The Persecution of Teacher Activists in Iran: A Report on Sacking and Disciplinary Actions, Including the Forced Exile of Esmail Abdi

A recent report by prominent labour union the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations (CCITTA) has drawn attention to the continuing disturbing, indeed escalating, trend of teachers and education workers being targeted for persecution by the authorities in Iran […]

Fire at Rajaee Quay; Completely Charred Bodies Retrieved

CODIR: Thousands of port workers were victims of a catastrophe waiting to happen… Last week, CODIR published a detailed account of the catastrophe that hit Rajaee Quay, the Iran’s principal national seaport for international trade in the vicinity of Bandar […]

Labour activists have been arrested! Prison is Not a Place for Labour Activists!

CODIR has received verified reports and information from inside Iran that May Day and events to mark International Workers’ Day have yet again served as the precursor to the arrest of scores of labour activists and a wider clampdown by […]

CODIR demands justice for Iranian workers following the deadly blast at Bandar Abbas!

On this International Workers’ Memorial Day, Iran is reeling in the immediate aftermath of the latest in an all too long line of disasters to have befallen its long-beleaguered working people. Over the weekend just passed, international news outlets have […]

CODIR welcomes initial signals from US/Iran talks

23rd April 2025 Press release The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR) has welcomed the progress made so far in talks between the United States and Iran as a step towards limiting the possibility of a military […]

 

Solidarity group condemns rise in lashing as punishment in Iran

4th June 2016 Press Release For Immediate Use Solidarity organisation, the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR), has condemned the recent upsurge in lashings as punishment in Iran.  Last week over thirty students in the town […]

Nobel laureates: Release Narges Mohammadi now!

May 26, 2016 The Nobel laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative are calling on the government of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender and journalist Narges Mohammadi from the notorious Evin prison in Iran. In the statement, […]

Iran: 16-year-sentence against critically ill human rights defender signals all-out repression

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 19 May 2016 Iran: 16-year-sentence against critically ill human rights defender signals all-out repression The shocking 16-year prison sentence against prominent human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, who has several serious, chronic illnesses, represents an all-out attack […]

World trade unions call: Release trade union leaders from captivity in Iran

1st May 2016 Press Release For Immediate Use Solidarity organisation, the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR), has been overwhelmed by the response to its May Day call to release trade unionists unjustly imprisoned in the […]

World demands: Respect trade union freedoms, release trade union leaders from captivity in Iran

1st May 2016 May Day Appeal In January 2016 the Iranian government signed an agreement to observe international conventions and IAEA rules on the development and use nuclear technology.  The world public heaved a sigh of relief that a major […]

IRAN CONFIRMS FORCED “VIRGINITY TEST” ON ARTIST

URGENT ACTION Iranian painter and prisoner of conscience Atena Farghadani remains in prison pending the outcome of her appeal against a 12 years and nine months prison sentence. The authorities have now confirmed that they subjected her to virginity and […]

IRANIAN TRADE UNIONIST FACES SIXTEEN YEARS IN JAIL

URGENT ACTION RANIAN TRADE UNIONIST FACES SIXTEEN YEARS IN JAIL Ismail Abdi, prisoner of conscience and Secretary General of Iran’s Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), has been sentenced on charges related to his peaceful trade union activities. He is awaiting an […]

Solidarity with the detained trade union leaders in Iran

CODIR calls for an international campaign for the release of Jafar Azimzadeh and Esmail Abdi as they are set to begin their hunger strike on 29th April     Esmail Abdi is General Secretary of the Iranian Teachers Trade Association.  […]

CODIR calls for press freedom in Iran

11th April 2016 Press Release For Immediate Use Solidarity organisation, the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR), has today called for urgent action to defend press freedom in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In particular, CODIR […]

Rouhani’s “Open-Door” Economic Policy for Iran: Recipe for Indebtedness, Deindustrialization and Dependence

by ISMAEL HOSSEIN-ZADEH A number of commentators have compared President Rouhani’s policies of opening Iran’s markets to Western business with those of China’s Deng Xiaoping following the death of Mao Zedong some four decades ago [1]. A closer look at […]