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

Editors' info: About a possible change of the name of the outlet:
and no, the URL www.cryfreedom.net will not change in this. Too much hassles and as such the outlet
is too well known to run that risk. Still, to enhance the content of it the
name online will be incl. a logo named
´Woman, Life, Freedom - MENA News Agency
covering the news from the Middle East and North Africa and covering all the Arabic muslim world.
Any feedback, negative or positive, on this is more than welcome at info@cryfreedom.net
Thank you for your time and input.

 HEAR JINA AMINI'S VOICE
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
a wave of arrests of her fellow-citizen

Overview of news about the Second aniversary of Jina Amini's state-sactioned murder September 2024


JINA AMINI
The face of Iran's protests. Her life, her dreams and her death.

Read also: Armita's Story: Iran's Generation Z Rebellion Against the Ayatollahs

Ongoing since Oct. 3, 2024:
Commemoration of the Fallen for
Freedom Part6
 Click here for previous Commemorations  
And more commemorational stories
Tortured to Death: The Story of Atefeh Na'ami
Violence During Woman, Life, Freedom Protests

'Women's Arab Spring 1.2'
May 21 - 18, 2025
 Incl. Syria: YPJ The Women’s Protection Units fighters

  
 About the Afghanistan Women Revolt
May 20 - 16, 2025

PALESTINE
Day 2 day updates:
May 20, 2025
and earlier

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 May 21, 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   & Actual news:  Generation Z Leads Hijab Rebellion on Tehran’s Streets and Earlier Stories and more

May 9 - 6 and April 17 - March 16, 2025 and earlier
 UN-investigation demanded - A Global Call for Solidarity and the sanctity of life
Actual news of the
continues resistance of the

Sisters 4 each other, Sisters 4 All
Narges Mohammadi: "Tyranny will fall"
Pakhshan Azizi: "You dictator, I am Arash, fire responds to fire,"
Sharifeh Mohammadi: "Finally, one day, I will sing the song of victory from the summit of the mountain, like the sun. Tomorrow belongs to us"
Varisha Moradi: "Resistance is life"
 in continuation of the resistance of the 4 sisters and others
Earlier reports
and
read all their previous fights

When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
 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.

Symbol of resistance of Iranian women


Iranwire - May 21, 2025 - By Maryam Dehkordi
{16 Women Killed by Male Relatives in Iran in 40 Days
At least 16 women have been killed by male relatives in Iran over the past 40 days, IranWire reports. The killings, which occurred between April and May, spanned multiple cities from Shahroud to Mashhad and Kermanshah to Firouzabad. In many instances, the third day of mourning for one victim coincided with the burial of another woman elsewhere in the country. Sources close to the victims revealed a pattern of domestic abuse, control, and violence that ultimately ended in murder. Rights activists attribute the deaths to a combination of patriarchal attitudes, inadequate legal protections, and cultural norms that normalize violence against women who seek independence. On May 17, the recreational area of Amirieh in Shahroud became a crime scene when police discovered the lifeless body of 20-year-old Yasaman Nosrati inside an abandoned Peugeot. Her body showed clear signs of strangulation and neck trauma. Women's rights activist Pardis Rabiei, who first published photos of the young woman, told IranWire, “According to Yasaman’s relatives, police arrested her 26-year-old husband as the primary suspect without hesitation, and he confessed to the murder during the early stages of interrogation.” Just two years into their marriage, Yasaman’s life had become a prison. Her husband, paranoid that she was seeing someone else, tried to control every aspect of her life. A source close to Yasaman's family said, “His distrust drove their relationship to the brink of collapse. He had threatened her many times before, and ultimately lured her to the outskirts of the city, where he strangled her with a belt.” What haunts those who knew Yasaman is how hard she had tried to help her husband. “One of Yasaman’s biggest struggles was her husband’s constant need for control. He had a disturbing sense of ownership over her,” the source explained. “She repeatedly asked him to confront his psychological problems and seek professional help instead of resorting to bullying, intimidation, and violence - requests he never took seriously. He chose violence over professional help and the rule of law.” Meanwhile, in a village in southern Fars Province, Eliana Kouhi - forced into an arranged marriage with a much older man - had finally summoned the courage to seek separation after years of abuse and giving birth to two children. Her mother, Farideh Bagheri, stood by her, supporting her decision to escape the violence. That solidarity cost both women their lives. A source close to Eliana’s family told IranWire, “She was repeatedly subjected to physical and psychological abuse from her husband. Just a day before the murder, he threatened to kill her if she complained about him or pursued a divorce.” The threat became a reality - not only for Eliana but for her mother as well. “Farideh Bagheri, Eliana’s kind and smiling mother, lost her life simply for standing up against violence,” the source said. “The son-in-law, a close relative of Farideh’s husband, murdered her just because she supported her daughter’s decision to separate.” Their funeral was held on May 18. These killings are not isolated crimes - they highlight how dangerous it can be for women in a society where their independence is seen as a threat. Eliana and Farideh are among many women including Shohreh Bavaghar in Bandar Abbas, Ghazaleh Hodoudi in Sanandaj, and Tahereh Khodami in Kerman, who were killed for rejecting forced marriages or attempting to leave abusive relationships. On May 7, IranWire reported another murder:

