World Day 2019: More Than 212 Executed Since the Beginning of the Year in Iran

OCTOBER 10, 2019

Iran Human Rights (IHR); October 10, 2019: According to the statistics department of IHR, Iranian authorities have executed 212 prisoners including 2 juvenile-offenders between January 1 and October 10, 2019. This report is being published on the occasion of the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty, which aims at raising awareness about the children as unseen victims of the death penalty.

According to reports by IHR, so far in 2019, at least 212 prisoners have been executed in Iran but only 68 cases were announced by the official Iranian media. Other 144 cases were confirmed by Iran Human Rights (IHR) through its sources. IHR only reports the unannounced executions if it could confirm those with two separate credible sources. Therefore, the actual number of executions may be even higher than reported.

Appeals Court to Rule on Satirist’s Case without Hearing His Defense

OCTOBER 9, 2019

Iran’s Appeals Court, which met last week to review satirist Keyomars Marzban’s appeal against a preliminary court’s harsh sentence against him, is expected to issue a ruling next week without hearing his defense, a source with detailed knowledge of his case told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on October 9, 2019.

In August 2019, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced Marzban to 11 years in prison for his peaceful writing activities under the charges of “contact with U.S. enemy state,” 7.6 years for “insulting the sacred,” three years for “insulting the supreme leader,” one year for “propaganda against the state,” and nine months for “insulting officials.”

Iran Must Confront Its Child Protection Crisis

OCTOBER 11, 2019

On the International Day of the Girl Child, All States Urged to Address Needs of Girl Children

Child Marriage, Lack of Protection against Abuse, Juvenile Executions Key Issues in Iran

October 11, 2019—On the International Day of the Girl Child, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) urges the authorities in Iran to confront its child protection crisis, and fulfill the mandate of the day, which the UN states is to “address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.”

“There is no justification for the forced marriage of girl children, the lack of protections for children against abuse, or the execution of children,” said Hadi Ghaemi, CHRI executive director.

Women Football Fans Decry Restrictions: “Why Didn’t They Let Us All In?”

Women’s Tickets Capped at 4,000 Out of 75,000

OCTOBER 11, 2019

The soccer match between Iran and Cambodia on October 10, 2019, in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium included the historic presence of thousands of women. However, although the stadium was more than half empty, the authorities capped the number of tickets sold to women and denied female photographers press access.

15 Iran MPs Urge New Judiciary Chief to Stop Renewed Crackdown on Freedom of Speech

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

During a speech addressing Iran’s legislature, member of Parliament (MP) Parvaneh Salahshouri strongly criticized the recent crackdown on journalists and workers’ rights advocates and called on recently appointed Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi to uphold the rule of law.

A group of MPs subsequently called on Raisi to rescind recent harsh prison sentences that have been issued against several individuals including journalists and activists who were arrested during a Labor Day rally in Tehran on May 1, 2019.

“There are young women inside prison crying for justice these days,” said Salahshouri, a prominent reformist and former leader of the Women’s Faction in Parliament, on September 1, 2019.

Female Political Prisoners to Serve Additional Two Years For “Insulting” Supreme Leader

Political prisoners Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee Ebrahimi have been told they must serve an additional two years behind bars for making peaceful public statements criticizing Iranian state policies.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Imprisoned civil rights activist Atena Daemi and recently released political prisoner Golrokh Iraee Ebrahimi were informed that they must serve an additional 2.1 years in prison now that the Tehran Appeals Court upheld a joint sentence against them under the charges of “insulting the supreme leader” and “propaganda against the state.”

Daemi’s mother, Masoumeh Nemati, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on September 5, 2019, that her daughter and Iraee were also banned from engaging in political and civil rights activities for two years.

Mass Sentencing of Labor Activists, Journalists Prelude to Reign of Repression Under New Judiciary Chief

Seven Sentenced to Lengthy Jail Terms in Connection with Peaceful Protests

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.

