Afsoon Alimoradian
Afsoon Alimoradian is a woman human rights defender and social entrepreneur from Nahavand, Hamedan province in Iran. She has been engaged in community-based humanitarian and social work for more than 15 years. Her human rights work has focused on supporting disaster-affected communities, promoting women’s entrepreneurship, and assisting underprivileged children through access to education and essential resources. Through the civil initiative Yaran-e Nejat, she has played a central role in facilitating the release of more than 100 prisoners convicted of non-intentional crimes and in mediating reconciliation in numerous cases. In addition to prisoner support, her work has included creating employment opportunities, supporting livelihoods, and providing educational assistance such as stationery and learning equipment to students from low-income families. Afsoon Alimoradian’s work reflects a sustained commitment to social solidarity, community resilience, and the peaceful defence of social and economic rights in Iran.
Hope for political reform in Iran surfaced when President Hassan Rouhani assumed office in 2013 and dozens of opposition political figures and human rights defenders were released. However, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement of HRDs continue to be prevalent.
Human rights defenders and journalists are arrested, detained and prosecuted in unfair trials. HRDs continue to receive death threats and are subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention. They are refused bail or receive extreme bail conditions. HRDs are additionally subjected to systematic surveillance and their family members are targeted. Journalists have been subjected to flogging for criticising the government.
