Elah Sharifpour, also known as Elah Hicks, has been actively working in the field of human rights defense for over two decades. She has been working as a researcher on Iran affairs at the Human Rights Watch organization from 1994 to 2003. Currently, she is the director of the Human Rights and Planning Group in New York.

On the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Ms. Sharifpour-Hicks, in an interview with Khat-e-Solh, highlights the most important characteristic of the organization’s performance as staying away from political issues and adds about the reason for the continuity and sustainability of this organization: “The only thing that can make these activities possible and, of course, sustainable is to show selflessness, and this is exactly what the members of the Human Rights Activists do.”

Mrs. Sharifpour, how would you describe the human rights activists in Iran after a decade of activity, and if you could highlight one positive characteristic of this group’s performance, what would that positive characteristic be in your opinion?

All the groups that have been established in the past years to support, promote and advance human rights in Iran, including the human rights activists, deserve praise for their work. The activities of all these groups require constant and tireless efforts, considering the risks and dangers of gathering information inside the country, as well as the limitations and challenges they face outside the country. Given the current situation of human rights in Iran, their work is of utmost importance.

Regarding the most positive feature of this specific group [the activists for human rights in Iran], I can mention their distance from political issues. When dealing with human rights issues, it is very important not to get involved in political matters. It should be noted that in the absence of political parties and restrictions, and even the impossibility of engaging in political activities in a country like Iran, a very thin and sensitive line is created, and many political and non-political issues are intertwined. In fact, there is a concern that all of us, with our own specific political views, may bring it into our work. This is a crucial duty and I am confident that you and your colleagues are following it, because in my belief, the group of activists has always stayed away from political issues.

The translation cannot be provided as the Farsi text is not included. Please provide the Farsi text for accurate translation.
The efforts of the colleagues of the collection to obtain the consent of the parents of a teenager sentenced to execution – Lushan – 1387 – Photo from the archive of human rights activists in Iran.

As you are aware and have also mentioned, the problems of Iranian civil society and, consequently, human rights groups or organizations are very numerous and this very issue leads to the disintegration of many of these groups. With this explanation, what constructive difference, in your opinion, can contribute to the sustainability and continuity of a human rights organization? In this regard, what specific difference can you mention for the group of human rights activists in Iran?

If we start with the whole society and international organizations, those who could not expand their work – even with their long history – compared to other groups, had financial and budgetary problems. As I mentioned, these organizations must remain non-political and their work should only be focused on promoting, supporting, and advancing human rights. In the case of Iran, this issue becomes even more difficult because the necessity of human rights institutions and generally non-governmental and non-profit organizations for the people has not been realized and people do not attach importance to membership and paying membership fees. Therefore, it is very important that financial resources come from places that do not create dependence, and in fact, it is one of the most fundamental obstacles or principles that a human rights institution can continue its work based on. In this regard, even the special rapporteur at the United Nations has budgetary problems.

Taking this issue into consideration, the only thing that can make these activities possible and sustainable is selflessness, which is exactly what members of human rights activists do. In fact, their work is not like the daily work of researchers who work in the organization for monitoring human rights (known as the human rights watch in Iran) or Amnesty International, but their work has the nature and context of a night and unique work. Therefore, the important characteristic that has led members of human rights activists – whom we are specifically talking about here – to continue their work is selflessness, tireless efforts and work without sufficient financial resources.

If you were to speak to your colleagues and companions of this group after a decade, what would that speech be?

None of us have anything to say about this very important issue in terms of promoting, advancing, and supporting human rights. Perhaps if you talk to me, it’s because of my experience and age. But all of us who work in the field of human rights, both from previous generations and now, are people who have great respect for each other. I don’t want to say in the usual way that I bow down to your activities, but I truly give you my friendship and love. The path that the human rights activists have started and continued on is very valuable, despite the danger, risk, and night work. Of course, in many cases, human rights activists may not see the results of their efforts in the short term (just like efforts to free a prisoner are time-consuming), but in any case, every society has a great respect for such people who, as I mentioned, are working tirelessly and selflessly to improve the situation of their fellow human beings. We are like students in

Thank you for the opportunity you have given us in the monthly magazine “Khat-e-Solh”.