Human rights defenders should be released and protected during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran
Front Line Defenders reminds all states and the international community of their responsibility to protect human rights defenders in the context of the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran since 13 June 2025. The conflict between Iran and Israel escalated after Israel launched a series of airstrikes at Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, the ministries, as well as Iranian energy infrastructure, industry, and residential buildings. Iran responded by launching missiles towards Israel, escalating Israel’s attack into a violent conflict with civilian victims on both sides.
On 16 June 2025, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu warned residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately, urging civilians to leave the city. However, there was no concrete evacuation plan or support for the the sixteen million residents of Greater Tehran. Roads leading out of Tehran are reported blocked and there have been strikes on Tehran highway exits.
As of 16 June, the Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that among the victims were several aid workers in the city of Tabriz and Tehran . CNN reported 24 deaths in Israel since the beginning of the Iranian airstrikes in Tel Aviv and Haifa among others. Hundreds of civilians haven been injured.
On 14 June, woman human rights defender Motahareh Gounei was arrested in Tehran after her house was raided by intelligence officers. Her arrest came after a social media post in which she criticised the Iranian leadership and blamed them for the country’s situation. Motahereh Gounei was shown an arrest warrant without any names mentioned on it, prompting the fear of further arbitrary arrests. On the same day, the Intelligence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps warned against any social media activities in “support of Israel,” which could result in being charged with “propaganda against state.” According to reports, sixteen people were arrested in the city of Isfahan on the charge of “disturbing public opinion in the virtual world and spreading disinformation.”
On 13 June 2025, the Iranian ministry of telecommunications announced that due to technical disruptions and the ongoing crisis, internet access will be limited. Since then, detained Iranian human rights defenders in Evin have reported limited access to calls, and reports claim widespread disruptions in messenger services. Consequently, detained human rights defenders as well as other prisoner remain separated from their families and kept in uncertainty and isolation. Human rights defenders have expressed the feeling of being held in limbo while exposed to airstrikes, fearing for their families and having their lives are in the hands of warmongers, who have no respect for human life and rights.
While civilians remain the most vulnerable target of the armed conflict, Front Line Defenders is particularly concerned over detained human rights defenders in Iran. As the war escalates and international actors remain silent, detained human rights defenders are at high risk as they have no means to seek refuge from airstrikes. This is evident from reports of human rights defenders detained in Evin and other prisons in Tehran who heard strong explosions in their vicinity. Therefore, Front Line Defenders calls for the immediate release of all detained human rights defenders in Iran, including Motahareh Gounei, Golrokh Iraee, Nasrin Javadi, Fariba Kamalabadi, Serveh Pourmohammadi, Jina Modares Gorj, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Mohammad Najafi, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Reza Khandan, Ahmadreza Haeri, Taher Naghavi, Mehdi Mahmoudian, Esmail Gerami, and Zia Nabavi.
Additionally, Front Line Defenders asserts that involved actors and stakeholders should resolve to diplomacy to protect civilians in Iran and Israel, including human rights defenders. All states are bound to this responsibility and obligation by intentional law.
“We [human rights defenders] have written so many times, that we are against any war, attacks on homeland and its people. Unfortunately, our agency was not taken into account in any of circumstances leading to current situation. However, we can be each other’s refuge in this difficult time, we do have agency over this matter.” (Human rights defender Mohammad Habibi wrote on X on 16 June 2025)
