The Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs and Human Rights Activists’ (in Iran) invite you to a timely discussion on Tuesday, September 27, at 1:30PM ET about the surge in crackdowns across Iran in recent months.

Just over a year into Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency, the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic stands grimmer than any time in recent years. In June, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a crackdown similar to the early 1980s—a horrific nod to a time of unparalleled brutality.

At the same time, observers noted a resumption of public executions, the first in over two years, an uptick in the egregious persecution of religious minorities, namely the Baha’i, extreme pressure against women’s rights activists, and an unprecedented tightening of the Internet. This rise in repression is coupled with the ongoing spread of daily protests and demonstrations met with often violent repression by security forces.

This discussion will be held both in-person and via Zoom. The event is open to press and on-the-record.

Introduction

William F. Wechsler
Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs
Atlantic Council

Keynote remarks

Jennifer Gavito
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran and Iraq, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy
US Department of State

A conversation with

Mahsa Alimardani
Senior Researcher MENA Region
ARTICLE19

Yeganeh Rezaian
Journalist and Senior Researcher
Committee to Protect Journalists

Skylar Thompson
Senior Advocacy Coordinator
Human Rights Activists (in Iran)

Anthony Vance
Director of Public Affairs
Baha’is of the United States

Moderated by

Holly Darges
Nonresident Senior Fellow and Editor of IranSource
Atlantic Council

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