On 15 August 2018, human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in separate trial was sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes in absentia.
Iran articles on Democracy Chronicles
News about the struggle for democracy in Iran. Iran is not a functioning democracy. According to Freedom House, the "most powerful figure in the government is the supreme leader and violent repression of dissent is routine". Also check out our section on World Democracy or our articles on the Middle East.
UN Report Criticizes Crackdown on Protesters in Iran
Report critical of Iran’s human rights situation and its crackdown on people protesting declining living standards under review at UN Human Rights Council.
Activists Appeared Unveiled in Tehran on Women’s Day
Activists appear unveiled in Tehran, Iran on International Womens day calling on Iranians to support their defiance of mandatory veiling in Islamist nation.
Iran Lawyer Sotoudeh Convicted After Defending Women Protesters
Prominent Iran human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh who defended protesters against Islamic Republic’s mandatory headscarves for women has been convicted.
Iran Arrests Environmentalist Who Joined Labor Protest, Brother Says
Brother to an Iranian environmentalist says Iranian authorities detained the activist in an apparent continuation of a wave of arrests of environmentalists.
Iran Faces Angry Online Backlash Over Activists’ Abuse Claims
Iran government faces angry online backlash over labor activists Esmail Bakhshi post on Instagram saying that he had been tortured in jail.
Iran’s Teachers Denounce Suppression in Biggest Protests in Months
Teachers have staged peaceful rallies to protest what they see as government suppression of their rights and to call for better working conditions.
Two Iranian Kurdish Civil Activists Reportedly Imprisoned
Iranian rights groups say authorities have detained two civil activists in the country’s northwestern Kurdistan province in recent days.
Female Defendant Absent as 8 Iranian Conservationists Face Trial
Female member of a group of eight conservationists have been absent from the courtroom this week as a prosecutor continued reading charges that are bogus.
Inmate’s Relative Says Iranian Guards Attack Female Prisoners
A relative of a detainee at a women’s prison near Tehran says there was a violent security crackdown on a protest by female inmates.