Ma'edeh Khatibian
Ma'edeh Khatibian, originally from Zahedan, was killed by her husband in Mashhad. Ma'edeh’s story is one of a stolen childhood. Married to her cousin Amir Hossein at just 14 years old, she entered a life marked by brutality and isolation. “She was beaten repeatedly by her husband over the years,” relatives told IranWire. “It even happened in the presence of others. Ma’edeh lived in deeply inhumane conditions.” After the marriage, her husband’s family moved her to Mashhad, deliberately cutting her off from her mother. “It was a forced isolation that placed her in a very sad situation,” the source explained. Now, Ma’edeh’s two-year-old child lives with paternal grandparents, while her own family is denied visitation rights. Her husband’s family has attempted to justify the murder by accusing Ma’edeh of “moral issues and immorality,” and is pressuring her family to consent to his release. A source close to the case denied the allegations: “Ma’edeh did not engage in any immoral behavior. She simply voiced complaints about the violence she suffered at the hands of her husband and his family. Her husband continuously subjected her to physical and mental abuse. He beat her even over trivial matters, like being late with meals.” “Her uncle, who was also her father-in-law, was an intrusive and ill-tempered man who incited his son to violence against Ma’edeh.” “Now, he’s trying to secure the family’s consent for release, knowing that moral accusations might make them regret pursuing justice.” This disturbing pattern, where accusations of immorality are weaponized to justify murder, reveals how patriarchal structures create environments in which domestic violence is normalized, and even endorsed. Official bodies in Iran do not publish accurate statistics on femicides, though such cases are frequently reported in local newspapers. According to Etemad newspaper, 78 women were murdered by relatives between March and September of last year. In 2023, Shargh newspaper reported that at least 165 women were killed by male relatives between 2021 and 2023. Of those, 27 were murdered in the first three months of 2023 alone, with "honor killings" cited as a primary motive. These figures represent only the reported cases. The true number of femicides is likely much higher.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/women/141365-16-women-killed-by-male-relatives-in-iran-in-40-days/

Iranwire - May 21, 2025
{Kurdish Activist Denied Medical Care in Iranian Prison
A Kurdish activist detained since December last year is facing deteriorating health while being denied medical treatment, sources told IranWire. Qader Kharamanfar, 55, was arrested at his Mahabad home by Intelligence Ministry agents on December 15, 2024 without a judicial warrant. Sources told IranWire that Kharamanfar suffers from severe arthritis in both knees requiring surgery, as well as high blood pressure and kidney problems. Prison officials have refused to authorize outside medical care despite doctors’ recommendations for urgent knee surgery. After two months in an Urmia detention facility, where sources say he was tortured, Kharamanfar was transferred to Mahabad Prison in February. No court hearings have been held in his case during seven months of detention. Kharamanfar, a married civil society activist, has previously been imprisoned for political activities.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/prisoners/141382-kurdish-activist-denied-medical-care-in-iranian-prison/


Vahid Mahmoudzehi
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights- May 21, 2025
{Baloch man fatally shot by police in Khash
A Baloch father, identified as Vahid Mahmoudzehi, was fatally shot by Iranian police forces in the city of Khash, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on the evening of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Vahid Mahmoudzehi, a 35-year-old resident of Khash, was shot in the head by police officers and died instantly. He was married and had two children. The Haalvsh news network reported that Mahmoudzehi was driving his personal vehicle between the villages of Eslamabad and Garanchin when police forces opened fire on him without issuing any prior warning. No official statement has been released by Iranian authorities regarding the incident.}
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/05/article-78

