‘I am ready to return whenever they say’: Nasrin Sotoudeh on prison, the hijab, and violence in Iran

Exclusive: the human rights lawyer, temporarily released from jail on medical grounds, describes her love for her family, and why she keeps going despite brutal treatment at the hands of the regime Iran’s Qarchak jail has been called many things: […]

Director Mohammad Rasoulof flees Iran ahead of Cannes premiere

CANNES (Reuters) – Mohammad Rasoulof, a celebrated Iranian director whose latest film is competing in the Cannes Film Festival, has fled Iran after being sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging. In a statement dated Sunday, Rasoulof said he […]

Iranian filmmaker flees to Europe after prison sentence ahead of his Cannes premiere

Story by JAKE COYLE, AP Film Writer CANNES, France (AP) — After being sentenced to eight years in prison, the award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof says he’s fled to Europe shortly ahead of the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his latest film. “I arrived […]

NEU General Secretary calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to save musician Toomaj Salehi from execution!

His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran By email: contact@leader.ir 30 April 2024 Your Excellency, Tomaj Salehi I write as General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), the largest education trade union […]

Who is Toomaj Salehi? Coldplay and Sting call for release of Iranian rapper sentenced to death

About 100 figures in music, culture and human rights activism have signed a statement calling for the release of the Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was sentenced to death in Iran after protesting in support of women’s rights. The statement calling for Salehi’s release was […]

 

Iran: International action needed to break authorities’ cycle of protest bloodshed

Amnesty International Public Statement 20 January 2021 On the third anniversary of the nationwide protests of December 2017 and January 2018, Amnesty International renews its calls for justice for the dozens of protesters, including children, who were killed by Iran’s […]

A #MeToo Awakening Stirs in Iran

The #MeToo movement has hit a nerve among Iran’s women. Now accusations against a politically connected celebrity artist are testing the movement in a sexually conservative society dominated by men. By Farnaz Fassihi Oct. 22, 2020 Three years into the global […]

UN human rights chief ‘appalled’ at Iran execution, questions trial process and verdict

Iran’s decision to hang media activist Ruhollah Zam on Saturday was an appalling violation of human rights that followed a deeply flawed trial process, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Monday.   “I am appalled at the execution […]

17 Days and Counting to Trump’s Departure, Yet Signs of a Planned US-Led Attack against Iran Mount

The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, December 30, for the third time since the second half of November. According to Haaretz, senior officers in the Israel military have met in recent days with their counterparts at […]

In Brazen Threat to Iran, US Sends Heavy Bombers to M.E. via Israel

Last Friday, November 20, Channel 13 reported that Israel and the US were planning to increase pressure on Iran with “covert operations” and economic sanctions during Trump’s final weeks in office. The next day, the United States rapidly deployed several heavy bombers […]

As Trump’s Ruses Fail, US Deploys Additional Bombers to Persian Gulf

“Lame duck” US President Donald Trump’s legal challenges to the validity of the November presidential election have chalked up more than fifty defeats in the courts in the past weeks, the most recent one (“the big one,” in Trump’s own […]

Iran execution of child offender breaks international law: UN rights office

The execution of an Iranian man for a crime allegedly committed when he was 16 years old has been condemned by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and raised concerns over violations of his right to a fair trial. In […]

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Iran nuclear deal: ‘Heated rhetoric and the heightened risk of miscalculation’ widen differences

Although the landmark Iran nuclear deal could improve regional stability if fully implemented, increased tensions have highlighted the risks posed by escalation, the UN’s Political and Peacebuilding Affairs chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.  Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo was speaking […]

Iran: Execution of journalist Rouhollah Zam a ‘deadly blow’ to freedom of expression

12 December 2020, 13:01 UTC Responding to the news that the Iranian authorities hanged dissident journalist Rouhollah Zam today, Diana Eltahawy, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: “We are shocked and horrified […]