At Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, 20 Sunni prisoners, facing charges such as “acting against national security” for their proselytizing activities, have been convicted of “moharebeh” [enmity with God], a capital crime, and face an unsuitable atmosphere in prison where they are constantly disrespected by prison forces for their beliefs, a source with knowledge of their situation told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.... read more

Mansour Borji, an advocate for Iranian Christians, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the oldest Persian-language Protestant church of Iran, the Central Assemblies of God in Tehran, was shut down on May 26 due to pressure from intelligence forces, and one of the church’s pastors has been transferred to Evin Prison.... read more

In a report issued May 21, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights found that Baha’is face “widespread and entrenched discrimination” in Iran, particularly in employment and education. The report also covered several other pressing human rights issues in Iran, including discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, as well as the lack of protection for trade unions.... read more

Four United Nations Human Rights experts urged Iran to release the seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders today, according to a press release issued by the UN Office of the Baha’i International Community. Nearly five years since they were arrested, the seven leaders remain imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs.... read more

In an interview at the 2013 National Meeting of Foreign Relations Students (ENERI) conference in Brasilia, Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, speaks about solidarity and the role of Brazilian civil society in helping promote human rights in Iran, the imprisonment of Baha’is in Iran, and the importance of open dialogue between the Brazilian and Iranian governments.... read more

Kasra Nouri, 22, a Gonabadi Dervish imprisoned at Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison in part to intimidate other youth and prevent them from joining the Dervish sect, a close family friend told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Sedigheh Khalili added that the Nouri family was shocked by the sentence and plans to appeal it.... read more

Riaz Sobhani, a 67-year-old Baha’i citizen imprisoned since June 2011 for financially assisting the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE), is in dire physical and psychological conditions, especially considering his age, his son told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The Baha’i prisoner was hospitalized in May 2012 for an acute heart condition.... read more

Christian pastor Saeed Abedini was conducting a routine visit to the non-profit orphanage his family helped to start in Rasht when Iranian security forces arrested him and seized his passport in July 2012. Five months later, Iranian courts convicted him of “undermining national security,” accusing him and other Christian converts of waging a “soft war” against the Iranian government through their practice of Christianity in informal house churches.... read more

Seven Dervish lawyers being held at the Intelligence Ministry’s Ward 209 at Evin Prison have not had access to light in months and have developed various illnesses, the wife of one of the lawyers told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Sedigheh Khalili, the wife of imprisoned lawyer Hamidreza Moradi, added that officials have warned them not to give interviews to the media.... read more

(March 22, 2013) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 26 to 2 vote to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran for the third consecutive year. The Campaign also urged Iranian authorities to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and allow him to enter the country.... read more

As Iranians around the world prepare to celebrate the new year, hundreds of prisoners of conscience remain behind bars in Iran. The Persian New Year, Nowruz, is the most important holiday in Iran, beginning at the moment of the vernal equinox. While the news website Kaleme reports that a dozen political prisoners have been granted temporary furlough for the holidays, this year, hundreds of other prisoners of conscience, including lawyers, journalists, activists, and others accused of vague ... read more

This week, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran joined 16 other human rights organizations in a joint letter asking the United Nations Human Rights Council to renew the mandate Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Iran Ahmed Shaheed.... read more