoned Dissident Rapper Toomaj Salehi, Voice of Iran’s Protests, Faces Possible Execution

Sources Close to Toomaj Urge International Community to Demand His Release Before Trial Begins Imprisoned Unjustly Since October 2022, in Urgent Need of Medical Care April 6, 2023 – The international community, including music and arts institutions as well as ...

March 23, 2023

Journalists Denied Release from Prison Amid Supreme Leader’s “Pardon” PR Ploy

More than a month has passed since the Iranian government issued a “pardon” for an unverified number of prisoners and detainees following the arrests of tens of thousands of people across the country amid anti-state protests ...

March 17, 2023

Iranian and French Lawyers, Doctors Demand Release of Lawyer Mohammad Najafi

31 Lawyers and Doctors Call for Freedom of “Peace-Seeking Lawyer and Human Rights Activist” In a joint letter published today, 31 doctors and ...

March 13, 2023

Another Abducted Dissident Sentenced to Death in Iran

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence Against Habib Farajollah Chaab After Show Trial Three Foreign Dissidents Have Been Abducted and Sentenced to Death in ...

March 3, 2023

Political Prisoner Narges Mohammadi: I Will “Testify” About Sexual Assault Against Protesters

Prominent Human Rights Defender Takes Grave Risks by Penning Open Letter in Prison “As a witness in both cases ...

February 21, 2023

Iran Sentences German Citizen to Death to Intimidate Iranian Diaspora, German Government

Jamshid Sharmahd Was Abducted by Islamic Republic Agents, Tortured and Denied Due Process February 21, 2023 – The death ...

February 20, 2023

Joint Letter by 39 NGOs Calls on EU Countries to Summon Iranian Ambassadors in Unison on International Women’s Day

February 20, 2023 — A joint letter by 39 women's and Iranian human rights organizations calls on EU countries to summon their ambassadors ...

February 16, 2023

Sign the Petition for Women’s Rights in Iran on International Women’s Day

A new petition launched by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) calls on European Union (EU) countries to support the women and girls of Iran, who are facing severe and violent repression, by summoning Iranian ambassadors in unison on International Women’s Day ...

February 14, 2023

Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh’s Husband Ordered to Report to Prison

Blatant Attempt to Silence Sotoudeh for Outspoken Support for Protesters February 14, 2023 – The human rights activist Reza Khandan, who is the husband of the prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been summoned ...

February 10, 2023

Iran Protests: More Doctors Treating Protesters Killed, Tortured and Detained

Global Medical Community Must Speak Out Against Severe Violation of International Law February 10, 2023 — An increasing number of doctors and medical workers continue to be arrested, detained, tortured and killed by Islamic Republic forces for treating wounded protesters, in ...

February 8, 2023

Analysis: Khamenei’s “Pardon” Is a Public Relations Stunt That Cedes No Ground to the Protesters

Previous Pardons Have Not Been Followed by Actual Prisoner Releases Detained Protesters Assumed Guilty, Must “Apologize” First February 8, 2023 - The announced pardons ...

February 7, 2023

New Briefing: Failure to Increase International Costs on Islamic Republic Will Green-Light Further Atrocities

Recommendations Lay Out Tangible Actions Governments Can Take to Address Violent Repression February 7, 2023 – More than four months into the Islamic ...

February 2, 2023

Civil Rights Defender Farhad Meysami at Risk of Death in Iranian Prison

Meysami Hunger-Striking to Demand End to Political Executions and Compulsory Hijab February 2, 2023 – The UN and international human rights ...

February 2, 2023

Jailed Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Hunger Strikes Against “Hostage-Taking”

In an open letter, renowned Iranian director Jafar Panahi has announced the beginning of his hunger strike in Tehran's Evin Prison until he is freed from his illegal imprisonment. "I firmly declare that in protest against the unlawful and ...

February 1, 2023

Children’s Rights Advocates, Mainly Women, Targeted in Crackdown on Anti-State Protests in Iran

Women Aiding Vulnerable Children Detained As State Broadens Efforts to Crush Movement for Change February 1, 2023 – Women ...

January 25, 2023

Iran: Families of Detained and Killed Protesters Beaten, Threatened to Stay Silent

Attorneys Jailed to Prevent Them From Defending Protesters and Their Families January 25, 2023 – Four months into the Islamic ...

January 19, 2023

Suspicious Deaths of Released Protesters in Iran Should be Investigated by UN

Credible Evidence Challenges Iranian Authorities’ Claims of “Suicides” Families Describe Visibly Tortured Bodies, Fabricated Evidence, Forced Quick Burials January 19, 2023 – The ...

January 12, 2023

Governments Worldwide Should Recall Ambassadors from Iran

Executions of Protesters Continuing; Forceful Action Urgently Needed EU and At Least Eight European Countries Summon Iran’s Ambassadors January 12, 2023 – Governments around the world should recall their ambassadors from the Islamic Republic in protest against the ...

January 4, 2023

Iranian Athletes Killed, Tortured, Sentenced to Death for Supporting Protests (Updated)

Editor's Note: This article is regularly updated with new information. January 4, 2023 – The Islamic Republic’s persecution of athletes for peacefully supporting ...

December 20, 2022

Iran: Death Sentences and Imprisonment Used to Crush Dissent in Film and Theatre Industries

26-Year-Old Actor Sentenced to Death, More Than 100 Industry Members Imprisoned December 20, 2022 – The sentencing of theater actor Hossein ...

December 15, 2022

Iran’s Courts Using Death Penalty Charges to Crush Protests

At Least 11 Sentenced to Death and 24 Others Facing Charges that Could Carry Death Penalty December 15, 2022 – At ...

December 12, 2022

Lynching in Iran: Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, Publicly Hanged in State-Sponsored Murder

Young People will Continue to be Killed in Iran without International Action December 12, 2022 – The hanging in public of Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, in Mashhad today—the second execution of a young person in Iran without due process ...

December 8, 2022