The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) strongly condemns the recent detention of at least 22 activists, the majority of them women, in Iran. The detentions come in the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini or Zhina Amini, a young woman died in custody for allegedly wearing “improper” hijab.

Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died on 16 September 2022 after being detained by the morality police and transferred by a police van to Vozara detention centre in Tehran. According to local news reports, she was taken to the hospital where she died. Her death sparked widespread protests across Iran, and the Iranian government has been cracking down on dissent ever since. 

In the months following her death, dozens of women human rights defenders (WHRDs), activists and journalists were among over 20,000 people arrested, including women journalists who reported on Amini’s death and funeral. Rights groups including GCHR reported at least 38 women journalists in prison by March 2023. On 10 February 2023, Sarvenaz Ahmadi was sentenced to six years in prison for reporting on the death of Amini.  Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who have won many awards for their fearless reporting of Amini’s death, were on trial in July 2023 and remain in Evin prison awaiting sentencing.

Despite the crackdown, the women’s protests continue and have drawn wide international attention to the plight of women in Iran. Iranian WHRDs have become a symbol of resistance against repressive policies. The women’s protests also serve as a reminder that the fight for freedom and equality is never easy. However, against all odds, the Iranian WHRDs will never give up their fight for a better future.

The latest round of detentions began on 30 July 2023. Activists are being held on charges of “spreading propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” They include prominent women’s rights activists, lawyers and journalists. These detentions clearly violate the activists’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Among other crackdown techniques on WHRDs, the Iranian authorities have carried on campaigns of harassment and intimidation against the families of victims of state violence to silence them. The authorities are encouraging the resurgence of the so-called morality police, who are arresting, jailing, and denying critical services to women who refuse to wear hijab. 

GCHR urges the authorities in Iran to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release all women human rights defenders, journalists and activists in Iran;
2. Stop arbitrarily arresting human rights defenders as a result of their participation in peaceful human rights activities, including women’s rights advocacy;
3. Undertake a thorough, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini or Zhina Amini;
4. End the absurd lengthy sentences, systematic targeting and ill-treatment of women human rights defenders, along with all restrictions and the practice of internal exile for promoting basic rights to freedom of expression and assembly; and 
5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Iran are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.