Iranfocus - May 21, 2025 - By Jubin Katiraie
{Iran: 15 Years On, Burial Site of Farzad Kamangar and Others Still Unknown
Fifteen years after the secret execution of Farzad Kamangar—a teacher and human rights activist—and four other political prisoners named Ali Heydarian, Shirin Alam-Houli, Farhad Vakili, and Mehdi Eslamian, there is still no information about their remains or place of burial. They were hanged on May 9, 2010, in Evin Prison in Tehran. The judiciary and security agencies of Iran’s regime have prevented the return of these five executed political prisoners’ bodies to their families and have refused to disclose their burial locations. Over the past four decades, Iran’s regime has repeatedly violated the fundamental rights of families of those killed or executed for political reasons by withholding the bodies and refusing to return them to their loved ones.
Forced disappearance constitutes a violation of Article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms that “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.”
Arrest and Execution
Kamangar, Heydarian, Alam-Houli, Vakili, and Eslamian were arrested by the security forces of Iran’s regime between August 2006 and May 2010. After months of physical and psychological torture, they were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in three separate cases. On May 9, 2010, they were hanged in a secret execution in the parking area of Evin Prison without due process and without informing their lawyers or families. The issuance and execution of the death sentences for these five political prisoners triggered a wave of domestic and international protests. Kamangar’s lawyer accused Iran’s regime judiciary of lacking independence and acting politically in handling his client’s case, stating: “The court did not hear the arguments, and my client is innocent.” Human rights organizations have repeatedly declared that the legal proceedings in these cases were rife with clear violations, including unlawful arrest, prolonged solitary confinement, lack of access to legal counsel during detention, physical and psychological torture, and numerous violations of due process. At the time, it was reported that Kamangar, Vakili, and Heydarian were convicted as “mohareb” (enemy of God) and sentenced to death in a seven-minute trial without any chance to defend themselves.
“Free Teacher Day”
On the first anniversary of the execution of these political prisoners, several teachers’ associations in Iran commemorated the legacy of Farzad Kamangar—a teacher, union activist, and human rights defender—and, coinciding with Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran, declared May 9 as “Free Teacher Day.” In one of his letters from prison, Kamangar described himself as a public-school teacher from the city of Kamyaran with twelve years of teaching experience. He was a board member of the Kamyaran Teachers’ Union, a member of the editorial board of the educational-cultural monthly “Ruyan,” a board member of the Kamyaran Environmental Society (ASAK), and a member of the Human Rights Activists in Iran organization (HRANA). This passage from Kamangar’s March 2008 letter from prison has been etched into the collective memory of the Iranian people: “Remember not to turn your back on poetry, on song, and on your dreams. Teach your children to be, for their homeland, for today and the days to come, a child made of poetry and rain.”}
Source: https://iranfocus.com/human-rights/54295-iran-15-years-on-burial-site-of-farzad-kamangar-and-others-still-unknown/

Iranwire - May 21, 2025
{Blinded in 5 Seconds: A Singer’s Saga of Protests and Darkness
During the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran in 2022, Kurdish-Iranian singer and activist Firouz Mirani was shot point blank in the face by Iranian security forces. He was unarmed at the time. Firouz endured several surgeries and today has lost almost all his vision. Now in exile in Germany, Firouz remembers the moment he was blinded, the years of hardship that led him there, and the brutal repression of Kurds in Iran. Firouz still feels the need to take revenge on a government that has done something even worse than kill him. Watch until the end to hear Firouz sing the haunting song he recorded after his injury. Watch on youtube/Read his story here: 'He Shot Directly at My Eye': Five Seconds That Changed an Iranian Singer's Life}
https://iranwire.com/en/blinding-as-a-weapon/141295-he-shot-directly-at-my-eye-five-seconds-that-changed-an-iranian-singers-life/

