September 9, 2019—Less than a year after workers’ rights activists in southwestern Iran publicized evidence that Intelligence Ministry agents had tortured detainees, those same activists and four independent journalists who covered their cases have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Archive for IranSOS
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.
Judicial Official’s Defense of Mass Executions Sets Dangerous Precedent
August 5, 2019—New remarks by a senior judicial official in Iran, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, in which he openly defended the extrajudicial executions of some 4000-5000 prisoners in 1988 as necessary acts against “enemies” in a time of war, mark a significant and dangerous turning point in the state’s treatment of those notorious mass killings, which have been internationally recognized as crimes against humanity.
Mohammad Rasoulof’s Films Were Banned in Iran, Now He’s Been Sentenced to Prison
July 24, 2019 – The sentencing of award-winning filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof to one year in prison for the content of his films has highlighted the perilous political landscape independent artists must navigate in Iran.
116 Iranian Rights Defenders Warn of “Devastating” Consequences of US-Iran Military Conflict
June 26, 2019 — In response to soaring tensions between Iran and the United States, 116 Iranian human rights defenders and groups based inside and outside the country have signed a statement warning of the “devastating” consequences of a military conflict.
Richard Ratcliffe Takes Hunger Strike for Wife’s Freedom to Iran’s Doorstep in London
June 18, 2019 – On day four of Richard Ratcliffe’s hunger strike outside the Iranian embassy in London, embassy staff noisily repositioned the metal barriers they’d put up behind him and started sanding the building to suppress coverage of his campaign for his imprisoned wife’s freedom.
Iran: Three Rights Lawyers Sentenced to Lengthy Jail Terms in Less Than a Year
June 5, 2019 – Amirsalar Davoudi has become the third known defense attorney to be sent to prison in Iran for his peaceful activities in less than a year, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said in a statement today.
Appeals Court Upholds Lengthy Sentence Against Female Activist for Criticizing Chief Justice
May 13, 2019 – A Tehran appeals court upheld a 7.5-year prison sentence against prominent political activist Hengameh Shahidi based on her social media posts in which she criticized former Chief Justice Sadegh Larijani and demanded a report on his 10-year tenure.
US, Iran and EU Must All Take Steps to Ensure International Aid Reaches Iran Floods Victims
April 4, 2019 –The US and EU should immediately take steps to ensure that Iran receives humanitarian aid to assist disaster relief efforts in the wake of devastating floods that have killed dozens and caused millions of dollars of damage to homes and infrastructure, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said in a statement today.