Nasim Soltanbeygi
Nasim Soltanbeygi is a woman human rights defender and journalist working on women’s rights issues in Iran. She has written for different journals, including Peace Mark, about social issues and the human rights situation in the most disadvantaged places in Iran. Previously, she was arrested three times: in 2006 in a peaceful gathering for women’s rights demands; in 2007 for her work towards the rights of the university students; and in 2012 she was arrested and served a one-year prison sentence for her human rights work.
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.
