Mozhgan Kavousi

Kurdish writer and documentary filmmaker Kavousi was arrested at her home on September 22, 2022, and spent at least 35 days in solitary confinement. She was tried for "corruption… More

Sadegh Zibakalam

Zibakalam, a professor at the University of Tehran, was summoned to court for "threatening national security" in April 2022. His trial began on July 26, 2022. He was since… More

Anisha Asadollahi

Translator, activist, and teacher Anisha Asadollahi was detained on May 9, 2022, when authorities raided her home, arresting her and her husband. She had been arrested twice before for… More

Arash Ramezani

Literary writer and poet Ramezani was arrested at his workplace on October 23, 2022 and taken to an unknown location. No charges were brought against him, but he remained… More

Atefeh Chaharmahalian

Chaharmahalian is a literary activist and poet, and a former board member of the Iranian Writers' Association. She was arrested on October 3, 2022 after receiving multiple phone calls… More

Behnaz Amani

Literary writer and poet Behnaz Amani was arrested near her home on October 20, 2022 and indicted with “conspiracy against national security” in November 2022. The charges were not… More

Hossein Dehbashi

A literary writer, online commentator, and historian, Dehbashi was convicted for making a claim that Ahmad Khomeini died of drug overuse. He was sentenced to 6 months in prison… More

Teesta Setalvad

A well-known activist, columnist and writer, Setalvad was detained on June 25, 2022 without a warrant. She was then accused of forgery, filing false charges, criminal conspiracy, and fabricating… More

Vairamuthu Ramasamy Vairamuthu

Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu was the target of protest in 2018 after he made comments linking the 7th century female mystic poet Andal to the Devadasi community, which… More

Ali Asadollahi

A noted poet and the secretary of the Iranian Writers' Association, Asadollahi was detained on November 21, 2022 after he had published poems on his website about a teenager… More