Human Rights Watch: The Most Prominent Human Rights Lawyers in Iran Are Now in Prison

Human Rights Watch has warned in a statement that the Islamic Republic has intensified its crackdown on activists and human rights defenders. This statement comes as, within just one week, four human rights activists and lawyers have been added to the list of imprisoned activists and lawyers in Iran. On Friday, September 9, Peyman Darvishan and Farrokh Forouzan, two lawyers, were arrested at the home of Arash Keykhosravi, a jailed lawyer. Just one day later, on Saturday morning, September 10, Hedi Amidi, a lawyer and women's rights activist, was arrested at her home. The arrests were not limited to lawyers; Reza Khandan, the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer who is currently in prison, was also arrested. Peyman Darvishan represents Arash Keykhosravi, who was arrested on August 18 along with Qasem Shaleh-Saadi and Masoud Javadieh, two other lawyers, in front of the parliament. Farrokh Forouzan is a lawyer active in children's rights, and Ms. Amidi is a lawyer and women's rights activist who had supported the campaign 'Changing the Male Face of Parliament' in 2015. The arrests were not limited to lawyers; Reza Khandan, the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer, was also arrested. Nasrin Sotoudeh is a well-known figure in defending human rights, children's rights, and women's rights in Iran. Narges Mohammadi and Abdolfattah Soltani are other prominent lawyers who are currently imprisoned. Sarah Leah Whitson, the director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch, stated on September 14 that 'Iranian authorities, by imprisoning dozens of lawyers and activists for the 'crime' of defending citizens' fundamental rights, are further diminishing their domestic and international credibility.' Ms. Whitson added, 'The government [of Iran], at a time when daily life is becoming harder for millions of Iranians, should not target human rights defenders as the primary focus of repression but should accept them as a vital part of the solution to collective problems.' This senior official from Human Rights Watch stated that 'the most reputable human rights defenders, who reflect the discontent of millions of Iranians, are now in prison.' Human Rights Watch has warned that Iranian officials 'by silencing peaceful dissent, are merely contributing to instability.' Iran has not yet reacted to this statement. In other cases, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has rarely responded to similar statements. The Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the judiciary previously stated in a press conference that 'there are no political prisoners in Iran.' The 'Freedom House' organization in its report last year stated that 'the judiciary of the Islamic Republic mistreats political activists and human rights defenders, so that most of them end up facing unfair trials.' The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also repeatedly criticized 'human rights violations' in Iran. This body also states that it has received multiple reports regarding the detention of human rights defenders, which constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression.