Iran
In 1979 Iran became the centre of world attention when the monarchy was overthrown
and a unique Islamic republic was declared, in which religious clerics wielded
ultimate political control. Since then, Iran has been in a constant state of turmoil.
Reformists are at odds with the government and the religious establishment.
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by new arrests and detentions in Iran targeting peaceful human rights activists, minority community activists, and others exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. We call on the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran to protect fundamental human rights, including the right to life and freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party.
Iran authorities have lost touch with reality
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Good news: Activist released
"I would like to thank you for your attention, work and support beside the help
and support from many other people and organisations, which was a real help for
me [in gaining my] release from the prison. I wish the best for you...in the future"
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Further information
- Challenging Repression: Human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa 11 March 2009 (pdf)
- Human rights violations persist in Iran 30 years after Islamic revolution 9 February 2009
- Worsening repression of dissent as election approaches 1 February 2009

The Iranian government's view of the state of human rights in the country is severely distorted. It's submission to the UN in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review reads as is there were no human rights crisis, just politically motivated criticism. 
Mahboubeh Karami, an activist and member of the One Million Signatures campaign
in Iran was held in prison for over two months. On her release, she sent this
message to Amnesty: