Maryam Karimibeigi
Maryam Karimibeigi is a woman human rights defender who since 2009 has peacefully sought justice for the killing of peaceful protesters in Iran. She is the sister of the well-known Moustafa Karimbeigi, a 26-year-old protester who was shot and killed by Iranian security forces in 2009 during the widespread protests against Iran’s presidential election results. Maryam Karimbeigi has been advocating for the rights of political prisoners, against the use of solitary confinement and other abusive treatment and precarious conditions of prisoners in Iran. Together with her mother Shahnaz Akmali, they have made numerous attempts to seek justice for Moustafa Karimbeigi and other victims of protests in Iran, resulting in repeated threats by the Iranian government against the family.
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.