Iranwire - May 21, 2025
{Iranian Court Upholds Prison Term for Environmental Activist
An Iranian appeals court has upheld a two-year prison sentence for environmental activist Arman Shadivand. The Ilam Province Court of Appeals confirmed Shadivand’s conviction on May 19, according to HRANA website. He was sentenced to eight months for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and sixteen months for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Branch 2 of Ilam’s Revolutionary Court had originally handed down the same sentence. Following an indictment issued by the Darreh Shahr Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutors split Shadivand’s case between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. He attended one court session. Authorities arrested Shadivand in November last year after he responded to a summons from the Darreh Shahr Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. He was released on bail the following day from Mahpareh Prison.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/prisoners/141370-iranian-court-upholds-prison-term-for-environmental-activist/

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights- May 20, 2025
{Baloch teen forcibly taken by Intelligence agents in Rask
A Baloch teenager from the city of Rask in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, has been violently arrested and taken to an unknown location by Intelligence forces. According to a report received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Monday, May 19, 2025, Rezwan Taraz, 17, was arrested with violence by plainclothes agents of the Intelligence Department in one of the alleys in central Rask and transferred to an undisclosed location. Sources familiar with the situation stated that the teenager was riding his personal motorcycle when he was stopped and violently detained by the forces. Despite the family’s attempts to obtain information about Rezwan’s fate and his condition, the security authorities have so far refused to provide any clear response. There is no detailed information available about the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his whereabouts.}
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/05/article-74

NCRI - in Women's News - in Women's News - May 20, 2025
{Female Political Prisoners in Evin Chant Against the Death Penalty
Female political prisoners in the women’s ward of Tehran’s Evin Prison joined the nationwide campaign “No to Executions Tuesdays,” again, on May 20, 2025, raising their voices in protest against the death penalty.During this act of resistance, the prisoners chanted slogans such as:
“Evin women’s ward, united in solidarity, standing strong until executions are abolished,”
“We swear by the blood of our comrades, we will stand until the end,”
and “Political prisoners must be freed.”
This symbolic protest was further intensified by the fact that the participants were also on a hunger strike. The women’s ward of Evin Prison was among the first groups to join the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign to end the death penalty and secure freedom for all prisoners of conscience.
The 69th Week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign
The 69th week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continued on May 20, 2025, with three more prisons from Bukan, Mahabad, and Yasuj joining the campaign this week. The campaign began last winter, February 2024, in Ghezel Hesar Prison of Karaj, to counter the alarming rise in executions under the Iranian regime. It has now evolved into a powerful symbol of resistance against Iran’s repressive judicial policies.
Nationwide Outcry: Protests Against Executions Spread Across 30 Iranian Cities
In Tehran, as prisoners across dozens of facilities joined hunger strikes for the 69th week of the campaign, families of death row political prisoners held a protest in Tehran’s Azadi Square. Holding up photos of their loved ones and chanting slogans such as “No to Executions” and “Stop the Executions,” they voiced their anger at death sentences and the deeply flawed judicial process.
Female Political Prisoners in Evin Chant Against the Death Penalty
The families were joined by young people in 29 other cities who carried out acts of protest against the death penalty. These acts were carried out in the cities of Astara, Borujerd, Ramsar, Fuman, Kerman, Ark, Urmia, Isfahan, Golpayegan, Eqlid, Behbahan, Tonekabon, Sonqor, Borujen, Tabriz, Jahrom, Dezful, Kashan, Rasht, Saveh, Sanandaj, Shadegan, Shahr-e Qods, Fasa, Kermanshah, Shahreza, Kangavar, Sari, and Yazd.}
Source: https://wncri.org/2025/05/20/female-political-prisoners-the-death-penalty/


Masumeh Soleimani
Iranwire - May 20, 2025
{Iranian Wrestling Medalist Faces Court Over Hijab Charges
Former Iranian wrestling champion Masumeh Soleimani has been summoned to court on charges of encouraging women to appear in public without the mandatory hijab. Soleimani, a 2010 world championship bronze medalist and international referee, must appear before investigators in Khorramabad on May 21, according to a video posted on her Instagram. “I reject this false accusation,” said Soleimani, who is the mother of a 10-month-old child. This marks her latest encounter with authorities after a November 2023 conviction for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” That case stemmed from photos she posted at the grave of Nika Shakarami, a teenager killed during the 2022 nationwide protests. Security forces previously arrested Soleimani during the 2019 fuel price protests and again in 2024 while she was pregnant. “Is the problem in our society women with voluntary hijab?” Soleimani asked in her video appeal for public support.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/women/141354-iranian-wrestling-medalist-faces-court-over-hijab-charges/

