Over 150 jailed for 541 years, reports say
Over 150 individuals have been collectively sentenced to more than 541 years in prison in Iran and 577 lashes, according to a report by the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization.
Released on December 9, the report documented the situation of human rights defenders who were jailed or had active legal cases in the year following December 1, 2022.
Lawyers, teachers, labor activists, minority rights supporters, women’s rights activists, journalists, environmentalists, families seeking justice, civil rights defenders, and artists are among the individuals whose cases were documented in the report.
The report quoted the director of the Iran Human Rights organization, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, as saying: “As the international community bears witness to the alarming escalation of human rights violations within Iran, it is imperative to recognize the unyielding spirit of these individuals and extend unwavering support to their cause.”
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starting with Turkey Unpacked
Rapper’s arrest sparks debate on power struggle
The arrest of an Iranian rapper in Turkey and his handover to Iran has reignited the debate about his influence and his ties with conservatives before his self-imposed exile in Turkey.
On December 6, a blurry video surfaced on Iranian media showing Amir Hossein Maghsoodloo – known by his artist name Tataloo – being handed over to Iran’s intelligence ministry at the Bazargan border crossing between Iran and Turkey.
The judicial system has not announced the reasons for his arrest.
However, some sources suggest that several complaints related to sexual harassment have been registered against him.
Reformists seized the opportunity to remind President Ebrahim Raisi and his conservative camps that Tataloo appeared in an election campaign video during the 2017 presidential elections, supporting Raisi. In that video, Raisi praised Tataloo’s music and work.
Raisi’s wife faces backlash over Financial Times interview
An interview with Jamileh Alamolhoda, President Ebrahim Raisi’s wife, has sparked criticism among Iranians, accusing her of whitewashing the establishment’s deadly crackdown on the 2022 demonstrations and the systemic violation of women’s rights.
In the interview published by the Financial Times, Alamolhoda claimed that the protesters were guided by foreign enemies, saying: “Those who came to the streets came with their smartphones while being guided (from elsewhere) where to go and who to hit.”
She also defended the compulsory hijab law in the country, asserting that it would assist women to “lead society towards excellence”.
These remarks triggered various reactions in Iran, with some questioning the establishment’s responsibilities towards the opposition.