Iran Human Rights Organization Report: Over 540 Years of Prison Sentences and 570 Lashes Issued for Human Rights Defenders in 12 Months

The Iran Human Rights Organization has reported the issuance of at least 541 years of prison sentences and 577 lashes for more than 150 human rights defenders in Iran over the past twelve months, calling for 'stronger' international support for Iranian activists. This detailed report, published on Saturday, December 9, includes a wide range of human rights activists who, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization, have faced systematic persecution by the Islamic Republic for defending human rights. The report lists names and brief descriptions of the backgrounds and sentences issued against defenders who have been imprisoned or faced legal cases from December 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization considers this list to be a small part of the 'deteriorating' situation for human rights defenders in Iran and has called for 'more active and decisive' international support for Iranian activists. This independent human rights organization has also described the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, a jailed human rights defender, as having 'special significance' in drawing global attention to the situation of human rights defenders in Iran. Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, has emphasized the need for greater recognition of Iranian human rights defenders and support from the international community in light of the alarming increase in human rights violations in Iran. The organization has also urged the international community and all countries with diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic to call for the immediate release of all imprisoned human rights defenders in Iran. The United States has repeatedly condemned the violent crackdowns and widespread repression of protesters, as well as the ongoing and repeated violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by the government. International human rights bodies, including United Nations rapporteurs, have consistently warned about the worsening human rights violations in Iran.