Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour
Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour is a human rights defender, lawyer and a member of the Fars Bar Association in Shiraz, Fars province in Iran. He has been engaged in the provision of legal defence and professional support as an attorney. Additionally, he has contributed to upholding due process and access to justice, particularly in cases involving individuals targeted for their civic, social, or political activities. His work reflects a broader commitment to the independence of the legal profession and the ethical responsibility of lawyers to defend fundamental rights through peaceful and lawful means.
Hope for political reform in Iran surfaced when President Hassan Rouhani assumed office in 2013 and dozens of opposition political figures and human rights defenders were released. However, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement of HRDs continue to be prevalent.
Human rights defenders and journalists are arrested, detained and prosecuted in unfair trials. HRDs continue to receive death threats and are subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention. They are refused bail or receive extreme bail conditions. HRDs are additionally subjected to systematic surveillance and their family members are targeted. Journalists have been subjected to flogging for criticising the government.
