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Iran

Ahmad Batebi, a student activist who was arrested after being photographed holding aloft a T-shirt covered with the blood of a fellow protester.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.

Read about Iran in our 2009 Annual Report

Iran authorities have lost touch with reality

Campaigners in Iran in the run up to the presidential elections.   © Shahram Sharif, http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharif/ 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. Find out more

Good news: Activist released

Mahboubeh KaramiMahboubeh 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:

"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"

Further information

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