Iranian Dissident Awareness Program
The Iranian Dissident Awareness Program was created so that members of Congress can stand with the people of Iran. Members from both sides of the aisle have the opportunity to fight for the persecuted, the dissidents, and the political prisoners. We cannot turn a blind eye to their struggle. A regime that does not recognize the basic human dignity of its people will never be an honest broker in the international community.
During the Cold War, President Reagan made Soviet human rights abuses a central point of American foreign policy. Soviet dissidents became household names and their struggle for freedom was well known. Today, the Iranian government - like the Soviet regime - is an oppressive dictatorship. It denies its people human rights while threatening the world with nuclear weapons. In Iran, freedom of expression does not exist. Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested, and others are imprisoned because of their politics, their religion, or simply because they dare to fight for basic human rights.
The following dissidents and political prisoners are fighting for freedom and democracy in Iran. Click on the profiles below to learn more.
Currently Imprisoned
Shiva Nazar Ahari, Women's & Human Rights ActivistShiva Nazar Ahari is the spokeswoman of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), an Iranian human rights group founded in 2006. Shiva became a teacher of street children and of Afghan refugee children. She was arrested at work. Learn more.
Laleh Hassanpour, Writer, Women's & Human Rights Activist Laleh Hassanpour was arrested for participating in human rights activities, "conspiracy against national security" and "insulting the president." She has been placed under severe pressure by the authorities to give a false televised confession. Learn more.
Bahareh Hedayat, Student & Women's Rights ActivistBahareh Hedayat was active in Daftar-e Takhim-e Vahdat (Office for Consolidating Unity), Iran’s pro-democracy student movement, and the One Million Signatures Campaign to end legal discrimination against women. Learn more.
Navid Khanjani, Student Activist & Member of the Baha'i FaithNavid Khanjani has engaged in peaceful human rights activities and is affiliated with human rights organizations, for which he was arrested. During his detention, Navid was forced under duress to record self-incriminating video confessions. Learn more.
Zia Nabavi, Student ActivistZia Nabavi is a member of the Council to Defend the Right to Education, a body set up by students barred from studying because of their civic and political activism. Zia was arrested after protesting the fraudulent June 2009 presidential election. Learn more.
Jafar Panahi, Award Winning FilmmakerJafar Panahi is a world-renowned filmmaker. He has received awards at the Venice Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. Jafar was arrested for making a film that was "anti-regime," by depicting the protests following the 2009 elections. Learn more.
Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, Blogger & Human Rights ActivistA student of computer programming, Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki was one of the earliest and youngest bloggers to begin challenging regime internet censorship. He was imprisoned for his opposition to censorship without regard for due process. Learn more.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, Lawyer & Women's Rights ActivistNasrin Sotoudeh is an avid defender of juveniles facing capital charges, abused children, and has represented human rights activists in Iran. She was arrested after defying threats by the Iranian authorities to stop representing her clients. Learn more.
Leila Tavassoli, Engineer & ProtesterDuring a peaceful protest, Leila witnessed a man being killed when security forces intentionally ran him over with their car. She gave interviews as a witness and was later arrested for participating in peaceful protests and giving interviews. Learn more.
Prisoners Released on Bail
Narges Mohammadi, JournalistNarges Mohammadi, a journalist, has written about human rights, women's rights and issues important to students. Due to her promotion of Iranian human rights, the Iranian Government banned her from leaving the country and threatened further consequences if she didn't end her activities. Today, Mohammadi is in Zanjan Prison. Learn more.
Released Prisoners
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, Christian PastorArrested for protesting compulsory Islamic instruction in schools, Pastor Youcef was found guilty by an Iranian court of apostasy, or renouncing his Islamic faith in favor of Christianity, and has been sentenced to death by hanging. Learn more.
Mahdieh Golroo, Student & Women's Rights ActivistMahdieh Golroo was imprisoned along with her husband after security forces raided their home. Mahdieh’s arrest followed her participation in a four day sit-in at Allameh Tabatabai University to protest politically-motivated education bans on students. Learn more.
