Iran: resistance grows as death toll tops 500
The independent Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Jan. 16 released statistics finding that 522 protestors, including 70 children and youths, have been killed in Iran since the start of the national uprising in September. Authorities have arrested 19,400 people, including 168 children and youths. Of those detained, 110 are "under impending threat" of a death sentence. Four protestors have already been executed. Human Rights Watch additionally reported that authorities have fired assault rifles on protestors, and have subjected those in detention to torture, mistreatment and sexual abuse. (Jurist)
Also Jan. 16, thousands of Iranians from across Europe gathered at the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, France, to demand that the body officially designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Debate on such a measure is to be taken up at the EuroParliament's opening plenary session.
A statement in support of the measure was issued by an underground alliance of protest groups in Iran. "We wish to declare our full support for listing [the IRGC] as a terrorist organization by the international community," said the statement from United Youth of Iran. The new underground network released a manifesto last month, calling for a unified front of protesters, labor unions and opposition forces to bring about a secular, democratic government in Iran. (Iran International)
Iran: arrests in chemical attacks on school girls
The Interior Ministry of Iran on March 11 announced that over 100 people have been arrested across Iran in connection with the chemical attacks on thousands of school girls. According to a statement issued by the Interior Ministry, the poisonings were carried out with the intention of "shutting down classrooms" and trying to "create fear and horror among people and students."
Chemical attacks primarily targeting female students have taken place in Iranian schools since November, the first resulting in 18 students from in the Nour Technical School being hospitalized. Many of the attacks have caused students to experience breathing difficulties, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, and at least one student died as a result of the attack. (Jurist)
Iran announces pardon of anti-government protesters
Iranian Judicial Chief Gholem-Hossein Mohseni on March 13 announced that more than 82,000 detainees have been pardoned, including more than 22,000 people arrested after participating in anti-government protests. The state-affiliated Islamic Republic News Agency detailed that this pardon was based on a recent order from the Supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei. (Jurist)
Iran executes two for blasphemy
Iran on May 8 executed two men in Arak Central Prison following multiple convictions upeld by the Supreme Court of Iran. According to the human rights organization Iran Human Rights, these hangings are the most recent of 42 executions carried out in Iran in the last 10 days. Yousuf Mehrdad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare were arrested in 2020 for blasphemy-related allegations, along with five others believed to be involved in the running of "anti-Islamic" social media groups. Following their arrest, they were kept in solitary confinement for two months and allegedly denied family visits and phone calls. (Jurist)
Three more protesters executed in Iran
Iran executed three men accused of attacking police during last year's nationwide protests. Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were hanged based upon their conviction on charges of moharebeh, or enmity against god. (Jurist, The Guardian)