Vida (Vahideh) Rabbani
Vida (Vahideh) Rabbani is a human rights defender, social activist, journalist and a member of Tehran Journalists Association. She has graduated in political science from University of Tehran and as a journalist she has worked towards the promotion of socio-political rights especially in the context of freedom of peaceful assembly, free elections, anti- death penalty and compulsory hijab 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.
