Mehrangiz Kar is a lawyer, writer, and journalist in the field of human rights and democracy. Ms. Kar, who is currently working at the “Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women” at Brown University, has received at least eight prestigious international awards related to human rights.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, we went to them and asked for their opinion on this human rights organization, its performance, and its impact on the growth of civil society in Iran.

Mehrangiz emphasizes the importance of “sustainability of the activist community” and speaks about peace, saying: “The name of the activist community, especially the Harana news agency, has been established and this stability means that it is influential. Of course, the degree of this influence cannot be determined, but when the name of an organization is established, it shows that the information it has published has been extensive, has definitely been heard, and has been noticed by international human rights forums.”

How would you describe Ms. Kar, the human rights activists group in Iran, in general?

The activist group is an organization that has formed within Iran and is not necessarily affiliated with international human rights organizations from the beginning. It is natural that being in a country where human rights are widely violated in various forms, being involved in human rights is something of value and importance. However, this is my personal opinion and may not have many supporters.

Given that students and young people who were at risk in terms of human rights in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they became pioneers and launched a human rights defense group – and especially as I mentioned, the youth of this group – it is important. In my opinion, it is a positive point that finally in Iran after the Islamic Republic, another generation of university graduates and victims were able to realize that Iran needs such discourse and a young human rights core should be formed within the country, and each of these individuals became active in reporting without having a specific political identity. Of course, these young people at that time did not anticipate the consequences and the fact that they would face many security issues and that their members would be scattered in different countries where Iranian immigrants live.

In your opinion, as a group of activists, what impact has the human rights organization had on the growth of civil society in Iran?

I can judge that this organization has been influential in promoting the discussion of human rights in Iran, especially in regards to what I have found interesting in reviewing the reports and news that this organization publishes about the human rights situation in Iran. Of course, there may be some errors and mistakes in mentioning details at times, but nevertheless, they have continued their work consistently and continuously.

It should be noted that the name of the activist group, especially the Hrana news agency, has been established and this establishment means that it is influential. Of course, the degree of this influence cannot be determined, but when the name of an organization is established, it indicates that the information it has published has been extensive, has been heard, and has been noticed by international human rights forums.

If this group’s performance can highlight one positive feature, what would that positive feature be in your opinion?

What I believe is important is the sustainability of this organization. We have witnessed the emergence of many organizations in this field over the years and decades, but for various reasons, they have not been able to endure. If we were to give a major credit to this group of activists, it is that its core existence was formed in Iran during a time when the country was entering a new political scene between the Khatami and Ahmadinejad eras. Despite all the ups and downs and challenges both inside and outside of Iran, it has managed to stand strong for 10 years, which in itself is highly commendable.

If you want to talk to colleagues and companions of this group in the past decade, what would it be?

I believe that the activist community, now that it has been established as a human rights entity, has a duty to work towards the protection of the rights of victims. Of course, I am fully aware that in a situation where its members are scattered inside and outside of Iran, and considering the limitations within the country and the prevailing security situation, and in a situation where even most lawyers are concerned and afraid to take on the cases and representation of political prisoners, they are still left alone to inform and assist victims of human rights violations. However, I personally expect and hope that more attention will be paid to the rights of these victims. For example, HRA monitors and reports on the whereabouts of the accused and publishes it, which is widely used by human rights organizations around the world. But more than that, they should familiarize the accused with their rights in any way possible. It should be noted that in Iran, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the main reason for the worsening human rights

In my opinion, now that the collection has been able to sustain its work for a decade, it should appreciate the value of this situation and dedicate a portion of its work to familiarizing the accused with their rights, in accordance with the standards of domestic laws in Iran on one hand, and in accordance with international standards on the other hand, in a way that is understood and comprehended within Iran. Although under pressure and torture, the accused may not be able to defend their rights, such actions provide a platform for the families of the accused to use this information and awareness; with the goal of pursuing the rights of their loved ones who are in prisons and detention centers, and engaging with judicial authorities based on the realities of the accused’s rights.

Thank you very much for giving your time to the monthly magazine of the Peace Line.

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این یک عنوان است.

In clockwise direction: Dr. Sima Samar, Brian Corin, Dr. Ali Eliami, Michel Cromarti, the late Taher Ilchi (a deceased member of the board who recently passed away in Turkey), Zhuan Michel, Shanar Bordatpan, and Dr. Farhad Sabetan, prominent members of the advisory board of the human rights activists in Iran.