Nov. 16 – An Iranian activist has died by suicide this week, in protest of laws in Iran which routinely silence human rights campaigners and political activists.
Kianoosh Sanjari, who had been arrested and imprisoned multiple times by Iranian officials for his criticisms of Iran’s clerical rulers and his views on democracy and human rights, posted about his intention to die just hours before he is believed to have jumped from Hafez bridge in Tehran.
While in prison Sanjari experienced regular incidents of maltreatment including forced hospitalization in psychiatric units and electric shocks.
Daniel Khalife, the former British soldier accused of spying for Iran, was also accused of endangering the life of former British-Iranian hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, during his trial this week.
Khalife was alleged to have sent a document to Iranian agents titled “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe intelligence options” which he produced in 2021. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran in 2016 and released in 2022 as part of an agreement with Iran which included the settlement of a multi-million dollar debt dating back to the 1970s.
Prosecutors said the document could have caused “consequences” for Zaghari-Ratcliffe, which included details of a meeting between then UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly and Iranian deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.
And the Islamic Republic announced it would be opening ‘hijab clinics’ for women violating the country’s mandatory hijab laws.
The clinics will provide support and guidance on the hijab and will include courses led by “experts on the philosophy and values of hijab.”
Women in Iran are increasingly defying forced hijab legislation, which is seen as draconian, and rooted in gender inequality.
