Center for Human Rights in Iran

Millions of Iranians have been under a state-imposed internet blackout since Feb 28. While state-approved accounts are granted special access, others face arrest for using Starlink to connect. The international community must pressure authorities to #EndTheBlackout in Iran.

NEW: Our in-depth investigation finds that US has violated international humanitarian law by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. US is responsible for the deadly attack on a school in #Minab packed full of children. US authorities must ensure that their investigation is transparent, thorough, and that the results are made public. amn.st/6018B6upqk

⚠️ Update: The internet blackout in #Iran is entering its 17th day after 384 hours. Over the last day a decline has been tracked in reserved telecoms network infrastructure, further reducing VPN availability and sending some whitelisted users and NIN services offline.

"The Iranian people are caught between a large-scale military campaign by two countries, the US and Israel, and ongoing repression by their own government in Iran,” Sara Hossain, chair of the Fact Finding Mission on #Iran told the @UN Human Rights Council. #HRC61

The UN Fact-Finding Mission on #Iran warns that Iran’s deepening human rights crisis could further deteriorate amid the ongoing war as authorities have previously used wartime conditions to justify sweeping arrests & intensified crackdowns on dissent. tinyurl.com/2yyyeh7z

Two Bahá’í citizens, Nita Babannejad and her son Parsa Emadi, were arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Intelligence at their home in Esfahan on March 5, 2026. Following the arrest, Babannejad was transferred to the intake ward of Dolatabad Prison, while Emadi was taken to a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in the city, according to HRANA. Their conditions are unknown. Authorities have reportedly accused them of “propaganda against the regime.” Authorities have launched a new wave of arbitrary arrests across the country amid the ongoing war, raising concerns over due process violations, fast-tracked sham trials, and heavy charges to suppress dissent and intimidate the public. Baha'is, Iran’s largest unrecognized religious minority, have faced decades of persecution under the Islamic Republic, enduring discriminatory laws, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on practicing their faith, accessing education, and employment. They are frequently targeted with fabricated national security charges to justify harassment, detention, and repression.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) is gravely concerned about the safety of civilians as military attacks on civilian areas throughout the region intensify. We call on all parties to refrain from attacking residential areas, hospitals, emergency services, public utilities, and other essential civilian infrastructure, and to do everything possible to protect civilian lives in all of the countries affected by the ongoing conflict. We further call on all parties to refrain from any actions that could endanger the safety of vulnerable prisoners and detainees in Iran. We remind all parties to the conflict that many detainees in Iran are not held in official detention facilities, but rather in local government, security, and police centers that have come under attack. In addition, thousands of forcibly disappeared protesters held in unidentified “black box” detention facilities are especially at risk of coming under attack. We also remind all parties to the conflict of the growing number of displaced persons, with huge numbers reportedly fleeing cities coming under attack across the region. There should be safe corridors for people evacuating cities, and access to shelter, food, water, and medical care must be maintained for displaced people. Access to food, water, and medical care must also be maintained in all prisons and detention centers. There are alarming reports of the lack of food and water in prisons in Iran. Especially vulnerable groups, including not only prisoners and detainees, but also children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and the displaced, must be in protected zones. Restoration of internet access in Iran must be a priority for the international community. The Iranian authorities’ internet shutdown means civilians cannot access critical safety information, emergency services, or evacuation orders, and Iranians cannot find loved ones who are in state custody—an especially difficult task given that the Iranian authorities have been transferring prisoners. Internet shutdown also raises the risk of serious abuse or secret executions of prisoners and detainees by judicial and prison authorities, especially given the Iranian Judiciary Chief’s recent statement that “individuals who cooperate with the enemy in any manner will be considered the enemy.” CHRI is extraordinarily concerned about the potential for retaliatory violence by Iranian authorities against prisoners and detainees. CHRI urges all parties to the conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law, most notably the Geneva Convention of 1949 and additional protocols, which establish clear protections for civilians during armed conflict, prohibiting the targeting of civilians, indiscriminate attacks, and the use of weapons or tactics that cause disproportionate harm to civilian populations. iranhumanrights.org/2026/03/civili…

“I’m not happy. I don’t like war. But at the same time, I think, ‘Oh, [now] there is no place like that, for my people, for me, to [be] tortured.’” @JomanaCNN speaks with Iranians who were abused and tortured by the regime, now watching the sites of their abuse being destroyed in strikes.

The Revolutionary Court of Songhor, in Kermanshah province, has sentenced retired teacher and labor activist Keyomars Vaezi to five years in prison. Under a ruling issued by Judge Sadegh Tarei Verdi, Vaezi received four years on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” Vaezi was arrested on January 5, 2026, by intelligence forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and transferred to Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah. He was later released on bail. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations condemned the sentence, expressed full support for Vaezi, and called for the unconditional release of imprisoned teachers involved in labor and civil activism.

I am deeply worried about Ahmadreza Djalali and about all political prisoners in Iran. They have already suffered years of unjust imprisonment, isolation, and fear. Now, with war and military tension around them, their lives are in even greater danger. Prisoners cannot protect themselves from bombs, chaos, or retaliation. They are completely at the mercy of authorities and circumstances beyond their control. I call on the international community to urgently monitor their situation and demand that Iranian authorities guarantee their lives and release all prisenor. Even in times of war, human rights must not be forgotten. @SecRubioRace @MariaStenergard @EP_President @EU_Commission #SaveAhmadreza

The UN education agency @UNESCO says that the bombing of a primary school during the US and Israeli military attacks on #Iran on Saturday constitutes a grave violation of humanitarian law. buff.ly/jfnPq5b

🚨Political prisoners in Iran, along with the tens of thousands detained during the recent protests, are at extreme risk amid the ongoing war. The international community must urgently advocate for their immediate release. iranhumanrights.org/2026/03/grave-…

The Center for Human Rights in Iran is gravely concerned about the safety and condition of political prisoners and detainees as military attacks on Iranian cities intensify. The Islamic Republic has a history of using the shadow of war and crises to carry out abuses in prisons and retaliate against political prisoners. At a time when access to independent information about detention facilities has become nearly impossible, there are serious fears that judicial and prison authorities may escalate mistreatment, particularly against those held on politically motivated charges. We are particularly alarmed by the fate of tens of thousands of individuals recently detained during nationwide protests, many of whom remain forcibly disappeared. Many political prisoners who were previously sentenced to death following grossly unfair trials are at risk of secret executions. We are deeply concerned about the renewed use of vague and baseless “national security” and “espionage” charges—tactics previously deployed during the 12-Day War in June 2025—to justify harsh sentences, including the death penalty, as a means of terrorizing the population and suppressing dissent. Prisoners remain largely in the dark about the ongoing military developments. During the 12-day attacks, when Evin Prison was unlawfully targeted by Israeli strikes, authorities failed to evacuate detainees despite known risks. Instead, some prisoners were violently transferred, while some were injured and subjected to abusive treatment. 🔸We call on governments worldwide and international organizations to urgently use every available diplomatic and political channel to press Iranian authorities to release all political prisoners and detainees and to ensure that no executions are carried out during this period of conflict. 🔸We further call on all parties to refrain from any actions that could endanger the safety of vulnerable prisoners and detainees. Prisons are protected facilities under international humanitarian law during wartime. The rights, safety, and humane treatment of all prisoners and detainees must be fully protected in accordance with international law.

Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, a 29-year-old Kurdish political prisoner, is at imminent risk of execution after Branch 39 of Iran’s Supreme Court rejected his appeal. According to his lawyer, Sidad Shirzad, an appeal filed on December 20, 2025, was dismissed on January 27, 2026. A subsequent appeal submitted on February 16, 2026, was also rejected, and the court refused to issue a stay of execution. Shirzad said the case is marred by serious procedural and evidentiary flaws and that the court disregarded substantial concerns documented in the seven-volume case file. Abdollahzadeh, a barber, was arrested on October 22, 2022, during nationwide protests. He was held for 42 days under physical and psychological torture to extract a forced “confession,” according to his lawyer. In court, Abdollahzadeh denied the charges and said his confession had been obtained under torture, but the judge dismissed his claims. On September 19, 2024, Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of “corruption on earth” (efsad-fil-arz) through alleged complicity in the premeditated murder of a Basij member. #محراب_عبداله‌زاده