“The sentences are an indicator that newly appointed Judiciary Chief Ehrabim Raisi intends to prolong his predecessor’s reign of repression by punishing peaceful activism through arbitrary arrests and kangaroo courts,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

“Freedom of assembly is guaranteed by Iran’s Constitution, yet the judiciary is decimating that right by punishing activists and journalists for exercising it,” he added. “Raisi has signaled that he will be accelerating the corrosion of the rule of law in Iran to stamp out peaceful dissent.”

Death of Iran’s “Blue Girl” Spotlights Senseless Ban on Women in Stadiums

No More Empty Promises: FIFA Should Call on Iran to Lift Ban Once and For All

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

September 10, 2019 – The death of Sahar Khodayari, a woman who set herself on fire in Tehran because she thought she would have to serve jail time for trying to watch a soccer match, has put the spotlight on the costs of a discriminatory state policy that Iranian women have been protesting for decades.

“This senseless tragedy should be a turning point for Iran’s government, which has been ignoring calls by its people to lift its discriminatory ban on women in stadiums, and is now facing the human costs of that policy,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Detained Anthropologist Kameel Ahmady Worked Independently and Transparently, Says Wife

Iranian-British anthropologist Kameel Ahmady has had no contact with his family since he was detained in Tehran on August 11, 2019.

AUGUST 14, 2019

Except for a one-minute phone call from Evin Prison, Iranian-British social anthropologist Kameel Ahmady has had no contact with his family since he was detained on August 11, 2019, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.

The authorities have also refused to tell his family why he was detained.

“Why Should We Be Silent?” Colleagues Condemn Photographer’s Unjust Detention

Film and theater photographer Nooshin Jafari has been detained at an undisclosed location in Tehran since August 4, 2019.

AUGUST 15, 2019

Nooshin Jafari’s Supporters Push Back Against Social Media Smear Campaign 

Several members of Iran’s film industry have spoken out against the detention of Nooshin Jafari, a film and theater photographer, who has been detained at an undisclosed location in Tehran since August 4, 2019.

The authorities have meanwhile refused to provide information about her to her family since she was arrested, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.

Iran Cracks Down on Instagram Celebrities as It Tightens Noose on Freedom of Speech and Expression

AUGUST 16, 2019

Investigations by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) indicate that dozens of Iranians with large followings on Instagram—including athletes, fashion models and actors—were summoned by security officials in 2019 and in some cases charged with crimes for the content of their posts.

Although most were ultimately released on bail, many were forced to hand over control of their Instagram accounts by revealing their passwords.

Some of the targeted individuals, fearing jail time, ultimately suspended or severely limited their online posts as well as removed old posts that could be interpreted as “immoral” according to state dictates.

Six-Year Prison Sentence Upheld Against Journalist Who Was Denied Right to Fair Trial

AUGUST 16, 2019

An Appeals Court in Tehran has upheld a six-year prison sentence against political journalist Hamed Aynehvand without holding a hearing, his lawyer, Hossein Bayat, informed the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on August 13, 2019.

“Before the preliminary court’s decision, there were people who told me not to bother because for sure Hamed was going to get six years in prison and the Appeals Court would go along with it,” he told CHRI. “And that’s what happened.”

Iran Executions: Man Hanged at Shiraz Prison

JULY 28, 2019

Iran Human Rights (IHR); July 28, 2019: A prisoner was hanged at Shiraz Central Prison (known as Adel Abad) for murder charges a week ago.

According to HRANA, around a week ago, a man was executed at Shiraz Central Prison (known as Adel Abad). He, identified as Arash Shah-hosseini, was sentenced to death for murder charges. He was arrested three years ago for killing a man during a fight.

His execution has not been announced by the Iranian authorities or media so far.

At least 110 people were executed in Iran in the first half of 2019; Only 37 of the executions have been announced by authorities or Iranian media. Iran Human Rights (IHR) could confirm 73 more through its sources. IHR only reports the unannounced executions if it could confirm those with two separate credible sources. Therefore, the actual number of executions may be even higher than reported.

