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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 2011 Annual Report

Stop Stoning in Iran

Under Iranian law, stoning is mandatory for both men and women convicted of 'adultery whilst married'.

Campaign update: 1 February 2012

We have been campaigning for an end to the barbaric execution practice of stoning, while the Iranian authorities are reviewing the country's Penal Code. Their review will consider whether execution by stoning should be retained. The Iranian Judiciary announced a moratorium on stoning in 2009; we are calling for a full ban, outlined in the country's Penal Code.

More than 15,000 Amnesty supporters emailed the Head of the Iranian Judiciary during the past six months, asking that as the Penal Code is reviewed, Iranian law is changed to reflect Iran's obligations under international law - so that no one in Iran risks the death penalty for having consensual sexual relations between adults in private.

A huge thank you to all who got behind this campaign. We will email those who took action in Spring 2012, when the Penal Code could be revised, with an update.


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