(Beirut) – The recent arrests by the authorities, Human Rights Watch said today Iranian The right of prominent critics is part of a new campaign once morest peaceful opposition. Authorities arrested reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh, and directors Muhammad Rasoulaf and Mustafa al-Ahmad on July 9, 2022, and on July 11 arrested another film director, Jaafar Panahi.
She said Tara Sabhari Far“The Iranian government has resorted to repression by arresting popular critics for its inability or unwillingness to deal with the multiple severe challenges facing the country. All the reasons are that these recent arrests reflect ill intent to quell popular anger,” said J., senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch. of massive government failure.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards intelligence agents arrested Tajzadeh at his home at 11:30 p.m. on July 9, according to for post His wife, Fakhr Sadat Mohtashamipour, on her Instagram account. published Fars News Agency, which is close to Iran’s intelligence services, said on July 9 that Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister, was accused of “acting once morest national security” and “spreading lies with the intent of disturbing public opinion.”
The “Islamic Republic News Agency” accused (IRNA) The directors Rasoulaf and Al-Ahmad, who were arrested on July 9, collect signatures on a letter of support for protesters who demanded accountability for Building collapse in Abadan In Khuzestan Province on Sunday, May 23, 40 people were killed.
The authorities prosecuted Rasoulaf for his work on several occasions, the last of which was in late 2020, when A court has sentenced the award-winning director and outspoken critic to prison He was banned for a year and banned from making films for two years for “propaganda once morest the regime” due to the content of his films.
On July 11, Mehr News Agency, which is owned by the Commission for the Propagation of Islamic Thought, published News of Panahi’s arrestanother prominent director, following visiting the Public Prosecution Office in Tehran to inquire regarding Rasoulaf’s arrest.
already arrested Authorities Tajzadeh on June 13, 2009, immediately following the disputed presidential elections that sparked mass protests. A court sentenced him to six years in prison for “assembly and collusion to undermine national security.” He was released in June 2016.
The latest arrests come as part of a crackdown since May once morest peaceful dissent, amid deteriorating economic conditions fading hopes Reviving the nuclear agreement between the international community and Iran. The authorities arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned more than ten activists, including them Narges MohammadiAndSaid Madani, Kiwan Samimi, Muhammad Habibi, and Reda Shihabi. During the last week of June alone, the authorities summoned andarrested Several journalists and activists were sentenced, including Weda Rabbani, Ahmed Reza Haeri, Amir Salar Daoudi, and Massoud Bastani.
The Iranian authorities should halt their crackdown on dissent, Human Rights Watch said, and release those detained for their peaceful activism and criticism of the state.
