Feb 14, 2023
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Seyed Rasoul Alaghband, a prisoner in Evin prison, committed self-immolation. An informed source told HRANA that Alaghband set himself on fire with alcohol, resulting in burns to his face and chest.
The source claims that he was a former employee of the Ministry of Intelligence who was arrested for disobeying orders after 27 years of service and had been in prison for five years. The motive and circumstances surrounding his self-immolation are unknown.
Regret and Shame
112 Revolutionary activists and supporters of the 1979 revolution in Iran called the Islamic Republic “a suppressed space” in a statement, saying that they are “ashamed” of it. This group, who used to call the Islamic Republic a “sweet victory”, now calls it “the gone dreams.”
Controversial “Women's Safety Plan”
Tayebeh Siavoshi, former Member of Parliament, reported that a new plan for women's safety had been presented, allowing 12-year-old girls to marry with their father's consent. At the same time, the Education Minister said that marriage is one of the main reasons why girls drop out of school. In addition, financial constraints, especially for those living in rural areas, continue to be a major obstacle to girls' education.
Releasing or Hostage Taking?
In a recent CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh expressed concern for her family's safety. Despite these fears, Sotoudeh is determined to speak out against oppression in Iran. Recently, her husband, Reza Khandan, was called to serve a six-year prison term. Sotoudeh's work as a human rights defender, for which she was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize, has attracted international attention.
Suspended Membership due to Hijab
Recently, several memberships for women from Iran’s national library got suspended due to an “improper hijab”. Following this act, a group of members showed their protest through a public statement:
“The library should be a cultural organization; however, it is now an arm of the IRGC to remove women’s presence in society.”
Update on Detainees’ Release
Reports show more political prisoners got released with the new “pardon” plan than in past years. 35 women from Varamin Prison, 20 women and a group of men from Evin prison, 60 individuals from Zahedan prison, all women from Amol prison, got released. These individuals were all arrested in the recent protests.
Overall, about 19763 people have been arrested since September 2022.