Iran’s State Broadcaster Discriminates against Women, People with Disabilities and Non-Muslims

JULY 22, 2019

IRIB’s New Job Posting Demands New Hires Be Male, Muslim and Without Disability

In its latest job posting, the Iranian state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), listed “complete health and lack of physical disability” and “adherence to Islam and Velayat-e faqih [Iran’s system of clerical rule over the state]” as employment requirements for all its branches, while adding that “being a man” was a requirement in provincial branches.

Kurdish-Iranian Political Prisoner Denied Hospitalization for Stomach Tumor

JULY 22, 2019

Mohammad Nazari Has Been Imprisoned Since 1994

Imprisoned for more than 25 years, Kurdish-Iranian political prisoner Mohammad Nazari has been denied hospitalization to receive tests for a tumor in his stomach, his lawyer told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on July 19, 2019.

“Sometime ago, Mohammad started having really bad coughs,” said attorney Mohammad Hossein Aghasi. “A month and a half ago, at my request, he was taken to the hospital and got an MRI and some tests.”

Mohammad Rasoulof’s Films Were Banned in Iran, Now He’s Been Sentenced to Prison

JULY 24, 2019

“We have to pay a price, and every person will pay some price,” says acclaimed filmmaker

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.

“Iranian cinema has won international acclaim despite stifling censorship and the ongoing persecution of artists,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Iran Executions: Prisoner Hanged in Kashan

JULY 6, 2019

Iran Human Rights (IHR); July 6, 2019: A prisoner hanged at Kashan prison for murder charges.

According to an Iranian website, IMNA, a person hanged at Kashan prison for murder charges recently. The source has not revealed the exact time of the execution. The executed person has been identified as M S and his/her full name or gender remained unrevealed.

The source said the prisoner was sentenced to death for killing a woman four years ago.

According to the Iran Human Rights statistic department, at least 273 people were executed in Iran in 2018. At least 188 of them executed for murder charges.

Evin Prison Protesters Receive Suspended Prison Sentences

JULY 5, 2019

An Appeals Court upheld 91-day prison sentences against 18 people who were arrested while peacefully protesting outside Evin Prison in Tehran but suspended most of the sentences for three years, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.

Suspended sentences operate like bail conditions; defendants are expected to keep a low profile and not engage in any form of activism for the duration of their term.

Parliament Faction Links Lacking Accountability to Deaths of Political Prisoners in State Custody

Mostafa Mohebbi was fired from his position as the head of the State Prisons Organization in Tehran Province in June 2019 after a political prisoner’s death in state custody prompted condemnation by rights groups.

JULY 8, 2019

Defense Attorney: Firing Prison Officials Won’t Keep Political Prisoners Safe 

One month after political prisoner Alireza Shirmohammadali was murdered in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary (GTCP) after being unlawfully held in a ward with inmates convicted of violent crimes, two prison officials have been fired while the unofficial policy that precipitated the tragedy remains in place.

The results of a judicial investigation into his death have not been made public. But a parliamentary faction has created a proposal to help counter what it identified as the “serious problem” of prisoners dying in state custody.

Want to support victims of torture? Put the squeeze on Iran

July 6, 2019

June 26 marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, commemorated on the anniversary of the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture. For many imprisoned Iranians, it was yet another day of torture by the country’s repressive regime, which has never signed the Convention. If free democracies want to walk the walk in opposing torture, they should increase economic and political pressure on Tehran to stop this barbaric practice.

The Iranian authorities employ a grotesque menagerie of physical and psychological torture methods. They inflict bodily harm through beating; burning; cutting; electrocution; placement into stress positions; sleep deprivation; denial of medical care; and rape, including “virginity” and “sodomy” tests. And they torment victims’ minds through prolonged solitary confinement, mock executions, threats of rape, and claims that family members are being tortured nearby.