As Press Leaks Confirm Iran’s Systematic Targeting and Persecution of Artists, PEN America Calls on UN Fact-Finding Mission to Investigate
“The leaked documents prove the deliberate and systematic nature of the Iranian regime’s attacks on freedom of expression, amounting to major human rights violations under international law. The Minister… More
New PEN America Report: Crackdown on Anti-Government Protests in Iran Swells the Number of Jailed Writers
“Iran’s creative community—long at the forefront of fighting for free expression and human rights—was singled out as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in 2022,” said Karin Deutsch… More
Reza Keshvari
Keshvari is a poet, artist, and online commentator. He was arrested for participating in protests in October 2022. He suffers from multiple sclerosis which he was diagnosed with in… More
Dariush Memar Darush
A well-known poet and literary critic, Memar is facing charges of "prooaganda against the regime" for his critical writing against the regime. He currently lives in exile in Germany… More
Peyman Farhangian
Farhangian is a literary writer, poet and labor activist. He was first arrested in June 2020. He was initially sentenced to 38 years in prison on charges related to… More
Roozbeh Sohani
A poet and board member of the Iranian Writers Association, Sohani was arrested at his home on December 5, 2022. He was released on a 600 million tomans bail… More
Saeed Heleichi
A poet and translator, Heleichi received a threatening call over a Twitter post in April 2022. On October 19, 2022 he was arrested at his father's home. The reason… More
Shervin Hajipour
On September 29, 2022, Hajipour was arrested on charges of "propaganda against the regime" and "incitement to violence." His popular song, "Baraye (For)" which had become an anthem of… More
Daniel Ghezeljai
An Iranian Turkman law student and poet, Ghezeljai was arrested for posting a poem in solidarity with Iranian women on November 16, 2022. He was facing charges of "belligerance,"… More
Farshid Ghorbanpour
A columnist, literary writer, and online commentator, Ghorbanpour was arrested at his home on September 25, 2022. Security forces pepper sprayed him and beaten him before taking him into… More
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