CRY FREEDOM.net
formerly known as
Women's Liberation Front
'Insight is the first step of resistance against any ideologic form of dictatorial and misogynistic oppression'

Tribute to KIAN PIRFALA, 9 years old and victim of the Islamic Republic's savagery 10 years ago.

'Women's Arab Spring 1.2'
Updated Dec. 13, 2024
Special reports about the Afghanistan Women Revolt and more
Updated Jan 10, 2025

Syria: the Fall of Assad and aftermath
Updates Jan 6 - 3,2025

PALESTINE
Updated Jan 8, 2025

HAIL TO THE IRANIAN WOMEN'S REVOLUTIONISTS FALLEN FOR FREDOM
against the supreme leader, the arch-reactionary Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, and his placeman president. The message of the women when the former president visited a university was plain: <give way or get lost> in 2023 and still is.
IN MEMORY OF ASRA PANAHI (16)- JINA MAMINI (22) - NIKA SHAKARAMI (16), SARINA ESMAILZADEH (16) HADIS NAJAFI (20), AND MORE WOMEN WHO WERE ASSASINATED SO FAR BY THE IRANIAN AXIS OF EVIL.
  Click here for a total list so far

(Updates January 12, 2025) z

UPDATES OF THE UPRISING  AND REVOLUTION AROUND THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF JINA AMINI IN CUSTODY OF THE REGIME'S ATTEMPT AND CRUELTY TO TRY AND CRUSH IT.

This links to a page that is in full dedicated and a tribute to Jina Amini who, with stilll 'till today too many other sisters gave their life for freedom. Long live a long and free Iran And do read also the above linked  incredible December 2023 update! despite the mullahs' regime to force it down! Her mother speaks out loud and clear UPDATED: September 29 - 16, 2024 Second Anniversary of Jina Amini's state-sanctioned murder incl. Commemorating Bloody Friday and earlier news about a wave of arrests of her fellow-citizen

We all grief for the loss of our sister / daughter of Iran Armita Gevarnand:   Read her updated story here

'War against the No-hijabi women' Update Dec. 20, 2024: Iranian Women Rise Against the New Hijab Law with the Slogan "Woman, Resistance, Freedom" Nov. 13, 2024: hijab-torture clinics

Earlier Stories and more

MARJAM AKBARI MONFARED June 24, 2024: The Iranian Regime Judiciary Launches a New Case to Seize the Assets of Maryam Akbari Monfared and Her Family, in Revenge for Seeking Justice for Her Siblings Executed in the 1980s Click the above for also earlier news

January 8, 2025 - December 28 - 4, 2024
Sisters 4 each other, Sisters 4 All
in continuation of the below resistence of the 3 sisters

When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.

Dear reader, let us, apart from all the other news following please read first the most inspiring but alas also most disturbing news.
In other words: Rise more for the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' uprisal. Gino d'Artali
 

January 11 - 9, 2025
Imminent Risk of Execution of Pakhshan Azizi because "I'm Kurdish, I'm a woman"
  
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 9, 2025
<<Femicide: Three women killed in Saqqez, Sanandaj, and Kermanshah
In recent days, three young women from Saqqez, Sanandaj (Sine), and Kermanshah (Kirmaşan) have been brutally murdered under horrific circumstances. They are identified as Kosar Darabi, a victim of forced marriage; Ghazaleh Hodoudi, a victim of child marriage; and Sara Karami, who were killed by their husband, an unknown assailant, and a rejected suitor, respectively. According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, Kosar Darabi, 18, from Kermanshah, was fatally shot by her husband on the outskirts of the city. Sources report that Kosar was forced into marriage two months ago and had suffered severe physical abuse before her death. The perpetrator is currently in custody. Sara Karami, another woman from Saqqez and mother of a 6-year-old boy, was murdered recently by unknown individuals in her family home in the Baharestan Bala neighborhood of Saqqez. According to informed sources, Sara, who was in the process of obtaining a divorce, was killed while alone in her home. Her body was found with bruises around her neck and blood coming from her ears, indicating a violent death.
Also on Wednesday evening, December 25, 2024, Ghazaleh Hodoudi, 27, a mother of an 11-year-old daughter and a victim of child marriage, was set on fire by her suitor, Sirvan Sa'edpanah, in her tailor shop in the Naysar neighborhood of Sanandaj. Reports state that Sirvan attacked Ghazaleh after she rejected his marriage proposal. During the incident, Sirvan himself suffered burns while igniting the fire and is currently under medical care.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-93


Ghazaaleh Hodoodi
NCRI - January 9, 2025 - in Articles, Women's News
<<The Dire Conditions of Qarchak Prison
Women's Struggles and Challenges in Iran's Prison System
Qarchak Prison, located near Varamin, 35 km southeast of Tehran, exclusively houses female inmates. Known for its overcrowded conditions, substandard sanitation, and abusive treatment by prison staff, it has become a symbol of the broader human rights abuses under the Iranian regime. This report sheds light on the dire realities faced by women incarcerated in Qarchak Prison, highlighting the systemic neglect and maltreatment they endure.
A Hub of Oppression
Situated along the Varamin-Tehran highway, Qarchak Prison is notorious for housing women charged with various offenses, from drug-related crimes and financial fraud to <crimes> such as improper veiling or opposing the regime. Many of these women are victims of systemic corruption and socio-political repression.
Conditions in the prison are particularly harrowing:
Torture and Abuse: Reports of physical and psychological torture, including beatings and sexual harassment by security personnel, are disturbingly common.Lack of Basic Hygiene: Prisoners often lack access to essential sanitary products, and unsanitary conditions contribute to widespread health issues.Social Isolation: Restrictions on family visits and communication exacerbate the emotional toll on inmates.
Structure and Overcrowding
Qarchak Prison comprises 10 sections, each accommodating 100-120 inmates, with an overall population exceeding 1,500 women ranging in age from 19 to 70. The prison's infrastructure is grossly inadequate:
Each section has 12 shared rooms, which are overcrowded and have up to 12 women per room. Limited facilities include six bathrooms and seven toilets per section, and while hot water is available, the water is brackish and unsuitable for regular use.
Health and Nutrition
Prisoners face severe neglect in medical care. Visits to external hospitals are rare and often insufficient, with only basic medications provided for common illnesses. Pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses receive minimal attention.
Medications are provided in very limited quantities. For instance, if a prisoner requires antibiotics, they receive no more than four or five pills. Doctors visit prisoners only once a month for general and gynecological conditions. In cases of serious illnesses, prisoners often have to wait days or even weeks to be transferred to medical facilities.
Food quality is another major issue. Meals consist of low-quality ingredients, including frozen and expired poultry, leading to frequent complaints.
Breakfast typically includes butter, jam, or halva, while lunch and dinner options like lentil rice, stews, or boiled eggs are repetitive and nutritionally deficient.
Exploitation in Workshops
Qarchak Prison operates several workshops, including tailoring and carpet weaving. However, the pay is exploitatively low, with prisoners earning a mere one million tomans (~$20 USD) monthly despite long hours of labor.
Visitation and Communication
Inmates can meet visitors either through a glass partition (monthly) or in person (bi-monthly). These restrictions have caused significant psychological distress for prisoners and their families. For mothers with young children, this delay is particularly unbearable.
Management and Inmate Grievances
The prison is managed by Soghra Khodadadi, whose abusive behavior has drawn widespread condemnation from inmates. Judge Kolivand, the supervising judiciary official, and local prosecutors also face accusations of negligence and misconduct. Prisoners frequently cite these officials’ indifference to their grievances as a significant source of despair.
A Call to Action
The inhumane conditions in Qarchak Prison reflect the broader systemic violations under the clerical regime. From political dissidents to ordinary women incarcerated for minor offenses, the lack of justice and human dignity in Iran's prisons underscores the regime’s oppressive rule. Exposing these injustices is a moral and political imperative. As technology enables global awareness, amplifying the voices of these silenced prisoners is vital. The international community must hold the Iranian regime accountable and support efforts to improve human rights within the country. Such advocacy is not only an act of solidarity but a step toward justice for all those suffering under this repressive system. On December 2, 2024, the European Union extended its human rights sanctions against Iran for another year. The EU announced that Qarchak Prison in Varamin remains on the sanctions list due to its inhumane conditions. The EU's statement highlighted that the living conditions in Qarchak Prison are deplorable and inhumane. Female prisoners are subjected to torture and abuse. They are deprived of access to clean drinking water, food, and medical assistance in overcrowded cells.>>
Source: https://wncri.org/2025/01/09/the-dire-conditions-of-qarchak-prison/
Related: Do read an even more extensive report about how harsh reality of Iran's prisons and repression in-facto is:
Source: https://medyanews.net/panorama-2024-the-harsh-reality-of-irans-prisons-and-repression/


Woman, Life, Freedom! (for Pakhshan Azizi) cartoon: Mana Neyestani
Iranwire - January 8, 2025
<<Death Sentence Upheld for Iranian Aid Worker Despite Legal Concerns
Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for Pakhsan Azizi, a humanitarian aid worker from Mahabad, despite significant procedural concerns raised by her legal team, her lawyer Amir Raisian announced. Branch 39 of the Supreme Court confirmed the verdict, which includes an additional four-year prison term, without addressing what Raisian described as numerous procedural and flaws in the case. The original sentence was issued by Tehran's Revolutionary Court on charges of <armed rebellion through membership in opposition groups.> Raisian stated that his client's activities in northern Syria were strictly humanitarian, focusing on providing aid in refugee camps for those displaced by ISIS. "There was no military or political involvement," he said, pointing to a lack of evidence for the charges. Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was previously detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/women/137907-death-sentence-upheld-for-iranian-aid-worker-despite-legal-concerns/

NCRI - January 8, 2025 - in Statements, in Women's News
<<NCRI Women's Committee condemns the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, by the clerical regime's Supreme Court, and calls for urgent action to save her life
The Women's Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran strongly condemns the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, by the clerical regime's Supreme Court. It urges the United Nations, its relevant bodies, especially the Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, and all organizations defending human and women's rights to take immediate action to save Pakshan’s life and secure her immediate release. The misogynistic clerical regime holds the world record for the execution of women, having executed 34 women in the past year alone.
....
National Council of Resistance of Iran - Women's Committee>>
Source: https://wncri.org/2025/01/08/pakhshan-azizi-death-sentence-upheld/


Zahra Shahbazi
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 7, 2024
<<Femicide: Victim of child marriage killed by husband in Ilam
A young woman from Ilam, identified as Zahra Shahbazi, who was a victim of forced child marriage, was killed by her husband with a firearm. The perpetrator has fled the scene. In 2024, at least nine women in Ilam Province were killed by close relatives. According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Zahra Shahbazi, a 28-year-old woman, was shot and killed by her 32-year-old husband in one of Ilam city's neighborhoods. The murder occurred in front of her 14-year-old child and was reportedly due to family disputes. Hengaw has learned that Zahra was forced into marriage at the age of 14, making her a victim of child marriage and forced marriage. According to Ghodrat Heidarizad, Ilam's police commander, the perpetrator fled after the crime, and authorities have initiated efforts to apprehend him. Based on statistics compiled by Hengaw's Center for Statistics and Documentation, Ilam Province recorded nine femicide cases in 2024, making it one of the provinces with the highest femicide rates in Iran.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-82

And other actual news
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 10, 2025
<<Kurdish man in Naqadeh sentenced to 29 months in prison
Mohammad Aminifar (Jokhur), a 40-year-old Kurdish resident of Naqadeh, has been sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s judicial system. Aminifar was arrested last winter and temporarily released on bail after a period of detention. According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Aminifar, a resident of Aliabad village near Naqadeh, was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Sajad Dosti. He received the sentence for charges of <membership in the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan> and <propaganda against the government.> Aminifar was initially arrested on Tuesday, January 1, 2023, by intelligence officers at his home in Aliabad village. His arrest involved the use of violence, and he was subsequently transferred to a security detention center operated by the Intelligence Department in Urmia. After a period of detention, he was temporarily released from Naqadeh Prison upon posting a 2 billion toman bail, pending judicial proceedings. During his detention, Aminifar was reportedly denied access to legal representation and the right to meet with his family.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-94

Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<38 Baluch Citizens Arrested in Pre-Dawn Raids in Iran
At least 38 people were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Tuesday in southeastern Zahedan as security forces carried out widespread operations in the area. The arrests took place in the Zebarabad neighborhood of the Nosratabad district, according to Haalvash, a human rights news agency that monitors rights violations in Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan region. Eight detainees have been identified, all of whom are married residents of the area.
Witnesses report that security forces used aggressive tactics during the raids, damaging residents' personal property and instilling fear throughout the community. The location where the detainees are being held remains unknown, and authorities have not provided any information regarding the reasons for the arrests or potential charges. Human rights groups say members of Iran's Baluch minority, most of whom follow Sunni Islam, face widespread discrimination in the judicial system and daily life, with authorities curtailing their access to education, employment, adequate housing, and political office.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137970-38-baluch-citizens-arrested-in-pre-dawn-raids-in-iran/

Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<Baluch Man Killed by Iranian Security Forces in Kerman
A 32-year-old Baluch man was fatally shot by Iranian security forces at his home in Kerman Province, according to human rights organizations monitoring the region. Saeed Ahmadi, a married resident of Abbasabad village in the Roudbar-e-Jonub district, was killed in the early hours of Wednesday. He died when agents from the Intelligence Department opened fire on his residence, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. Haalvash reports that plainclothes agents, arriving in vehicles with private license plates, fired multiple shots at Ahmadi's home. Ahmadi sustained several gunshot wounds and did not survive the attack. During the same operation, another unidentified individual present at Ahmadi's residence was reportedly severely beaten and taken into custody. The person's current whereabouts remain unknown. Authorities have not provided any explanation for the shooting or disclosed any charges against Ahmadi or the detained individual.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137964-baluch-man-killed-by-iranian-security-forces-in-kerman/

Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<Iran's Education Minister Admits Severe School Shortages in Sistan and Baluchistan
Iran’s Education Minister Alireza Kazemi has acknowledged severe shortages in educational facilities in the Sistan and Baluchistan province. He described the situation as "difficult and challenging" due to long-standing infrastructure problems. The minister outlined plans for a "targeted approach" to improve the educational space per capita across the province's districts and cities. However, education experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the insufficient number of schools in the region. Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran's youngest province demographically, faces challenges associated with its rapidly growing population. The province, which accounts for about 5 percent of Iran's total population, records ten new births every hour. Despite this growth, civil society activists and educational equality advocates describe the condition of schools, particularly in rural areas, as "disastrous." Many villages in the province either completely lack schools or face severe overcrowding, with some locations operating with fewer than five classrooms to serve their entire student population.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137950-irans-education-minister-admits-severe-school-shortages-in-sistan-and-baluchistan/

Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<Iran Summons Writer to Begin Serving Over Three-Year Sentence for Hijab Protest
Iranian writer and translator Sepideh Rashnu has been ordered to begin serving a three-year and seven-month prison sentence for protesting against mandatory hijab laws. According to a summons issued by Branch One of the Criminal Enforcement Office at Tehran's Evin Prison, Rashnu must report within five days to begin her sentence. The case stems from a 2022 incident when she was arrested after a video showed her arguing with a hijab-wearing woman on a bus. Two weeks later, state TV aired a program showing her giving a forced confession, with signs of beatings visibly apparent on her face. "I never thought my first task of the day would be to check the enforcement summons - especially for something that happened two years ago," Rashnu wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. She faces multiple legal challenges, including a separate case involving her university suspension, which resulted in a fine rather than imprisonment. The sentence comes amid uncertainty over Iran's new <Chastity and Hijab> law.
Parliamentary spokesperson Abbas Goudarzi confirmed the law's approval by Parliament and the Guardian Council but stated that its implementation has been delayed at the request of the Supreme National Security Council to allow for government revisions. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had previously announced that the law would take effect on December 13, but its implementation was postponed pending government amendments. The legislation has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations and activists. Rashnu revealed that her legal troubles extend beyond the bus incident. A second case, stemming from her posts about her university suspension and sharing what authorities deemed an <indecent photo> of herself on Instagram, shows the broader scope of Iran's enforcement of social regulations.
She has filed a third appeal for retrial.
All women in Iran are mandated to conceal their hair with a hijab while in public and wear loose-fitting trousers under their coats.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/women/137942-iran-summons-writer-to-begin-serving-over-three-year-sentence-for-hijab-protest/

Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<Iran Executes 901 People in 2024, UN Says
The Islamic Republic's authorities executed 901 people in 2024, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office. Among those executed were 31 women, many of whom were convicted of murder while defending themselves or their family members from domestic violence, rape, or forced marriage. In one case, a woman was executed for killing her husband while trying to prevent him from raping her daughter, said UN spokesperson Liz Throssell. "It is deeply disturbing that yet again we see an increase in the number of people subjected to the death penalty in Iran year on year," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. He added, "It is high time Iran stemmed this ever-swelling tide of executions." While most executions were for drug-related offenses, the UN also reported that political dissidents and individuals connected to the 2022 protests were among those executed. The report comes as newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in July 2024, faces scrutiny over his campaign promises to strengthen protections for women and minorities.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137937-iran-executes-901-people-in-2024-un-says/


Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani
Iranwire - January 10, 2025
<<Iran's Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentences for Two Political Prisoners
The Islamic Republic's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences for two political prisoners. Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou, 64, and Mehdi Hasani, 48, are currently detained in Tehran's Evin prison. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), their lawyers were informed of the decision on Wednesday. The men were convicted in September 2024 by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on multiple charges, including <armed rebellion,> <waging war against God,> and <corruption on Earth.> Additional charges included collecting classified information and conspiring against national security. The court, led by Judge Iman Afshari, cited their alleged membership in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) as evidence. Ehsani was arrested at his Tehran home in November 2022 and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Hasani, a real estate professional and father of two, was detained in Zanjan in September 2022 while attempting to leave the country. Subsequently, both men were held incommunicado for several months after their arrests. The convictions and death sentences come amid growing international concern over Iran's use of capital punishment against political dissidents and prisoners of conscience. The number of executions in Iran reached 901 last year, including 31 women, many of whom were convicted of killing their husbands in self-defense after facing rape or forced marriages, the U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday. While most executions were related to drug offenses, political dissidents and individuals connected to the 2022 protests were also targeted.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137936-irans-supreme-court-upholds-death-sentences-for-two-political-prisoners/


Balochs arrests
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 9, 2025
<<Security forces arrest at least 20 Balochs in Zahedan
At least 20 Balochs from the Nosratabad district of Zahedan, in Sistan-Baluchistan Province, were violently arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location. The number of detainees is expected to increase. According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the arrests occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 7, 2025, during a large-scale raid conducted by security forces and plainclothes agents in Nosratabad. The identities of the detainees include: Mirkhan Narouei, 46, Iman Narouei, 29, Milad Narouei, 20, Mehrshad Narouei, 19, Iman Narouei, 21, Mohammad Narouei, 32, Fazl Ahmad Narouei, 39, Farshid Narouei, 28, Safar Narouei, 35, Yasin Narouei, 29, Mehdi Narouei, 30, Azin Narouei, 28, Aminollah Narouei, 39, Mohsen Narouei, 26, Aminollah Narouei, 41, Mousa Narouei, 44, Majid Narouei, 47, Abdul Hakim Bandor, 40, Abdul Hamid Bandor, 26, Iman Dehmardeh, 19. Haalvsh news outlet reports state that dozens of military and unmarked vehicles were used during the raid. Security forces surrounded several areas of Nosratabad and forcibly entered homes, using physical and verbal violence against residents during the arrests. As of this report, no information has been provided regarding the reasons for the arrests, the charges against the detainees, their current location, or their condition.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-89


Mothers for Peace and Reconciliation
Jinha - Womens News Agency - January 8, 2024
<<Mothers for Peace and Reconciliation condemn death penalty in Iran
The Mothers for Peace and Reconciliation in Eastern Kurdistan condemn the death penalty in Iran, expressing their support to the "No to Execution, Yes to Free Life" campaign.
News Center- The members of the Mothers of Peace and Reconciliation in Rojhelat Kurdistan (Eastern Kurdistan or Iranian Kurdistan) held a protest on Tuesday to support the "No to Execution, Yes to Free Life" campaign launched by the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR) on the 14th anniversary of the execution of Shirin Alam-Houli, who was executed in Evin prison on May 9, 2010, along with Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian.

Pakhshan Azizi and Varisha Moradi
Holding the photos of Pakhshan Azizi and Warisha Moradi (Verisheh Moradi), two Kurdish women sentenced to death in Iran, and chanting slogans such as "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" and "No to execution", the mothers called on the Iranian regime to abolish the death penalty.
According to the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), at least 54 prisoners, including 12 Kurdish political prisoners, have been sentenced to death in Iran over political and security charges.>>
Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/mothers-for-peace-and-reconciliation-condemn-death-penalty-in-iran-36305?page=1


