Crumbs of human rights

Keywan Karimi’s new film Writing on the City ​had its first official screening ​just a couple of days ago, on 12 February​ ​at the Spanish Punto de Vista International Documentary Film Festival in Pamplona . However, the director ​wasn​'​t​ ​present: Karimi is ​in Iran, awaiting the outcome of his appeal ​against his six-year prison sentence. The hour-long film is “ a historic journey in terms of an essay through the use of murals and political paintings in Tehran ”. Through the graffiti and wall paintings the past of the city revives: The audience can learn about forgotten events, that the locals couldn’t express otherwise, due to the regime’s repression. In those artworks freedom of expression and idea can thrive. However, as Karimi said in an interview with the Times of India , “ [The authorities] say it is a propaganda against the government. ” He goes on saying: “Some picture[s] and archive photo[s] are [from] some period in Iran that the government hates.” But becau...

Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of a new spiritual group Erfan-e Halgheh, has been on hunger strike for a few days. He is protesting the limbo his case is in. His five-year prison sentence is about to terminate soon, however, the court that had previously sentenced him to death has resumed its investigation into his case. Mohammad Ali Taheri has been held in solitary confinement for the past nearly five years in Tehran’s Evin Prison. His contact with his inmates and the outside world has been very limited. The only connections that have given him hope and energy are the weekly meetings with his wife and the irregular calls the prison authorities allow him to have with his family. Mohammad Ali Taheri always looks forward to these events, as he doesn’t have anything else to occupy himself with: he hasn’t even had access to books, a piece of paper or a pen for a very long time. Imprisoned for his teachings and belief   Mohammad Ali Taheri established the Erfan-e Halgheh ...