Help Us Protect Rights of Iranian Minorities
About Us
Background
We are a community-based organization focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place for minorities in Iran. Although the majority of Iran's population is ethnically Persian and muslim, millions of minorities from various ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds also reside in Iran. Among these groups are ethnic Kurds, Baluchis, and Azeris. Many of them face discrimination and live in underdeveloped regions. Against an oppressive environment, significant anti-government have occurred in the past and continue as these minorities aspire greater rights. In short, Iran's diverse minorities are highly marginalized, oppressed, and persecuted.
We mourn the loss of a minorities rights icon
Today, the American people and the international community lost a giant, a man who for decades fought for the rights of minorities, for justice and for freedom. Voice of Iran Minorities grieves the passing of the Honorable Congressman John Lewis and extends our communities’ condolences to his family and freedom loving people all around the world.
We will remember his life’s work, particularly his leadership on civil rights and support for the rights of the oppressed - including the longest suffering people of Iran.
Interfaith Projects
Our Community works with faith leaders to speak for oppressed Iranian minorities.
Eight Kurdish Political Prisoners Continue Hunger Strike at Orumiyeh Central Prison
Kurdish political prisoner “Bashir Pirmawanah” has been on hunger strike since January 25 in protest to the refusal of prison officials to grant him conditional release. Seven other political prisoners Kamran Darvishi, Siamak Ashrafi, Kamran Ghasemi, Keyvan Rashozadeh, Omid Saeedi, Keyvan Zarei and Reza Ismail are also on hunger strike following their request to be transferred to separate cell from Prisoners of Ordinary Crimes held in the youth ward.
Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Bashir Pirmawanah has been suffering from weight loss and dizziness during this time but he is continuing his hunger strike until prison officials agree with his demands.
Basic freedom and rights abused -Film director summoned to serve his term
On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Mohammad Rasoolov, a film director, was summoned to the Culture and media Prosecuting Office to serve his term. He was formerly sentenced to one year in prison, two years ban both from leaving the country and membership in any political or social party or group by Tehran Revolution Court.
Caught In A Web Of Repression
In Iran, freedom of religion and belief was systematically violated, in law and practice. Widespread and systematic attacks continued to be carried out against the Baha’i religious minority. These included arbitrary arrests, lengthy imprisonment, torture and other ill treatment, forcible closure of Baha’i-owned businesses, confiscation of Baha’i properties, bans on employment in the public sector and denial of access to universities.
Coercive Treatment of Minorities
Iranian law denies freedom of religion to Baha’is and discriminates against them. At least 92 Baha’is were held in Iran’s prisons as of November 2017. On September 18 and October 31, Mahvash Sabet, Fariba Kamal Abadi, and Behrouz Kamali, three of the seven members of the former leadership group of the Baha’is in Iran, were released from prison after serving their 10-year prison sentence. The government also discriminates against other religious minorities, including Sunni Muslims, and restricts cultural as well as political activities among the country’s Azeri, Kurdish, Arab, and Baluch ethnic minorities.