Nearly two months after the Iranian authorities' use of military-grade weapons and shoot-to-kill orders resulted in the deaths of thousands of protesters across Iran, the state’s violent suppression of its traumatized society is aggressively continuing. tinyurl.com/4vmf6jzz

Mohammad Abbasi, arrested during recent nationwide protests in Iran, has been sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God.” His daughter, Fatemeh Abbasi, received a 25-year prison sentence. The sentences were issued by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, who is known as the “judge of death” and the “hanging judge” for his long record of sentencing political prisoners to death. Their case is now under review at Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Independent lawyers have not been granted access to the case file, leaving key details unclear. Attorney Ali Sharifzadeh Ardekani told Emtedad that the sentences are related to the alleged killing of Lieutenant Colonel Shahin Dehghani Kakavandi during protests in Malard. Sharifzadeh Ardekani said Branch 39 of the Supreme Court barred him and another lawyer from representing the defendants, citing Note to Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which restricts defendants in national security cases during the preliminary investigation stage to choosing state-appointed lawyers.

Thousands of families across Iran are holding memorial ceremonies to mark 40 days since the brutal killing of thousands of protesters by state security forces during the January 8–9 massacres. Videos show many families of the slain clapping, singing, playing music, and dancing to both express their grief and demonstrate their resistance. In Iran, these ceremonies are known as “chehelom,” a ritual observed on the 40th day after a person’s death. During periods of protest, “chehelom” ceremonies often serve as a space for collective grief and outrage over state abuses. In Abdanan, Ilam province, videos show state security forces attacking mourners, including shooting from vehicles, highlighting the continued repression of public mourning. As families continue to mourn across Iran, urgent global action is needed to protect the tens of thousands of protesters—including hundreds of children—who remain unjustly imprisoned in jails and detention centers and face harsh sentences, including the death penalty. Many have been forcibly disappeared and are at grave risk of torture, death in custody, and other serious abuses.

Akam Zandi, an 18-year-old Kurdish teen, has been held incommunicado since his arrest during a raid on his family home in Sanandaj on the evening of January 9, 2026. He was originally transferred to Shahramfar detention center, but a month later, there has been no information about his condition, location, or the charges against him. His family remains in complete uncertainty, raising serious concerns about his safety and well-being. 🔸 Since the start of the protests in Iran, thousands of citizens have been unlawfully arrested and are being held in undisclosed locations without due process, raising serious concerns about enforced disappearances and abuse in custody. CHRI urges all governments and international bodies to demand that Iranian authorities immediately release all those detained and uphold their fundamental rights to due process. #ئاکام_زندی

Vida Rabbani, an imprisoned Iranian journalist, launched a hunger strike on Feburary 5 to protest her continued detention following her transfer to Tonkabon Prison. Her husband, Hamidreza Amiri, said she was physically assaulted while in custody. Her lawyer confirmed that Rabbani was severely beaten after refusing to comply with Iran’s mandatory hijab laws and stated that a formal complaint will be filed. Rabbani was among 17 individuals who signed a public statement on January 28 condemning the killing of protesters during nationwide demonstrations and holding the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic responsible for the mass killings. She was arrested alongside two other co-signatories, Mehdi Mahmoodian and Abdollah Momeni, on January 31. 🔸 Rabbani's assault in custody underscores the widespread risk of abuse and torture faced by thousands of detainees in Iran. 🔸 Since the start of the protests, thousands of people have been arbitrarily arrested and held in undisclosed locations without due process, raising serious concerns about enforced disappearances and systemic abuse in detention. #ویدا_ربانی

Saeed Alizadeh, an architecture master’s student at Qazvin International University who had recently defended his thesis, was arrested on January 12, 2026, after security forces raided his private residence in Tehran. Alizadeh, originally from Ardabil, is currently being detained in Fashafouyeh Prison. Since the start of the protests in Iran, thousands of citizens have been unlawfully arrested and are being held without due process, raising serious concerns about abuse in custody. CHRI urges all governments and international bodies to demand that Iranian authorities immediately release all those detained.