Hojjatoleslam Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari
Outspoken critic of Iran's theocracy Eshkevari was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2000 upon return from a conference at which Iranian social and political reform was debated.… More
Atena Farghadani
Farghandani was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for a cartoon she drew to criticize a family planning law, which depicted lawmakers as animals. Her sentence was extended… More
Ramin Jahanbegloo
Jahanbegloo, author of over 20 books on Iranian current affairs and contributor to international publications, was arrested in April 2006 without charge; though unconfirmed claims say he threatened national… More
Shahla Lahiji
A pioneering publisher, Lahiji was arrested in 2000 upon her return from a conference. She was charged with spreading anti-state propaganda for criticizing Iran’s policies toward women. She was… More
Siamak Pourzand
Pourzand, former manager of a cultural center and frequent cultural commentator, passed away after falling from his apartment balcony; though it is unclear whether he jumped or was pushed.… More
Nasser Zarafshan
Distinguished lawyer and writer Zarafshan was arrested in 2000 after giving a speech alleging that the intelligence services had murdered five intellectuals in 1998. Though a civilian, he was… More
Aras Amiri
Amiri showcased work by Iranian artists at the British Council in the U.K. Upon visiting Iran, she was sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage. Temporarily released during… More
Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee
Iraee was first sentenced to six years in prison in 2014 on charges related to an unpublished short story criticizing the practice of stoning. Released in April 2019, she… More
Akbar Ganji
Described as Iran's leading political dissident, Ganji's writings are banned in the country. Ganji was imprisoned from 2001-2006 for participation in an academic conference and investigations into extrajudicial murders… More
Sepideh Jodeyri
Jodeyri's translation of Blue Is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh into Persian made her a persona non grata in Iran. Already facing a campaign of public persecution for… More