Amnesty International Annual Report: Human Rights Situation in Iran Has Deteriorated

Amnesty International has published its annual report on the human rights situation in Iran under the title "Review of the Year 2018," stating that in the past year, "the human rights situation in Iran has severely deteriorated." This report explains the "deteriorating" human rights violations in Iran across eleven chapters, which include: "freedom of expression, assembly and association; excessive use of force; arbitrary arrests and detentions; media repression; continued house arrest of election protest leaders; torture and other cruel treatment; freedom of religion and belief; discrimination against women and girls; discrimination against ethnic minorities; workers' rights; and the death penalty." The report on the "worsening" human rights situation in Iran comes at a time when Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, had included human rights issues in the 46 promises he made at the beginning of his presidency. These promises included eliminating gender discrimination, establishing a Ministry for Women, drafting bills to support women, eliminating ethnic discrimination, allowing the practice of religious rituals for religious minorities, establishing an academy for the Azerbaijani language and literature, and minimizing controls in the cinema sector. The examples mentioned in the Amnesty International report highlight specific cases related to these topics, including: "In July, forced confessions of Maedeh Hejabi, a 17-year-old girl who was briefly detained for posting dance clips on Instagram, were broadcast on the Islamic Republic of Iran's state television. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer, and her husband Reza Khandan were arrested for supporting women protesting against compulsory hijab. Other lawyers such as Amir Salar Davoodi, Arash Keykhosravi, Ghasem Shole Saadi, Farakh Forouzan, Mohammad Najafi, Mostafa Daneshju, Mostafa Torkhamdani, Payam Darvishan, and Zeynab Taheri were also arrested or tried. Authorities detained, prosecuted, or continue to hold at least 112 women human rights defenders. In July 2018, a man identified as M.R. was tied to a tree and whipped 80 times in Razavi Khorasan province. He had been sentenced a decade earlier for consuming alcohol when he was 14 or 15 years old. During the protests in December 2017, at least nine people died suspiciously while in custody. Dozens of environmental activists were arrested, with four facing charges of "corruption on earth," a charge that carries the death penalty. In February 2018, Kavous Seyed Emami, a university professor and Iranian-Canadian environmental activist, died in Evin prison two weeks after being arbitrarily detained. The Supreme Court continued to uphold amputation sentences. In January 2018, authorities in Mashhad sentenced a man known as A.F. to have his hand amputated for allegedly stealing livestock and valuables. Officials continued to issue sentences for eye-for-an-eye punishments and the use of blinding as a punishment. In February 2018, the 92-year-old spiritual leader of the Gonabadi dervishes, Noor Ali Tabandeh, was placed under house arrest. Christians, including converts, continued to face harassment, arbitrary arrests, and long prison sentences solely for practicing their faith. Victor Bet Tamraz and Shmira Isavi from the Assyrian minority and Christian converts Amin Afsharnadari and Hadi Asgari were sentenced to five to 15 years in prison just for acting on their beliefs. In January 2018, popular singer Benjamin Bahadori refused to perform in Kerman due to the Ministry of Culture's prohibition on having female members of his band on stage. In August 2018, a teacher named Mohammad Habibi was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, 74 lashes, a two-year ban from political parties, and a two-year travel ban due to his peaceful union activities. In September 2018, six other teachers were sentenced to lashes and prison for participating in peaceful protests demanding higher wages. More than twelve other teachers were arrested during nationwide strikes in October and November 2018. Defendants were denied the right to choose their own lawyers and the right to appeal against prison sentences. In June, Mohammad Taleb, a Gonabadi dervish, was executed after an unfair trial for the murder of three police officers during protests in February 2018. The only evidence presented against Mohammad Taleb was confessions that he claimed were obtained under torture. In September 2018, three Kurdish prisoners named Zaniar Moradi, Luqman Moradi, and Ramin Hossein Panahi were executed in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj after an unfair trial. All three were denied access to their chosen lawyers during post-arrest detention and reported being tortured to confess. Amnesty International is a global movement with over seven million members. In its report, the organization stated that its effort is "to achieve a world where all people enjoy human rights."