Alieh Motalleb Zadeh
Alieh Motalleb Zadeh is a woman human rights defender, a journalist, and deputy head of the Iranian Association to Defend Freedom of Press. She has worked for a range of publications on women’s rights, including the now-banned Zanan (Women) magazine and has taken part in the One Million Signatures campaign, which called for greater gender equality. Additionally, she is a member of the campaign to protect women victims of acid attack 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.