Cecilia Sala
Iranwire - January 8, 2025
<<Italian Journalist Released from Iranian Detention, Heading Home
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been released from detention in Iran and is currently on a flight returning to Italy from Tehran, the Italian Prime Minister's office announced Wednesday. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally contacted Sala's parents to inform them of their daughter's release, according to a government statement. "Thanks to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriot was released by the Iranian authorities and is returning to Italy," the statement said. Sala was detained by Iranian authorities in December and accused of <violating the law of the Islamic Republic> while conducting reporting work in Tehran. Members of the right-wing Italian government immediately celebrated news of the journalist's release and congratulated Meloni for her "immense work." "Cecilia Sala is coming back. Immense work by Giorgia Meloni first and foremost and by the entire Italian team: Tajani, Mantovano, Palazzo Chigi, the Farnesina, our security services and anyone who could be of help. Welcome home," said Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. "Cecilia Sala has been released, she is on her way to Italy, welcome back!," wrote Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini from the hard-wing League party.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137899-italian-journalist-released-from-iranian-detention-heading-home/

Iranwire - January 8, 2025
<<Five Cultural Activists Arrested in Southern Iran
At least five cultural activists have been arrested in Iran's southern Khuzestan province over the past two days in a series of raids by security forces.
On Tuesday, security forces detained Ahlam Bandar, an Arab cultural and civil activist who manages a bookstore in Ahvaz selling Arabic books.
Following her arrest, authorities blocked her Instagram account and shut down the bookstore's website. The day before, intelligence forces arrested Milad Bahri, a photographer and journalist who had previously been detained for his civil activities. On the same day, security forces raided the home of children's book author and researcher Saeed Ismail in Ahvaz's Alavi neighborhood. During the raid, agents surrounded his house, conducted a search, and confiscated his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, computer, and books. Ismail, who suffers from a severe kidney condition, was taken to an undisclosed location, leaving his family concerned about his well-being. According to Karim Dahimi, an Arab political activist based in the UK, the crackdown extends beyond these arrests. Political, cultural, and civil activists in the region, especially those with previous arrest records, have received threatening calls from the intelligence department. Authorities have not released any information about the cases. The reasons for the arrests and the current whereabouts of the detainees remain unknown.>>
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/137900-five-cultural-activists-arrested-in-southern-iran/


Four labour activists
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 8, 2024
<<Four labor activists in Khuzestan sentenced to 24 years in prison
Four labor and teacher activists from Ahvaz-Kokab Bedaghi-Panah, Ali Koroshat, Pirouz Nami, and Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi-have been collectively sentenced to 24 years in prison, with each receiving six years, by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the sentencing was handed down by Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. Kokab Bedaghi-Panah and Pirouz Nami are Bakhtiari teachers from Izeh, while Ali Koroshat is an Arab labor activist, and Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi is a retired teacher, both residing in Ahvaz. Each individual was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for <collusion and assembly against national security> and an additional year for <propaganda against the state.> The verbal ruling was conveyed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The court hearing for this case took place on November 7, 2024. Over the years, all four activists have been subjected to repeated summonses and interrogations by security agencies due to their advocacy for labor and social rights.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-84


Abdoljalil Gomshadzehi and Ahmad Gomshadzehi
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 8, 2024
<<Two Balochs killed by government forces' gunfire
Two Baloch individuals, identified as Abdoljalil Gomshadzehi and Ahmad Gomshadzehi, were killed following direct gunfire by armed forces in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Abdoljalil Gomshadzehi, a 20-year-old resident of Golshan, was shot and killed by police forces while driving his vehicle. Similarly, Ahmad Gomshadzehi, a 26-year-old resident of Mirjaveh, lost control of his vehicle, which overturned after being fired upon directly by government forces, resulting in his death.
It is noteworthy that the armed forces opened fire on these individuals' vehicles without issuing any prior warning. Abdoljalil Gomshadzehi was targeted in the Mashkid area of Golshan County, while Ahmad Gomshadzehi was shot along the Khash-Zahedan highway.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/1403-10-article-83


Omid Afrouzeh
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - January 7, 2024
<<Iran Border Guards shoot and injure Kurdish Kolbar at Saqqez border
A Kurdish Kolbar from Bukan, identified as Omid Afrouzeh, was severely injured after being shot directly by Iran border guards in the border areas of Saqqez. According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Sunday, January 5, 2025, Omid Afrouzeh, a 28-year-old Kolbar from Bukan, was injured by direct fire from border guards in the 'Bastam' area of Saqqez. The shooting left Afrouzeh in critical condition, and he was subsequently transferred to 'Shafa' Hospital in Saqqez for urgent medical treatment.>>
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/01/article-7

Women's Liberation Front 2019/cryfreedom.net 2025