Iranwire - May 20, 2025
{Iranian Political Prisoner Rejects Court Summons
A political prisoner in Iran’s Qezelhesar Prison has refused to appear for an online court hearing after being summoned without proper legal notification. Mustafa Ramezani and three fellow inmates declined to attend a Revolutionary Court video conference on May 17, as prison authorities failed to provide the required advance notice. “Due to the lack of prior notification as required by procedural law, none of us agreed to attend this online court,” Ramezani wrote in a letter from prison. Ramezani, now in the fourth year of his sentence, was previously convicted of anti-government activities and sentenced to eight years in prison, 74 lashes, and two years of exile. He characterized the sudden summons as an attempt to fabricate new charges against political prisoners, calling it a common tactic “to prevent their release.” After his transfer from Tehran’s Evin Prison to Qezelhesar in January 2024, Ramezani was immediately placed in solitary confinement. In his statement, Ramezani said he “does not recognize the legitimacy of the ruling regime” and described security forces as being “at their weakest point.”}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/141350-iranian-political-prisoner-rejects-court-summons/


Mohammad Mehdi Karami
Iranwire - May 20, 2025
{Iranian Lawyer: Father of Executed Protester Eligible for Parole
The father of an executed Iranian protester may soon be eligible for conditional release after serving half of his prison sentence, his lawyer has said. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani announced on social media that Mashallah Karami’s combined prison terms have been reduced to three years and seven months. "A request for a conditional release has been submitted to judicial authorities," Ardakani wrote on X. "We hope he will soon return to his family." Karami was arrested in August 2023, eight months after his son, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, was executed.
During his arrest, authorities confiscated the family’s electronic devices and froze their bank accounts, according to Karami's lawyer. Karami has been held at Karaj Central Prison since October 2023. Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini were executed on January 7, 2023, after the Iranian judiciary found them guilty of killing a member of the paramilitary Basij force during anti-government protests in 2022.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/141339-iranian-lawyer-father-of-executed-protester-eligible-for-parole/

Iranwire - May 20, 2025
{Iranian Appeals Court Defies Supreme Court, Upholds Lawyer's Sentence
An appeals court in central Iran has upheld the conviction of lawyer Behnam Nezadi, defying a Supreme Court order that had called for a retrial. The 8th Branch of the Markazi Province Appeals Court reaffirmed its earlier verdict, sentencing Nezadi to four months in prison and barring him from legal practice for one year on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." Court documents dated May 15 indicate that the appeals judges maintained their original ruling despite the Supreme Court's intervention under Article 474 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which had temporarily suspended the sentence. "The court determined that the new evidence was insufficient to overturn the verdict," the ruling said. The decision has raised concerns among legal professionals about the state of judicial independence in Iran. Lawyer Sina Yousefi, who shared the court document online, described it as evidence of "unfair procedure" targeting independent lawyers.}
Source: https://iranwire.com/en/news/141335-iranian-appeals-court-defies-supreme-court-upholds-lawyers-sentence/


No to Excections Tuesdays
Iranfocus - May 20, 2025 - By Mehdi Hosseini
{The Sixty-Ninth Week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign In 44 Prisons Across Iran
Political prisoners in Iran are on hunger strike in 44 prisons during the sixty-ninth week of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. This campaign was initiated by prisoners to protest against executions and to advocate for their abolition. It has continued for more than a year. In this week’s statement, the striking prisoners expressed heartfelt gratitude for the widespread solidarity of the Iranian people with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign. They also referred to the power and water outages affecting the public and disrupting people’s lives, writing: “At a time when the country is facing systemic corruption and the inefficiency of the ruling authoritarian structure—conditions that have disrupted citizens’ lives and deprived them of basic necessities such as water and electricity—the issuance and implementation of inhumane death sentences has not only not stopped, but has in fact increased with the clear will of the regime.”
The full text of the statement from the prisoners participating in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign is as follows:
In its sixty-ninth week, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign expanded to include the prisons of Mahabad, Bukan, and Yasuj, bringing the total to 44 participating prisons. At a time when the country is plagued by systemic corruption and the inefficiency of the ruling authoritarian structure, disrupting citizens’ lives and depriving them of basic necessities such as water and electricity, the regime has not only failed to halt the issuance and execution of inhumane death sentences, but has escalated them with clear intent. The regime consistently refrains from publishing accurate statistics on prisoner numbers and executions. However, based on reports received by the campaign, since April 20, more than 129 people—including four women—have been executed. Just last week, 25 prisoners were executed, including two juvenile offenders who were hanged in Malayer Prison and Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. This was done without any regard for public opinion or international human rights bodies, stripping them of their “right to life.” In response to this violence and systematic violation of the “right to life,” protests by the families of death row prisoners have increased, and the campaign has received growing support from youth across various cities. These expressions of support have taken diverse and creative forms among the public. We, the members of the campaign, salute all supporters of “No to Execution” and call on all people—especially the youth—to raise their voices in every street and alley against this inhumane punishment and support this movement in any way possible. We invite all opponents of the death penalty to stand with grieving families and not leave them alone during protest gatherings. Last week, thanks to the efforts of activists both inside and outside the country, widespread solidarity with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign took shape. We sincerely thank all individuals, organizations, political parties, civil groups, and human rights institutions who participated in this grassroots movement. Additionally, a group of prisoners in Mahabad, Bukan, and Yasuj prisons have announced that starting this week, they are joining the campaign and will go on hunger strike every Tuesday. With the inclusion of these three prisons, the total number of participating prisons has reached 44.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, prisoners in 44 prisons will go on hunger strike for the sixty-ninth consecutive week.}
Source: https://iranfocus.com/human-rights/54280-the-sixty-ninth-week-of-the-no-to-executions-tuesdays-campaign-in-44-prisons-across-iran/

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights- May 20, 2025
{Kourosh Nadimi arrested in Kermanshah; Whereabouts remain unknown
Kourosh Nadimi, a Kurdish father from Kamyaran, was arrested by security forces in the city of Kermanshah (Kermashan). Three days after his detention, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Nadimi, 40, a resident of Misurab village in Kamyaran and father of two, was detained on Sunday, May 18, 2025, by security forces in Kermanshah. He was taken to an unknown location, and no information has since been made available regarding his condition. Sources familiar with the case reported that Nadimi was arrested without the presentation of an arrest warrant. Authorities have yet to disclose the reasons for his arrest, any charges filed against him, or his current place of detention.}
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/05/article-73

Iranfocus - May 19, 2025 - By Esmaeil Mohades
{Per capita meat consumption of Iranian workers drops to zero
Officials of Iran’s regime say the government can no longer afford to continue providing subsidized foreign exchange for the import of red meat. This comes after the government had already cut off subsidies for many essential goods such as medicine, medical equipment, and numerous food items. According to the Planning and Budget Organization of Iran’s regime, red meat imports will no longer be eligible for preferential exchange rates. The announcement of this policy alone has significantly driven up the price of red meat per kilogram. Meanwhile, on Sunday, May 18, Iranian online meat retailers announced, “product unavailability until further notice,” suggesting an ongoing price surge. On May 18, the average price of lamb and veal in Tehran stores exceeded 15 million rials (approximately $18) per kilogram. This comes as Ali-Asghar Maleki, the head of Iran’s Lamb Meat Union, had already stated that red meat has become “like a luxury and unattainable item” for the public. It is worth noting that, at best, the minimum monthly wage for a worker with two children is around 150 million rials (approximately $181), whereas a household’s minimum living expenses are estimated to be two to three times that amount. In September 2024, Ahmad Shaad, the secretary of the Iranian Association of Raw Animal Product Importers, citing Central Bank statistics, stated that “the per capita consumption of red meat among Iranians does not even reach one kilogram per year and stands at about 700 grams per person annually.” However, the global average annual red meat consumption is about 8.98 kilograms per person, and in the United States, this figure reaches approximately 38 kilograms per adult per year. In a report titled “Will wage-earners’ meat consumption drop to zero?”, the regime-affiliated ILNA news agency wrote that if subsidized foreign currency for red meat is removed, eliminating the 20% share of cheaper meat that was previously imported using government rates, meat prices will skyrocket in the coming days and “this essential protein item will disappear entirely from dinner tables.” Faramarz Tofighi, a labor rights activist, told the state-run newspaper Iran: “The reasoning is that because we don’t have dollars, we cut off subsidized currency for red meat. Because we don’t have dollars, we also cut off subsidized currency for livestock feed. This means they are playing with the lifeline of the people, and they must know that the wage-earning class no longer has the strength to shoulder the government’s mistakes any further.” Iranian media have also refuted the claim made by Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, the regime’s Minister of Agriculture, who said after last week’s cabinet meeting that “the price of red meat is less than 10 million rials.” Reports on meat prices dated May 17 indicate that red meat—especially lamb—is “well above 10 million rials.” While Masoud Pezeshkian, the regime’s president, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliament speaker, have repeatedly stressed Iran’s massive budget deficit due to Western sanctions in recent months, last week Saeed Ohadi, the head of the regime’s Foundation of Martyrs, announced that “120,000 commemorative ceremonies” will be held across Iran within a week for the first anniversary of the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi. If each of the 120,000 events uses only 1 billion rials (approximately $1,205) from public funds, the total cost for Raisi’s first death anniversary will be at least 120 trillion rials—about $145 million.}
Source: https://iranfocus.com/economy/54277-per-capita-meat-consumption-of-iranian-workers-drops-to-zero/

