Free Expression in Iran

The Issue

Despite its rich cultural and literary traditions, Iran is among the world’s most restrictive countries for freedom of expression. While the human rights situation has been dire for decades, the state of free expression and respect for fundamental rights has deteriorated even further in recent years. The 2021 presidential election of Ebrahim Raisi, who has credibly been accused of involvement in mass killings of political prisoners in the 1980s, signaled another move toward escalating repression. The Iranian regime has carried out an especially  brutal crackdown on dissent in reaction to the protests that exploded in the country in reaction to the state killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in September 2022 and the ensuing “Woman Life Freedom” movement. Currently, Iran ranks second on PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index’s list of Top 10 jailers of writers, and is moreover the world’s top jailer of female writers. 

Iran remains notorious for a judicial system completely lacking in transparency, under which arbitrary arrests are commonplace and lengthy sentences are handed out without due process. Hundreds of political prisoners languish behind bars as authorities withhold critical care and medical attention, putting their lives in great danger and sometimes leading to death. The Iranian government has also been engaged in the targeting and transnational kidnapping of dissidents, writers, and journalists outside the country, as well as the harassment of prisoners’ family members inside the country.

Numerous women who question gender-based restrictions or secularists who propose reform of the current theocratic system are charged with “national security” or “propaganda” crimes. Likewise, Kurds fostering cultural preservation through the celebration of the Kurdish language are consistently met with government retaliation in the form of propaganda or blasphemy charges. In spite of this, Iran’s writers and artists remain steadfast in opposing censorship, pushing back against the boundaries on expression, and fostering a vibrant literary community.