NCRI - in Women's News - in Articles, Women's News - May 19, 2025
{Forced Labor and Systemic Abuse of Female Prisoners in Iran
In the prisons operated by Iran’s theocratic regime, female inmates are subjected to forced labor, extended working hours without fair compensation, and inhumane conditions. These practices violate international human rights standards and highlight the systemic abuse faced by women in Iran’s penal system.
Forced Labor Beyond Legal Limits
A letter from a female prisoner reveals the harsh realities of forced labor in Iranian prisons: “They wake us up at 5 AM, and by 7 AM, we’re in a factory in an industrial town, working non-stop until 4:30 PM, even though we should return by 3 PM. We’ve raised our concerns with the prison judge, but our voices go unheard. The work includes loading boxes onto trailers and other tasks. It’s worse than the conditions depicted in mining work films.”
This account underscores the exploitation of female prisoners, who are compelled to work beyond the standard eight-hour workday without adequate rest or compensation.
Violation of International Standards
These practices contravene several international human rights instruments:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 23): Guarantees the right to just and favorable work conditions.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 7): Prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Nelson Mandela Rules: Set minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, emphasizing humane conditions and respect for dignity.
International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Convention (Article 8): Prohibits forced or compulsory labor.
Forced Labor and Systemic Abuse of Female Prisoners in Iran
Forced Labor and Systemic Abuse of Female Prisoners in Iran
Systemic Abuse and Lack of Redress
Female prisoners are denied effective mechanisms to report abuses or seek redress. Complaints to prison authorities often go unanswered, leaving inmates vulnerable to ongoing exploitation. The lack of oversight and accountability perpetuates a cycle of abuse within the prison system.
Call to Action
The international community must hold the Iranian regime accountable for these human rights violations. Immediate steps should include:
Independent investigations into prison conditions.
Implementation of international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
Provision of fair compensation and humane working conditions for all inmates.
The voices of these women must be heard, and their rights upheld.}
Source: https://wncri.org/2025/05/19/forced-labor-abuse-female-prisoners/

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights- May 19, 2025
{Kurdish man Vahab Khedripour jailed in Mahabad on anniversary of brother’s killing by IRGC
Vahab Khedripour, a 32-year-old Kurdish man from Mahabad, was arrested and transferred to prison on the anniversary of his brother Sohrab Khedripour’s death at the hands of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Authorities intentionally scheduled his imprisonment to coincide with the date. According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Monday, May 19, 2025, Vahab was transferred to Mahabad Prison to serve a 10-month sentence on the alleged charge of “collaboration with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.” His brother, Sohrab Khedripour—a member of the same party—was killed by the IRGC on May 19, 2021. Four years later, his body has not been returned to the family, and the case is classified as an enforced disappearance. The timing of Vahab’s imprisonment is viewed as symbolic and as a form of psychological pressure on the family. His transfer to prison comes as his father remains paralyzed and immobile following a car accident three months ago. Vahab was initially arrested on January 29, 2025, after being summoned to the Intelligence Office. He was released on bail of 500 million tomans on February 19, after three weeks in detention. In a separate incident, Vahab’s cousin, Shamal Khedripour, was also killed during the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement in Mahabad.}
Source: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/05/article-70

Women's Liberation Front 2019/cryfreedom.net 2025